Combining 2 Passions: Trumeau Mirrors and Shell Art

The art of ornamental shellwork, initially a European tradition, has been around since the early 18th century.

In her exquisite book, THE SHELL - A World of Decoration & Ornament, Ingrid Thomas writes: "The Rococo style of the 18th century was dominated by feminine taste and influence. As well as showing off their grottoes, ladies of society competed for the most elaborate and elegant interior decorations. The availability of foreign shells, many of them of dazzling beauty, suggested a new pastime that would introduce a different kind of decoration into their houses. Thus alongside the traditional pursuits of tapestry and embroidery there emerged a new hobby, shellwork, the perfect embodiment of the Rococo ideal."

By the late 18th century this art which started off as a pastime for the rich only, had spread to become vogue among ladies of culture. The accomplished shell artist of the time, Mary Delany, was a highly respected member of the cultural and social elite in England and she said: "I've got a new madness! I'm running wild for shells. The beauty of shells is as infinite as flowers."



A while ago I decided it would be rather fun to combine two of my passions: producing trumeau mirrors and the art of shellwork. You see, I too am running wild for shells now!

Making the trumeau was not as difficult as it may seem.

 I just stuck to the basic formula we use in Module 6 of our online course: Construct a basic background, add mouldings, beadings and mirror glass, but here comes the twist.  Instead of using pressed or cast ornaments, I used shells as decoration. I also applied the different layers of home made paint, before adding any shells. 

After the first coat of paint I made and applied a gap filler where needed, followed by more paint.

After the paint had dried, I started with the oval at the top. First I set the shells out to find the correct design. Once I was satisfied with that, I made a gesso-like mixture which I applied to the flat surface inside the oval and placed the shells back in position.

Next up I tackled the detail below the mirror in the same fashion.

Then I decided to add detail around the mirror itself. I did have more than enough shells, but just not always the right size. This caused some delays as I first needed to collect the missing shells. They proved to be rather illusive.

Eventually I was ready to adhere them to the frame. I used narrow strips of sticky tape to lift the shells off the frame, applied my mixture, placed the strips of shells back in position and then carefully removed the tape once the mixture was set.

The next step was to attach the shells that I had laid out like a jigsaw puzzle in the side panels. I used the same method as before, but opted for a wider packing tape with which I transferred  the shells.

I added some accent colours, waited for them to dry and then the real fun began.  

My favourite part in the whole painting process, is the distressing. This is where I expose the underlying coats of paint and create a "history" for my trumeau.

Finally I added shells as corner details and my work was done!

I'll be off to the beach for more shells soon.

Happy Painting!

Tania

xxx

If you also have a thing for shellwork, you may enjoy my earlier post here and an even earlier one here.

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Make your own Cassone

A cassone is a large marriage chest that was one of the trophy furnishings of rich merchants and aristocrats in Italian culture.  These beautifully painted and gilded works of art were given to a bride by her parents, as their contribution to the wedding. It was filled with the personal goods of the bride and placed at the foot of the bed in the bridal suite.

"This cassone was probably made to celebrate a marriage in the Strozzi family, as it is decorated with family emblems on the sides. The scene on the front is thought to portray the conquest of Trebizond. However, two other surfaces of the cassone are decorated with painted imitations of the textile designs. The exchange of expensive luxury fabrics and jewels was an important component of wedding preparations during the Renaissance. The inside of the lid and the back panel, seen here, are both painted to look like the magnificent "pomegranate"-style velvets, with two heights of silk pile and metal-thread brocading. These painted surfaces refer to the valuable contents that would have been stored in such a chest." - Metropolitan Museum

What I found especially fascinating here, is the back view that seems to be unfinished. Because it was made to be placed at the foot of the bed, the back was not finished off like the rest of the chest and you can see the construction, yet they did decorate it to some extent. Almost like an afterthought or perhaps a later addition. Might this have been done by someone else at a later stage?   Note the patina on the light wood - scratches and cracking.

This cassone is the work of Marco del Buono Giamberti (Italian, Florentine, 1402–1489); Apollonio di Giovanni di Tomaso (Italian, Florentine, 1415/17–1465). It was decorated with tempera, gold, and silver and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum.

Now, making your own, slightly simplified cassone, is quite doable.

You can use an existing wooden chest or box. Alternatively, you could make a basic chest, using the woodwork skills taught in the Display Case Module of the FARRAGOZ Patina PROJECTS Course.

Once you have your structure, you can create your own low relief decoration on the required areas. For that you would use the recipes and techniques from Italian Style Frame Module in which students learn to make a gold frame with the same kind of low relief decoration as the cassone in the above photos.

Next you would prepare the flat surfaces, transfer the images of your choice and apply paint in the same manner as you would do with the Byzantine Style Icon in the Icon Module. The paint itself can be made according to the recipe for tempera, as used in creating the Angel Plaque in the same course.

Finally you will need to distress and seal your cassone in the same fashion as we do with the above mentioned PROJECTS from this course, in order for it to look authentically old.

Anyone up for the challenge? I would love to see your cassone.

Happy Painting!

Tania

xxx

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It was the best of times. It's to be the most wonderful of times!

