Decorating With The Laurel Wreath Motif

As you know from reading past posts, I love using classical motifs in my home and always look for furniture, picture frames etc. that have either a crest, Fleur de lis, or Greek Key hidden somewhere on them. This post is about another of my obsessions, the laurel or laurel wreath which is predominate in Neoclassical Decorative Arts.The laurel wreath is a common motif in architecture, furniture, and textiles. The laurel wreath is seen carved in the stone and decorative plaster works of Robert Adam and in Federal, Regency, Directoire and Beaux-Arts periods of architecture.

The period of Napoleonic rule lends its name to the past due Neoclassical fashion.

Napoleon I encouraged French textile, porcelain and furniture workshops to increase their production for the greater glory of France and to promote his regime of revolutionary conquests by incorporating motifs that represented fame and victory. Napoleon liked to surround himself with all things military, and this resulted in “le style héroique”, featuring spear heads, campaign tents, coloured silks, serge, merino wool, and damasks featuring laurel wreaths and swan motifs. Louis XVI style of antique forms and ornament now included Napoleon's imperial symbols, which included the bee, the letter N surrounded by a laurel wreath, stars, the eagle, and hieroglyphic motifs gathered from his Egyptian campaign.

Architecturally, it become characterized by similarities to classical systems in addition to the Renaissance, classical global, often containing political subject matters inclusive of bravery and struggle.

"Victory, A Knight Being Crowned With A Laurel Wreath" by Frank Dicksee.

Below are a few pix of approaches you may keep in mind in case you are interested in bringing this classical element into your interiors.

Enjoy the tune!!

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Look for laurels on stands in home decor stores. Amy Howard offers these beautiful hand made replicas, in her new accessory line.

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You can usually pick a wallpaper that has laurel wreaths. I once had a robin's egg blue Dining Room papered in laurel wreaths and I cherished it as it appeared so regal.

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These antique laurels are appropriate. This is something I would really like to collect if one could discover them.

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The laurel wreath forms the returned of this lovely French chair.

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These pictures are from pieces in my office. The picture has a small ormolu wreath mounted on top and the cabinet has a brass mount. In decorative arts, especially during the Empire Period, the laurel wreath is seen woven in textiles, inlaid in marquetry, and applied to furniture in the form of gilded brass mounts.

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A brilliant door knocker with hand, laurel, and lion.

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The Abdication Room of the Fontainebleau capabilities sovereign motifs, consisting of laurel and alrightwreaths.

Maison de Stencils Paris Laurel Wreath by maisondestencils.com

This layout is simple to stencil so it may be utilized in some of approaches. If you have by no means stenciled before, the laurel wreath is a great venture for beginners.