The Informal Jaw

Rare Sèvres Consulate Period Plates

2013-03-29T21:22:00.003-07:00

Two new plates from Pia's Antique Gallery with an interesting Story.

"We proudly present for sale a rare and historical Sevres hand painted hard paste plate with a floral garland border and cameo portrait. The plate is marked for the period at Sevres known as the Consulate years 1801-03 in iron red stencil, and incised CC1. The cameo depicts Lucille in charcoal (gray) against a pearly, slightly marbleized background. The portrait has been attributed to J. M. Degault, who painted cameos at Sevres for many years. The gilder is unknown, but the floral wreath decoration has been attributed to Charles-Eloi Asselin.

The plate has significant historical value because it was produced during the tumultuous years after the French Revolution when Sevres was on the brink of ruin and bankruptcy. This followed the fall of the monarchy of Louis XVI and the ascendancy to the throne of the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Only after the slow recovery of the Empire and the appointment of the brilliant scientist and teacher Alexandre Brongniart as director of Sevres in 1800, did the factory begin to achieve success once again.

An almost exact plate is found at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts with the cameo of Ben Franklin, date 1801-02. The exhibition states that Sevres only made a few plates in this neoclassical style and that only one is now known to exist. The book, "The Sevres Porcelain Manufactory, Alexander Brongniart and the Triumph of Art and Industry, 1800 -1847", by Tamara Preaud, suggests on page 173 that a sales entry was entered June, 18, 1803, for three plates with wreaths and heads in gray. Apparently, a complete service with this decoration was never produced suggesting that these plates were a prototype. The inventory does show that on November 24, 1804, Monsieur de Lucay, Premier Prefet du Palais de Sa Majeste, chose a service for the Chateau de Fontainebleau that was quite similar and described as "service Nankeen ground, low relief figures with a garland of flower." Another delivery of seventy-two similar plates was made to Emperor Napoleon on Demember 5, l804." -Pia's Antique Gallery

Images and description from Pia's Antique Gallery via Ruby Lane

17th Century Still Life

2013-03-29T19:40:00.001-07:00

Isaac Soreau (1604-1638)

Still Life with tulips, strawberries, grapes and cherries

1625

National Gallery of Athens

Impressive 19th c. Cut Glass Tankard

2013-03-17T21:05:00.000-07:00

Have a look at this beautiful 19th century cut glass tankard with a sterling silver rim. It was made by a company named Dominick & Haff which was bought out by Reed and Barton around the turn of the century. I love the American brilliant cut and the wonderful repoussé work on the flowers around the silver rim. I would imagine this is one heavy piece. Those offering this piece for sale claim it comes from a Victorian estate in Tennessee.

Images from Pia's Antique Gallery via Ruby Lane

English 19th c. Mahogany and Ebony Desk

2013-01-28T19:45:00.000-08:00

This lovely little desk was made by the Mervyn Macartney Factory for display during the London Arts and Crafts Exhibition in 1983. Furniture from this time period doesn't always fascinate me but something about this desk was so quirky and different I had to know more. It's legs and overall shape speak to the beginning of the Art Nouveau movement which was just beginning at this time in France. It was crafted around 1891 and is made of mahogany and macassar ebony veneer with silver mounts and knobs. It can currently be seen in the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York City.

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John Henry Belter

2013-01-18T18:10:00.000-08:00

John Henry Belter was one of the most prolific furniture makers of the 19th century. He was important in the rococo revival movement durning this time and many of his pieces speak to this atribution. Today, a few of his works are currently in the collection of victorian furniture at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During Belters career, he acquired many pattens for his furniture making skills. One of these pattens involved the technique of wood lamination in which he fused together different fragments of wood to create pieces sturdy enough to withstand his deep and heavy carvings. The partial parlor set owned by the MIA shows exceptional carvings with roses and other flowers in rosewood from sometime during the 1860's. Belters sofas from this time sold for an average price of $350, which was quite a bit of money. Unfortunately, these pieces are currently not on display but hopefully someday they will emerge from the museums storage and be on view to the public once again.

Images from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Miniature Rooms by Charles Matton

2013-01-07T06:05:00.001-08:00

Source

Château de Lunéville

2013-01-07T05:52:00.001-08:00

Interior room at Château de Lunéville, built in the early 18th c.

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18th c. French Red Lacquer Chinoiserie Commode

2012-12-30T22:04:00.004-08:00

Pretty great.

