Haard met spiegel c. 1895 - 1910

Here's a design for a 'Haard met spiegel' - that's ‘Fireplace with mirror’ - by Léon Laroche. I can imagine Laroche in their studio, thinking about how the decorative arts can be bought into the home. Look at the detail here. I can just see the designer’s hand at work, carefully constructing a space for the mirror. The symmetry and intricate latticework evoke a sense of classical design, with the soft blue tiling around the fireplace opening, and the swirls of green and gold at the top of the mantle. It is fascinating to see the plates positioned above the mirror on this fireplace, I am reminded of the still life paintings of bowls and plates by artists such as Giorgio Morandi. This fireplace is an ancestor of the kind of decoration still found in homes today. It is so cool how artists and designers can create such beauty. It’s an ongoing conversation.