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.

To Die For

 

Amazing French Tole and Gilt Chandelier circa 1800

from N.P. Trent Antiques, via 1stDibs

Obsession

By now, I think we're all familiar with my obsession with wallpaper... so you can imagine how my heart started to race when I saw this three panel Zuber et Cie screen at my favorite local antiques mall, 17 South Antiques here in Charleston.

It's priced at 1,495, right under 500 a panel, which makes it almost irresistible... 

we'll see...

de Gournay

Feeling that all of my recent posts have lacked any color, I decided to explore the website of the inimitable de Gournay. These are my three favorites:

 

 Deco Monkeys in Terracotta

Recently saw this published and loved the pattern... all colorways are fantastic but I can't help but love the contrast between this terracotta orange and the black monkeys...

 

 Clematis in Casino

Love the metallic silver background and the grass green leaves...

 

Butterflies in Monarch

Traditional in feel, but remains surprisingly fresh and modern...

All photographs courtesy of de Gournay

Cecil Beaton,

I need you to photograph me like this...

Portrait of Viktor Kraft by Cecil Beaton, c. 1950s

Image: Christie's

Gorgeous, Part II

 

Gorgeous

From here.

To Die For

Zuber Grisaille wallpaper screen.

From here.

My favorite site in Budapest...

 

Within our first day in Budapest, I came across my favorite architectural site in the city. I say site because it is not necessarily a building, but a complex of buildings that make up an elaborate stairway which leads to the top of the hill in Buda. The entire complex is completely rundown and highly deteriorated, which only makes it more appealing. 

This masterpiece of mid-19th century eclecticism was designed by Ybl Miklos. He was one of the most influential architects during this time period in Europe, especially Hungary, and designed the opera house in Budapest as well. His later buildings are marked by an interest in the revival of the Italian Renaissance, such as this complex.

 

Note how virtually the entire right side of the arch is missing its applied decoration revealing its brick and mortar construction.

 

This is the central component of the staircase.

 

The complex from the banks of the Danube in Pest.

 

A view of the complex from the main bridge spanning the Danube in Budapest.

Budapest & Vienna

Well, I'm finally back after ten very short days in Budapest and Vienna. I'll be doing a few posts on my favorite buildings, sights, and restaurants throughout these two amazing cities. 

 

One of my favorite architectural details, a domed ceiling from the exterior of the Budapest Opera House. I love the simplicity of the black, white, and gold. 

Much more to come!

How could I forget?

After doing an intensive paper on Franz von Stuck's Salome last year, I'm shocked that it's taken me this long to share one of my favorite artists...

 

Salome, 1906

 Medusa, 1892

 

Sisyphus, 1920

 

Lucifer,  c. 1890

To Die For

 

One Kings Lane

Something I Need

Via Guinevere at 1stDibs

Deming & Bulkley

 

 A fabulous Deming & Bulkley dolphin card table, c. 1820

as featured in Antiques & Fine Art's article on the William Gatewood House.

Deming & Bulkley sold to the Charleston elite throughout the early to mid 19th century. A similar example exists in the Aiken-Rhett House. 

Some rooms I love...

 Over the last few months I've been collecting some photographs of my favorite rooms while I've been looking through some of my favorite blogs. 

Take a look...

 

The MOST amazing dining room in Marcelo Lucini's apartment.

I'm obsessed with the color, and the gilt chairs are fantastic. 

via Habitually Chic

 

Ever since my best friend painted her bedroom black, I've become enamored with black walls... especially with a huge gilt mirror.

via here

 

Loving the black walls and the collection of portraits... 

via Bijou and Boheme

 

Completely in love. 

Wouldn't change a thing.

via Patricia Gray

 

Not only do I just love this as a photograph, but I love it as an actual bedroom. The draping of the fabric is a work of art in itself.

via Patricia Gray

 

A room by Jonathan Adler... 

the chandelier, the portrait, the bust, the orange chair, and the turquoise? 

Fantastic.

via Elle Decor

...and I just saw this apartment today on one of my favorite blogs, The Neo Lifestyle

I'm completely obsessed with it. I've never seen an entire apartment and thought, "ok, I could live here without changing a thing."

 via New York Social Diary

Something I Need

Loving this from 20th Century Interiors on 1stDibs...

 

 

...a Johan Tapp Cabinet, c. 1940. 

I'm loving the huge brass handle and the burled veneer. 

Blackman Cruz

One of my favorite things to do is to browse through the One Kings Lane Tastemaker Tag Sales. Periodically I'll find one or two things I really like, but today I've found a few things I don't think I can live without, and I've been introduced to a new retailer I'm obsessed with: Blackman Cruz. Get ready to be amazed... and really prepare yourself for the third image... I still haven't recovered.

 

19th Century French Copper Madonna Head

 

Hand Carved & Gilt Thorn Mirror

 

1930s French Bronze Zeus Emblem 

Visit their One Kings Lane sale here, and Blackman Cruz online here

I'm in love

 

I don't know that it gets much sexier than Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate. I need a huge print of this photograph... I could stare at it for days.