REPOUSSÉ is a decorative metal technique that you see on many antiques. In a nutshell, it's hammering metal from the reverse side to create a relief design on the outside, as seen here on the top and border of an antique Flemish mirror:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSnc3NaYKKlDzLpkN6heuL8KG5f3Q9Y3hWwFLd3GRI9uags2BtX0RtrTlVjcwIFddhzy3UH1A96zBLoSaS1MLhQjX-R61oAfMpYLKy3EN0yUfZCMWK2I_GAk6sP33WEx17_8PFtS4XHc/s400/1924_2-1+copy-1.jpg)
This gives a dramatic decorative effect to the mirror:
List price: $42,500 USD
It's pronounced "ruh poo SAY".
Here's another excellent example of repoussé, this time on a pair of Italian 17th century copper-clad wall sconces:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOMVjWhl8zEpuKkyySHicnupReKqR3XMCVE4XJuu84AOBc8W1tIB9O5-ji5mLZAtaUATFqE2mV-5tfxb-qCEtHw_UBiVJgoA3v4467s_sGm-8FJK_Xjx4Sbr1_j9JdG9VjXSBnNvVor8/s400/296_1.jpg)
List price: $14,0000 USD
Can you see how the leaf motif directly below the drip pan (called the bobeche, and pronounced "bo BESH") has been hammered from the inside out?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGMZOjOx8fRQdNV9gBkeDL7Hveeraji_qyX_aZ7PD4mRfShLUT4WgJUogO2zOMvAoWpOynR4C98uboW0mO-u_MWXQThHJ208nraFyEYuKveQoNw64OnipaZUZD9qgkVSqJTqNZ8nCJQA/s400/296_2.jpg)
Vermeer uses repoussoir in his 17th century masterpiece, "The Art of Painting:"
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqlMLJ-WxSDkVmIpj5Fs2hta2wwLRMZQEYYdKPTkhQ8w6DHLRFUhHSZRlPahtr4midvhlqwWAbSFVWgxhOx4y9yaPN8SgH6wxgMCyw214fJk0_KzWVFGI67aULJF5-h8B-5dUZsiCuy4/s400/artofpainting_large.jpg)
Note how he depicts the draped curtain in the foreground to draw your eye into the scene and to create the illusion of perspective-this is repoussoir.
2 comments:
Your blog is like a fabulous refresher course...I'm thoroughly enjoying it!
Thanks Jill. I love antiques and really enjoy writing about them. Plus I get a lot of satisfaction when I receive comments like yours.
Best,
Buzz
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