What a Year it has been!

Awesome. Busy. Challenging. Creative. Delightful. Exciting. Fulfilling. Fun. Glorious. Humbling. Inspiring.  I can easily work my way right through the entire alphabet here!

We have had so many new students join us and it has been a joy getting to know them and helping them with their projects.  In the process we've made fabulous new friends. 

The completed projects that I have seen this year, have been fantastic and the feedback we received has been so overwhelmingly positive. One student sent me this a few days ago: "I absolutely enjoyed this online class.  It's a brilliant and unique concept.   It really made it doable being able to do it on my own time. I learned so much more than I ever imagined I would.  All of the videos were very helpful with clear instructions. I think the cost of the course is a real bargain for all that is learned. I don't know of anything like what you have but there are classes teaching only one class that will charge that. If you get another course together I would like to to take it.  Thank you for this course and your help." E.K.

It is comments like this that have inspired us to add more to the existing course and develop new course material, which we plan to launch in 2015.

It truly has been the best of times and it is with a bittersweetness that I wave 2014 adieu ...

... but happily welcome 2015. May it be the most wonderful of times for us all.

Happy New Year to you!

Tania

xxx


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Merry Christmas from FARRAGOZ!

We are enjoying the Christmas cheer in the FARRAGOZ studio!

Santas and Christmas trees seem to magically appear all around us.

We would like to wish each and every one of our students, followers and friends around the globe a wonderful Christmas and a fabulous New Year. 

See you in 2015!

Tania

xxx

Trumeau Mirrors

The French word trumeau originally referred to the space between windows. In the 18th century, the French started manufacturing trumeau mirrors to hang in these spaces, providing a decorative element and bringing more light into the room.

 Antique trumeau mirrors range from carved, unpainted wood to painted and partially gilded, all the way to highly ornate and entirely gilded.

The mirror is almost always rectangular and if old, most often the glass is tarnished with grey and black spots. The decorative portion above the mirror glass may even include a painting.

 Those designed to be placed above a mantelpiece, rather than between windows, would have had candles placed in front of the mirror to increase ambient light.

Reproductions of 18th-century trumeau mirrors became popular in the Regency period and in the 1950's when French furniture was popular. Today, with the increasing interest in French style interiors, trumeau mirrors are highly sought after. A genuine antique trumeau can cost between US$2000 and US$20,000.

Making your own trumeau mirror and finishing it to look like a real antique trumeau, is not an impossible task.  It could be a large floor standing piece or a smaller overmantle trumeau. The colours and finishes can vary, but the process remains the same.

In Module - Trumeau Mirror of the FARRAGOZ Patina PROJECTS Online Course, students are given the opportunity to learn the basic process of how to make a small trumeau mirror and the decorative ornaments to apply to it, from scratch. Alternatively, they can start with an existing mirror and build on that. Finally, they will learn how to paint and distress it to look authentically old, using original homemade paint recipes.

With the skills and knowledge acquired in completing this project, students can move on to designing and producing their own trumeau mirrors in whatever size and finish they desire.

In my next post, I hope to share my recently completed shell trumeau.

Happy Painting!

Tania

xxx

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Mood boards for paint inspiration #3

If you love painted furniture with rich patina, then this is for you.  

Join me for some end of the week painting inspiration!

I would love to hear which is your favourite finish.

Happy Painting!

Tania

xxx

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Mood boards for paint inspiration #2

How about some end of week inspiration for lovers of patina on painted furniture?

Happy Painting!

Tania

xxx

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Mood boards for paint inspiration

How about some midweek inspiration?

Happy Painting!

Tania

xxx

#mirror #paintfinish #onlinecourse #frame #french #furniture #homemade #milkpaint #antique #patina #distressedpaint #wornpaint #chippedpaint #farragoz #howtopaint

Can you make a new table look like a painted antique?

Yes and it's not nearly as difficult as it looks. 

Here is a good example. This table belonged to Danish sculptor and folk artifact collector, Gunnar Hammerich (1893-1977).  Whether he painted this table, is not clear, but it is the focal point of this living area where he entertained many friends in his time. The ceramic mugs above the table are part of a large collection. Every time a visitor came to stay, he would make a mug with the visitors name and the date on it, to commemorate the occasion.

In 1967 he presented his house, Hammerichs Hus, and it's contents to the town of Ærøskøbing, Denmark and it is now a museum. 

To recreate the finish of an old piece like this table, is a journey of discovery. Studying the surface would be the first step in your journey. You need to look very closely at the piece to "see" it's history.

In this case it is a kitchen table that was used regularly.  It took a lot of  wear. What do the marks look like? Where are they the most prominent? Note that the paint is almost entirely worn off on the top.

Then analyse the colours. How many different colours were used through the years?  How did the colours fade? Mix the paint and make up a sample. Once you are satisfied with your finish, you are ready to tackle your piece of furniture.

This is the fun bit. Take your time and let the surface come to life right before your eyes. It is an extremely satisfying process and quite addictive.

So even if your table is newly made from a different wood, your marks and paint will be as authentic as the original.

Happy Painting!

Tania
xxx

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