While visiting one of my favorite antiques malls in Charleston, 17 South, I discovered this fantastic tole tray with decoupaged classical busts and insects. The tray appears to be an authentic Victorian tole tray that received a new decorative treatment in the 1960s...
The back has a large dragonfly and is signed "Alice H. Balterman" who worked in Cincinnati, Ohio. I'm completely in love with it and want to have a stand made for it so it can be used as a cocktail table.
The style of the tray reminds me a lot of Fornasetti...
such as this trompe l'oeil tray...
Classical busts were common decorative motifs used by Fornasetti such as this amazing umbrella stand...
It even reminds me of this custom Fornasetti decoupaged chest with lithographic classical images. It is dated 1962 and sold for over $85,000 during a 2oth Century Decorative Arts sale at Christie's in 2010...
Decoupage was also popular in the 19th century as seen in this mid-19th century Spanish chest...
and also this 19th century New England architect's table which is completely covered in images...
Even Elsie de Wolfe loved decoupaged decorative arts...
as seen in her bed which was decorated by Tony Duquette with 18th century floral engravings and lithographs for her home "After All." He also completed a matching secretary, which is just out of the frame of the photograph to the right.
Yes, it would be perfect as a cocktail tray! I love decoupage such as the great examples you have shown, not the Martha Stewart variety!
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
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