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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Les Guirlandes

Posted by pece at 5:22 AM

Marie-Antoinette guirlande,on Etsy, sold5.5" x 7.5

I learned a new word this Paris trip - Les Guirlandes

Here's a guirlande, class you should immediately recognize if not sooner, so une guirlande is the same thing as a garland...

Les Guirlande du oiseaux on Etsy,sold 5.5" x 7.5

When I showed my friend Micha, my growing collection of decorative ornaments from forays to multi chateaux, she responded, "Guirlandes!"
And I had an "Ah ha!" moment...

A floral garland at musee Nissim de Camondo.

And another...

Draping this ornate clock...

As well as this divine teapot at Laduree...

Usually cupids or putti are holding up these floral garlands...

More...

Sculptural putti adorned with flowers...

And over many doorways throughout Paris - les guirlandes, guirlandes, guirlandes...

Here at Versailles

And on the walls of the Grand Singerie at the chateau de Chantilly.

So why this new obsession with Rococo ornaments, putti and garlands?

Because I have reached enfin the hypothetical assumption, that if you are surrounded by elaborate decorative design wherever you look, inside or out (as you are in Paris) this has to effect what you create does it not?

Granted there is a long tradition in France of elaborate food and patisserie. But as I learned again last night at a lecture by Florence de Dampierre, this is related to cultural changes brought about by the Sun King, Louis XIV.

Much more to come on this class!

So class, PLEASE STOP drooling over these divine desserts and think for a moment on their origins and why they spring solely from the fantastic pastry artists of France and they most definitely are artistes! OK, ca suffit. I give up.

BONNE DROOLING!

 

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