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

SWEET TREATS FOR OUR VALENTINES

Lolo French Antiques et More is serving up some delicious "sweet treats" this Valentine's Day! 

We have a fabulous selection of chocolates for your Valentine this year — like this "burled brittle infused with orange liqueur dusted with chestnut shavings"

French Louis Philippe Side Table

and this "caramel truffle with a milk chocolate ganache infusion of borbon vanilla and sea salt"

French Art Deco Leather Club Chair

 and especially this "dark chocolate praliné, coated with roasted and caramelized almonds, enrobed in dark chocolate."  

French St. Antoine de Padoue Statue

  

Chocolat, whether it's the color or the candy, is a great gift for your sweetheart on Valentine's Day.

 One of our favorite chocolate candies, the truffe au chocolat (chocolate truffle), is synonymous with luxury and decadent indulgence. 

Truffes au Chocolate, La Maison du Chocolat, Paris

The chocolate truffle is a chocolate confection created by a pâtissier named Louis Dufour in the picturesque, mountainous region of southeastern France known as the Savoiea. While preparing Christmas sweets in the city of Chambéry in 1895, the French chocolatier realized he was missing some basic ingredients. Too proud to purchase supplies from a competitor, Dufour decided to blend crème fraîche, vanilla and cocoa powder — creating what we now call ganache — the traditional center of a truffle. To make his creation more appealing, Dufour rolled small amounts of the ganache into balls, dipped them into melted chocolate, and then dusted them with more cocoa powder. The irregular shaped chocolate confections looked a lot like the fancy mushrooms known as truffles, hence the name truffle was used to describe them. They were an instant success! 

Today, truffles are filled with everything from ganache to caramel to liqueur, 

and decorated with everything from cocoa powder to sea salt to coconut.

We hope you and your Valentine indulge in some decadent chocolate today!

Bonne Saint Valentin!

Lolo & Mimi

WEDNESDAY'S WORD OF THE WEEK: PIED DE BICHE

PIED DE BICHE

pied-de-biche [pee-ey-duh-beesh; French pyeyduh-beesh]

noun, plural pieds-de-biche [pee-eyz-duh-beesh; French pyeyduh-beesh]

Furniture. a termination to a leg, consisting of a slight outward curve ending in the semblance of a cloven hoof.

Also called hoof foot.

Origin:
< French: literally, doe's foot

This obsession with animal parts we have may have started with antlers, but it ends with hooves. At least the feet of furniture does. Furniture based on wildlife anatomy dates back 3,000 years to the creature comforts of animal-worshiping Egyptians, whose beds stood on carved bull legs, gazelle hooves or lion feet. The hoof foot, carved to reflect the natural appearance of an animal such as a deer or horse, appeared in fine French furniture towards the end of the 17th century.

Hmmm....

 The legs of furniture were sometimes stylized representations of animal limbs, but the feet were rendered realistically. It is very common to see the hoof foot found at the base of cabriole legs.

Antique French Louis XV style walnut side table. Circa 1880s. Serpentine moulded top. The scalloped apron houses drawers on each end with iron pulls. Resting on cabriole legs ending in pieds de biche.

Antique French Country Louis XV style confiturier (jam holder) from Normandie. Circa 1870s. Handcrafted of cherrywood featuring a single paneled door with unusual full hinge above a carved apron. Raised on short cabriole feet ending in pieds de biche.

Louis XV armoire handcrafted between 1750 and 1760 in Rennes of solid wild cherrywood. Double chapeau de gendarme cornice topped with a carved urn filled with stylized plumes of feathers, blossoms, leaves and tendrils above four doors divided horizontally at the center by two drawers. Each door features a fougère (fern) patterned central panel. Scalloped apron rests on short cabriole legs ending in pieds de biche. 

The hoof foot, or deer foot, is referred to as pied(s) de biche in the trade. It appears in Régence and early Louis XV furniture designs. It was popular in stately furniture throughout the 1700s when horse hooves became popular.

Lovely Country French sofa table/console converted from an antique farm table. Circa 1870s. Cherry wood. The carved apron houses three drawers with bronze pulls. Resting on cabriole legs ending in pieds de biche. 

And my favorite is this Brittany console Lolo found. Look how realistic the feet are.

Charming antique Louis XV style Country French console in chestnut from a hunting lodge in Brittany. Circa 1880s. Beveled top with gadrooned edge above carved apron with motifs typical of artisans from the Brittany region. Raised on four stylized cabriole legs ending in pieds de biche. Single serpentine shelf. 

What do you you think about the hoof? How is it used in your home?

Á Bientôt!
&
Happy Holidays!

Lolo & Mimi

LOLO LANDS IN FRANCE...DAY 1

Lolo has landed! He arrived in Nantes on Saturday just in time to have a simple lunch at home. 

Nantes Atlantique AirportNantes, France

A fresh baguette, pate, local stone crabs and a bottle of Cassis sat on the table laid for four. A "simple, everyday lunch," shared with family and eaten with pleasure. This is how the French eat.

Cracking Stone Crabs

Typical French Lunch
Fresh Baguette,  Pate,  Stone Crabs and a Glass (or Two) of Cassis

After lunch he visited with his mother, sister and brother-in-law before heading out for a quick look at a local dealer's warehouse. This is how an antique dealer thinks!

Louis XV Confitures

Louis XV Grandfather Clock

Louis XV Country French Table

Round Side Table

Antique Writing Table with Barley Twist Legs 

Top Opens to Hold Stationary

Antique French Armchair 

Country French Side Table

He didn't find much on this little outing, but now that we've given you a tiny peek into what it's like to go antique hunting in France, be sure and check back frequently to see if he does stumble upon anything you are interested in or find desirable. If so, "Let Lolo Know"and contact him at info@lolofrenchantiques.com. There will be much more to come over the next week!

À Bientôt!

Lolo & Mimi