I love it when a plan comes together…
The Art Nouveau project that we’ve been developing here in the studio is finished. This is Anna’s piece, more or less. I was just the advisor, after a fashion – colors, threads, techniques, troubleshooting – that was my part. Anna she drew the design and she stitched it. Hurray!!
When we talked about it here last time, I was musing over a name, and many of you piped in with some great ideas! Thank you!
So below, you’ll find the floofy name we came up with. I picked it. I’m not sure Anna loves the name, but it’s an artistic technique popular in the Art Nouveau era, seen frequently in jewelry (I love, love, love it in jewelry – but just for looking at, because real jewelry of this ilk is way beyond any imaginable budget!), and I think it evokes what we were trying to do with this piece.
The way the light plays on this thing is really rather fabulous. This photo was taken when the sunshine was flowing unabashedly through the front windows and right onto the frame. It was a bright afternoon sun, almost washing everything out. Because there was no real warmth in the light – just glaring, bright sun – it comes across almost as “stark.” There’s little warmth in the corals, the greens have lost their yellow tone, and the gold doesn’t gleam the same way.
But it’s still beautiful!
In this kind of light, flaws in stitching can show up very clearly. The fact that everything looks smooth and full, color-wise, means Anna did a nice job with the stitching!
I guess I won’t make her do it over.
My favorite part of the piece is the top of the arched frame, where this couched gold all comes together with the blue “ribbon” – I like it so much!
The Name
We’re titling the piece “Plique-à-jour” with the subtitle “An Art Nouveau Floral in Silk & Gold.”
If you look up plique-à-jour, you’ll see that it is an enameling technique, involving a metal outline filled with translucent enamel. The idea is that the light shines through the enamel.
And while it’s an old technique in art (it goes back to the 6th century, I believe), it was popular especially for jewelry and art glass in the Art Nouveau era.
So that’s the name. It’s pronounced “pleek-ah-zhoor.” Look up the technique – you’ll see some beautiful pieces out there in jewelry and glass!
Just In
We had some goodies arrive last week from overseas, so we’ll be stocking those this week. I’ll put out a notice once that’s ready for you!
I also had a fun visit yesterday from a talented wood worker who wants to get into making things for the needlework industry. It was fun to pull out all my wood tools! We’ll see how that goes – it always takes time for such things to develop.
Between the time change (which really affects my dad – he’s 95, I take care of him), plumbing and HVAC problems, and dental visits (good grief), it promises to be a bit of a week! But we have sunshine and warmer temps here in Kansas, so I suspect spring is getting ready to explode!
Hope your week is off to a great start!
Please get the kit for this out as soon as possible! It is stunning and Art Nouveau is a passion of mine.
The supplies are ordered… but… it may take a while for them to arrive. In the meantime, we’re working on the other bits, like instructions, which will be printed and included in the kit.
It is beautiful!!! And so unusual!!! I absolutely live it. I hope you will be kitting it up????
Yes! We definitely are!
Magnificent piece! And the name is terrific. Thank you for your wonderful website.
Absolutely beautiful, Anna!!!
This piece is exquisite. I’ve always loved Art Nouveau.
But the pronunciation of the word « jour » in plique-à-jour , is not the way you wrote it. The word jour, which means day in French, does not start with a sound with a « z ».I found a website where they were saying the word so that people who aren’t French speakers could learn how to pronounce it.
Yesssss, that’s why I combined it with the “h” – it’s not the sound of a “z” but it’s also not “sh” – we don’t have that sound with any consonant in English, so it is represented by “zh,” which English speakers understand as the “J” sound in French words like “jour,” or French names like “Jacques.”
That is gorgeous! Will there be a kit, as I believe was mentioned in the previous post?
Yes, a full kit!
Oh.My.Goodness! “Plique-à-jour” is calling me! Can you hear it? I will gladly pre-order the kit for this. Art Nouveau is one of my favorite styles of art so this will be a must. The design and colors chosen are sublime. Well done Mary and Anna.
Love the design.
I am interested in purchasing out when available. I reside in UK, if you could give indication of cost this would be appreciated.
No idea of cost yet – the kit will not be inexpensive, though, given the quantity of silk and the goldwork threads that will be in it. The manufacturers have not yet gotten back to me on timing. It may be a while, if they have to make the threads!
Wow, that is just gorgeous. What a stunning job Anna has made of it.