S T Y L E & D E S I G N
Rococo Revival
18th century opulence is taking hold of the design world
By Amanda Greene
April 26, 2004
Leave it to Sofia Coppola and Madonna to bring the powdered wigs
and the sumptuous decorative glory of the 18th century back into
fashion. Coppola plans to make a movie out of Antonia Fraser's
Marie Antoinette: The Journey. And Madonna is unearthing the
corset again for her upcoming tour. On the decorative front,
Ralph Lauren has created gold-plated flatware for his home
collection, and Philippe Starck was inspired by Louis XV in his
work for Baccarat and Kartell. Au revoir, finally, to minimalism.
The Art of Seduction
In the days of luxury-loving Marie Antoinette, seduction revolved around seriously sexy
decorative objects and accessories like daybeds, tea services and
fans. Many of those objects and more than 30 elaborate 18th
century costumes will be on display at the Metropolitan Museum of
Art in "Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th
Century" starting on April 29. The exhibition, curated by Harold
Koda and Andrew Bolton, explores the interplay of dress and
decorative arts in France from 1750 to 1789. It was inspired by
Jean-Francois de Bastide, author of the erotic novella The Little
House. He believed seriously expensive and elaborate furniture
and clothing were not meant to be just aesthetic eye candy; they
were also used as tools of seduction. Is the snuffbox the next
must-have accessory?
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His life and death recalled in images
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