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Tag Archives: tortoiseshell
A Counterfeit Tortoise Shell Frame
Samuel Pepys’ diary entry for Wednesday 27 June 1666. He (Lovett) did also carry me to a Knight’s chamber in Graye’s Inne, where there is a frame of his making, of counterfeite [sic] tortoise shell, which indeed is most excellently … Continue reading
Picture This LXVIII
We are all fond of a bit of testudinal painting around here, so I thought I’d illustrate a faux tortoiseshell longcase clock that’s coming up for auction tomorrow (16th of December, 2015) at Bonham’s Fine Clocks sale in New Bond … Continue reading
Posted in Antiques, Auction Alerts, Clocks
Tagged chinoiserie, faux, longcase clock, tortoiseshell
2 Comments
Picture This LXIV
In A William and Mary Simulated Tortoiseshell Chest of Drawers, I mentioned how faux tortoiseshell-painted furniture was popular as a background for japanned decoration (either newly-painted or using previously tortoiseshell-painted canvasses). I recently came across this chest-on-stand which typifies late … Continue reading
Posted in Picture This
Tagged chest on stand, japanning, tortoiseshell, William and Mary
11 Comments
Picture This LIX
Eons ago, a friend told me his father was at home blind-fretting and in my youthful ignorance, I imagined his seeing eye dog had taken off after the neighbour’s cat and hadn’t returned. When I later developed an interest in … Continue reading
Posted in Antiques, Picture This
Tagged blind fretwork, brass, canted corner, carving, clock case, fret saw, fretwork, open fretwork, tortoiseshell, veneer
20 Comments
Irish Tortoiseshell?
I have previously written about faux tortoiseshell used to decorate case furniture and mirror frames etc., but none of the processes involved the use of any actual animal matter. On the subject of creating a passable keratin substitute for genuine … Continue reading
A George I Simulated Tortoiseshell Girandole – Part Three
As has been mentioned here before, imitating tortoiseshell on furniture has been achieved with varying degrees of realism down the centuries. The tortoiseshell backgrounds of japanned work often consisted of nothing more complex than random daubs of opaque black paint … Continue reading
Posted in Mirrors & Girandoles
Tagged asphaltum, foil, girandole, Joachim Becher, John Baskerville, pitch, tar, Thomas Algood, tortoiseshell
14 Comments
A George I Simulated Tortoiseshell Girandole – Part One
Virginia and I have decided upon an early Georgian simulated tortoiseshell girandole to hang in a bedroom, however I couldn’t find an image of precisely what I had in mind, so I’m going to take a degree of liberty with … Continue reading
A William and Mary Simulated Tortoiseshell Chest of Drawers – Part Seven
I will preface this post by admitting I am no photographer: Capturing the true colour and depth of the finish on this chest of drawers (it looks deep enough to swim in) has proven to be beyond my capabilities. Applying … Continue reading
Posted in Case Furniture, Furniture Making
Tagged banding, chest, tortoiseshell, veneer, William and Mary
11 Comments
A William and Mary Simulated Tortoiseshell Chest of Drawers – Part Six
Upon examining early japanned furniture, it becomes apparent why so much testudinally painted furniture was surrendered to japanners and other artists accomplished in chinoiserie. The least convincing simulated tortoiseshell finishes are bedaubed with a repetitive pattern more reminiscent of leopard … Continue reading
Posted in Case Furniture
Tagged blonde, cushion mirror, glazes, mouldings, scarlet, scutes, spirit varnish, tortoiseshell, turtle, William and Mary
8 Comments
The Exceptional Sale 2011
As its title suggests, Christie’s The Exceptional Sale 2011 (in their King Street, London rooms on July 7, 2011) contains some truly outstanding items. Amongst the treasures on offer is a group of Anglo-Indian ivory-inlaid, teak, ebony and tortoiseshell furniture … Continue reading
Posted in Antiques, Auction Alerts
Tagged Anglo, ebony, Indian, inlaid, ivory, teak, tortoiseshell
2 Comments
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