Design for a decorative motif featuring griffins and swags of fruit 1830 - 1897

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise designed this decorative motif featuring griffins and swags of fruit, and it now resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Though undated, Lachaise was working in the early 20th century, a period defined by rapid industrialization and shifting social structures. The design is reminiscent of classical motifs, but its execution reflects a modern sensibility. The griffins, mythical creatures symbolizing power and guardianship, are intertwined with swags of fruit, emblems of prosperity and abundance. However, these symbols are presented in a repeating pattern. Consider the social role of decorative arts during this era; they were often associated with luxury and status. Lachaise, as a designer, was contributing to a visual language that both upheld and subtly challenged traditional notions of taste and class. In looking closely we can notice how even in ornamentation, echoes of societal values resonate.