Lolo's French Bloguette: desk

Showing posts with label desk. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

WEDNESDAY'S WORD OF THE WEEK: TAMBOUR

TAMBOUR

tam·bour [tam-boo r, tam-boo r]

noun [tam-boo r, tam-boo r]

1. Music. a drum.

2. Architecture. a wall that is circular in plan, such as one that supports a dome or one that is surrounded by a colonnade.

3. Furniture. a flexible shutter or roll front, made with narrow mouldings or strips of wood that are transversely glued onto a heavy canvas or linen backing, the ends of which fit into grooves on the inner sides of the piece of furniture. It may be used as a vertical rolling or horizontal sliding door on a cabinet or chest.

Origin:

1475-85; < Middle French: drum ≪ Arabic tanbūr lute < Medieval Greek pandoúra

The tambour was first used in France in the 1760s when King Louis XV commissioned Jean-François Oeben, Ébéniste du Roi (Cabinetmaker to the King), to create a new type of writing desk for the king's private study that could be shuttered and locked. The desk's appearance and functionality were important to Louis XV, but security was his main concern. Confidential, diplomatic papers would be kept inside the desk's secret drawers and compartments, so a great deal of time was spent making sure the rolling top and mechanical locking devices were theft proof. There was only one key and the King had it in his possession at all times.

Louis XV's Bureau du Roi, Château de Versailles

The desk, known as the Bureau du Roi (King's Desk), is one of the most famous pieces of furniture ever crafted and one of the most opulent creations of the 18th century. Oeben didn't live to see it completed, unfortunately. He died in 1763 and his protégé, Jean Henri Riesener, was left with the task of finishing the work Oeben had begun. The challenging design and royal history of the iconic desk assured its fame and many 19th century ébénistes attempted to create similar versions.

Lolo French Antiques et More
Item #LFA276
Pair of Louis XV Style Chevets with Tambour Doors

This pair of chevets with tambour doors is a perfect solution for accessible storage when space is an issue and hinged doors don't work.

Lolo French Antiques et More
Item #LFALO1011
Louis XV Style Bureau à Cylindre

And this lovely desk is finished on all sides and can float in a room. Imagine all the letters written with pen and paper at this desk. How long ago did you write your last proper letter?

À Bientôt!

Lolo & Mimi

Origin:

1610–20; New Latin, Latin < Greek ákanthos bear's-footACANTHUS a·can·thus [uh-kan-thuh s] noun [uh-kan-thuh s] 1. Plants. any shrub or herbaceous plant of the genus Acanthus, native to the Mediterranean region but widely cultivated as ornamental plants, having large spiny leaves and spikes of white or purplish flowers. 2. Architecture. a design patterned after the leaves of one of these plants, used especially on the capitals of Corinthian columns. Origin: 1610–20; New Latin, Latin < Greek ákanthos bear's-foot

Original Post from: Lolo's French Bloguette http://lolosfrenchbloguette.blogspot.com/search/label/word%20of%20the%20week
Copyright Lolo French Antiques et More - All Rights Reserved

ACANTHUS a·can·thus [uh-kan-thuh s] noun [uh-kan-thuh s] 1. Plants. any shrub or herbaceous plant of the genus Acanthus, native to the Mediterranean region but widely cultivated as ornamental plants, having large spiny leaves and spikes of white or purplish flowers. 2. Architecture. a design patterned after the leaves of one of these plants, used especially on the capitals of Corinthian columns. Origin: 1610–20; New Latin, Latin < Greek ákanthos bear's-foot

Original Post from: Lolo's French Bloguette http://lolosfrenchbloguette.blogspot.com/search/label/word%20of%20the%20week
Copyright Lolo French Antiques et More - All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

WEDNESDAY'S WORD OF THE WEEK: TORSADE

TORSADE

tor·sade [tawr-sahd, -seyd]

noun [tawr-sahd, -seyd]

1. Furniture. refers to the twisted column that was a chief element in furniture design during the reign of King Louis XIII.

2. Clothing & Fashion. an ornamental twist or twisted cord, as on hats.

Also called barley twist from barley sugar twist.

