Ross Du

Pop-up book catalogue for our exhibit

Cover and backcover: made of plywood > reference to the many woods that appear in our furniture
– Cover will have a part with water inside it where you can make ships move around continents

General layout
COVER
Introduction
Spread 1: Ivory sidechair popup
Spread 2: Ivory sidechair catalogue entry
Spread 3: Ivory box popup
Spread 4: Ivory box catalogue entry
Spread 5: Folding screen popup
Spread 6: Folding screen catalogue entry
Spread 7: Chest of drawers popup
Spread 8: Chest of drawers catalogue entry
BACKCOVER
* Each popup page will have a wallpaper background, referring to the European home
* Catalogue entries will also have textbook images as references(?)

Tasks:
May ee – cover and back cover
Ross – layout
Evon and Teck Kim – printing, binding, pop-up

Where is Home: Colonial European Furniture with Asian Influences

Here is a link to our presentation. We would definitely appreciate your feedback!

We also edited our wall text to accommodate the comments.

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The 17th and 18th Centuries were the peak of colonialist Europe. By this time, England, Netherlands, and France had caught up with Portugal and Spain in establishing ports and, eventually, colonies in Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Americas. While they did not colonize China and Japan, they were also popular countries to trade with and were able to establish ports there. In honor of the monarchs who ruled over the European states, explorers and later, traders, would bring back crafted items made of precious materials to their kings and queens. They were a mix of sculptures already crafted by Asian natives and objects commissioned by the Europeans to be used by royalty. These were items with European functions and forms, like saltcellars and pipes.

They were also made with precious materials found in Asia. In this exhibit, there are various items made of ivory, ebony, and lacquer. Ivory is found in India and Southeast Asia, only acquired through the tusks of elephants. Ebony, in contrast, is a dark, heavy wood found in Africa, whose people traded with India and Persia long before the Europeans came. Because it was so sturdy, it was an excellent material for furniture. Lacquer is a resin originating in China, eventually making its way to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. It is used to paint and creates a metallic effect, usually used to show gold.

Eventually, even larger items like cabinets and chairs made of these materials were transported to showcase the craftsmanship of these colonies. Also, since these were easier to transport and more ships were coming back and forth from Europe to Asia, more people were able to gain access to these materials. Collecting items from colonies was no longer just a royal hobby: if one was rich enough, these items could easily be bought from various merchants.

At this time, furniture represented an individual’s social status and contributed to a significant part of their assets. It was popular to keep a well-acquainted living room, especially with the variety of tables and textiles one could use for decoration. Having furniture from Asia was trendy at that time, especially as it was a show of wealth and worldliness. The aesthetic of these Asian materials was so popular that even European furniture makers were influenced to combine the designs of different cultures.

Our exhibit tells the story of Europeans becoming acquainted with Asian furniture, as exemplified by our Indo-Portuguese ivory box and side chair. Asian influence continued to flourish in Europe, the colonizers bringing the materials home and creating something of their own with the influence they experienced through their exposure to different cultures and aesthetics. This is shown by our Mexican folding screen, typically a Chinese furniture, and French chest of drawers, which is a fusion of European, Asian, and even African influences.

Despite Europeans being the ones who colonized Asia, Asian influence was able to colonize the homes of the Europeans. The colonizer has in turn been colonized.

• Title: “Where is Home: Colonial European Furniture made with Asian Influences” > We thought very hard about wording! haha
• May ee will print a furniture prototype over the weekend to check how to make the pop-up work
• Try: book binding > sewing and glue, or punch hole
• Making Powerpoint in Google slides
• We edited the wall text:
  
  The 17th and 18th Centuries were the peak of colonialist Europe. By this time, England, Netherlands, and France had caught up with Portugal and Spain in establishing ports and, eventually, colonies in Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Americas. While they did not colonize China and Japan, they were also popular countries to trade with.In honor of the monarchs who ruled over the European states, explorers and later, traders, would bring back crafted items made of precious materials to their kings and queens. They were a mix of sculptures already crafted by Asian natives and objects commissioned by the Europeans to be used by royalty. These were items with European functions and forms, like saltcellars and pipes.

