| from the president |
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As spring arrives with the promise of warmer weather and the greening of our gardens, at Maitland-Smith we are filled with a sense of anticipation and opportunity, especially as our talented designers put the finishing touches on our showroom for Spring Furniture Market.
In this issue of The Art of Living, we are celebrating the publication of a new and exciting catalog from our own La Barge brand – a renaissance for this exclusive purveyor of fine home accent furnishings. La Barge is proud to introduce its largest and most impressive collection in over two years during this upcoming April market. We hope you’ll agree that our carefully selected favorites and thoughtfully designed new pieces were certainly worth the wait!
La Barge, notable in the home furnishings industry for its striking designer inspired and artisan crafted home accent pieces, perfectly complements the extraordinary craftsmanship and range of Maitland-Smith’s fine furniture collections. Quite simply, the La Barge brand continues to be the premier resource for high quality, hand-crafted mirrors, tables, and accent furniture.
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| curator's chronicles |
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| Historical Perspectives on Ornamental Mirrors |
In the classic fairy tale Snow White, the stepmother’s infamous refrain, “Mirror, mirror on the wall,” is suggestive of more than her vanity. It demonstrates the importance of mirrors for both practical and decorative purposes throughout history, especially among the very wealthy who could afford the luxury of a wall mirror.
History of Mirrors
Mirrors from Greco-Roman antiquity and the European Middle Ages were relatively small, simply-constructed and hand held. Slightly convex, these first mirrors were highly-polished metal disks, typically bronze, silver or tin.
By the 16th century, Venetian craftsmen introduced a method of backing flat glass plates with a reflective amalgam of tin and mercury. In 1835, Justus von Liebig discovered the chemical process of coating a glass surface with metallic silver, the basis of modern methods.
While mirrors were still extremely expensive by the mid-17th century, the profusion of intricate wall mirrors in the palace at Versailles and other notable residences conveyed a sense of wonderment, and decidedly shifted the mirror from the realm of the utilitarian to works of art in their own right.
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| trend watch |
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The Buzz:
The Little Black Dress of Decorating—Mirrors |
For the home decorator, nothing works harder, comes to the rescue, or adds that unique “voila!” to a room like a well-placed mirror.
Like the classic “little black dress,” mirrors are a refreshing but versatile decorating option, perfect for a wide range of practical, architectural, decorative or artistic challenges. Whether you want to dress up a room with added elegance or soften it with casual warmth, address last-minute special touches, or satisfy a seasonal impulse to freshen and revitalize, mirrors are a decorative mainstay.
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| calendar of events |
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 Maitland Smith New Offerings at Spring Furniture Market
La Barge – a name that evokes the image of elegance, haute couture and craftsmanship. The charm of classic lines and modern style blend to create the prestigious brand known as La Barge. Whether you prefer chic metropolitan, classic traditional or regal elegance, La Barge has a sumptuous piece to entice every taste and style.
This spring, we are proud and excited to introduce the new “city” collection by La Barge – along with our largest, most distinctive line of introductions in over two years. As you have come to expect, we are pleased to offer continuing favorites including the finest reproductions of antique and period designs as well as our own signature pieces.
City’s ‘sexy chic’ collection is focused on transitional and contemporary styling; slipping into soft champagne finishes as well as trend-leading metallics that reflect today’s haute couture The City collection honors the light-infusing beauty of mirrors and unique accent pieces with luxurious materials like shagreen, snakeskin, supple leather, rock crystal, black glass and brass.
 Fine homes adorned with City accents, wherever their locale, can’t help but pulse with the heartbeat of urban glamour and reflect a hip, cosmopolitan attitude. The line’s focus on style, detail, and finish make City pieces perfect for a subtle contrast as well as a dramatic showcase in any room begging to convey a fashion-forward statement.
Come join us at market, visit our beautifully redecorated La Barge showroom and enjoy a magnificent feast for the eyes. While you’re there, don’t forget to enter the free La Barge drawing. You may be one of 7 lucky winners of a simply irresistible La Barge piece of your very own!
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This hand carved wood mirror frame in distressed fruitwood finish with antique gold metal leaf gilded accents is in the Renaissance Revival style. The style was popular during the 19th century throughout Western Europe and the Americas. Like many revival styles of the nineteenth century, it represents an affectionate look back at past decorative styles. 
The geometric form of this hand carved sunburst mirror frame takes its inspiration from the Art Deco period. The formal sunburst image itself dates to the middle of the eighteenth century and was the personal emblem of Louis the Fourteenth, King of France. Earlier sunburst devices can be seen throughout history, particularly in ancient Egypt.
Our hand carved solid wood rectangular mirror frame is an elegant interpretation of a mid-nineteenth century original. The grape and leaf motif dates back to the earliest civilization of the Mediterranean area. Minoan, Greek and Roman artisans employed this indigenous fruiting vine as a symbol of civilization and hospitality in a variety of materials and media. Prized for its fruit as well as the intoxicating by-product, wine, the grape was an important agricultural product particularly in the countries bordering the northern Mediterranean. The frame is accented with hand applied gold metal leaf which has been artfully burnished to a warm antique patina. The mirrored plate has a beveled edge, a quality feature found on many La Barge mirrors.