Still loving the Quatrefoil

One of the first blog posts I created when I started my blog in 2007 was about the quatrefoil shape, and I followed up a few months later with a ‘part II’.   I remember having a hard time finding images of non-architecture items with the quatrefoil design.  That is certainly not the case today!  The quatrefoil motif has become one of the favorite designs in jewelry, furniture, and design in recent years.  Even though the design has become more ubiquitous in recent years, I am still loving it.

Three variations on the ancient quatrefoil motif.

Quatrefoil window from the Bobby McAlpine house I recently visited.

I love the lacy character of this beautiful quatrefoil lamp sold at Horchow. (Click on image for store item).

A floor lamp, also sold at Horchow, in the quatrefoil motif.  Click on image for store item.

A beautiful quatrefoil screen by Uttermost.  Click on image to go to store link.

Coco Cozy has a gorgeous collection of quatrefoil pillows and quatrefoil fabric.

A lovely collection of quatrefoil jewelry from James Avery (click on each image to go to store item).

Quatrefoil motif crib from Target (click image to link to store item).  I actually think this is a cute crib - and it converts to a toddler bed too.

Circa Lighting/Visual Comfort has a variety of lamps with the quatrefoil theme (click here to see website).

Customized cocktail napkins with a quatrefoil motif, and personalized initials.  The ultimate gift for the quatrefoil fan! Click on image for store link.

Pretty quatrefoil bangles from Bergdorf Goodman.  I am partial to the gold one!  Click on images for store item.

This mirror is called the ‘Hayes Quatrefoil Metal Clad’ mirror by Arteriors. Although not the classic quatrefoil shape, there is something about this mirror that brings in both the masculine and the classic. Click on image for store link (I believe this mirror is on sale now).  This is similar to a mirror that I have in my powder room, but the price point is way more reasonable!

I love the design of this bracelet – and the fact that the pattern is also part of the clasp.  Click image to see store item.

Finally, the Alexandra chair from the Suzanne Kasler collection by Hickory Chair.  This quatrefoil has become a signature motif for Kasler, and is seen in her lines for Ballard, Hickory Chair, and Visual Comfort.

I am still a fan of the quatrefoil, and probably always will be.  What about you?  Do you own any quatrefoil related items in your house?  To comment directly on the blog post, please click here.

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What’s New at Quatrefoil Design

http://www.quatrefoildesign.com/

It has been five months since my I launched my online store, Quatrefoil Design, and my team and I have already sold framed intaglios from coast to coast! (Click here to see our original intaglio post launching the store.) All of our customers have been thrilled with the quality and beauty of the framed intaglios; the prices are also amazing. During a recent visit to an antique store in town, I noticed that many of our competitors’ framed intaglios were priced at $500 and up. Ours are less than half that price.

In response to designer and customer requests, we quickly added a new frame finish to our line up. In addition to the gold finish and the silver finish, we have a new finish that we call ‘gilver’ – the perfect middle ground between silver and gold. To create the gilver finish, the frame is first hand gilded in silver, then a warm translucent gold wash is glazed over it. The intaglios are mounted on an off-white mat, and have a light glaze on the intaglios for subtle contrast (and to give the look of age). Although we love all of our finishes, the gilver is so versatile – it goes in just about any setting, any color scheme.

Here is an example of the ‘gilver’ finish. This is a large size (17 5/8" x 21 5/8" outer dimensions) in the Laura design; any of our designs seen in the store can be made in large or small (12 3/4"x 16" outer dimension) standard sizes, with either the gold, silver, or gilver frame. The the 'gilver' frame, the intaglios are mounted on off-white mat, and are very lightly glazed for an aged appearance.

Here is a close up of the "Ansley' design with our gold frame (all designs are available in any of the frame finishes). The intaglios are lightly glazed for an aged appearance.

A close up of our silver frame with the medium gray inner mat, light gray outer mat. The intaglios are white for maximum contrast. This is also available with white outer mat.

We carefully designed the frame width so that it can be hung in a hall, and the frame does not stick out too much; but it can also be hung in a position where it is being viewed straight on.

We have finish and mat samples available through our store (click here), as many customers like to see the specific color before ordering. From left to right – silver, gold, and gilver.

One of our first orders was from one of my all time favorite bloggers, Gina from Willow Decor.

She lives in a beautiful home in New England, and had been searching for the perfect thing to put above her antique Swedish settee. Gina’s order was custom all the way – we even developed a special frame finish for her that is gilver leaning towards gold (it is not one of our standard finishes, but can be made on request). Gina sent us a bolt of 100 year old Belgian linen to mount her intaglios on; the result was better than we could have imagined (mounting on customers own material is a 10% upcharge, and we request that a sample of the material is sent to us first to evaluate whether it is suitable for framing). Click here to read Gina’s blog post on the intaglios and her lovely conservatory.

