Three weeks ago I mentioned I'd purchased a 19th-century Spanish chest, which required rearranging two rooms of furniture to accommodate it in our small Paris apartment. I first spotted this chest at a brocante in Chatou last September. The chest spent October and November with a Paris ebeniste for restoration work.
The chest in its present less-than-ideal location, blocking part of the sliding glass doors leading to the balcony and a foot away from a radiator. The green velvet piece from the first photo has been replaced with tan leather, as befitting its Spanish heritage. The bronze and steel Spanish sculpture on top of the chest is a miniature replica of the sculpture series shown in a June 11th post (photo below). Despite its small size, the piece is so heavy, I had to pay excess baggage when bringing it from Sevilla to Paris.
Les Menines, three bronze and steel sculptures by Spanish artist Manolo Valdes are part of a 2005 series of 21 sculptures representing l'enfante Margarita, the daughter of Queen Mariana of Spain. Valdes's sculptures were inspired by the Spanish painter Velasquez's celebrity portraits on permanent display in the Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid. An exhibition of Velasquez's work is currently at the National Gallery, London.
What a gorgeous piece of furniture so beautifully restored. I love how you pick pieces and objet d'arts to that speak to your soul. Absolutely lovely my dear, xo, JP
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 15 December 2006 at 13:44
Oh, Tara, this is so beautiful! I can't imagine how you fitted it in---your apartment is already filled with lovely and interesting furnishings. I, like you, though, would have found a way to place this exquisite chest!
Posted by: Laura | 15 December 2006 at 00:22
Absolutely beautiful!!
Posted by: Javacurls | 14 December 2006 at 14:34
The sculpture are wonderful! Are all 21 representations the same, or are there differences? And how large are they? (as you can tell, I'm quite enchanted by them :)
Also, I adore your Spanish chest - it looks beautiful in your home.
Posted by: Becca | 14 December 2006 at 13:52
What a wonderful find! I love the leather inlay - and the sculpture is a perfect accent, Tara. I agree with those in the previous comments - your taste is exquisite! xo
Posted by: tinker | 14 December 2006 at 12:20
Every time I come to your blog in the last few days I the picture of this wonderful chest. PP, I am sooooooo jealous, it is amazing, a wonderful piece.
Posted by: ainelivia | 14 December 2006 at 12:17
wow!..How absolutely marvelous!!
Posted by: Lux | 14 December 2006 at 09:45
Thank you so much for visiting my blog
(http://beautiful-art.blogspot.com). I am always so excited when people see my art. I appreciated your wonderful comments about my work, too. Isn't blogging great.....to hear from so many people from all over the world!!
Your site is very interesting. My husband and I have always wanted to go to France and it's almost like being there.....going to your blog!! I will visit often, I am sure. You might be able to tell from my website (www.artmajeur.com/debbieschramer) that I love things that are French.....many of my little pieces of Fairy Furniture are named French names. I am so enraptured with France!!
Thank you for your wonderful blog and for visiting mine!
Posted by: Debbie Schramer | 14 December 2006 at 07:51
What an amazingly beautiful piece! And the sculptures are gorgeous too.
Posted by: deirdre | 14 December 2006 at 06:10
Tara,
Marvelous dahling, simply mahvelus! I'm guessing it was worth the rearranging and space occupation. It's nice to surround ourselves with the warm beauty of early craftmanship.
rel
Posted by: rel | 14 December 2006 at 00:40
So beautiful!
Posted by: Chelle | 13 December 2006 at 23:43
You have some beautiful things. Thanks for showing sculpture that inspired the one sitting on your desk, and the min art history lesson.
Posted by: tut-tut | 13 December 2006 at 22:37
you kill me tara with your beautiful furniture and amazing eye for detail. i'd love to have a new desk, i've been on the look out for a new something for me to get crafty again.
Posted by: kristen | 13 December 2006 at 22:28
wow... lovely piece of furniture !
Posted by: diana | 13 December 2006 at 19:28
That is Beeeautiful. *sigh* Love it.
:)
Posted by: Amber | 13 December 2006 at 18:34
BEAUTIFUL. My gosh - you have amazing taste.. seriously. I am so picky beyond my own means and everything I've seen on your blog is just exquisite. I love the sculpture. When I saw the smaller version I was going to comment - I'm glad you showed the larger one and gave an explanation. How wonderful!
Posted by: holli | 13 December 2006 at 17:57
wonderful glimpse at the spanish chest; I can see why you snatched it up
those sculptures are great! I would like to have one of those!
Posted by: AscenderRisesAbove | 13 December 2006 at 17:57
I saw those sculptures last year at Palais Royal. I love the chest-really striking.
Posted by: Linda | 13 December 2006 at 17:38