Blog posts tagged with 'decorative arts'

At first glance, Pablo Picasso's interpretation of The Blue Boy appears to belong entirely to the modern era. Yet beneath its simplified forms lies a lineage stretching back centuries. This article explores how Picasso's version connects to Thomas Gainsborough's famous portrait, Gainsborough's debt to Anthony van Dyck, and the broader continuity that links artists across generations. It also examines the pochoir process itself—an often-overlooked printmaking technique that offers collectors an accessible entry point into the world of fine art prints.

A detailed, research-driven examination of the Spanish mantilla comb (peineta), focusing on form, materials, historical development, and collector considerations, with contextual reference to a late 19th century faux tortoiseshell example.

Rosewood has been one of the most coveted woods in the decorative arts, from Regency furniture and Victorian tea caddies to fine instruments and mid-century carvings. This article explains the three primary rosewood species—Brazilian, Indian, and African—how to tell them apart, why Brazilian rosewood became legendary, and where collectors can expect to find rosewood today.