Think of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) and you’ll most likely think of the intricate, ornate designs of buildings in Barcelona. But Gaudi wasn’t just an architect – and he turned his talents for creating beauty out of intricacy to more than just buildings. He was determined that his vision would extend not just to the buildings he designed, but to the objects that would be kept within them.
One example of this is the wooden calvet chair he originally designed around 1901. Made from oak, this beautiful chair followed organic shapes and features ornate carving on the back. But it’s not just made to look beautiful – Gaudi also considered the posture of the person who would sit in the wooden chair, and aligned the seat to avoid the user losing his or her balance.
We’d love to bring out the best in this beautiful wooden item – or, for that matter, in the reproductions it has spawned. As it’s made from oak, it’s a French polisher’s dream – we can see why Gaudi, who loved beauty, chose such a beautifully grained wood. But in his choice of oak, Gaudi is once again showing that he does not disregard function in his quest for beauty – oak is a wonderfully hard and hardwearing wood, so it’s perfect for this kind of use.
We’d use heritage products to match the time Gaudi made the chair, and we’d build up layers of polish gradually and painstakingly over time to build lustre and shine. We’d create chatoyancy – that luminous streak of reflected shine that you can see in wood, or gemstones, that have been polished to perfection – and our work would not only make Gaudi’s beautiful wooden creation look good, it would protect it for future generations as well. That’s the beauty of French polishing!
full list
Subscribe to our RSS feed
