
Those cream ceramic lamps in Bert’s office are called Foo Dogs. This is part of the whole Japonisme theme that accents Bert’s abode. To review: Japonisme is defined by intricate, flourishing, floating world aesthetic of ‘Oriental’ art. A bit of history that ties into another one of our favorite subjects: the World’s fair:
Parisians saw their first formal exhibition of Japanese arts and crafts when Japan took a pavilion at the World’s Fair of 1867. But already, shiploads of asian bric-a-brac—including fans, kimonos, lacquers, bronzes, and silks—had begun pouring into England and France.By the turn of the century, Japanese graphic arts and textiles were all the rage in the States.
I asked an interior design associate, Max Humphrey, who has beautiful turquoise foo dog lamps in his home, why are they so lovely? He responded: “They’re classic. I don’t need to explain good taste.”
