This is a beautiful and unique Russian Shell Paper and papier mache trinket/jewellery box portraying famous illustration by George Barbier "Les Fêtes Galantes de Paul Verlaine", hand painted.
The box is signed with the artists name S.Silantyeva (in russian letters).
The box measures 12 cm (4 5/16 inches) long , 10 cm (3 1/8 inches) wide, 2 cm deep.
George Barbier (1882-1932) was one of the key artists of the “Art Deco” movement and one of the most prestigious French artist’s and fashion illustrators to emerge from post World War 1 in the early twentieth century.He produced the most exquisite, high-colour fashion plates for the couturier Paul Poiret, as well as contemporaries Lanvin, Paquin and Vionnet.His elegantly refined, graphic style was typical of the “Art Deco” school and the influences of Orientalism, antique vases, Indian miniatures, Aubrey Beardsley, the Ballet Russes (which inspired his lavish costume designs) and (not least) Parisian haute couture are evident in his work.
His stylised, precisely-illustrated fashion vignettes seem to effortlessly capture and define the atmosphere of the 1920s and are so evocative of that by-gone era and a certain type of upper-class lifestyle. George Barbier was born in Nantes in 1882 and went on to study at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts under the tutelage of Jean Paul Laurens.He was an extremely versatile artist and a very fashionable and flamboyant man who would go on to design theatre and ballet costumes, fans, jewellery, glass, fabrics and wallpaper, but he will always be revered/remembered best as a sublimely talented illustrator of haute couture fashions and books.He was part of an elite circle during the 1920’s nicknamed “The Knights Of The Bracelet” by Vogue magazine, whose membership included two of Barbier’s first-cousins – Bernard Boutet de Monvel and Pierre Brissaud, as well as such luminaries as Paul Iribe (one-time lover of Coco Chanel) , Georges Lepape, and Charles Martin.Barbier worked with some of the top writers and journalists of his day; after World War 1 he became an editor and journalist for the magazines “La Gazette du Bon Ton” (published between 1912-1925) and “La Vie Parisienne”, where he pioneered the use of “pochoirs” or stencils for the publication of his colour-plates (a hand-printing method inspired by the classical Japanese masters) to stunning effect (in spite of criticism from purists).Apart from his artwork, Barbier was also a skilled journalist, writing stories and society news for a variety of magazines under various pen-names as well as his own, birth name.He provided superb illustrations for the likes of P.Verlaine, P.Louÿs, C. Baudelaire, T. Gautier amongst others, but his finest illustrations were those which were interpreted by F.L. Schmied, in woodcuts form.
Paul Verlaine
The French poet, Symbolist leader, and Decadent Paul-Marie Verlaine was born in Metz, Northeast France on March 30, 1844. His family moved to Paris in 1851, where he was enrolled in the lycée. In 1862, he received his bachelor’s degree, then following the wishes of his father, an infantry captain, entered civil service.
As a young boy Verlaine had read Charles Baudelaire‘s Les fleurs du mal, inspiring him to write. In Paris, he befriended Parnassian poets such as Leconte de Lisle, Théodore de Banville, Louis Xavier de Ricard, Catulle Mendès, and François Cippée, and together they frequented ale houses of the Rue Soufflot. Captain Verlaine refused to finance his son’s drinking and writing habits. In 1866, Verlaine published his first book of poetry, Poèmes saturniens. As a young boy he had loved Elisa Dehee, an orphan cousin that the Verlaine family had raised, and his second book, Fêtes galantes, was published in 1869 after her death.
Though Verlaine married a young woman in 1870 and had son with her, he abandoned that relationship for another affair. La bonne chanson was written to his wife Mathilde Mauté de Fleurville in 1870, yet one year later Verlaine received a letter from a boy, the poet Arthur Rimbaud. The two began a relationship that was seemingly always unsteady. Their passionate affair, the subject of various books, films, and curiosities, ended July 12, 1873 when a drunken Verlaine shot at Rimbaud and injured him in the wrist. He was jailed for eighteen months. His time in prison was invaluable to his writing career: he studied Shakespeare and Cervantes, and wrote his quintessential Romance sans paroles. He renounced his bohemian life and converted to Catholicism. Following his release from prison, Rimbaud convinced Verlaine to commit blasphemy while drunk. Nonetheless, Verlaine’s book Sagesse is full of religious sentiment.
Verlaine tried teaching, and twice attempted to live in the country with his pupil Lucien Létinois; both times they went bankrupt. Lucien died in 1883, and five years later Verlaine wrote the reflective Amour. The last decade of his life Verlaine suffered from alcoholism and multiple physical maladies. He lived in slums and public hospitals, and spent his days drinking absinthe in Paris cafes. Fortunately, the French people’s love of the arts was able to resurrect support and bring in an income for Verlaine: his early poetry was rediscovered, his lifestyle and strange behavior in front of crowds attracted admiration, and in 1894 he was elected France’s “Prince of Poets” by his peers. He died in Paris at the age of 52 on January 8, 1896.
This is a fabulous oil painted picture and the photo doesn't do it justice. I also have more Boxes from this artist in my shop.
The boxes most widely sought after come from one of four small Russian villages - Palekh, Fedoskino, Kholui, and Mstera. Special schools have been established at these places where artists train for four years before they become members of each village's art community. Each village also has its unique style.
Refund policy:You will be 100% delighted or return within 7 days (longer if abroad) for refund excepting P&P.We take feedback very seriously,please remember if you are not happy with our service, then please contact us.
FREE UK POSTAGE!!! (We take IBAN payments as well as Paypal outside UK)We speak French , English , German and Russian.
Please leave feedback once you have received the item so that i know it has arrived safely.I will leave feedback in return.
Smoke & Pet Free Item
Good Luck and Happy Bidding!