  They were also made with precious materials found in Asia. In this exhibit, there are various items made of ivory, ebony, and lacquer. Ivory is found in India and Southeast Asia, only acquired through the tusks of elephants. Ebony, in contrast, is a dark, heavy wood found in Africa, whose people traded with India and Persia long before the Europeans came. Because it was so sturdy, it was an excellent material for furniture. Lacquer is a resin originating in China, eventually making its way to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. It is used to paint and creates a metallic effect, usually used to show gold.

  Eventually, even larger items like cabinets and chairs made of these materials were transported to showcase the craftsmanship of these colonies. Also, since these were easier to transport and more ships were coming back and forth from Europe to Asia, more people were able to gain access to these materials. Collecting items from colonies was no longer just a royal hobby: if one was rich enough, these items could easily be bought from various merchants.

  At this time, furniture represented an individual’s social status and contributed to a significant part of their assets. It was popular to keep a well-acquainted living room, especially with the variety of tables and textiles one could use for decoration. Having furniture from Asia was trendy at that time, especially as it was a show of wealth and worldliness. The aesthetic of these Asian materials was so popular that even European furniture makers were influenced to combine the designs of different cultures.

  Despite Europeans being the ones who colonized Asia, Asian influence was able to colonize the homes of the Europeans. The colonizer has in turn been colonized.

• I also edited my object label:
  Chest of drawers
  1745
  Bernard Van Risenburg
  France
  Chinese Coromandel lacquer on oak and Indian ebony veneer
  All the materials used to make this chest of drawers were from various European colonies in the East. The oak and ebony used to construct the frame of the drawers were imported from the Dutch East India Company. On the other hand, the panels, painted in red and gold lacquer, were from China. These all eventually ended up in France, which acquired these materials not from their own ports, but instead also engaged in trade with other Europeans which had settlements in India and China. The French furniture designer Bernand Van Risenburg, inspired by the various materials, used them to create this ornate chest. This time was also when Rococo was popular in France. Rococo is a style which makes use of heavy floral ornamentation and light and airy decoration, and Chinese Art matched perfectly with this kind of style.

Object labels

1. India, Coromandel Coast, Side Chair, 17th Century, Ebony, remains of Ivory
   Side Chair
   17th Century
   India, Coromandel Coast, Ebony, remains of Ivory

The Side Chair, produced in the 17th Century, appeared to be made for the European powers who fought over the control of Indian Trade during that period of time. For whom the side chair was made for was not known, but in 1662, Catherine of Braganza brought luxury goods made in India to London and it was said that the chair could be one of Catherine of Braganza’s possessions. Ebony was admired for its dark colour and its hardness. It was seen as an exotic wood that was too rare and precious to be used as a solid wood for the making of furniture. The furniture makers thus incorporated other techniques and materials while making ebony furniture such that ebony wood could be reserved for veneering only.

2. Box, Teak, ebony & ivory, Mughal India, 16th/17th Century, Indo-Portuguese Style Furniture

Extremely rare Mughal Indo-Portugese Box in teak overlaid with ebony and inlaid with natural, brown and green stained ivory, depicting Portuguese figures in 16th century costume engaged in hunting scenes on foot, on horseback and riding an elephant. This box belongs to a group of ivory inlaid furniture, possibly from the same workshop, the most notable examples being a cabinet on cabinet in the Museu de Arte Antiga in Lisbon, a “communion” table top in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London as well as two table cabinets depicting hunting scenes and Portuguese figures in the Kuwait National Museum and in the Cincinnati Art Museum.

All these pieces show a great consistency of decorative principles and details, with a dense tree and flower decoration covering the whole surface of the panels. The trees are undulating and the composition seems to flow in an idyllic and naturalistic Persian inspired scenario of great delicacy and precision. This type of work is clearly distinguishable from the more common and probably later “tree of life” type.

3. Cock Fight Folding Screen, New Spain, 17th Century

Object label
Cock Fight Folding Screen
17th Century
Mexico
Lacquered wood with gold decoration and paint  

The Folding Screen (Biombo), with its Chinese-style (Achinado) aesthetics were highly sought after by the officials, settlers of New Spain, emerging from the conquest and colonization of the continent. They were able to consolidate their positions with such status symbol objects. These accessible biombos in New Spain imitated the European style of wall hangings and assumed their narrative element.  Forming part of a New Spanish material culture with its highly valued Asian origin, artisans made a conscious and selective appropriation of its Asian elements to give it a new meaning. This folding screen illustrates a representation of Mexico City in an Oriental environment, framed by a mix of Asiatic and New Spanish architectural elements.

