I never tire of seeing glorious handcrafted treasures. It helps to train one’s eye to truly quality workmanship. Gorgeous Antique Furniture and Accessories.
Gorgeous Antique Furniture and Accessories
This oak veneered French secrétaire was created as part of a set by Martin Carlin in 1775. It features a circular Sèvres porcelain inset painted by Jean-Jacques Pierre.
The Hollandois shaped vases on top of the secrétaire were also Sèvres porcelain.
For my 28th birthday, Mr. Decor took me on a sunrise hot air balloon ride over Napa Valley. My romantic heart may have skipped a beat when spying this whimsical 1818 chandelier by Gérard–Jean Galle in the shape of a hot air balloon.
This 1775 iron and gilded wood masterpiece, lit à la Polonaise (bed to the Polish) was truly my favorite piece of furniture in the entire Getty museum.
But there were other gems as well like this Italian wall plaque which featured lapis lazuli, silver, and gilt bronze accents.
It was created in 1730-40 by Francesco Natale Juvara.
This Italian daybed was created by Gabriele Capello in 1842.
French Paneled Room
This 1775 French paneled room made me happy.
The detailing was just incredible.
I need this hardware in my life.
I could blog here. How about you?
I think I’m drawn to anything that features cherubs.
A Beauvais tapestry circa 1750 paired with a 1745-49 Jean-Pierre Latz commode.
Yep! More paneling. Because I LOVE IT!
This régence paneled room dates back to 1670-1720. It was removed from a Parisian residence.
My question is “Why would you ever want to remove it?”
Of course, a luxurious paneled room such as this needs an elaborate chandelier to go with it.
I also might have a slight obsession with gilded paneled doors.
Vernis Martin
I personally am not a fan of Vernis Martin, an imitation black lacquer trend that was popular in the 1730-40s. It was an attempt to recreate Japanese lacquer for admiring Parisians and named for the family that patented the technique.
But the Etienne Le Noir clock that sat atop the B.V.R.B. cabinet was stunning.
The Sun King
This gallery was dedicated to French works of art created during the reign of the Sun King, Louis XIV.
The 1675-80 cabinet is attributed to André-Charles Boulle, cabinet maker to the King of France.
The scale and detail of this cabinet are tremendous!
My favorite piece in the space was this ivory and blue painted horn writing desk created in 1675-70.
After all this goodness I think it’s time for a nap. This is truly the grande dame of daybeds.
This 1750-60 lit à la turque (Turkish bed) is attributed to Jean-Baptiste Tilliard.
The bed originally would have had a draped baldachin (canopy) above it.
Fun fact: the body of the bed wheels out away from the headboard so that servants could make it up more easily.
This concludes the Decor To Adore series on the Getty Museum treasures.
I hope you have enjoyed it!
Laura
WOW! Those items are absolutley incredible!
Can you imagine for an instant the stark difference from this shiny glittery artistic mastery to the true din grey dirty poverty of the lowers? I have been blessed to live comfortably and well, but just truly thinking deeply about this – and Marie Antoinette's famous quote after being told the poverty-striken subjects paying the taxes were so hungry and destitute that they didn't even have bread to eat; with her clueless remark “Well, then let them eat cake” hit home to me. What a HUGE difference in classes back then!
It explains the Revolution just considering for a moment the stark differences, does it not?
This opulence is staggeringly beautiful. What a dazzling post. Thank you so much for sharing this art series of yours, Laura! I am enjoying it immensely. Hugs! ♥
Stunning, in-your-face opulence! That hot-air balloon chandelier – how fabulous! And the roll out bed to change – even the servants probably thought they had the best jobs!
Thanks for sharing, Laura. What a great museum.
How elegant! Such beautiful treasures and yes, you are right — the workmanship is magnificent. How you are enjoying your time at the Getty!
What a great tour! Thanks so much for taking us along. While I love looking at these beautiful things I can't imagine living with them! Can you imagine even sitting on that daybed much less putting your feet on it!!
What a beautiful post! I find when in museums like this I daydream about which pieces I'm going to take home for myself! Why yes, I'll take that hot air balloon chandelier with a few pieces of Sevres, thank you!