A garniture is a number or collection of any matching, but usually not identical, decorative objects intended to be displayed together. Frequently made of metal,

ormolu Ormolu (; from French ''or moulu'', "ground/pounded gold") is the gilding technique of applying finely ground, high-carat gold– mercury amalgam to an object of bronze, and for objects finished in this way. The mercury is driven off in a kiln le ...

, often with gilded wood stands, porcelain (both European and Asian), garnitures became popular during the latter half of the 17th century and remained in vogue throughout the 19th century. A very common placement is on the

mantelpiece The fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in medieval times as a hood that projected over a fire grate to catch the smoke. The term has evolved to include the decorative framework around the fireplace, and c ...

over a fireplace, but garnitures were very often placed on various pieces of furniture, and on ledges or niches around the walls of a room, especially over doors or above fireplaces. Garnitures may contain pieces made together with a view to being used as a set, or may be "assembled" by the decorator from pieces of different origin. Most commonly a garniture is a collection of three matching pieces designed for the adornment of a

mantlepiece The fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in medieval times as a hood that projected over a fire grate to catch the smoke. The term has evolved to include the decorative framework around the fireplace, and ca ...

; for example: a clock and two flanking

vase A vase ( or ) is an open container. It can be made from a number of materials, such as ceramics, glass, non-rusting metals, such as aluminium, brass, bronze, or stainless steel. Even wood has been used to make vases, either by using tree species ...

s or

candelabra A candelabra (plural candelabras) or candelabrum (plural candelabra or candelabrums) is a candle holder with multiple arms. Although electricity has relegated candleholders to decorative use, interior designers continue to model light fixtures ...

. Often a large central piece is flanked by pairs of smaller ones. Factory records show that some examples of the

Sèvres pot-pourri vase in the shape of a ship ''Pot pourri à vaisseau'' or ''pot pourri en navire'' ("pot-pourri holder as a vessel/ship") is the shape used for a number of pot-pourri vases in the form of masted ships, first produced between the late 1750s to the early 1760s by the Sèvr ...

were bought as garnitures with other smaller shapes decorated in the same colours (which varied greatly between individual examples).

Madame de Pompadour Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour (, ; 29 December 1721 – 15 April 1764), commonly known as Madame de Pompadour, was a member of the French court. She was the official chief mistress of King Louis XV from 1745 to 1751, and rema ...

bought one with two pairs of vases, and another buyer a garniture with one pair of the elephant-headed vases. A garniture can also refer to almost any set that might be displayed together. One example is a collection of figurines, candlesticks or

epergne An epergne ( ) is a type of table centerpiece that is usually made of silver but may be made of any metal, glass or porcelain. An epergne generally has a large central "bowl" or basket sitting on three to five feet. From this center "bowl" ra ...

s designed to adorn a

surtout de table A surtout de table is an ornamental centrepiece displayed on a formal dining table, "a large centerpiece with mirrored plateaus and numerous candelabra and other possible display pieces on top". In French ''surtout de table'' is the usual term for ...

. Other uses of the word include a matching array of

plate armour Plate armour is a historical type of personal body armour made from bronze, iron, or steel plates, culminating in the iconic suit of armour entirely encasing the wearer. Full plate steel armour developed in Europe during the Late Middle Ages, es ...

and its accessories, often with different types of the same pieces for different occasions, known as "pieces of exchange","This armour is a garniture: a single armour with a set of alternate and interchangeable pieces which combine to create armours for use in a number of different tournament events"
"Armour for the field and tilt of Henry VIII, 1539"

Royal Collection The Royal Collection of the British royal family is the largest private art collection in the world. Spread among 13 occupied and historic royal residences in the United Kingdom, the collection is owned by King Charles III and overseen by the ...

sets of weapons with their fittings, and in French restaurant terminology, the "trimmings" or garnish around the main element of a dish. In French the range of meanings is even wider.

Notable examples

Khalili Imperial Garniture The Khalili Imperial Garniture is a trio of cloisonné vases created for a Japan, Japanese Imperial commission during the Meiji (era), Meiji era. The items were exhibited at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, United States, in 1893, whe ...

from late 19th century Japan

References

External links

* {{commonscat-inline, Garnitures Antiques Porcelain