Origin:

1880–85; < French: from obsolete tors twisted, from Late Latin torsus, from Latin torquēre to twist.

Torsade or Barley Twist Leg

In French design, the spiral shape known as a torsade became a major element of the Louis XIII style. The shape dates back to 333 AD when Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, brought back a pair of helix shaped columns from Jerusalem to be used in the altar of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. According to tradition, these columns, known as Solomonic columns, were originally used as structural pillars for the roof of the Temple of Solomon.

Gianlorenzo Bernini's Baldacchino in St. Peter's Basilica.

A new basilica was constructed in 1506, and the same spiral columns were preserved and

used in the new architecture. They still stand, built into the supports of the church across from Gianlorenzo Bernini’s Baldacchino (one of the greatest examples of Solomonic columns), and are viewed by the millions of visitors to the site every day.

Church Altar Front Church Altar Back

The twisted columns gained popularity in the Catholic regions of Europe and became a feature of the Baroque style. They were often used in altars, on the dial case doors of late 17th and early 18th century longcase clocks and the legs of French, Dutch and English furniture.

Louis XIII Style Barley Twist Desk

Barley Twist Side Table

Louis XIII Barley Twist Hunting Buffet

While English collectors and dealers often refer to the twisted shape as barley sugar twist after the sweet barley sugar twist stick candy that resembled the 17th and early 18th century leg, the French prefer torsade or barley twist.

1. Louis XIII Style Barley Twist Dining Chairs 2. 18th Century Louis XIII Style Walnut Armoire
3. French Louis XIII Style Side Table 4. Rare Louis XIII Open Barley Twist Writing Table

It's easy to add a French Twist to any decor!

À Bientôt!

Lolo & Mimi

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

A HARD DAY'S WORK

"Where do you buy your pieces?" is one of the first things customers ask when told Lolo is in France on a buying trip. They're always curious about how and where he shops. Many follow up with, "I would love to go with him!" They are under the assumption he stays in four star Parisian hotels and sips fine French wine while eating pâté and foie gras in between sights! Granted, his maman's house is worthy of four stars and he does eat delicious meals of crab, oyster, lobster and the likes while he's "home."

Fresh Oysters

La Cotriade d'Armor (Breton Fish Stew)

But you won't find him strolling the banks of the Seine. He's too busy crisscrossing the French countryside in a 24 foot truck, lifting and loading furniture, heavy furniture.

Pair of Louis XV Bedside Tables

Drop Leaf Table

French Art Deco Period Coffee Table

Set of 6 Louis XV Cane Dining Chairs

Washed Oak Louis Philippe Buffet

Louis XV Music Stand

Louis XV Buffet

Louis XV Desk

And when he arrives home after a 16 hour day, everything has to be unloaded and put in storage before he starts out the next day. It's not glamorous and it's hard work. But it's his job, a job that he loves.

Louis XV Armoire

Set of 8 Louis XVI Dining Chairs

Inside of Warehouse

He loves the thrill of the hunt, never knowing what he'll find or who he'll meet. He loves having a laugh and a joke and maybe an occasional glass of wine with a stodgy old dealer. He loves stumbling across what many would consider a piece of junk, an armoire or buffet in such disrepair that nobody wants it, knowing he can restore it to its original beauty. He loves being able to spend time with his family in France. And ever so often he'll get lucky and fill his truck early and enjoy the afternoon visiting a beautiful botanical garden or 13th century abbey.

Jardin des Plantes

Family Outing

His joie de vivre is most evident, though, when he arrives back home (Birmingham, AL) and animatedly tells a couple about the piece he stumbled across in the back corner of a little shop off the beaten path. He realizes, as they both begin smiling, that he found exactly what they were looking for, making all his hard work worth it.

You can let Lolo do the hard work for you, also. Just "Let Lolo Know" and he'll find that Empire armoire or ten foot farm table you've been wanting. You'll be the one smiling then.

À Bientôt!

Lolo & Mimi

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

LOLO IS ON A MISSION...DAY 2 FLEA FINDS

Brrrr....it's chilly in France, but Lolo is on a mission this trip. Neither wind nor rain, nor a cold blustery day could keep him from the vide-greniers, brocante and marché aux puces!