Archive for the 'Chinoiserie' Category

Chinoiserie Meets Ikebana

June 18, 2012

Chinoiserie, from the French word chinois meaning Chinese-esque emerged during the period of Rococo and became a very popular motif which still is prevalent in design today in porcelain pottery, textiles and wallpaper. The Chinoiserie style features Asian landscapes, pagodas and pavilions, elaborate birds, dragons, and Chinese figures.
Ikebana - Japanese Flower Arranging
Several years ago I took a class in Japanese flower arranging and found it a lovely way to arrange flowers. Currently I am…

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

April 8, 2011

Who is the fairest of them all?

There are two ways to spread happiness; either be the light who shines it or be the mirror who reflects it.—Edith Wharton

Amy Howard

Ballard Designs

French Cheval Mirror

Chinoiserie Mirror

Ebanista

Ebanista

Julian Chichester

Julian Chichester

Patina

Uttermost

Uttermost

Uttermost

Uttermost

Uttermost

Z Gallerie

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Go for Baroque

September 7, 2009

The dramatic and decorative Baroque style originated in Italy and influenced all of Europe. The style is exuberant and opulent and displayed much pomp and circumstance in the appearance.  According to the Oxford English dictionary the word baroque is derived from the Portuguese word “barroco” and means rough or imperfect pearl. The word simply means elaborate, and with many details.
The period which is from 1685 – 1725 under the reign of Louis XIV followed…

What do you know about Rococo?

July 31, 2009

The style of Rococo emerged in 18th century in France. The word is a combination of the French rocacille referring to curved and natural forms of ornamentation similar to the shapes of rocks and shells and the Italian word barocco or Baroque style. This style came after the Baroque period during the reign of Louis XV and was at its peak in history in the 1730s. At the time it was a new style which…

Oh be Joyful for Toile de Jouy!

May 7, 2009

Toile de Jouy (pronounced twal duh zhwee) is a French term from the word “toile” which means cloth and “Jouy-en Josas” which is the name of a town in North Central France. Originating in the late 1700s in the French village of Jouy-en-Josas, the fabric depicts a pictorial scene in one color such as blue, green, red, or black on a white background. Depictions range from pastoral village scenes, historical narratives of life, landscape scenes, Oriental themes know as Chinoiserie incorporating human figures, buildings, birds, and plants and decorative plaques from the Renaissance period.
Today the textile known as Toile…