{fashion} – Page 22 – { feuilleton }

Cocteau’s sword

Jean Cocteau looking nothing less than fabulous in what I guess is 1955 since the writer is sporting his Académie française medal, an award bestowed upon him that year. The ceremonial sword is his own design, needless to say, and the curiously-tinted photographs are by Frank Scherschel for LIFE. The colours and lavish decor—those metallic palm trees—aren’t so far removed from the photographs of James Bidgood although the milieu certainly is. I doubt Cocteau would mind who the photographer was if Bidgood’s favourite model, Bobby Kendall, was in the picture with him.

Elsewhere on { feuilleton }
• The men with swords archive

Previously on { feuilleton }
• Cristalophonics: searching for the Cocteau sound
• Cocteau at the Louvre des Antiquaires
• James Bidgood
• La Villa Santo Sospir by Jean Cocteau

Elizabeth Goluch’s precious metal insects

Dragonfly (Green Darner) sterling silver, 18k & 14k gold, brass, ceramit, moonstone.

Two of Elizabeth Goluch‘s unique—and no doubt expensive—sculptures. She also does a range of jewellery.

Another fabulous find from Fabulon.

Praying Mantis, sterling silver, copper, 14K & 18K gold.

Previously on { feuilleton }
• Kelly McCallum’s insect art
• The art of Jo Whaley
• The art of Philippe Wolfers, 1858–1929
• Lalique’s dragonflies
• Lucien Gaillard
• Insect Lab

Phallic bibelots

Does Priapus rule the month of October? Having this lot appear in the same week makes it seems likely. The carved carnelian sealing ring above comes via Silent-Porn-Star.

Then this Vivienne Westwood pendant turned up at Fabulon.

Finally, there’s the discovery of two artists producing phallic glasswork. Paul Thomas created the pendants above while Jamie Burress is responsible for the penis table.

Elsewhere on { feuilleton }
• The gay artists archive

Previously on { feuilleton }
• Phallic worship
• The art of ejaculation

Kelly McCallum’s insect art

In addition to insects, Kelly McCallum also has birds filled with clockwork mechanisms, stuffed animals being eaten by gilded grubs, jewellery carved from human bones, and more. Plus a quote from the Prince of Quotation, Walter Benjamin: “The grey film of dust covering things has become their best part.”

Via 3quarksdaily.

Previously on { feuilleton }
• Walmor Corrêa’s Memento Mori
• The art of Jo Whaley
• The art of Ron Pippin
• Custom creatures
• Polly Morgan, fine art taxidermist
• Insect Lab
• The art of Jessica Joslin

The art of Thayaht, 1893–1959

De la Fumée (1922).

Artophile has a page of prints by Thayaht, a palindromic pseudonym concealing the identity of Italian artist Ernesto Michahelles whose fashion illustration differs from many of his contemporaries in its Futurist influence. I really like the stylisation of some of these, the way they’re caught midway between representation and abstraction. As well as illustrating, painting and sculpting, Thayaht worked as a designer and in 1919 created a one-piece “futurist garment” which he called the TuTa; you can see him wearing it here.

• THAYAHT – RAM
• A gallery of Thayaht art

Elsewhere on { feuilleton }
• The illustrators archive

Previously on { feuilleton }
• The Mentor
• The art of Cassandre, 1901–1968
• Smoke
• The Decorative Age
• The World in 2030