Sir John Soane’s Museum

2012-11-21T18:51:00.001-08:00

I love all the architectural elements littering the walls.

A Young Girl Reading by Jean-Honroé Fragonard

2012-10-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

Due to my fascination with the 18th century rococo movement, art during this period almost always intrigues me. One of my favorite artists from this time is Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Fragonard was one of the most prolific artists in his day and is well known for his painting, The Swing, which depicts a young girl in court dress swinging frivolously while being being watched by her lover and an inconspicuous onlooker. Another one of Fragonards paintings done a decade earlier in 1776 has always fascinated me. Titled, A Young Girl Reading, it features just that. The pillow this girl is resting against looks like the most comfortable and sumptuous pillow one has ever seen. The subject, who has remained unidentified, has little hands that hold her book in a way that would seem most uncomfortable, and yet she looks as relaxed as ever. Today, one can view this painting in the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.

Jean-Antoine Watteau Woman in a Striped Dress

2012-10-09T15:56:00.002-07:00

Another beautiful work by Jean-Antoine Watteau. This drawing was created sometime between 1716 and 1718 and is now on display at the British Museum in London. The way he captured the movement in this woman's dress in such a simple drawing that presumably took little time is amazing.

Pilgrimage to Cythera

2012-10-01T18:04:00.001-07:00

A beautiful painting by Jean-Antoine Watteau. Cythera is a small island in the south of Greece that is said to be the birthplace of Venus, the greek goddess of love. To me, this painting oozes with romanticism which exemplifies the height of the rococo movement. It is the second version, and slightly more elaborate version created by Watteau during the mid 18th century. It has been constantly debated by art historians weather the couples have just arrived at the island or are about to depart, but that doesn't take away from the overwhelming feelings of courtship this piece has. My favorite part is the cherubs, or putti, that are flying all around the sailboat.

18th c. Silver Wine Cooler by Ignaz Joseph Würth

2012-10-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

This wine cooler is part of a pair and was created by the 18th Century master silversmith Ignaz Joseph Würth. It was originally part of a large service for Prince Albert of Saxony. The detail this piece has is incredible, incorporating design elements from many different styles. The dogs are quite obviously my favorite part, with their tails wrapping around to make the handles. Also, the grape leaf motif that surrounds the top is so realistic, as if it was dipped in silver and applied to the piece. Here is what the met has to say about this piece:

"These wine coolers formed part of the now-dispersed "Second Duke of Sachsen-Teschen Service," which originally included all kinds of silver tableware befitting splendid royal dining habits. The overall style encapsulates the strong appreciation of contemporary French Neoclassical art and culture by the patrons, Duke Albert Casimir of Sachsen-Teschen (d. 1822) and his consort, Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria (d. 1798), daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and sister of Marie-Antoinette, queen of France. The vigorous design, sparkling play of textures, and daring juxtaposition of classical elements with whimsical sculptural details are Viennese interjections."

Photo and Description from the Met Museum

Late 18th c. Porcelain Snuff Box by Meissen

2012-10-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

Initially this snuff box looks like many others. It's blue fish scale design on the corners of the box did catch my attention, however, it didn't look much different than others I have seen. Then, once I saw a photo of the box open i realized it really was something special. The gold wash on the inside of this box is in such great shape it looks as if it was created yesterday. The cartouches are quite nice as well, especially the one on the inside of the cover. From the Meissen porcelain company during the late 18th century, this snuff box would make a great addition to ones collection of these great little boxes.

Photos from Pia's Antique Gallery

Chinese Export Guardian Lions

2012-09-09T10:21:00.000-07:00

Here we have an exceptional example of Chinese export porcelain. Foo Dogs are mythical creatures that have been a part of Chinese culture for hundreds of years, and dating from sometime during the 19th century, this pair is in immaculate condition for its age. Foo dogs, or lion dogs, are said to have protective benefits and are therefore used to flank the entrances of imperial palaces and government buildings all throughout China. During the 18th century they became popular decorative items and were exported to various places around the world. Today they remain highly collectible. These fine examples of porcelain work are hard to come by and a pair in this condition is quite rare. I love the minty aqua color on these dogs, it is what initially caught my attention. The website from which I found them said they came from the estate of a retired military officer who acquired them during his time in China at the beginning of the 20th century. What a find!

