Charles II was popularly known as the Merrie Monarch. He brought with him liveliness and hedonism to his court. There was a sense of relief when he was crowned in 1660. There was a return to normality after over a decade of harsh Puritanism rule by Oliver Cromwell. The Merrie Monarch did not have children with his wife Catherine of Braganza whom he often neglected with his licentious ways, but he acknowledged at least 12 illegitimate children by various mistresses.
It was sometime during the reign of Merrie Monarch that the English really began to appreciate Chinese art. The Portuguese were the first to bring back items from China and Japan a century earlier. They even set up trading spots to supply all of Europe. However, it wasn’t until the 1600s when some pieces trickled into England. By the second half of the century, lacquered objects were imported into Britain on a large scale. Astonished by the refined quality and exotic beauty, the English could not get enough of this lacquer work. Artists who had a chance to take home some of these imported objects such as blue and white porcelain, lacquer screens and cabinets immediately copied the patterns with the utmost and precise detail. They didn’t know how it was done. That didn’t matter. They were crazy for it so they imitated the look.
Cabinet and chair makers began to use Chinese elements for decoration on their own pieces of furniture. Imported Chinese furnishings didn’t fit with their uses, with other pieces of furniture and they weren’t in scale with their houses. But the Chinese style was painted onto their furniture forms. This exotic look must have seemed especially fitting to the rich, decorative style of the Baroque times.
As the standard of life began to rise, people wanted this Chinese lacquer look in their homes. Lacquer cabinets were the most highly prized pieces of furniture during the Restoration time. The decoration was alluring and flawless. It was bazaar at the same time fascinating. But it also came with a very hefty price tag which remained out of reach for all but the very wealthy.
Methods of production were written down in recipe books and provided guidance for the professional as well as for the amateur. John Stalker and George Parker published A Treatise of Japanning and Varnishing; it was a very popular buy for the amateur decorator as well as the professional cabinet-maker. Japanning, as it was called, was considered a very elegant occupation for a lady. Women japanned anything and everything from chairs to candlestands to little boxes.
What else to do with this stylish look? Oak wainscoting had gone out of fashion. Tapestry was rather expensive and it wasn’t readily available in custom-made sizes. European wallpapers already existed but were not widespread in use –- the pattern a bit clunky made from woodblock prints. A Chinese paper hanging was an idea but they were scarce, delicate and hard to come by. Textiles from Holland such silks, calico and chintz were used frequently but people were looking for something new.
For the ultra wealthy who could afford Chinese screens, sometimes they would disassemble them and line the walls of a small dressing room or closet. Hampton Court, Chatsworth and Burghley all had lacquered rooms before the century closed. In 1682, one unidentified house in England used screens as wainscoting in a hallway. And the likes of which I would love to have seen.
This idea spread throughout Europe to Germany and even as far north as Copenhagen.
For the ultra wealthy who could afford Chinese screens, sometimes they would disassemble them and line the walls of a small dressing room or closet. Hampton Court, Chatsworth and Burghley all had lacquered rooms before the century closed. In 1682, one unidentified house in England used screens as wainscoting in a hallway. And the likes of which I would love to have seen.
This idea spread throughout Europe to Germany and even as far north as Copenhagen.
In the 1660's the highly fashion-conscious Frederik III and Sophie Amalie had the wall panels and doors painted in the "Chinese" style of their shared bedroom. The green lacquered panels have gold drawings.
But (for me) the most intriguing look of all is japanned leather wall coverings. Leather was durable and very practical and, unlike today, it was priced reasonably. Before leather wall hangings were ornamented by embossing patterns into it with a wooden block. It was decided that japanning leather made a suitable background for rooms. The skins, plentiful and cheap, were first covered with silver leaf, and then glued together. Once dry the silver was burnished then a yellow varnish was brushed over to give it a more gilded and glowing look. An all over design was applied by oil paint. Patterns frequently found on blue and white porcelain pieces were adapted. Very popular in England, these leather wall hangings must have looked spectacular glistening from the reflected candlelight.
Though located in Germany in the hall of Schloss Finckenstein (the name doesn’t roll off the tongue easily does it?), this wall hanging was allegedly copied from English ones. And though I will admit, I love the look and feel of leather but hate to think where it comes from, I am dying to see this in color.
But (for me) the most intriguing look of all is japanned leather wall coverings. Leather was durable and very practical and, unlike today, it was priced reasonably. Before leather wall hangings were ornamented by embossing patterns into it with a wooden block. It was decided that japanning leather made a suitable background for rooms. The skins, plentiful and cheap, were first covered with silver leaf, and then glued together. Once dry the silver was burnished then a yellow varnish was brushed over to give it a more gilded and glowing look. An all over design was applied by oil paint. Patterns frequently found on blue and white porcelain pieces were adapted. Very popular in England, these leather wall hangings must have looked spectacular glistening from the reflected candlelight.
Though located in Germany in the hall of Schloss Finckenstein (the name doesn’t roll off the tongue easily does it?), this wall hanging was allegedly copied from English ones. And though I will admit, I love the look and feel of leather but hate to think where it comes from, I am dying to see this in color.
We don’t have time anymore to develop the skill to adorn our walls or furniture or even small objects. It is a shame. It is interesting to note that many of us -- if forced to choose even in this dismal economy -- would pass over a large, practical piece of furniture for a sentimental little object our grandmothers made years ago -- a little decoupage handbag with a bakelite handle, a small mirror with a seashell frame or a small needle pointed rug. Only the biggest and grandest pieces of japanned furniture seem to have survived. I wonder what happened to the smaller, more sentimental bits someone’s mother or grandmother made four centuries ago.