This is a custom grouping that we developed, with a subtle neutral mat with a taupe tone that nicely contrasts with the intaglios. The mat color was selected specifically to harmonize with the ‘gilver’ frame, which was used in this grouping. The scale of this grouping was designed to be large and dramatic, perfect as a focal point over a piece of furniture. Also important to note is that there is a tremendous amount of variety that is possible in the intaglios themselves. For example, we had another client who ordered a similar configuration, but specifically requested no oval intaglios.

We can also do this arrangement on a slightly smaller scale.

Some of our best customers have been fellow bloggers. Joni of Cote de Texas recently ordered a wonderful grouping of framed intaglios for a client, as seen in this quick iphone shot from Joni’s client’s hallway. The frame is our gold finish. Since we custom make every order, Joni was able to specify the exact dimensions for the frames, and requested that the mat opening closely frame the intaglios themselves. She also wanted the center frames to contain two intaglios. The result was so beautiful that we are now including it as an offering in the store. The two larger frames in the center are now called ‘The Joni I’ and ‘The Joni II’. We have called the grouping (a set of 6) ‘The Cote de Texas’ (click here to see the item in our store).

We also have a new square size that has been very popular. Our standard square size is 15 3/4" wide x 16" high (slightly higher for perspective reasons), however we can make it larger or smaller according to customer requirements.

Another blogger who ordered from us recently is Jeannette; her blog (click here) is a wonderful read, full of inspiring photos and a testament to her passion for design and scrapbooking. Almost as soon as I put the new ‘Joni I’ and ‘Joni II’ in the Quatrefoil Design store, Jeannette put in an order! The picture above shows them in her upstairs hallway, and she created a wonderful blog post about it (click here).

Designers and customers, I would love to feature your order on my blog! For those of you who have ordered, I invite you to send me a picture of the intaglios in their new home. I am happy to link to any blogs or design firm websites from customers – given that my blog gets tens of thousands of visitors a month, this is a great way to feature either your firm or your blog or both!

To visit the Quatrefoil Design store, please visit http://www.quatrefoildesign.com/. We offer a courtesy to the trade, and volume discounts on certain items. We also have special stocking dealer pricing. Please feel free to email with any questions or inquiries – thingsthatinspire@gmail.com. I also have more detailed high resolution pictures of any of our designs.

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The Quatrefoil Part II

For more inspiring quatrefoil images, please visit my companion site.

Since my first post on the quatrefoil shape, I have been seeing it everywhere! In architecture, a quatrefoil is a symmetrical shape which forms the overall outline of four partially-overlapping circles of the same diameter. The most common forms of the quatrefoil is shown in the middle image below; in this version of the quatrefoil, the circles are pulled almost as far apart as they can be and still have the circumferences of the innermost circular white areas intersect. A less common form is the architectural quatrefoil combined with a square, which is shown in the image on the right.


The Araby mirror by Ironies (made of pieced bone). This is a quatrefoil combined with a square.

Walker Zanger Chapelle Border, from the Avignon Collection

Quatrefoil fabric in silver, Alexander Girard, 1954. This fabric is still made, and comes in several colorways.

Van Cleef & Arpels, from the Alhambra Collection. A favorite of celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon.

The quatrefoil is frequently seen in Gothic architecture. Gothic architecture originated in the 12th century France and lasted into the 16th century; aspects of Gothic architecture were characteristic of the Tudor period in England (1485–1603). This mantle and door were made by Tudor Artisans, an Atlanta company that makes architectural elements common during the Tudor period. Note the quatrefoil in the carving of the fireplace, and in the stone frame of the door.

Stained glass window, Church of St. George, UK

York Minster Cathedral, UK - the quatrefoil is part of traditional Christian symbolism and is commonly found in Gothic style cathedrals

For more inspirational images, please visit Quatrefoil Design.

To subscribe to my blog by email, click here. 
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Visit my online store, Quatrefoil Design: www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com 
To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store.

The Quatrefoil

For more inspiring quatrefoil images, please visit my companion site.

I have always loved the quatrefoil shape, which is composed of four equal lobes. Historically, the quatrefoil pattern is common in Gothic and Moorish architecture.

Quatrefoil window Chiswick, England. Look at the gorgeous colors in the brick...the orange and blue together.

Niermann Weeks Quatrefoil Armoire

Thomas Pheasant for Baker - Gothic Lantern with quatrefoil pattern

Ironies Lattice Table.

Ironies also makes a gorgeous quatrefoil style mirror called the 'Araby' mirror.

Walker Zanger makes a beautiful collection with quite a few quatrefoil shapes called 'Avignon' - it is worth looking at.

Quatrefoil balcony, Venice

TTo subscribe to my blog by email, click here. 

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Twitter: @TTIBlog 
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ttiblog/ 
Visit my online store, Quatrefoil Design: www.quatrefoildesign.bigcartel.com 
To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store.