Normally, I am not one who indulges in opulent treasures. On a daily basis, my wardrobe and décor choices are characterized as minimalistic and simplistic. My room itself isn’t at all sparse, but it is a neutral tone with natural lighting. My clothing choices follow suit. It was not too long that I would have regarded the images above as overly garish and gaudy.
But as of late, I have begun to gravitate to more saturated tones and decadent pieces. Namely, stylized images of birds, as seen above:
First, a DeRosa vintage 1940's Peacock Cuff, via VintageLuxury.com. Gilt Metal, Enamel and fantastically saturated tones make up this cuff. Perfectly detailed and exquisite in design.
Secondly, this antique screen is supposedly from Japan, circa ? I wish that I had the ability to assess this antique’s age. My guess is the late 1880’s to early 1900’s. Irrespective of the fabrication date, I find the contrast between the birds and the background striking; the illustrations both realistic but ethereal.
Lastly, these images of James Abbott McNeill Whistler’s Peacock Room are a real sight. A pioneer of the Aestheticism movement, Whistler’s work inaugurated a vogue for the opulent and decadent. The influence of the Japanese culture, rich emerald greens and exquisite accents are sublime. If you are interested, I would highly recommend that you venture over to The Smithsonian's official site for more pictures and inspiration.
I've always loved this style, though I don't go around dressed like a peacock either! You should check out the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, more or less a contemporary of Whistler. He make some beautiful screens and the like, with similar influences!
ReplyDeleteI love love LOVE this. What I particularly love about this aesthetic is that it was characteristic of the tastes of the upper-class in the 1910s and 20s, chinoiserie I think it was known as.
ReplyDeleteI find that if you think about things like peacocks and rich colours and decadent gold trimmings in combination with the muted pastels and whites and sleek, geometric styles that are generally associated with the style of that era, the whole image becomes more beautiful in its understated-ness.
A girl after my own heart!