Palissy Ware Snakes

Palissy ware is a 19th-century term for ceramics produced in the style of the famous 6th century French potter Bernard Palissy. This distinctive style of pottery is characterized by three-dimensional modeled life sized replicas and real life castings of amphibians such as snakes, fish, lizards, frogs, and snails and other plantlife and shells which were arranged onto large platters or plates which he called "rustic pottery". The authentic Palissay ware is musuem quality and rare.

What better way than to celebrate the week of Halloween, than with Palissy ware snakes!

Met Museum 

In 1851 Palissy ware was introduced by Minton & Co  at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London which brought back the Palissy style of ting lazed pottery with animal and plant motifs which was also similiar in style to the Italian Renaissance style of maiolica which they call Majolica ware, Majolica Palissy ware but due to the time period it is known as Victorian Majolica. Wedgwood began to manufacture majolica about ten years after the Minton's and then many other potters thereafter began to manufacture their own version of majolica sometimes adding their own twist by using flowers, fruits, vegetables and birds and breaking away from the platter design but adding teapots, plates, jugs, cachepots and more. By the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, majolica production slowly came to an end.

I think some of the Portuguese artists in the 19th century Palissy style Majolica that kept with the similiar style as you can see the natural details from the scales on the snakeskin and fish, the detail of the leaves and ferns. 

Here are 2 pieces from my mother-in-law from Portuguese artist, Jose A. Cunha. You can see the scene depicts natural authenticity in both plates where the snake is attacking the frog. 

Charles L. Washburne

Whereas the Majolica introduced so many other styles and was produced by a number of companies, some of the intricate scientific detail became lost, and other more "friendlier" reptiles were added, but the pieces are still beautiful. 

From antique dealer Linda Ketterling from The French Tangerine

Wedgwood Fish platter from Charles L. Washburne

Minton covered lobster dish from Majolica Society

Get your own snakes plates at 1st Dibs

Top (L-R): O'Sullivan Antiques;  O'Sullivan Antiques

Bottom: James Sansum Inc;  Timothy Corrigan Antiques

House Beautiful

The Auction Addict

Passages Antiques in New Orleans that carries alot of the 19th-20th century Majolica and Palissy ware from Architectural Digest

Blogger's visit inside Passages Antiques Interior Design Musings

Intro to Espalier

Espalier is French but is derived from the Italian word for "support", "or rest shoulder against". Espalier is art of pruning and training trees or shrubs usually flat against a wall or trellis to form symmetrical and flat geometric shapes.  

Espalier dates back to 1600's in France when fruit trees were getting killed by the frost so farmers decided to plant the trees next to walls. Then space became limited as the trees spread out, so the farmers decided to cut back the trees and realized this "pruning" caused the trees to bear even more fruit the next season.

Assorted espalier patterns that exist from Attic Mag

Famed landscape architect here in Atlanta is John Howard of Howard & Associates who designs the most classic yet opulent outdoor living spaces and gardens. Ironically, a few of his projects featured beautiful espalier designs among other beautiful landscape detail. 

Howard Design Studio

Howard Design Studio

Howard Design Studio

Howard Design Studio

Other Beautful Espalier Designs

Blooming espalier from This Old House

Smaller patio using the horizontal espalier design from BHG

Can you believe this magnolia tree is being grown so flat and narrow in the fan pattern of espalier from Barbara Berry's Beyond Beauty book featured on The Style Saloniste. I think this photo truly shows the art of espalier "to train a tree to grow flat against a wall".

Pattern Designs

Vines such as ivy or wisteria may be used, or flowering camellias, pyracantha, jasmine, and flowering quince are other good choices for design patterns against a wall.

Camelia branches create a criss cross design from This Old House

Beautiful belgian fence design on the front of the house from Deborah Silver

Here is an example using ivy in the belgian fence design from BHG

Fruit Bearing Trees

Fruit bearing trees, typically apples and pears, can be grown against walls and this practice allows for typically larger sized trees to be grown in smaller, more compact spaces. Heat generated from the walls help the fruits riped more quickly. The fruit bearing trees provide beautiful blooms in the spring, and vibrant foliage and fruits in the fall. See some of the various patterns patterns below.

I had not seen a citrus espalier yet from Ian Barker Gardens

Circular pear tree espalier at Museum Garden Gaasbeek, Belgium from Avantgardens

2 tier candalabra espalier (Pear tree) from renowned grower, River Road Farms in TN.

Close up of the actual tree bearing fruit

Ready to try your own, but dont want the daunting task of starting from scratch? There are reputable espalier growers who specialize in the "Trees in Training". Most notably, is Peter Thevenot of River Road Farms has estate grade pieces and whose work has been featured at George Washington's Mount Vernon, The Atlanta Botanical Garden,  Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, The Denver Botanical Garden, and The Morton Arboretum in Chicago to name a few.
                                                             

 

Ready to try your own? With a little patience and a few years, you can get your own espalier. Check out these instructions featured on P Allen Smith from Peter Thevenot at River Road Farms. 

George Washington's Mount Vernon Espalier's

Against the wall you can see some of the espalier from George Washington's Mount Vernon 

Close up at Mount Vernon from AD