Merisi's post yesterday, over at Vienna for Beginners (go and check it out, it's a daily visual treat), on a window display of broken china in a Viennese porcelain shop, reminded me of the first time I saw this amazing chandelier at Waddesdon Manor.
This is Ingo Maurer's "Porca Miseria!" chandelier, constructed with broken china, commissioned by Lord Rothschild to hang in the dining room at Waddesdon.
 |
| Photo source: http://www.theresasimon.com |
I love those moments of surprise, of seeing something so unexpected in a given context that you stop dead and look at everything differently. I love how this modern explosion of smashed plates looks in the centre of this classical 18th century French-style dining room.
 |
| source: http://www.theresasimon.com |
German designer Ingo Maurer made this chandelier in 1994 in response to what he felt to be the slick, overly-designed look of contemporary furniture. He initially called it 'Zabriskie Point', after the slow-motion explosion in Antonioni's film, but when some Italians came to its first showing and muttered "porca miseria!" in amazement, he changed the name.
Maurer makes about ten of these a year. Porcelain plates are smashed with a hammer or dropped on the floor, the chance, random pieces determining the final arrangement. So yes, you too can buy one of these, providing you have the ceiling height and a Rothschild-size budget (Christie’s sold one in 2008 for a bit over £37 000). You might want to settle instead for a cute little winged Maurer desk lamp from the Conran shop, at £400-ish ...
Waddesdon Manor is the Rothschild family estate in Buckinghamshire, built in the style of a French Renaissance château. It was used for a lot of the interior and garden scenes in The Queen, with Helen Mirren.
 |
| source: http://www.theresasimon.com |
Although bequeathed long ago to the National Trust, it is still the personal project of the current (4th) Lord Rothschild, Jacob (below, painted by Lucian Freud) who lives nearby, and thanks to him an accessible venue for an interesting mix of contemporary and traditional art.
 |
| source: http://www.theresasimon.com |
Oh, thank you, for these views interior, exterior of an amazing estate, and also for the close up views of the chandelier and of the Freud portrait.
ReplyDeleteI do have to admit that from the vantage point of my tiny apartment, it is not so easy to actually imagine someone living in such a place. But...it does make fabulous dream material.
xo
Thank you, Karen, you are so very kind mentioning my little blog!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of exactly that chandelier when I spotted the broken china in the Augarten shop window! Almost obsessive-compulsive, since I have tried to figure out how to create one of my own, always giving up on it, of course. ;-) And one day, I shall buy that winged Glühbirne, even though I think it is way overprized. I wonder how it will look with the new EU-mandated energy-saving light bulbs. ;-)
Absolutely fabulous post!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad I found you at Merisi's
Why have I never been to Waddeson manor pray tell? I have not lived...
I bot yr Rose Tremain Going Home(?) book instantly once I read yr review..it should be here tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI love yr 4-legged peeps too but Amazon said NO on them...
@ Carol of Paris Breakfasts & Karen:
ReplyDeleteI love Karen's review and am tempted to order as soon as I can throw my non-fiction reading material into a corner.
Karen, have you thought of putting an amazon link here?
Or is it me who missed it? I imagine that you tempt more readers to order these books.
(Yes, I buy at my local bookshops, but English language books are so expensive there, I have taken up a relationship with the UK amazon branch.)
Hello - thanks for stopping by my blog! Hope you make it to Edinburgh soon. You might wish to visit Holyrood Palace during one of your trips.
ReplyDeleteThe chandelier is stunning. Amazing that it is from 1944. Thank you for information on Waddesdon Manor.
ReplyDeleteOooops.....a closer look ( I wanted my husband to see this) reveals 1994---not1944! Good grief!Put on your glasses, Firelight!
ReplyDeleteOMG... how in the world are the plates held together??
ReplyDeleteI've seen a Maurer chandelier similar here in Toronto in an exhibition at Gardiner Museum of ceramic art. Too cool!
ReplyDeleteIt's an Amazing, one of the living World Wonder.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post and sharing with us.
chandeliers for sale uk
Shop Dining Foyer Chandeliers at EliteFixtures.com with no restocking fees on returns. All Ddining chandeliers; Foyer Chandeliers products are covered by a full warranty.
ReplyDeleteVery nice lights.
ReplyDeleteluxury table lamps india
high end table lamps
contemporary table lamps
luxury floor lamps
Designer home decor
I just couldn't leave your website before telling you that I truly enjoyed the top quality info you present to your visitors? Will be back again frequently to check up on new posts.
ReplyDeleteLarge Contemporary Chandeliers
Enjoy free shipping and browse huge amount of room decorative light at Cairo-Glitz.
ReplyDeleteluxury crystal chandeliers
lighting fixtures
wall sconce
Pendant lighting
flush mount lighting
Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here! It’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained!
ReplyDeletechandeliers for sale
Very interesting blog. Alot of blogs I see these days don't really provide anything that I'm interested in, but I'm most definately interested in this one. Just thought that I would post and let you know Chandelier
ReplyDeletewe provide complimentry lighting consultation
ReplyDeletebuy chandeliers online we also provide free lighting consultations
ReplyDeleteskincell pro review - What are the benefits of skin cell pro? I was looking for a cure-all product to use on my face that would make my problem go away. My face had always been prone to acne and had several scars from acne. However, my skin was dry, and the acne had largely disappeared. I didn't have any breakouts, yet I decided to give skincell pro a try. I read several reviews online and was intrigued by the positive feedback I got from others.
ReplyDeleteNice Article and useful Information,Led ceiling lights are nowadays the most used and this is because of the previously used incandescent light which produces more heat and not cost-effective when comparing to LEDs. You should opt for Led ceiling lights to consume energy and that too should be purchased from Lteshops.
ReplyDeleteInformative blog!
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Relucente
Nice blog you can also checkout our website
ReplyDeleteVatra lighting
modern chandeliers
ReplyDeleteUsers of One stop shop for kitchens, bathrooms tiles. 1000's brands of furniture, tiles, stones, lighting, cookware, and home decor. Free Shipping within Canada and United states over 999$. Canada and united states Tiles, stones, furnitures company.
https://finandfurn.com