I chose to study furniture since I always had an attraction for the interior, my mother is an interior designer and I think she passed some of her passion for it to me. I think choosing furniture is the most challenging format for me since I have very small experience with it. I think it would be a great opportunity to work on this format before I start majoring in Fashion Design. In addition, while visiting the Met I was amazed how furniture can translate a narrative/vision/agenda/ just like any other art form. I am interested in finding out how would I do it.
Pair of Side Chairs In The Rococo Manner: Gilt wood and tapestry, late 19th century. Those two chairs are designed in an elegant manner with crisp carving in the style of the Rococo furniture. The chairs are made with many decorative elements to them. The craving on the wood has feather like decorations that are recognized with the Rococo motives. the sit of the chair is covered with light pink tapestry with flower ornaments on it. The chairs emphasize the love motives that are visioned in the Rococo in the pink color, the tapestry of roses the gentle lines and the fact that the chairs are a pair made for a couple to sit on.
Giorgio Andreoli, 1522
Dish on Pedestal Foot (tazza), with the Suicide of Dido. Maiolica, Giorgio Andreoli,1522.
The figure is adapted from an engraving, The Death of Lurcretia, by Marcantonio Raimondi (1480-1530) after Raphel.
This dish describes the death scene of Dido, Queen of Carthage, who was abandoned by Aeneas and due to that, killed herself in despair. The dish functions mainly as a decorative element and a piece of art. The brush strokes are delicate in the way of treating the figure of dido resembles a Botticelli style in it. Dido is colored with light colors almost like a saint. The brush strokes in the background though, are very strong and dynamic and the color transitions are sharp and contrasted, which helps emphasizing the dramatic scene.
When comparing those two pieces I can notice that both works concentrate on the details made by hand, the chairs have many decorations such as feathers and flowers and the dish tells a story in a very expanded way, with symbols, meanings and probably contained a time consuming work as well. The main difference between those objects is in the mood of the works. While the chairs presents colors and motive of love and optimism, the dish has a very dramatic, morbid atmosphere since it describes a suicide scene, the colors and the brush strokes emphasize the drama and the tragic story.
During the museum visit I enjoyed looking at the amount of work and passion that was invested in the furnitures. I am very excited to try making a contemporary furniture by mixing materials and corresponding with elements and details from the furniture I was inspired by at the museum. In addition, I generally always love to visit the Met especially when I have time. I like to get lost in the massive amount of breathtaking spaces and to find things that I would never had gotten to when walking with a guide. I found this experience to be inspiring and very crucial to my work process. It always reminds me how much I love art and making art.
