The Year of he Tiger: The Artful Cat
February 1st marked the beginning of the "Year of the Water Tiger" in the Chinese Lunar New Year. The Tiger is one of the twelve animals selected by the mythic Jade Emporer, the ruler of the Heavens, to guard him. Symbolically a figure of strength, power, and courage, the Emperor turned to the Tiger to defeat evil. Along with protection, we look forward to a prosperous year of good fortune where we and the world can have the courage to face and overcome the challenges and difficulties of the past.
The largest living member of the Felidae species, humankind's responsibility is now to protect the tiger. Their distinctive dark vertical stripes on golden fur have long been a favorite motif for the fine and decorative arts. Unfortunately, the splendor of their pelt resulted in the feline's near extinction. Dutch artists Michel Vanderheijden van Tinteren and Roel Moonen of Atelier Les Deux Garçons highlighted the animal's ephemeral beauty by transforming a pair of antique tiger taxidermy into Siamese Siberian twins floating in the air.
Portland, Maine artist Augustus "Gus" Wilson (1880-1940) worked as a fisherman and lighthouse keeper before carving the aquatic birds that lived near his home. When the Ringling Brothers Circus came to town in 1931, Wilson saw Emyr, the largest tiger in captivity. He was inspired to add big cats to his repertoire creating two tigers from reclaimed telephone poles and salvaged railroad ties. Black metal wire forms the whiskers, and polychrome paint completes the regal standing animals.
Zeki Muran, Pink Beige Black Tiger Rug, Turkey, the 1950s, 1st Dibs
Turkish singer, composer, songwriter, actor, and poet Zeki Müren (1931-1996) also designed costumes and rugs. The flamboyant performer, sometimes compared to Liberace, graduated from Istanbul State Fine Arts Academy in 1950 with a degree from the interior design department. Known by the nicknames "Sun of Art" and "Pasha," Müren was a prominent figure in Turkish classical music and was named "State Artist" in 1991. He drew inspiration from the tiger's skin for this geometric patterned mid-century wool and fur runner.
Old World Weavers: Tigre Silk Black on Gold
Before becoming a style icon, centenarian Iris Apfel and her late husband Carl owned Old World Weavers. The textile firm created its classic Tiger silk velvet in Venice during the opulent 1960s. "Tigre" was initially handwoven by a Venetian studio but later moved to an Italian velvet mill to be made using commercial looms, bringing the cost down. The Apfels specialized in reproducing historic document prints from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. They retired in 1992, and Scalamandré now carries the distinctive fabric.
