Silver shines.(Report from Europe)

Orientalism has been defined as the imitation by Western artists of aspects of Eastern cultures, particularly those of the Middle East. In the nineteenth century, triggered by Napoleon's military campaign in Egypt and because travel in the region became somewhat easier, orientalism became a popular mode of expression both in painting and the decorative arts. Initially artists merely copied the traditions they found, but gradually they assimilated Eastern forms and motifs in Western objects. This cross fertilization is the subject of an exhibition at the Zilvermuseum Sterckshof in Antwerp-Deurne, Belgium, of a private collection of nineteenth-century French silver in the oriental fashion. The collection includes silver made in France for the French market as well as objects produced for export to the Middle East. Belgian silver with oriental motifs is also included in the exhibition. The silver is complemented by Middle Eastern objects that inspired the European silversmiths. Entitled Silver for a Thousand and One Nights, the show is on view until June 5. The curator is Anne-Marie ten Bokum; the accompanying book, French Orientalist Silver of the Nineteenth Century, in both French and English, is written by David Allan, and may be ordered by telephoning 32-3-360-5250 or by e-mailing info@zilvermuseum.be.

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Another aspect of the East-West ...