It's World Art Nouveau Day, you say..?
Well, if you insist!
Hugely influenced by both the Arts and Crafts movement and the style known as Aesthetisism in the late 19th century, and definitely a la mode in the heady years of la Belle Epoque, a taste for massively over-stylised curlicues, swags and carving, sinuous, sculptural, organic shapes, arches, curving lines, gilding, hammered metal, enamelwork, and sensual depictions of nature emerged at the turn of the 20th century - and the world went mad for it.
Ooh la la!
Who knew? I adore Art Nouveau. Here I think one can come by Art Nouveau antiquities...but the architecture is getting hard to come by. I can recall shopping in my home away from home Henri Bendel's, the interior, most all art nouveau and frosted and glass Lalique windows done by Rene Jules Lalique himself. Last I knew the department store was still sitting empty. I sure hope whatever comes of the property they are not destroyed. I had heard that Harry Winston, next door, bought the space and are expanding. I can remember when Donald Dump razed the stunning and elegant Bonwit Tellers, alas, to place his gaudy Trump Tower in it's place. I have always hated that man.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, I am more of an Art Deco person when it comes to style, but Art Nouveau certainly was impressive - indeed, one of my favourite buildings anywhere, Amsterdam's Tuschinski Theatre has elements of both styles...
DeleteI looked up the Henri Bendel store, and found out that the whole emporium was built for the perfumier Coty, and it was he who commissioned those magnificent windows. It's a shame that - given its huge resources (Coty owns massive brands such as Clairol, Rimmel, Wella, Max Factor, and has exclusive rights to names such as Calvin Klein, Davidoff, Burberry, Hugo Boss, Dolce & Gabbana and dozens more) - it hasn't stepped in to help preserve the building. Jx
That's correct. Coty was the original owners and had all their office there at one time till the Bendel's bought and gutted the offices and had the interior done in art nouveau. I'm sure Harry Winston will preserve most of the interior...hopefully. The interior of the store was incredibly beautiful. The service was on par with that of Bergdorf Goodman. The store itself has quite the story...and was a favorite spot of shopping for well over a hundred years, right up till the end in 2019....thanks to L Brands... for running in into the ground.
DeleteI want to swish down those stairs…
ReplyDeleteSx
I can't resist a sweeping staircase, either, Ms Scarlet! Call me "Dolly"... Jx
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