JMF’s Materials: A Treasure Trove of Textures and Tones

With 30 years of experience sourcing vintage items and antiques of the highest caliber and craftsmanship, at Jean-Marc Fray Antiques we believe nothing epitomizes the beauty and importance of a piece quite like the material itself. From cherished hand-blown glass to sleek metals to warm, honey-toned woods – each material was chosen by craftsmen for rich aesthetic affect and time-tested quality. Procured from across France and Italy, our collection of furniture, lighting, and art is a treasure trove of materials. Known for our eclectic mixture of styles, we believe it is equally important to mix materials – layering woods, fabrics, marbles and more to create a visual feast of textures and tones. By juxtaposing these materials, each is given prominence and allowed to shine in the space. Additionally, these materials bring their own lavish histories and give provenance to a piece and its craftsmanship. Here are four of our favorite materials to showcase at our gallery:

1. Carrara Marble

Carrara marble has become synonymous with luxury. From bathrooms, kitchens, and beyond, this marble can be found in homes around the world. Yet, few know the story behind this timeless material. Originating from the Tuscan region of Italy, the stone is quarried in the small city of Carrara, settled between the western edge of the Apuan Alps and the cost of the Ligurian Sea. The town was founded in the early 2nd Century BC and marble was cut from the mountains to be used in building the city of Rome into the gleaming empire it became. Since, Carrara marble has rarely gone out of style with several booms including the Renaissance when money was poured into the arts and marble sculpture.

Though each marble style has its own unique beauty, Carrara marble is especially appealing for interiors as it tends to have a soft, ethereal appeal. With a white to blue gray background and feathery veining throughout, Carrara is the perfect way to add a touch of grandeur to a space. At the Jean-Marc Fray gallery, we often have tables and statuary made of Carrara, yet the most common source of this material is on our chests and buffets. Considered a luxury throughout France and Italy in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, these original marble slab tops show that the allure of Carrara is still alive today.

 

2. Burled Wood

Highly sought after and rare, burl wood has been an impactful material in furniture design for over a century. Though burled wood was used in furniture design in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it became especially sought after during the mid-century. Burled wood comes from trees that grow ‘burls’ or exterior growths around their trunks, branches, or roots caused by stress or injury to the tree. Though they can form on any tree species, the hard wood trees are typically used in furniture design. As these are rare and highly expensive, burled wood is often used as a veneer to showcase the unique and beautiful organic designs in the wood.

At the Jean-Marc Fray we are especially drawn to burl wood pieces that emphasize the natural details of the wood. From large case pieces such as buffets to small details on mirrors, burl wood and burl veneer can be found throughout our gallery.

 

3. Ceramic Tile

Though ceramic tile my conjure images of kitchens and bathrooms, tile has long been used in furniture design! Typically found on coffee tables and side tables, artistic ceramic tiles add a striking hand-crafted touch to any piece. At Jean-Marc Fray our ceramic pieces originate from the town of Vallauris on the shores of the French Riviera. With a vibrant artistic history, the town of Vallauris is reknowned for its pottery and ceramics. Ceramicist Roger Capron brought international interest to the work flowing out of the small city in the 40s and 50s and was most known for his tiled coffee tables. Many have flocked to the Vallauris shores to focus on their ceramic work, including artists such as Picasso.

The tiled tables at our gallery range in style, yet all showcase the bold colors and geometric shapes of the Mediterranean on the hand-crafted and painted tiles that adorn the tops. Each vintage tile serves as a portal to Vallauris’ storied past – a testament to the skilled artisans who breathed life and joy into clay. These pieces emphasize the organic emotion that pottery embodies.

4. Boucle Fabric

According to legend, in the 1940s Florence Knoll asked Eero Saarinen to design a chair she could curl up in. The result – Saarinen’s Womb Chair which featured boucle fabric! Though it originated in Europe in the 19th century, the popularity of the fabric did erupt in mid-century design with the Womb Chair as well as Coco Chanel’s fashion in the 1950s. The term Boucle derives from the French word meaning “curled” or “ringed” and can refer to any fabric with the looped fibers. The fabric pairs perfectly with the simple, curved designs of mid-century Italy and emphasizes the quality and comfort of a piece.