For
this unit summary, I have chosen a certain motif found on many types of
furniture throughout history – the claw and ball foot – to help relate these
concepts to experience. The claw and ball foot is thought to originate from a
Chinese motif of a dragon’s paw clutching a ball of marble. Adopted into Europe
by the Dutch around 1700, this motif can now be found in a form native to
whichever country it originated; a lions paw in England, and more times than
not an eagle’s talon in the United States.
Furthermore,
relating this back to experience, this type of foot is a very good object to
convey an experience of naturalistic surroundings. Unlike ancient times when
the Chinese may have invented the dragon’s foot motif to honor a God or the
dragon itself, today these natural motifs are used to transport you outside.
Nonetheless, bringing the outside in will obviously require more than one item.
Accompanied by elaborate depictions of forest scenery, and maybe even a
taxidermy hanging upon the wall all will tie together to get the full effect of
a rural location. Given that the claw and ball foot became very popular in
England during the Chippendale and Queen Anne periods, the countryside is where
you will find many of these motifs.
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