Project « The decorative arts of the 18th and 19th centuries: tangible culture, visual culture, collection procedures »

The notion of decorative arts is itself problematic. It reflects the tension between the utilitarian and aesthetic values of the objects in question. It positions itself as a halfway house between, on the one hand, other artistic forms that do exist but are not thought to serve any purpose (the fine arts) and, on the other, objects which have an undeniable use but lessor artistic potential (knick-knacks, everyday objects). This results in disparate collections of variable and uncertain classification: objects that are used but are of an age, beauty and rarity that makes them works of art, one-off or mass-produced items, industrially manufactured or handcrafted, involving a variety of materials and techniques. This research project is examining the tangible and visual culture in which they were created with a view to appreciating the true value of these objects and understanding how they can form a collection.