4. Chest of drawers by Bernard Van Risenburg (1745). Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, New York. Made of Chinese Coromandel lacquer on oak and Indian ebony veneer.
   
   By this time in the 18th century, different European states were already actively trading using the ports in their colonies all over Asia. While this chest of drawers was made in France, all the materials used to make it were from various European colonies in the West. The oak and ebony used to construct the frame of the drawers were imported from the Dutch East India Company. On the other hand, the panels, painted in red and gold lacquer, were from China.

Wall text

The 17th and 18th Centuries were the peak of colonialist Europe. By this time, England, Netherlands, and France had caught up with the Portugal and Spain in establishing ports and, eventually, colonies in various areas in Asia. They were no longer confined to India and Southeast Asia, but also were able to trade with Japan and China, countries which were relatively harder to get to.

In honor of the monarchs who ruled over these respective lands, European traders would bring back crafted items made of precious materials to their kings and queens. They were a mix of sculptures already crafted by Asian natives and objects commissioned by the Europeans to be used by royalty. These were items with European functions and forms, like saltcellars and pipes. Eventually, even larger items like cabinets and chairs were transported to showcase the craftmanship of these colonies. Also, since these were easier to transport and more ships were coming back and forth from Europe to Asia, more people were able to gain access to these materials. Collecting items from colonies was no longer just a royal hobby; if one was rich enough, these items could easily be bought from various merchants.

At this time, furniture represented an individual’s social status and contributed to a significant part of their assets. It was popular to keep a well-acquainted living room, especially with the variety of tables and textiles one could use for decoration. Having furniture from Asia was trendy at that time, especially as it was a show of wealth and worldliness. The aesthetic of these Asian materials was so popular that even European furniture makers were influenced to combine the designs of different cultures, not being able to choose simply one.

European Furniture in the 17th and 18th Century: Furniture made with Asian Materials with Other Asian Influences during the Colonial Period

Possible Objects
1. Chest of drawers by Bernard Van Risenburg (1745). Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, New York. Made of Chinese Coromandel lacquer on oak and Indian ebony veneer.

This is a really interesting piece because the relief painting made of Chinese lacquer was imported from China and the panels were made to fit the oak and ebony cabinet made from materials from Indian Ocean trade. This was considered fashionable and trendy, with its European form and Oriental details. The marble countertop gave it a luxurious finish. As this was made in the 1700s, Europe must have already grown accustomed to trade with Asia, as they’ve started to merge different concepts and ideas into one gorgeous piece of furniture. This piece in particular really shows the fusion of East Meets West.

2. Ebony carved settees (18th Century). Galerie Liova, Paris. Made of Idonesian ebony and woven cane.

This was fully made in Indonesia, with elements from both Indonesian and Dutch furniture. The knobs on the sides of the settee are very Indonesian, while the poppy details and composition of the arms and legs were popular features of Dutch furniture in that time.

Possible Formats
I am really interested in the pop-up book format May ee brought up in our meeting, and have been thinking of ways to execute that. Other than that idea, I think a physical model of the room is the most apt. The four sides of the exhibit room would represent a country each, ex. France, England, Netherlands, Spain, and so the wallpaper of each wall would show a different motif to say which country is which. Then our objects would be the focal points of each wall, then there will be other pieces of furniture around them to supply context. This would let the viewer go around the room and get the feel of colonial Europe as a whole and how each country was able to be influenced by their own colonizers.

Goals
I want to be able to explore the relationship between colonial era Europe and Asia, and European countries with each other through their furniture. I also want to learn how curation works, especially for artifacts, which I never really learned about.

References:
Goodman, Dena & Norberg, K, ed. Furnishing the Eighteenth Century: What Furniture can tell us about the European and American Past. New York: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC, 2007. Print.
Galerie Llova. “A Very Rare Pair of Ebony Carved Settees.” Paris: Galeria Llova, 2012. Web.