Images from Pia's Antique Gallery via Ruby Lane

18th and 19th c. Cuisine

2012-09-03T17:17:00.000-07:00

Another great video. I find it interesting how big of a deal dining was centuries ago. What we consider a formal meal these days doesn't even come close to the way things were in the past. A great book that talks about this, as well as provides many examples of 19th century cuisine is Isabella Beeton's Book of Household Management. It tells you everything you need to know about running a proper Victorian household with over 900 pages of recipes. It was the first book to provide a recipe with the steps one must take to prepare the dish preceded by it's ingredients. Isabella Beeton was just 21 years of age at the time she compiled the book taking recipes from wherever she could find them. Everything from proper table settings to how much one should pay their servants is covered. The book was initially published in a dozen or so monthly "magazines" and later put together in book form in 1861. The book sold over 60,000 copies in its first year which was unheard of in that time. Full of beautiful colorful illustrations, the Book of Household Management provides an interesting look into the past of the inner workings of Victorian domestic management.

Isabella Beeton

Image credit

Hydraulic Systems at the Gardens of Versailles

2012-08-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

I found this great video on the Internet that shows the amazing infrastructure of the 350 year old hydraulic system at the palace of Versailles initially installed under Louis XIV. The system was used to bring water to the many fountains found throughout the palace gardens. It is amazing that it still works after all these years.

19th c. Carved Wood Window Bench

2012-07-30T18:19:00.001-07:00

This lovely little window bench comes from France sometime during the 19th century. In the Louis XVI style, the bench is small in size making it quite rare. The elaborately hand carved sides are fitted with round upholstered panels which display intricate needlepoint in a floral pattern. The massive needlepoint work on the seat is really quite impressive. I love how petite this piece is, as well as how detailed and delicate the carvings are.

Images from Pia's Antique Gallery via Ruby Lane

Schloss Türnich

2012-07-29T19:05:00.003-07:00

A few years ago while browsing the Internet for photos of historic architecture, I came across an image of a beautiful chateau. I didn’t know where it was or what it was called, but I knew I wanted to know more. After much research, I finally figured it out. Schloss Türnich is its name and it stands in western Germany about thirty kilometers southwest of Cologne. The present form of the mansion was built during the mid 18th century from 1757 t0 1766 for Carl-Ludwig von Rolshausen. The structure, surrounded by a moat, lies in a wooded area complete with a private baroque garden home to lime trees and various other exotic species. In the late 19th century, along with a complete restoration to the main house, a chapel was built by notable architect Henry Krings on the northwest corner of the mansion. The chapel, partially restored, features marble paneled walls and paintings by the prolific German religious painter Ernst Deger. The current condition of the mansion is not good, however in the past few years a restorative initiative has been put in place. After extensive groundwater damage in 1974 and a small fire in 1991, Schloss Türnich was rendered uninhabitable and the building had to be reinforced from within by installing hundreds of wooden beams. Thanks to a video I found on the Internet, we can see how it was furnished in the early 1900’s. The photos show the design kept true to its original elements with elaborate wall paneling and plasterwork true to the rococo style. One can only imagine what it must have been like in its day. I think its elements of French architecture are what first drew my attention.

Türnich today

Parlor

Beautiful plasterwork

Wall of 18th c. porcelain in the mansions entrance hall

Chapel

Photo Credit (1) (2)

Video

18th c. French Mechanical Table

2012-07-08T20:17:00.001-07:00

17th c. Still Life by Jan Davidszoon de Heem

2012-06-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

In the past, I have expressed how much I love still life paintings, especially when they depict some sort of floral arrangement. While browsing through upcoming Christies auction catalogues today I came across this beautiful 17th century example by Jan Davidszoon de Heem. Born in Utrecht in 1606, De Heem was a prolific artist who worked almost exclusively in still life painting. He came from a family of painters who all had a style quite similar to his. This oil on canvas is untitled but described as “flowers in a glass vase on a draped table, with a silver tazza, fruit, insects and birds” and will be presented for auction this Tuesday, July 3rd by Christies in London. De Heem creates a natural looking scene with luscious fruit that dangles from the edge of the table while bright and colorful flowers attract birds, insects and butterflies. The light peering in through the window on the left side of the painting gives such great depth to the space. I love the vast variety of flowers he used, as well as that wonderful tablecloth.

