Comments on: Chinese wallpaper: a living tradition

By: Emile de Bruijn

Emile de Bruijn — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:23:35 +0000

HRH, thanks.

Lynne, yes in years to come these papers will be an accurate record of the colours that were considered chic in the early 2010s… my inner art historian coming out But equally some of the colours, especially in the foliage and the flowers, are directly inspired by unfaded antique wallpapers. We have all seen so many faded and discoloured Chinese wallpapers that we assume that was how they always looked. And although they can look wonderful in their golden/cream/buff state they would originally have been quite a bit brighter and more ‘in your face’. So Fromental are being modern and historical at the same time with their colours.

Courtney, yes it is such fun talking to Lizzie and Tim, they are so passionate about Chinese wallpapers. The talk at Christie’s wasn’t recorded – but actually it may be possible to do a podcast here about the subject – some colleagues know about the technology – and put it on the NT website or on this blog. I will explore that, thanks for the idea!

Mark, yes the landscape bases have the pleasing effect of ‘grounding’ the scenery, don’t they?

By: Mark D. Ruffner

Mark D. Ruffner — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 01:42:52 +0000

What I really like about these Chinese designs is that each has a landscape base, and that detail adds immensely to both the exotic and historic feel.

By: style court

style court — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:01:13 +0000

Emile — I’m envious that you met Lizzie and Tim and intrigued that the papers are now gaining favor in the East. Talk about coming full circle. The wallpaper and the rebuilding of the Nanjing Pagoda too.

So wish I could’ve heard your talk. Was it recorded for a future podcast? Did I ask that already? One day you will have to share more about the pagoda-roofed chicken run!

By: Lynne Rutter

Lynne Rutter — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:09:09 +0000

what fabulous images. Chinoiserie is very hip again in interiors and i love that Fromental has made such cutting edge color palettes in these papers. I really think its the color that makes them look so current.

By: HRH The Duchess of State

HRH The Duchess of State — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:43:41 +0000

Such beautiful examples of a traditional timeless way to add a chic touch to a room: chinoiserie… how FAB!

By: Emile de Bruijn

Emile de Bruijn — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:01:07 +0000

Indeed Gaye it constantly amazes me how popular chinoiserie decoration still is. It seems our psyche needs a fantasy ‘China’, regardless of how much more accessible the real China now is

By: little augury

little augury — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:33:28 +0000

they do beautiful things,the Chinese influences-and all Eastern reaches on our decorating culture is broad & alive and well today.

By: Emile de Bruijn

Emile de Bruijn — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:31:16 +0000

Columnist, Parnassus, thank you. Although these papers are not particularly cheap, there is still a fairly wide spectrum of price levels, depending on the materials used and the labour involved.

How interesting about the Shandy Hall and Fair Haven wallpapers. There are very few French scenic wallpaper sin Britain, apparently because of a Regency-perid wallpaper import tax designed to protect local manufacturers.

By: Parnassus

Parnassus — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:17:26 +0000

When budget is not a consideration, wallpaper like this can make quite a statement, especially in large-scale or scenic patterns like these. Shandy Hall in northern Ohio (now a house museum operated by the Western Reserve Historical Society) contains a rare survival of 19th century French scenic wallpaper.

The house in Fair Haven I just posted about contained some early wallpaper. ( http://roadtoparnassus.blogspot.com/ ) I tried to notify some specialists about this, but I’m pretty sure that nothing was salvaged–the house at that point wasn’t much longer for this world, and in fact was too dangerous to enter again.
–Road to Parnassus

By: columnist

columnist — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:14:41 +0000

What a joy!