Hair of the Beast(s): Angora

via skiourophilia

Jean Honoré Fragonard and Marguerite Gérard
Le chat Angora 1783

 The painting was the collaborative effort of two artists.

"Marguerite Gérard and Jean-Honoré Fragonard worked so closely together – sharing a studio in the Louvre – that the paintings of  one are occasionally attributed to the other. For a long time Gérard, who was Fragonard’s sister-in-law and pupil, was thought to be the sole painter of this work, but it is now considered to be a joint production by both artists."

(The Wallraf-Richartz Museum)

Anyone would admit that it is the cat poised to attack his reflection in a gazing globe that steals the scene here. The Angora was the first long haired cat to arrive in Europe. Angora was the ancient name for Ankara, the capital of Turkey. Once in France, these companions were royal favorites from Louis XIII up to Louis XVI. Their elegance represented another facette of luxurious court life.

This charming genre scene shows an admirable rendering of satin folds and a colorful, long  fringed Turkish rug cascading off a table, but why is the painting, The Angora Cat, on St Tyl today? 

a modern day angora cat
source: Wikipedia.fr

With a wave of its paw, the cat in the painting has reminded me of other angora fibers that have nothing to do with cats. Or do they? Do they all come from Turkey? 
Some say that it is the silky fur of this popular puss that gave its name to the rest of the angora animals.

a French albino angora rabbit
source: Wikipedia.fr

Despite the existence of angora cats, sheep, and goats, the wool of the angora rabbit is the only fiber to be labeled as such in the textile industry. Its hollow hair causes its loft --the characteristic fuzzy, floating quality associated with angora fibers. It is much warmer than sheep wool, but since it is extremely fine and fragile and not very elastic, angora wool is rarely used alone. 

Some of the best quality angora fibers are obtained by combing the rabbits over-abundant coat at sheeding periods though shearing and other more violent methods have been decried in recent years.

an angora goat
photo: MH Perraud
Mohair France

 The fleece of the angora goat provides the wool called mohair.

From Turkey via Tibet, the word mohair comes from the Arabic  mukhayar meaning the best or most beautiful one. This lusterous, silky fiber is known for its beautiful color variations and its durable strength. (Strangely, the word mohair will then provide the term moire; my guess is that those shaded colors bore a resemblance to the ondulations of watered silk.)
Mohair doesn't stretch or pill so it is ideal for both high quality clothing and upholstry.

World of Reflections

photo: Le style et la matière

chez Deyrolle

More Animals at Christmas

Reindeer 

(Stag)

ox and donkey

To light the way

from Emery et cie

Dites, si c'était vrai

all photos Le style et la matière

This is the store front of a traiteur who sells many lovely delicacies in St Germain des près. The charm of the scene with ox and donkey is not without a lovely touch of wit provided by pretty little piggies who seem more interested in the food than the baby Jesus.

Lionize

door knocker Avignon

"Some 2500 years ago, a Greek artist conceived the strange idea of putting a movable ring into the mouth of a lion, or rather of combining two traditional elements, an artistic and a utilitarian one, by uniting a lion protome with a swinging handle.

image: ferlosio

 "The new art form, once created, lived on everywhere and became almost immortal. It would never have been so successful if its appeal had been so simple that it could be expressed in a short formula. As in every 'success story' there were many contributory factors and ambiguity played a considerable part. The figure of the lion was the traditional guardian of the dwelling and belongings of the living and the dead. Human pride could find immense satisfaction in imposing on the fiercest of beasts a most menial task. And in addition, a playful element slipped in. The homo ludens made the lion into a performing animal, frightened by it and at the same time showing superiority over it."

Lion Masks with Rings in the West and the East

Otto Kurz

carved lions in Paris

Our guardians, our protectors, our pets.

Inside and outside, we have tried to tame the beast. Even without a ring in his mouth, the idea is just

about the same.

image: touregypt

Egyptian chair with lion feet

image: Pierre Bergé et Associés

Ceramic stool formed from four sphinxes with their lion feet as its base, enamel seat decorated with military figures and a goose. Dating from 1900, it was inspired by an Egyptian or Greek antiquity.

Renaissance table Musée des beaux-arts de Tours

image: Pierre Bergé et Associés

Oak chair featuring back carved with a lion holding a shield. Seat and legs sculpted to imitate fur and with feet ending in lion paws. Provenance and date not stated.

curio: oak furiture remnant

                                        

oak floor lamp

Napoléon III oval rosewood dining table

Animal elements, especially relating to lions,  have been prominent throughout furniture history 

--but  seem to be accumulating only recently in my own home.

photo: Lion d'or of Rocamador

To look at the subject from another point of view, if you ever wondered why so many hotels were named

au lion d'or throughout France, it's simple:

au lit on dort.

This playful message signaled to the weary traveler where he could find sleep at last in a near-by inn.



photo: rita bucheit ltd

Empire bed of mahogany attributed to Jacob

In bed we sleep.



Jean-Charles Moreux: poetic, not pc

At the risk of displeasing those who fight for animal's rights, I have to say I'm wild about this hunter's repair decorated in 1935 by the architect, landscape architect, decorator, designer, historian, museographer, astronomer, naturalist - in short, by the Renaissance man, Jean-Charles Moreux.  Often inspired by Ledoux and Palladio, his mission here was not to achieve a stately palace interior, but to express his client's  passion for hunting in an smart Paris studio. The  classical sobriety in the arrangement of these objets insolites speaks also of the architect and his love of collections, encouraged to tweek the curious side of things by the surealist leanings of his colaborator, Bolette Natanson.

Let's look at the some of the details: Among the traditional huntsman's trophies, in the right upper corner, a floor lamp made from a towering urn and a crocodile skin; placed centrally, a table top left in its irregular shape - is it wood, stone?  Elephant ear! Walls are covered with untreated cork, the floor with sisal providing a rugged but warm framework for the owner's collection.

The top of this elephant foot lifts up to reveal glasses, decanters, and bottles -

single malt whisky would seem suitable.

The entrance doors are covered with bark cloth or another African textile; an upward turned tortoise shell forms the bowl top of another striking light; door handles are made of horn; a bamboo ladder leads to a mezzanine with carved guardians and walls covered in black shantung. 

All right, I'm not sure it was shantung. 

My source says black silk, but wouldn't black shantung be perfect? 

The bedroom is an alcove covered with straw mats which receives light from the living room through bamboo bars. The recessed ceiling was decorated with Bolette Natanson using various pressed leaves, dried butterflies and insects.

Stylé !

This is a very personal home or pied à terre.

Yesterday's souvenirs of adventures have become today's forbidden pleasures.

All photos Plaisir de France, Atelier Sougez

un, deux, trois, cat

Hail Bastet, goddess of house and hearth ! A few weeks ago I came across these pictures that I can't seem to forget. Just whose identity comes into play here? What Kate Potter has captured

is more than her subject's deadpan calm.