Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez Salon

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Persian Box with Ivory Inlay Guatemala, 1978 by Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez Pyroengraving with color Design is an adaptation of a traditional Persian design Pyrographic decorative art technique inspired by ivory inlay Private collection Photograph by Sharon H. Garvey

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Arabic Clock Guatemala, 1981 by Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez Pyroengraving with color Design is an adaptation of a traditional Arabic design Numerals on clockface are Sanskrit (typically used in Arabic speaking countries today) Private collection Photograph by Hector Menéndez

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Camelot Clock Guatemala, 1981 by Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez Pyroengraving with color Design is an adaptation from many sources Numerals on clockface were designed as shields with Roman numerals and motifs from the time and story of King Arthur Private collection Photograph by Sharon H. Garvey

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Trio of Pandas Guatemala, 1978 by Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez Pyroengraving with color Design is an adaptation of three Chinese cut paper designs Motifs of pandas are done in ivory inlay pyrography technique On three plaques with black background set in black shadowbox frames with Chinese red background Private collection Photograph by Sharon H. Garvey

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Valencian Oranges Guatemala, 1978 by Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez Original design by Sharon H. Garvey Pyroengraving with color Set of napkin holder and salt and pepper shakers Orange motif on a shiny white background inspired by faience ceramics Distinctly pyrographic characteristic is that paint does not cover the pyroengraved outline And texture is retained Private collection Photograph by Sharon H. Garvey

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Good Morning! Guatemala, 1978 by Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez Original design by Sharon H. Garvey Pyroengraving with color on wood tray Rooster motif on a shiny white background Decorative art pyrography technique inspired by faience ceramics Distinctly pyrographic characteristic is that paint does not cover the pyroengraved outline And texture is retained. Although this piece is made entirely of wood, it is Decorated to look like a ceramic plaque set in a wood tray. Private collection Photograph by Sharon H. Garvey

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Florentine Armoire, Closed Guatemala, 1978 by Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez Pyroengraving with gold leaf and color on wood jewelry armoire Pyroengraved classical decorative motif in gold embellished with color Pyrographic technique employed to create Traditional style gold leaf decorative art, Such as that done in Florence, Italy In this technique, as in the Florentine gold leaf technique Texture is retained. Private collection Photograph by Sharon H. Garvey

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Florentine Armoire, Open Guatemala, 1978 by Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez Pyroengraving with gold leaf and color on wood jewelry armoire Color is applied to drawers over gold leaf Drawers are lined with velvet on which Corner decoration is pyroengraved and then colored with gold paint Pyroengraved classical decorative motif on facade in gold leaf embellished with color Pyrographic technique employed to create Traditional style gold leaf decorative art, Such as that done in Florence, Italy In this technique as in the Florentine gold leaf technique Texture is retained. Private collection Photograph by Sharon H. Garvey

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Spanish Wrought Iron Guatemala, 1980 by Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez Pyroengraving with color Wood serving cart in two tiers Wrought iron motif designed from hardware detailing on antique Spanish furniture Verdigris color against a natural wood ground Pyroengraved line and texture are retained Cabinetry and finish by Santos Jimenez of Guatemala Private collection Photograph by Hector Menéndez

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Leopard Clock, Detail Guatemala, 1978 by Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez and Sharon H. Garvey Original design by Sharon H. Garvey Pyroengraving with shading and texture (no color) Clock done in pyrotextures technique Numbers incorporated in clock face as part of design Private collection Photograph by Sharon H. Garvey

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Turtle in Ivory and Mother-of-Pearl Guatemala, 1977 by Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez Pyroengraving with color Sampler plaque done as part of pyrography course work to exemplify mother-of-pearl decorative art technique This piece combines two techniques from the course: Ivory inlay and mother-of-pearl Although both these techniques were developed to emulate inlay, this piece, unlike actual inlay, is highly textured, and retains its rich pyroengraving characteristics. Private collection Image digitally scanned directly from plaque

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For more about the pyrographic art work of Kathleen Menéndez, there is a fully illustrated article entitled Pyrography: Decorative Art about the artist's decorative art techniques for pyrography learned in Guatemala. These techniques were developed in Mexico from the late 19th Century and early 20th Century techniques for pyrography taught in Europe, as well as inspired by classical decorative art designs for furniture and other objects. They reflect an admiration for those designs and those decorative art traditions, yet hold a beauty and richness all their own, distinctly pyrographic.

Although the pieces displayed here and in the illustrated article draw inspiration from many other decorative art media, they are strictly pyrographic decorative art techniques and do not employ any ivory, mother-of-pearl, ceramic, wrought iron, etc. Many of the techniques, however, are mixed media in that the pyrography is combined with paints, stains, gold leaf, or other materials.

The article shows examples very distinct from those displayed here in the E-Museum, and illustrates further the variety and adaptability of these techniques.

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