This weekend, I was thinking about the use of ethnic art and artifacts in contemporary interiors. There are so many unique textiles and decorative objects that can be used in rooms, but use too many of them and it looks Very Santa Fe, 1987.
A great way to use them is as sculpture in an otherwise clean and glamorous interior. Some examples include the use of an Ethiopian chair used in the Parisian 1940’s-style room shown here, which I did in a showhouse in 2005. It adds depth and an exotic note to the contemporary art collection, and you can also sit in it! It’s wonderful lines resonate with our more primal selves, and remind us of the African influences in the works of the great modern artists like Picasso, Braque, and Leger.
Photo ©2004 Douglas A. Salin http://www.dougsalin.com
Alberto Pinto the master of glamour, has a wonderful way with Syrian antiques used in modern interiors. As I studied his book, Alberto Pinto: Moderns
, I fell in love again with Moorish/Islamic designs, which are elaborately graphic and exquisitely beautiful. He uses pieces of marquetry in the most glamorous of European apartments and estates. Studying the many beautiful antique pieces he uses in his work, I was reminded of the height of culture that was realized in Persian society and art, while Europe was still in the Dark Ages, fighting with their neighbors. As I think of the Islamic culture of the 12th Century, I can see it as a true cradle of civility art and architecture. It feels like a great contrast to all the stories that are told through the main media today. Once again I felt the truth of the healing powers of art.
But I digress! In this photo, I’ve used an Anglo-Indian chest of drawers in a charming, masculine g
uest room, and it is the star of the show. (I also lined the drawers with leopard wallpaper—more glamour!) Again, just a single piece or the space would become too heavily ethnic and would start to have the Opium Den look popular in the ‘70’s. But with the 70’s so popular again in design, I noticed Pottery Barn has kilim pillows and rugs in their latest catalogue. So it may be a return to the Den! To me, that doesn’t qualify as Ethnoglamour—too much ethno, not enough glamour.
One of the contemporary artifacts I am interested in acquiring that is the Acoma Pottery of Virgil Ortiz. Shown at Kings Gallery in Scottsdale, the pottery looks very today with it’s black and white graphics. And Virgil’s pottery in particular has the glamo factor as his works include questions and comments about gender/fashion/ sexuality. Check it out at King Galleries.
I am considering my dining room right now. I have a collection of very rare Mexican painted gourds, primarily black or teal with multicolored flowers on them, from the 1920’s. I am considering hanging them on the wall, forming an organic, vine pattern and filling it in with modern stenciled flowers in black on a white wall. The entire room would be white with black accents. The only color would be the gourds….What do you think?? If I get the room white enough, it might just qualify for….Ethnoglamour!
Jane Antonacci Interior Design
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