The Alphabet of Art & Antiques – K is for …

December 7, 2020

Kalaga

A Kalaga is a heavily embroidered appliqué tapestry made of silk, flannel, felt, wool and lace against a background made of cotton or velvet. Kalagas were originally developed in Burma (now Myanmar) at the Mandalay court (1850-1885) to serve as wall hangings, curtains, room partitions, coffin covers and theatre backdrops. These traditional Burmese tapestries depicted scenes from various legends as well as events of religious importance.

Rectangular embroidered textile with two circular scenes of two ornately dressed figures, detailed faces, and hands, surrounded by shimmering sequins, beads, and rich threadwork. Reminiscent of treasured antiques, the background is beige, with intricate borders and embellishments throughout—an exquisite work of art for any collector or enthusiast.

Antique Burmese Kalaga Tapestry, image via Cultural Patina.

Kantharos

A type of ancient Greek cup with a tall foot and two high-swung handles, used to hold wine, possibly for drinking or for ritual use and offerings. Although almost all surviving examples are in pottery, the form probably originated in metalwork.

Ancient Greek black-figure kylix with two large handles, beautifully crafted as a work of art and decorated with two figures in togas—one pursuing the other holding a circular object, possibly a shield—against a plain background. This exquisite antique offers a glimpse into the artistry and storytelling of ancient Greece.

Kantharos with Zeus Pursuing a Boy. Circa 490-480 BCE. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Kente

Kente cloth refers to a Ghanaian textile, made of handwoven cloth strips of silk and cotton. Historically the fabric was worn in a toga-like fashion by royalty among ethnic groups including the Ashanti, the Akyem, and the Fante. In modern Ghana, the wearing of Kente cloth has become widespread to commemorate special occasions, with highly sought after Kente brands led by master weavers.

On the left, a regal figure in traditional attire sits on a throne. On the right, a close-up of green, yellow, red, and blue patterned kente cloth showcases its vibrant, intricate weave. Both highlight West African heritage and craftsmanship—a true celebration of art and tradition that stands as an antique testament to cultural excellence.

Left: The Ashanti king Nana Otumfoe Sir Osai Agyemang Prempeh II (ruled April 24, 1933 – May 27, 1970), right: vintage Kente cloth, as seen on the pages of Hand/Eye Magazine.

Kinetic art

Kinetic art is art that incorporates movement as part of its expression – either mechanically, by hand, or by natural forces. A good example of kinetic art are the mobiles by Alexander Calder. Kinetic art became a major phenomenon of the late 1950s and the 1960s. In the 1960s artists such as Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely experimented with geometric shapes that distort the viewer’s perception, creating artworks which, although static, give the impression of movement.

A hanging mobile sculpture with balanced, thin metal rods and flat, abstract shapes in black, white, red, and yellow—this piece of art is suspended at different levels; the shapes vary in size and hang delicately, creating a sense of movement and lightness.

Alexander Calder’s Various Shapes, Colors, Planes (1951) was sold at Sotheby’s New York for $2.3 million in May 2018.

Kingwood

Kingwood is a classic furniture wood, almost exclusively used for inlays on very fine furniture and small solid items. It was the most expensive wood in general use for furniture making in the seventeenth century, at which time it was known as princes wood. It is available only in small sizes (it is yielded by a smallish tree, Dalbergia Cearensis, restricted to a small area in Brazil). Kingwood is also called violet wood because of the brownish/purple color of its markings, It was given its name because it was preferred by the kings of France in the 18th century.

Ornate antique writing desk with curved legs, wooden surfaces, and elaborate gilded bronze decorations including faces and floral motifs, set against a dark background. This stunning piece exemplifies the intersection of art and antiques, featuring a leather inlay top and richly detailed Rococo-style embellishments.

A French ormolu-mounted kingwood and mahogany bureau plat by Frédéric Schmit, Paris, circa 1860. Image via Christie’s.

Klismos chair

A klismos chair is a type of ancient Greek chair, with curved backrest and tapering, outcurved legs. This timeless design was first introduced into Western society way back in the 5th century BCE. Variations of the klismos chair can be found in basically every neoclassical-inspired movement, but it’s most prominent in the French Directoire and Empire, the English Regency, and the American Federal and Empire styles.

Ancient Greek marble relief shows two women; one stands, wearing draped clothing, while the other sits, reaching out with both hands. Their expressions are calm. This striking piece of art is set in a rectangular frame with a triangular top. The background is plain stone, emphasizing the antique elegance of the scene.

The most famous example of the ancient klismos chair may be the Stele of Hegeso, a tombstone made in Athens around 400 BCE, showing a woman named Hegeso seated in a curved, graceful klismos chair.

Kneehole desk

A kneehole desk, which dates back to the early 18th century, has sets of drawers on either side of the recessed or “kneehole” area that provides room for the legs when a chair is pulled up to the desk.

A large antique wooden pedestal desk with a polished surface, three top drawers, and six side drawers featuring ornate brass handles. Reflecting the refined artistry often found in fine Antiques, the desk has a classic, elegant design with a darker wood tone and a recessed knee space in the center.

From Ronald Phillips: A George II mahogany library desk by Thomas Chippendale. English, circa 1760.

Kovsh

The kovsh is a traditional drinking vessel or ladle from Russia. It was oval-shaped like a boat with a single handle and could also be shaped like a water bird or a Norse longship. Originally the kovsh made from wood and used to serve and drink mead, with specimens excavated from as early as the tenth century. Metal kovsh began to appear around the 14th century. By the 17th century, the kovsh was often an ornament rather than a practical vessel, and in the 19th century it was elaborately cast in precious metals for presentation as an official gift of the tsarist government.

A silver Russian kovsh with engraved Cyrillic alphabet text, ornate designs, and a handle featuring a double-headed eagle crest—symbolizing the Russian Empire. This antique vessel’s body is rounded, with detailed craftsmanship visible throughout.

A kovsh by Vasilli Matveev Kunkin from 1758; in the collection of the Walters Art Museum.

Kunstkammer

Cabinets of curiosities (also known in German loanwords as Kunstkabinett, Kunstkammer or Wunderkammer; also Cabinets of Wonder, and wonder-rooms) were collections of notable objects – from the worlds of natural history, geology, ethnography, archaeology, religious or historical relics, works of art and antiquities. The term cabinet originally described a room rather than a piece of furniture. The classic cabinet of curiosities emerged in the sixteenth century. In addition to the most famous and best documented cabinets of rulers and aristocrats, members of the merchant class and early practitioners of science in Europe formed collections that were precursors to museums. Cabinets of curiosities served not only as collections to reflect the particular curiosities of their curators but as social devices to establish and uphold rank in society.

A cluttered table of shells, coral, books, and artifacts sits before many detailed paintings, sculptures, and objects, suggesting a collector’s cabinet of curiosities from the Alphabet of Art & Antiques series; a man in Renaissance clothes examines an item, while others stand in another room.

“A corner of a cabinet”, painted by Frans II Francken in 1636.

By Vera Vandenbosch