Wisteria

This Wisteria minaudiere was inspired by the beautiful stained glass panels of Louis Comfort Tiffany.

In classic European paintings, flowers were symbols. Wysteria symbolized youth and poetry. Flower buds of all types whisper the promise of a fertile future. Tiffany's deep love of art and nature was well represented by his choice of wysteria. His images were vigorous, fresh, graceful, and harmonious.

Wisteria is a magical objet d'art in the colours of tanzanite, pale blue sapphire, emerald, smoky topaz, black onxy, and padparadscha (fuchsia) sapphire. Dragonflies with wings in the colors of emerald and peridot dangle from the purse chain eyelets. Dragonflies were one of Tiffany's favorite motifs. The base is hand-enameled in rich colours then baked for a hard, endurable surface. In nightlights or sunlight, this collector's piece shimmers with intense sparkle.

Wisteria Minaudiere:  $4,985 ea

The Wisteria minaudiere is approximately 6.5" by 4" (18cm by 10cm). Inside is a small beveled mirror and hand-dyed silk lining. The chains and all metal components are gold plate with the exception of the purse chain eyelets: they are made of a stronger metal. The purse arrives with two chains: one for shoulder wear and a short one for hand-carrying. It can be carried as a clutch without either chain. A jewelers' polishing cloth is enclosed. The purse is swathed in a silk velvet bag carefully nested within an elegant gift box.

This couture design comes is part of the Ballet & Opera Collection. The design is exclusive to Olivia Carlin of Atelier Carlin. (Atelier is the French way of saying artist's studio.) Read more about Olivia Carlin by click on About the Artist in the column to your left. Each unique piece is designed, hand-crafted, signed, dated, and numbered by Mme. Carlin personally. A signed Certificate of Authenticity is included in the gift box. Each minaudiere is signed and numbered. A Registration Journal containing the names of the owners of each Olivia Carlin minaudiere is kept at the Atelier.

Tiffany was an advocate of Art Nouveau and the Aesthetic Movement. Tiffany and his work were treasures of the Gilded Age. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Tiffany's glass works were a "feast of colour, light, and texture." Tiffany himself deeply believed that "nature is always beautiful" and declared his life-long goal to be the "pursuit of beauty." His sense of design was based on his conviction that nature is the essence of inspiration for humanity. Tiffany drew upon his excellent education and experiences while traveling in foreign lands to create beautiful compositions of nature. By using the medium of colored glass, he was able to use light to breathe life into his art with a result that is truly magical.

The Art Nouveau movement encouraged artists and artisans to use natural elements and organic forms as the inspiration for their work. William Morris, Alphonse Mucha, Gustav and Aubrey Beardsley were other strong proponents of Art Nouveau. The tenets of Art Nouveau included giving higher status to decorative arts. They believed we could live surrounded in the beauty of nature heightened by the artist's stylization. They sought to inspire an elevated consciousness of living.

Art Nouveau artists used flowing and undulating lines, "whiplash" syncopated rhythmic structures, and bold dynamics. Their art work was almost a religious experience they shared with the public: they poured their heart and soul into elevating the most beautiful of natural forms into compositions marrying the best of nature's bounty and humanity's unique ability to be creative. The artists not only expressed what was in their minds and hearts - they sought to give us all a heightened appreciation of natural beauty all around us.

Wisteria Minaudiere:  $4,985 ea

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