It's a new day

ateliers de luxe

Marking time.

The new year never seems real to me until the regular schedule begins again after the holidays. A little night prowler in search of  crispy croquettes knocked over a porcelaine bowl of clementines during the night so I am not as fresh as I would like to be today after a sleep break to clean up the pieces that were all over the kitchen. There's so much to do without even considering resolutions. I need energy.

fabric from Lanvin gown 1936

 Cat food has to be rationed ever since two cats live under our roof. It's the slinky black panther who made mischief last night. Was he really hungry or just bored? These once reasonable eaters will gorge themselves just to prove to one another who can eat the most, but mostly it's the older tiger who throws his weight around to say who is boss.

Sharon Shalita and Maytal Barokas

So much for any true understanding of cat psychology. 

I do know that we humains have been eating a wee bit too much these days because of a delectable over-supply of festive foods that it would be a pity to waste --

Issy Miyaké

but that we will never get too much of  seeing beautiful things to lift our spirits. 

Enthusiasm and the downward-facing dog pose (the cat just isn't the same) are my two favorite antidotes for fatigue.

anonymous French gouache design

A happy and energetic new year to you!

Le redoutable chat noir

Hommage to black cats! 

Still to this day, maligned and mistrusted, 

but always appreciated by artists 

for their 

graphic potential,

their clever and amusing ways.

and their mysterious demeanor.

Tonight's their night, after all.

All images from the site 

Le club des chats noirs.

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.

Halloween glamour old and new

photo Christie's

Hélène Rochas 1946 bat mask at the la Nuit du Pré-Catelan.

image Mme Figaro

Roberto Cavalli owl coat

image Bohemian Chic

Feline scarf Charlotte Sparre

photo Vogue collection Musée Galliéra, Paris

Schiaparelli gloves, Griffes,  complete with gold 'nail art' 1936

Lanvin snake print dress

Valentino dress made of silk and genuine strips of serpent skin 

3 things combined

The year is getting off to a nice start. I always like to find a calendar for the kitchen that will make me happy all year long. This one is called Les chats en France. Photographer, Rachel McKenna, originally from New Zealand also shares a love of
three things dear to me - France, interiors and cats.

in French

 Her book of the same name is especially delightful - because 12 pictures may not be enough to satisfy...

in English

and it is always interesting to see the cover choices for the different editions.


The author's site .

Feline Furniture

Félix Vallotton

Most cat lovers will admit to being attached to

their pet's aesthetic presence

as much as to its independent personality and charm.

Why shouldn't your cat's accessories be as elegant as he is ?

I saw this today at Chat et Essai. It was so nice, I couldn't resist passing it along to you.

Finally, a scratching post that will look good in your living room!

From Cat-on.

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.