Thursday, July 28, 2011

Obsession: Papier Mache

I'm currently in love with the complete exuberance and ridiculousness of Victorian papier mache decorative arts and furniture. Black lacquer, gilt, and mother of pearl... could it get any more sybaritic? I don't think so. 

I love everything about this papier mache desk blotter... particularly the gilt tendrils of foliage.  I don't do too much blotting... but I have a feeling I'd do a little bit more if I owned this...

 A papier mache sarcophagus shaped tea caddy, English, circa 1860, from 1stDibs...

An English lacquered, gilt, papier mache, and mother-of-pearl side chair from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art... 
I recently saw a chair extremely similar to this at an antiques store... I may have to make a trip back to bring her home...  


A more typical example of a Victorian papier mache chair via 1stDibs...
I'm dying over the simplicity of the back... I'd love a set of dining room chairs that were just like this, except with a plain black front and this spectacular back.

 A pair of Victorian papier mache pole screens with Chinoiserie scenes, sold at Christie's...
I'm not sure how these were initially used, but I think they're beautiful just as sculptures...

An English Victorian papier mache tray which illustrates a more restrained aesthetic...

A fantastically sculptural English etagere from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art...

and finally perhaps the most exuberant of all papier mache creations...

a ridiculous Napoleon III salon suite, circa 1850. This set, which sold for almost 16,000 at Christie's, contained a center table, canape, a pair of bergeres, four side chairs, and a pair of footstools. 

Although I would NEVER want more two or three pieces of papier mache furniture in one room, I would love to have seen this in its original setting...
like a tacky, lacquered, gilt, and mother-of-pearl-ed train wreck, I know I wouldn't have been able to look away.

6 comments:

  1. Hello Willam:
    These are all very fine examples, all of which we should love to own. We do have a rather nice painted table and a small, bedroom type chair which is inlaid with Mother of Pearl. Both we were fortunate enough to inherit.

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  2. stunningly well crafted and beautiful

    http://rosysky2011.blogspot.com/

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  3. I love your post and blog so much!!!.))

    I need your help. I spend another survey but this time with another question.
    "Where do you prefer to shop? What is your favorite shopping center?"

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  4. Have you heard about the splendid book (most authoritative one yet and packed with marvellous illustrations) just published by Antique Collector's Club- 'Japanned Papier Mache and Tinware C1740 -1940' by Yvonne Jones ? Everything you ever wanted to know about the subject !

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    Replies
    1. I haven't... just looked it up and will definitely be adding this to my library very soon. Thank you for the recommendation!

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  5. A small French Musée to look at for French furnitures: http://www.wat.tv/video/musee-meuble-en-papier-mache-232tf_2i6xp_.html

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