Late 19th Century Napoleon III Style French “Chinoserie” Hand-Painted Metal Tray

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Original and eccentric French “chinoiserie” toilet or bathroom (“toilet ware”) tray; it is made of iron plate, painted with a special black paint; the interior has been painted by a skilled artist and painter in the “chinoiserie” style, who has meticulously and skillfully executed by hand exceptional and magnificent decorations of flowers and leaves, also creating a decoration in pure gold along the entire edge of the tray. There are, also, two animals depicted; on the right, inside a fan is painted a graceful sparrow, and on the left, enclosed in a frame, is a fine flamingo. A set full of incredible refinement and elegance! The term “chinoiserie,” which is derived from the French word “chinois,” was a Western-style that arose between the 17th and 18th centuries and denotes that “chinoiserie” did not come directly from Asia, but was an imaginative European interpretation of Asian culture; this style developed particularly in the decorative arts, architecture, literature, theater and music; France was the most prolific European nation in the production of “chinoiserie.” The varnish used is a light mixture containing shellac and anti-rust agents and was hot-applied to domestic objects made of sheet iron so that these were extremely durable and never rusted. This process, which originated in Britain in the 17th century and was known as Japanning because it resembled the lacquer on Chinese trays, soon spread throughout Europe, especially in France during the reign of Napoleon III. Our tray was created in a craft workshop on the outskirts of Paris (France) between 1880 and 1885, specializing precisely in elaborate and precious “chinoiserie” creations. The tray is in good condition. Measures width cm.62, depth cm.50, height cm.3. For all our shipments we use special packaging materials (wooden crates, styrofoam, etc.) for maximum protection and safety of the objects.