Wire trellis and plant shelf designed to be hung on vertical surface. Heavy iron wire has been wrought to form the armature and hook. Over this is interwoven crimped wire in diagonal crisscross pattern to create a trellis. The plant shelf is oblong, semi-circular, has a decorative and functional shelf guard. The shelf was meant to hold potted plants that could be trained to grow up the trellis, as well as others pots that could be changed out based on the growing seasons. Under the shelf are decorative arabesque embellishments. The foot curl is oriented to the back surface and is stylistically reminiscent of curved feet on free standing pieces. The entire piece has been painted black over dark green. The French excelled at making these delicate wrought-iron and wire garden furniture which were popular in the mid-to-late nineteenth century. These pieces were appealing for both the garden and terrace because they were less obtrusive than other types of garden furnishings due to the near invisibility of the wire. The playful scrolls of this design are in the manner of the late-Regency style wrought-iron furnishings of the 1820s and 1830s. The most popular style of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century leading up to the Victorian era (1837-1901) was Neoclassicism. In America it has been called the American Empire style, Greek Revival, or Grecian style and was called Regency or Empire style in Europe. Neoclassicism was seen in painting, sculpture, furnishings, architecture, fashion, and even politics. This revival of classical taste was encouraged by the increased interest in classical, ancient, and antique forms inspired by recent excavations of in Italy, Greece, and Egypt. Neoclassicism pulled motifs, ornamentation, and forms from antiquity, as well as the Renaissance interpretation of the classical world. Elements of neoclassical design included fretwork, columns, palmettes, pilasters, acanthus leaves, tulips and lotus motifs, grotesque masks, processional reliefs, mythical creatures, laurel garlands, fruit swags, scrolls, tassels, fringe, passementerie, frieze decoration, lyres, and vases; as well as accurate depictions of flora, fauna, birds, and insects; and repeating patterns such as the Greek key and egg-and-dart. A characteristic of Neoclassical designs is strict symmetry of all the elements.
The most popular style of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century leading up to the Victorian era (1837-1901) was Neoclassicism. In America it has been called the American Empire style, Greek Revival, or Grecian style and was called Regency or Empire style in Europe. Neoclassicism was seen in painting, sculpture, furnishings, architecture, fashion, and even politics. This revival of classical taste was encouraged by the increased interest in classical, ancient, and antique forms inspired by recent excavations of in Italy, Greece, and Egypt. Neoclassicism pulled motifs, ornamentation, and forms from antiquity, as well as the Renaissance interpretation of the classical world. Elements of neoclassical design included fretwork, columns, palmettes, pilasters, acanthus leaves, tulips and lotus motifs, grotesque masks, processional reliefs, mythical creatures, laurel garlands, fruit swags, scrolls, tassels, fringe, passementerie, frieze decoration, lyres, and vases; as well as accurate depictions of flora, fauna, birds, and insects; and repeating patterns such as the Greek key and egg-and-dart. A characteristic of Neoclassical designs is strict symmetry of all the elements.
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The Victorian love of ornament and display led to wall-mounted display pieces becoming a popular feature of many Victorian homes. Both in and out of doors, objects and plants were mounted on brackets, which were usually made from metals, such as cast iron, aluminum, or zinc; wood; ceramic; glass; or plaster. They were frequently designed with decorative motifs or in elaborate shapes, and often employed motifs from popular revival styles of the time or in rustic interpretations of objects from nature. One popular type of bracket was a shelf protruding at right angle from a flat back. It was considered the perfect spot to place decorative figurines, potted plants, or vases filled with fresh or dried flowers. This example combines a tall trellis above its shelf. A trellis is an open framework or latticed structure made of interwoven wood, bamboo, or metal for the cultivation and display of climbing plants and shrubs. Most commonly they are made in a lozenge type lattice pattern; however, various shapes and combinations are also made. Trellises have been used in the garden as far back as ancient Roman times and were a popular feature of the Victorian garden. In the Victorian era, roses, ivy, passionflowers, morning glory, grapevines, and shrubs in espalier were popular trellis subjects.