Image and information source

Lily of the Valley Imperial Fabergé Egg

2012-06-17T19:57:00.000-07:00

When one hears the word Fabergé it is always associated with luxury and opulence. Around the turn of the nineteenth century, Russian jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé was creating the most beautiful and elaborate decorative eggs for the Russian Imperial family. In Russia, Easter tradition is to present your loved one with an egg appropriate to your means. If you were in a lower class family, a hens egg laid that morning would suffice. However, if you were a part of the Royal Family, it was expected to gift an egg made from the most precious metals and jewels available. The Royals commissioned Fabergé each year from 1885 until the revolution in 1917. After a few years of making specific requests, the Russian Tsar gave full and complete creative control to Fabergé under the condition that each egg included some sort of surprise. Some eggs held miniature portraits of the royal family while others bore train sets made of rock crystal or ship replicas encrusted with diamonds. My personal favorite imperial egg is the Lily of the Valley egg. Presented in 1898, the egg is covered in pink enamel with pearls and supported by green enameled legs encrusted with rose diamonds. The surprise in this egg was unlike most others; instead of the egg opening up, a gold and pearl knob on the top is twisted to release three portraits that rose from within. Something about the whimsical mechanics of this piece is so intriguing. To this day, 42 of the 50 Imperial eggs made are still in existence. Over the past century, they have exchanged many hands and are now housed mostly in museums and private collections.

Images source (1) (2)

775 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021

2012-06-12T17:16:00.000-07:00

I always have found looking at floor plans to be quite compelling, and weather one is looking to buy or just looking for fun, New York City has some of the most interesting in my opinion. There are hundreds if not thousands of apartments available for sale in the city, with each commanding a price per square foot higher than anywhere else in America. Personally, I much prefer the traditional pre-war type of apartment as opposed to the open floor plan contemporary loft style that has become so popular today. Referred to by New Yorkers as a 9-room co-op, this layout really stood out to me as something special. Built in 1927, the apartment is located on New York’s prestigious Park Avenue in the Upper East Side. The main floor features a large-scale living room with adjoining library, dining room and eat in kitchen. The circular layout of the main floor makes each room easily accessible to others. The second floor is dedicated solely to bedrooms, five to be exact. The master suite has a wood burning fireplace and a large master bath. The library, with paneled walls and fireplace features 19 foot ceilings and original mouldings. If I were in the market, I would definitely take a look at this one. If you have a budged of 23 million and are willing to pay just under $10,000 a month in maintenance, this remarkable property could be yours.

Dining Room

Living Room

Library

Photos and information found here

Worcester Pâte-Sur-Pâte Ewer

2012-06-06T07:46:00.000-07:00

Over the past few centuries the English have undeniably mastered the art of porcelain. Royal Worchester is one of the most well known firms from England and is still in production today. This ewer, created in 1891, uses pâte-sur-pâte, which is a method in which layers of slip are applied under the glaze creating a beautiful and translucent effect. Pâte-sur-pâte is different from other methods of under glaze as a template is never used, allowing the artist to achieve a more natural and one of a kind effect. This method first began to be seen during the 19th century by the French artist Marc-Louis Solon who moved to England in the 1870’s. I much prefer this method to other traditional methods such as jasperware as the build up of many thin layers of slip creates such an ethereal feeling in the design. The ewer, glazed in a vibrant royal blue and fitted with gilded foot and handle is decorated in a delicate blossoming dogwood branch motif.

Images From Pia's Antique Gallery via Ruby Lane

The Dakota, New York City

2012-06-03T16:07:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite movies of all time is Rosemary’s Baby. The story, the actors, everything about the movie is so compelling to me, especially the apartment building in which they live. In the film, the building is referred to as the “Bramford,” however in real life we know it as the Dakota. Built between 1880 and 1884, the Dakota was one of New York Cities first apartments buildings designed in the French Style. The building itself takes up an entire city block with a central courtyard in the middle. Each apartment home in the building has windows facing both the street and the central garden, something unique to the Dakota at the time of its erection. Access to the central courtyard and building entrances is through a large Porte-cochère on both Central Park West and West 72nd Street. At the time it was built, New York Cites upper west side was sparsely developed and the building was far from the cities epicenter. Originally, there were sixty-five apartment homes in the building with no two alike. The size of each apartment ranged from four to twenty rooms. Over the past century, the Dakota has become a part of New York City history housing many celebrities and being featured in many films. Beatles member John Lennon was a notable tenant to the Dakota and was shot to death outside the buildings entrance in 1980. If one is interested in history what so ever, I would suggest a visit to the Dakota on your next trip to NYC.

The Dakota Today

The Dakota c. 1890

Original Dakota Floorplan

Original Dakota Facade

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