The exhibition houses a painted metal stand designed for keeping pocket watches and jewelry. At the end of the 19th century, during the peak of the pocket watch era, such stands were incredibly popular. They were installed on desks and bedside furniture for their owners to keep track of time at work or leisure.
The stand from the museum’s collection was made in the style of chinoiserie, which means “Chinese” in French. This is evidenced by the use of elements of Chinese art. The Europeans became fascinated with the East as early as the 17th century. During that period, a lot of Chinese art was brought to Europe by the ships of the Dutch East India Company. Eastern art continued to inspire the Europeans during later periods when its themes, images, and techniques were used in such styles as Baroque, Rococo, and Art Nouveau.
The stand’s composition is based around a dark metal column. It tapers towards the top and is rounded at the bottom. The large, rounded gilded base adds stability to the structure. The column is crowned with a sphere that is painted with blue and red stars and decorated with a jagged metal band.
The stand’s Eastern character is crafted with the help of two hexagonal decorative elements. The golden one has a jagged edge and whimsically shaped hooks at the corners. The smaller and darker one has upturned corners, imitating the shape of a Chinese pagoda’s roof. The asymmetrical design of the stand is emphasized by a separate tall metal hook.
The thin golden snake with its textured scaly skin catches the eye of the viewer. It wraps around the sphere and the column, descending from top to bottom, as if supporting the jewelry tray shaped like a gilded shell.
The snake’s thin tail wraps around the sphere and has a hook at its tip. The stand’s décor is based on the contrast of elements made of dark and gilded metal, as well as a combination of convex and concave surfaces.
The influence of Eastern art can also be observed in the subject matters chosen for the multi-color painting. Against the column’s dark background, there are colorful insects, including dragonflies, bugs, and butterflies. These motifs were very popular in Chinese art. The round gilded base is decorated with bands of geometric and floral patterns.
The stand from the museum’s collection was made in the style of chinoiserie, which means “Chinese” in French. This is evidenced by the use of elements of Chinese art. The Europeans became fascinated with the East as early as the 17th century. During that period, a lot of Chinese art was brought to Europe by the ships of the Dutch East India Company. Eastern art continued to inspire the Europeans during later periods when its themes, images, and techniques were used in such styles as Baroque, Rococo, and Art Nouveau.
The stand’s composition is based around a dark metal column. It tapers towards the top and is rounded at the bottom. The large, rounded gilded base adds stability to the structure. The column is crowned with a sphere that is painted with blue and red stars and decorated with a jagged metal band.
The stand’s Eastern character is crafted with the help of two hexagonal decorative elements. The golden one has a jagged edge and whimsically shaped hooks at the corners. The smaller and darker one has upturned corners, imitating the shape of a Chinese pagoda’s roof. The asymmetrical design of the stand is emphasized by a separate tall metal hook.
The thin golden snake with its textured scaly skin catches the eye of the viewer. It wraps around the sphere and the column, descending from top to bottom, as if supporting the jewelry tray shaped like a gilded shell.
The snake’s thin tail wraps around the sphere and has a hook at its tip. The stand’s décor is based on the contrast of elements made of dark and gilded metal, as well as a combination of convex and concave surfaces.
The influence of Eastern art can also be observed in the subject matters chosen for the multi-color painting. Against the column’s dark background, there are colorful insects, including dragonflies, bugs, and butterflies. These motifs were very popular in Chinese art. The round gilded base is decorated with bands of geometric and floral patterns.
