Day 189 - French faience
September 20, 2019
Gallery 530 is essentially a display case showing objects of French faience (which, I learn, is tin-glazed earthenware) from the 17th and 18th centuries. Most of the pieces were the gifts of J. Pierpont Morgan, and they are a testament to his good taste (and/or that of his artistic advisers). I feel like something of a traitor, but I like many of these pieces as much as their Italian counterparts.
Two objects in particular capture my attention. One is a rectangular table top, about 30 inches long and 20 inches wide, made in Rouen around 1725. Its raised edge and the central field are elaborately and delicately painted in orange, dark yellow, and deep blue with designs of flowers and scrolling and swirling leaves and arabesques against a fine yellow "checkerboard" bacground. But what makes the table top so winning is its central design, which features eight pudgy, curly-haired putti playing musical instruments, among which I recognize a viol, a horn, a lute, and a lyre. What a pleasure it would be to sip coffee and eat a croissant at this table; it would set the breakfaster up for the day ahead.
The second object, made in Rouen around 1720, is described as a "cruet stand with bottles." I immediately see its purpose: The larger holes accommodate oil and vinegar cruets, the smaller ones small bottles that, I suspect, may have held salt and pepper. I imagine that the cruet stand held all the condiments needed for dressing a nice salade. The holder, about 12 inches across, is finely painted with flowers and, again, a cross-hatched design. But the handles take the form of lions' heads, and these seem rather incongruous to me: Since when do carnivores eat salad?
Two objects in particular capture my attention. One is a rectangular table top, about 30 inches long and 20 inches wide, made in Rouen around 1725. Its raised edge and the central field are elaborately and delicately painted in orange, dark yellow, and deep blue with designs of flowers and scrolling and swirling leaves and arabesques against a fine yellow "checkerboard" bacground. But what makes the table top so winning is its central design, which features eight pudgy, curly-haired putti playing musical instruments, among which I recognize a viol, a horn, a lute, and a lyre. What a pleasure it would be to sip coffee and eat a croissant at this table; it would set the breakfaster up for the day ahead.
The second object, made in Rouen around 1720, is described as a "cruet stand with bottles." I immediately see its purpose: The larger holes accommodate oil and vinegar cruets, the smaller ones small bottles that, I suspect, may have held salt and pepper. I imagine that the cruet stand held all the condiments needed for dressing a nice salade. The holder, about 12 inches across, is finely painted with flowers and, again, a cross-hatched design. But the handles take the form of lions' heads, and these seem rather incongruous to me: Since when do carnivores eat salad?
Comments
Post a Comment