We're Moving to ARTIFICE PARIS at Wordpress

Can you Blame us?

We loved our journey in blogger, our very first blog on blogger.  Let's face it, you made us what we are today, the author and commentator on worldwide blogs and without you, where would we be?

But, things being as they are, a girls gotta move on.

We will still be ARTIFICE, just on a new platform and we're leaving our affiliates too.

We want to express our thanks to GOOGLE, who like our first boyfriend, taught us everything we know today and set the stage for us to be, well,
the ARTIFICE GIRL.

our new address is:  artificeparis.wordpress.com

and a soon to be launched new name.  But, we're keeping that a secret for now.


ARTIFICE

ARTIFICE Discovers the Art of Nobility: Agry Engravers in Paris

but 

To begin, the recent wedding between Kate and Wills yielded a bit of news that went largely ignored by most everyone in the general populace. Of course, not all of us can be crowned the future Queen of England, if all goes well for Wills. But, the creation of the Middleton Coat of Arms caught our interest as a unique requirement of this union. 

ARTIFICE is always looking for unique things buried in the realm of the ordinary and this, was surely no exception. We would have to seek out the experts in this matter, the ATELIER of AGRY in order to learn more about this fine art.  Where does one begin on this journey towards nobility?  Take a short walk to the Place Vendome, and you'll discover a quiet and noble profession that has served France for almost 200 years.

Settled into the beautiful rue Castiglione in a petite shop that resembles something of a jewel-box.  This unique location has been there since about 1825 when the Place Vendome was built after being destroyed during the revolution. Nestled among the many luxury boutiques, hotels and eateries sits this petite shop which is more like a museum on the art of engraving. Entering through the little front doorway you are taken aback by the sheer size of the store: Its about 8 feet square.  Looking up,  you 'll see that its like an intricate puzzle box: doors, cabinets and cases are each carefully laid out with an eyeful of engravings, tools, objects, buttons, rings, cufflinks, and hand-painted heraldry from the collections handed down for almost 200 years. Did we mention the buttons?  These are charming and adorned the uniforms of French Noble soldiers and are made right here at AGRY with ancient molds cast to order. (*see ARTIFICE article on the French Republic Guards) Its quite simply, like a museum of the engraver's art.

There is one aspect that makes this experience go from merely interesting to extraordinary: the family that makes up the business has been performing these duties for Royalty, Nobles, Heads of State, and politicos for generations and are instrumental in keeping this art form alive. Catherine Hackquebart is descended from the a family of craftsman. Jean-Pirere Favinet-Agry is Catherine Hacquebart's brother both taught the arts traditional to the industry and his position is commercial manager. The techniques of Engraving, painting and illustration, copper engraving and embossing are specific arts that involve a unique ATELIER of skilled artisans who develop this craft. If you are a bookish sort of person, you'll appreciate the hand lettered and engraved bookplates, stationery, cards, invitations. The the importance of the handwritten word beautifully presented; makes this a unique trip through time before the explosion of technology turned everything into html.  

In some circles, creating an engraved card, or letter, is a way to express the luxury of time and connection.  A luxury like this now escapes the notice of the modern life.  Quite simply, the ARTIFICE of time, luxury of details, craftsmanship and  tradition make AGRY on the top 10 list of ARTIFICE ULTIMATE things we think should just stay, exactly the way they are.

We plan to think about our own family coat of arms, what does yours look like?

AGRY

14 RUE CASTIGLIONE - 75001 PARIS

Tél : 01 42 60 65 10 Fax : 01 42 60 48 92

 Email : maison.agry@freesbee.frSiret : 64202788200017

Alexander McQUeen - Still Great, After All These Years

We're sure if you are in New York, you'll want to see the extraordinary albeit dark genius, of the work of Alexander McQueen, enfant terrible of British fashion.  The exhibit continues through August 7th at the Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute.

Young designers are in awe, some designers are confused.  The New Gen designers take heart that a unique voice might someday be their own. The way we can look at his work is first as an artist. There is a dark side, a terrible side, but there is a confusion of beauty also that makes the work go from art to fashion in a process of discovery. The Runway shows were always arresting, productions and yet at the same time had a timeless terrible-ness to them.

