Tuesday 11 January 2011

Art Nouveau tapestries - Eugene Grasset Calender 1896

I have just found these lovely Art Nouveau hand worked tapestries at auction today. The full set of 12 depicting the scenes from Eugene Grasset "Belle Jardiniere Calendar".  They were probably worked in the 1970's and the colours are still bright and the needlework skill is excellent. They measure 12" by 18" so a great size to hang on the walls.

Grasset was born in Lausanne in Switzerland in around 1841. Between 1869 and 1870, Grasset worked as a painter and sculptor in Lausanne but moved to Paris in 1871 where he designed furniture, fabrics and tapestries as well as ceramics and jewellery. His fine art decorative pieces were made from ivory, gold and other precious materials in unique combinations and his creations are considered a cornerstone of Art Nouveau motifs and patterns.




 
In 1877 Eugène Grasset turned to graphic design, producing income-generating products such as postcards and eventually postage stamps for both France and Switzerland.  he also produced many posters and the scenes from his "Belle Jardiniere Calendar" are well known through out the world.
 


 
I have been very tempted to keep the tapestries however I have put them up for sale on eBay - if there are a couple unsold then maybe they have to be mine!
 
 


 

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