Fête du Thé Plant Stand Paper Plate

The great French cabinet-makers of the 18th century understood that a piece of furniture was not complete until it had been placed in a room: set against the right wall covering, framed by the right textile, given the context that allowed its proportions and ornament to be properly read. The Les Meubles plates work on the same principle. Each plate presents a vintage Rococo furniture illustration at the center, in warm terracotta tones on a cream medallion ground, surrounded by a border drawn from the striped and floral wallpaper patterns of the same period. The furniture and its setting arrive together, as they were always intended to be seen.

The plant stand illustrated here belongs to the tradition of the jardiniere and the cache-pot — the decorative stands that brought the garden into the French interior from at least the 17th century onward. Wrought with the lightness and ornamental confidence that characterizes the best Rococo metalwork, the stand is designed to elevate and display its occupant: the plant as guest of honor, given its own pedestal in the corner of the room.

The border is drawn from the striped wallpapers of the period: alternating bands with small repeating florals in the manner of the papier peint français. Part of the Fête du Thé collection. Pairs with the Les Meubles napkins for a complete place setting.