That is what makes the work at once deep and dark, and beautiful at the same time. Thus, we understand more as we look into the work, and, wonder at the final end of a dark and tortured man.  Must fashion be so terrible, so dangerous, and with recent events in Paris with Monsieur Galliano, so...tragic?


Exhibit: Alexander McQueen, Metropolitan Museum till August 7th


Its important to remember the price, is still too high.  But for an artist, who has a passion to create, there often is a price, no matter what we may wish, from the outside, when we enjoy andexperience the work, there is an element of the tragic, always.  The triumph at the end is to realize that indeed, the work, outside the fashion world really stands on its own, as an extension of a society that is obsessed by clothes, more than every before.
There is more than fashion, here, there's a social commentary, an almost obsessive desire to explore the elements of the human form, and, its various expressions. Costumes, politics, business, style, trends, they are all combined here, into something more.

ARTIFICE at its BEST. Elements of Fantasy, and sheer guts and truth.
There will always be things to learn about him and the work and how we viewed the universe.

ARTIFICE

The Mad Hatters of Paris: The Bates of London Hat Shop

While on a walk on the Rue de Rivoli,  I discovered the beautiful and proper Hat shop,  The Bates Gentleman's Hatter from London.    Located in the heart of the rue de Rivoli, where the bankers and businessmen abound and Hotel Maurice is just a step away.  You are in the "land of people who wear hats", so be prepared.   Now, to the average American person, this is like being on Mars.   Fortunately,  ARTIFICE has been spared this banality having dressed many movie stars in hats in period movies.  So, we do know a good hat, when we see one.  The hats, that most typical Americans see, might pop up in a music video on the head of a pop singer, or in a train station in Philadelphia probably with a plastic cover on it.  Not good.  Simply, not the same thing.

So what does a proper hat really look like?  Its the shape, the brim, the lovely grosgrain ribbon, and, its ability to be re-shaped to fit a particular head.  They come in all shapes and sizes, colors and materials, for winter, and summer.  It was with particular amusement  we noticed that the names were emblazoned on the hats to make sure you knew what they were called.  Education, in the world of hats. Priceless.

Now, about those hat boxes.  I simply fell in love with the boxes, with their engraved labels and black and white graphics.  They seemed at once modern and at the same time, terribly antique.  A hat, to a man, is perhaps not on his list of most necessary things.  But, if you are going to wear one, please do it properly, and if possible, make sure its English.

And, in the summer, make mine a Panama, please.


ARTIFICE


www.bates-hats.co.uk

At the Grand Palais: Mary Cassatt Discovered

Private Collections Revealed at the 25th Annual Biennale des Antiquaires

Bi-Annual Syndicat National des Antiquaires  -  Grand Palais



The Mary Cassatt paintings we know about, and, indeed, many works we may not know about in the 19th century Impressionist school were purchased by private collectors only to get passed down through family members.  Thus, as a student studying the work of one particular artist, you may only know about the mainstream or published works.  We're not IMPRESSIONIST scholars but we are fans of Mary Cassatt's work. While attending the Grand Antiques show at the Palais, we happened upon these Cassatt's that were up for sale, for, say, about a million euros.  A bargain for one of America's most unique Impressionist painters.  Cassatt was the only women who was considered good enough to hang around with the boys.  Mary's life reads like a textbook for courage in a time when women were not considered qualified to even consider a career or life as an artist.  But when she was discovered, her draftsmanship and early training in Philadelphia with Thomas Eakins, who later became head of the Philadelphia Academy, was evident.  The fact that her subjects were families, children, portraits, scenes, and other intimate or personal moments made the other Impressionists, male, jealous.  Her ability to express these moments in that transcendent, painterly, and spontaneous style belied the structure of each skillfully drafted drawing beneath.  The portrait, quirky and personal with that dash of orange color in the flowers on the hat.  The second piece is a sketch, with the outside portions of the canvas left natural, a technique that Mary Cassatt often did, preferring a spontaneous quality of the paint that makes the definition, complete.  In all things ARTIFICE, we are always addicted to techniques that look effortless and this is Mary Cassatt's genius.  She lived out her years in France, in the countryside, where she painted and raised her family, who were often a subject for her works.
This is ARTIFICE at its very best. The utter delight as seeing these pieces was in contrast to the sadness.   We hope that these are destined for a good home, once they are sold, or, a museum will purchase them for all the world to see.  They are truly, pieces of  great beauty.

