We advise you to read the entire description, as we try to provide you with detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our items. An original and eccentric French toilet or bath tray ("toilet ware"); it is made of sheet iron, painted with a special black varnish. The interior has been painted by a skilled artist and painter in the "chinoiserie" style, who has meticulously and skilfully executed exceptional and magnificent decorations of flowers and leaves by hand, also creating a decoration in pure gold along the entire edge of the tray. There are also two animals depicted: on the right, inside a fan, a graceful sparrow is painted, while on the left, enclosed in a frame, is a beautiful flamingo. A set full of incredible refinement and elegance! The term 'chinoiserie', which derives from the French word 'chinois', was a Western style that arose between the 17th and 18th centuries and indicates that 'chinoiserie' did not come directly from Asia, but was an imaginative European interpretation of Asian culture; this style developed particularly in the decorative arts, architecture, literature, theatre and music; France was the most prolific European nation in the production of 'chinoiserie'. The varnish used was a light mixture containing shellac and anti-rust agents and was applied hot on household objects made of sheet iron so that they were extremely durable and would never rust. This process, which originated in Great Britain in the 17th century and was known as Japanning because it resembled the lacquer on Chinese trays, soon spread throughout Europe, especially in France during the reign of Napoleon III. Our tray was created in a craft workshop on the outskirts of Paris (France) between 1880 and 1885, specialising in elaborate and precious 'chinoiserie' creations. The tray is in good condition. It measures 62 cm wide, 50 cm deep, 3 cm high. For all our shipments we use special packaging materials (wooden crates, polystyrene, etc.) for maximum protection and safety of the objects.
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SILVER Seller in Prato, Italy
