First Edition of the new Annual Seminar on European Sculpture and Decorative Arts.

A combined effort of the Centre de Recherches Historiques sur les Maîtres Ébénistes and the Low Countries Sculpture Society, whose libraries and archives have merged and are housed in the Hôtel de la Roche (1750) at Mons, the Annual Seminar will have its inaugural edition in July 2025.

The first edition wishes to address questions about the production, consumption, collecting and display of “carpentry furniture” (in the Parisian sense of the expression) across Europe and North America, from the gothic period to Art Nouveau. Issues of design history, collaborations between creators and producers, artists and artisans, as well as the relations with any other people involved are sought. Specificities of “carpentry furniture”, as opposed to other types of furniture design and production, may be investigated. This includes the study of relations between carpenters and sculptors, as well as that of historic sources, such as those published by André Jacob Roubo (1739-91).
Its theme will draw, amongst others, but not exclusively, on the rich tradition of carpentry in the Low Countries, often in combination with magnificent sculpture in solid oak, particularly for church furniture, and on the Parisian tradition for “meubles de menuiserie” (“carpentry furniture”), as differentiated from “meubles d’ébénisterie” (“veneered furniture”) from the the 17th century onwards, as formalised with separate guilds. “Carpentry furniture” included seat furniture, console tables, floors and wall pannelling often with ornate sculptural elements, and always in solid wood, frequently painted and/or gilt, as opposed to veneered furniture. Gilt console tables were a particularly respected product of the Paris “menuisiers”.

PRACTICALITIES
The seminar has an international and multidisciplinary orientation. As such, we hope to attract lively participation from junior and senior scholars in the history of furniture and furnishings, sculpture, as well as practitioners of restoration-conservation in the same and other relevant fields. Short papers (maximum 30 minutes) of new research or work in progress may be presented in English or French. A minimal passive knowledge of English and French are highly recommended to enable full participation in the ensuing discussions, which form the core of the seminar. The seminar will take place without audience (apart from the speakers), but it will be filmed and broadcast live on YouTube.

The Society covers accommodation expenses for foreign speakers at the seminar, as well as all group meals and the Sunday excursion. On the other hand, travel arrangements to and from Mons are the responsibility of the individual participants and their travel expenses will not be reimbursed. We will endeavour to help with a shuttle from Maubeuge to Mons (20 km), as there is a direct train line from Paris to Maubeuge, that is more reliable than the one to Mons.

PROPOSALS
Please send participation proposals with a 200-word abstract of the intended paper and a 200-word CV by email to: info at lcsculpture.art. We prefer to receive your abstract written in your mother tongue. We will then have it professionally translated into English and French for our Scientific Committee. We will inform of the Scientific Committee’s decision in April.

The CFP Deadline is 31 March 2025 at Midday.

For further information about the CfP and the Seminar please contact:
The Low Countries Sculpture Society
infolcsculpture.art