The website for this Biennale des Antiquaires is located at:  www.bdafrance.eu
The next exhibit will take place in 2012, Fall Season.




For more details of her work, ARTIFICE suggests you ret

ARTIFICE: The glass Ceilings of Paris

When ARTIFICE first discovered the glass ceilings of Paris, it was with great surprise and delight on a mixed up sort of day, when the sun was in and out of the clouds.

On a shopping mission, we traveled down our favorite Right bank street, the ETIENNE MARCEL, towards the Place de La Victoire, where fashionistas go to peer in the windows of KENZO and MULBERRY and other such hallowed places.  But on this sort of adventure where you begin, is not often where you'll end up.
Something interesting always happens.
Just as we were rushing towards the elegant statue of  Louis high atop his horse,  we came upon the lovely Cafe Vivienne, and, the Galleries Vivienne just behind it.  Here was the  arrival point for a fashionista, especially one with a historical bent.

The 19th Century arcades of Paris were the predecessor to the modern shopping mall.   The ceilings, borrowing from the cast iron technology of the Eiffel Tower and the Grand Palais, are elegant, airy, and, unique pieces of history in Paris.  The shops and boutiques are an authentic French experience and only lately, have the cutting edge designers discovered them  to showcase their designs.  It was no surprise that Gaultier, had a large shop there with generous windows and oddly decorated mannequins.   The Cafe Vivienne, also, made for a lovely lunch with plenty of friendly waiters and a delicious apple tart dessert with a generous snifter of Grand Marnier.  A dangerous shopping combination, to be sure.

ARTIFICE should mention that the arcade pictured at right, is not in your typical guide books, like the
aforementioned.  This image comes from an arcade that is near the rue Montergeuil,  behind les Halles and and next to rue Tiquetonne, it is the Passage du Grand Cerfs, located in the opposite direction.  Alas, our beautiful photos of Galerie VIVIENNIE were lost in one of those digital glitches we can't bear to report here.

Here's our list of  destinations for a slightly cloudy day in Paris, with a chance, of rain for shop-aholics, book-enders, and tag sale shoppers.  Its like a day of rummaging, and, as veteran shoppers, its one of our favorite delights in Paris. 

Covered Galleries in Paris, by ARTIFICE.


Galleries VIVIENNE,  6 rue Vivienne to 4 rue des Petites Champs.  Look for the Place de La Victoire, and you'll find it.  Tres Chic rating with the NATHALIE boutique,  Gaultier, and lovely books shop.

Passages de Grand Cerfs rue St. Denis to 10 rue Dussoubs, 2e.  Take a side street,  Marie Stewart off rue Montergeuil, and you'll see it in front of you.  Filled with Funky shops and Architecture offices.

Passages de Jouffroy @ Passages Verdeau 10-12 Blvd. Montmartre, 9e.  Antiques and Postcards, etc.  ARTIFICE cannot comment as this one we missed.

Hotel Jussieu: 17th Century Elegance in the Gardens in Paris

The Hotel Jussieu, also known as 19 Quai Bourbon, is a delightful building of private apartments that are graced by this lovely garden, and, my favorite, the bronze statue of Hermes, the Messenger. The Courtyard of the building still has its old pavers, and, the rare garden and shrubbery that creates a mysterious feeling and mood. 

So, there in the garden when

you look out, there's a handsome, pleasant fellow who stands guard over the shrubbery.  His handsome form, and beautiful patina gives him a unique  coloration and weathered look.  Feeling for a moment like a countess arriving for a romantic interlude, the building also has a unique history in that several well known residents worked and created there.