Picture Frame – Pyrographic Oval Art Nouveau

This beautiful small oval picture frame, created in the late 1900s during the Art Nouveau movement (pre-Art Deco), is a pyrographic work of art at its simplistic best.

This beautiful small oval picture frame, created in the late 1900s during the Art Nouveau movement (pre-Art Deco), is a pyrographic work of art at its simplistic best. Historically known as pokerwork, wood burning, fire painting, fire drawing, and even fire needle embroidery, pyrography is simply the art of writing/drawing with heat. The term “pyrography” […]

Handbag – Victorian Flared Gold-Tone

Handbag - Victorian Flared Gold-Tone

This late 19th-century Victorian handbag is knitted in monochromatic gold-tone threads and crystal beads with a triple looped beaded fringe. What is interesting about the beading is that it starts as thin lines widening as it descends into a swag design. Just as fascinating, the knitted and crystal panels are joined along one another’s side. Most often […]

Art Deco Handbag – Framed with Bakelite Clasp and Chain

Art Deco Handbag with Bakelite Handle 2016

There you are Art Deco handbag! I’ve looked for you high and low. What’s this, you are framed? Not possible! Surely you can get out of there. I need to wear you. Yes, I know you’re over 100 years old. I see how proud you are of yourself with your colorful glass seed and jet black […]

Optical Illusion in Fine Art – A Victorian Trompe-l’œil Example

Optical Illusion in Fine Art - A Victorian Trompe-l'œil Example "Escapting Criticism" by Pere Borrell del Caso, 1874,

Optical Illusion in Fine Art – A Victorian Trompe-l’œil Example Do you see what I see? The boy thinks he is escaping from a picture frame? Does he not realize that he is leaping from a Trompe-l’œil frame? Does he not know that such a frame is an optical illusion – the frame is part […]

Black Velvet Paintings available at Duplantier

Commission an artist for a custom Black Velvet painting at Duplantier! For so many, paintings on black velvet were the epitome of tackiness. You might remember the images of Elvis, matadors, tigers and Christ to name a few, and the stands set up along the side of the road to sell them? In those days, […]