Friday, November 25, 2011

Baroque wood stove

Located in the collection of the Met's period rooms is a fantastic white glazed and gilded baroque wood stove. While this may not be a traditional 'hearth and home' piece, these wood stoves were considered much safer than fireplaces and were widely used in northern Europe and most sat on stone hearths. I could see something like this used as contrast in a very modern loft or house- useful AND art!

6 comments:

quintessence said...

Exactly!! Form and function - just beautiful!!

Parnassus said...

I have seen these in modern homes, (Dorothy Rogers had one) but beautiful and warm as they are, somehow I am not fond of them when they cross the Atlantic--they seem antithetical to the spirit of American houses. Maybe it's hard to live up to that level of elaboration.

Hels said...

I would not normally find a white glazed and gilded baroque fitting appealing. However you make two excellent points. Certainly the wood stove was safer than the more typically fire place. And secondly I have seen them all around Northern Europe, particularly Germany. Newly arrived families would have loved the memories of home.

Ann said...

I was recently saw one, I think it was Austrian, that had been white washed at some point in time. The carvings still show so much detail. So... is this what you are getting me for Christmas? ;) Happy Black Friday!

Lynne Rutter said...

i could so find room for that

Greet Lefèvre said...

So beautiful!!