The Alsatian painter Carl (or Charles) Spindler began to produce marquetry pictures in 1893. He avoided the use of staining to achieve colour, or scorching the edges of pieces to give shading and suggest a three-dimensional effect. Instead he used different woods to create the details of his pictures and ornamental designs. He exploited not only the different colours of woods but also the wide variety of their grain. His furniture design was much influenced by the ideas of the more famous French designer Emile Gallé, who also worked in the Alsace region and believed in nature as a source of inspiration.
Alsace was on the borders of France and Germany and in 1900 was under German rule, though there was a strong local movement to reunite Alsace with France. The inscription at the top of this panel is in French and identifies the figure of the woman as that of St Odile, patron saint of Alsace.
This panelling, part of a music room displayed at the Paris International Exhibition in 1900, won not only a German Grand Prix but also a French Silver Medal.
Physical description
Section of panelling from a Music Room, of walnut with panels of marquetry of a variety of woods between moulded framing rails of walnut. The lowest section of the panelling is veneered in walnut with applied mouldings of walnut forming an ogee arch. Above this, is a broad horizontal dado of marquetry of leaves. Above is the main panel of marquetry showing a scene of trees in grassland, with flowers at either side. The top panel of marquetry shows a scroll inscribed (in marquetry) with the inscription: ' Sainte Odile, patronne de l'Alsace'
Place of Origin
Strasbourg, France (made)
Date
ca. 1900 (made)
Artist/maker
Spindler, Carl (Charles), born 1865 - died 1938 (designer)
Graf, J. J. (maker)
Materials and Techniques
Walnut and marquetry of walnut, pearwood, tulipwood, maple, amboyna, purpleheart, sycamore and kingwood, on a ground of poplar, veneered on the back with oak
Marks and inscriptions
Sainte Odile, patronne de l'Alsace Saint Odile, patron saint of Alsace
Dimensions
Height: 186.5 cm, Width: 105.4 cm
Object history note
Exhibited at the Paris International Exhibition, 1900
Descriptive line
Panelling of walnut, with marquetry of several woods, exhibited at the Paris International Exhibition in 1900
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Donaldson, George, The Victoria and Albert Museum. Gift of "New Art" Furniture for Circulation. The Magazine of Art, 1901, pp. 466-471 (illus.)
Neiswander, Judith A., 'Fantastic Malady' or Competitive Edge? English Outrage at Art Nouveau in 1901. Apollo, Nov. 1988, vol. CXXVIII, no. 321, pp. 310-313, plus footnotes p. 379 (illus.)
Labels and date
WALL OF MUSIC ROOM
Designer and manufacturer: Charles Spindler (1865-1938)
Cabinet maker: J. J. Graff, Guebwiller
Alsace (Saint-Léonard): about 1900
Poplar, oak and walnut with marquetry of various woods, upholstered in green cloth
2004 to 2007-1900
The painter Spindler began to produce marquetry pictures in 1893. His marquetry style was influenced by the Swiss painter Arnold Böcklin (1827-1901), while his furniture is indebted to advanced German designers such as Bruno Paul (1874-1968) and Joseph Olbrich (1867-1908). Against these must be set the influence of Emile Gallé (1846-1904) and other Nancy designers. His music room was awarded a German Grand Prix and a French silver medal when shown at the Paris 1900 Exhibition.
Given by Sir George Donaldson [pre 1990]
Materials
Oak; Walnut; Maple; Sycamore; Pearwood; Poplar; Tulipwood; Kingwood; Purpleheart; Amboyna
Techniques
Marquetry; Veneered
Subjects depicted
St Odile
Categories
Architectural fittings
Collection code
FWK
