Animal Motifs in the Decorative Arts

Animal Motifs in the Decorative Arts

One constant in the decorative arts is the use of animals as decorative motifs. A blog space cannot summarize centuries worth of decorative arts, but animal motifs appear in all decorative art forms, from ceramics to furniture, across continents and different cultures. Animal motifs are painted, carved, sculpted, molded, applied and used as feet, supports, spouts, arms, handles; the list goes on. Certain motifs are used to denote political power, think the Napoleonic bee, the British Royal Lion, the Dragon in China. Sometimes the motifs allude to mythical powers or exoticism, status and more often than not, the animal motif is used simply because the maker wanted to add a decorative element. Learning about the decorative arts includes recognizing when certain motifs were popular and animal motifs are no different. Once you look for the animal motif in the decorative arts, you realize it is all around. Below are some examples and favorites.

      

Teapot and cover, ca. 1760-1825,England. Red ware with black glaze. Norfolk Museum Collection, Norfolk, U.K.

Washstand, attributed to Charles Percier (French, 1764-1838). France. Yew wood and gilt mounts. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Paw Foot (detail), Sofa, New York, ca. 1830, America. Lefferts Historic House, Brooklyn, New York.

Piano Stool, ca. 1825, New York. America. Lefferts Historic House, Brooklyn, New York

Miniature Chests

Miniature Chests

Miniature chests appear regularly at antique shows and auctions. For many years these chests were described as ‘salesman samples,’ the thinking being that a cabinetmaker would make a sample for a prospective customer to show off their skill. Current thinking now believes that these miniature chests were created for direct sale to customers. Theories about possible uses for these miniature chests vary, from storing jewelry, gloves or hair ornaments among some ideas. 

Below are three examples showing the wide range of miniature chest styles. The first chest is in the collection of Lefferts historic house, Brooklyn, New York and dates from 1840-1860.The chest is probably from New York and has sustained losses during its lifetime. Bernard & S. Dean Levy, New York offers two fine examples of miniature chests. The bird’s eye maple chest is attributed to the workshop of John and Thomas Seymour of Boston, Massachusetts and dates to around 1800. This attribution is based on the use of blue paper in the drawers and numbering system. The other example is a curly maple chest from Pennsylvania, also dating from 1800. 

As can be seen from these three examples, miniature chests were produced by skilled craftsmen in a wide variety of styles throughout the 19th century.