If you're as taken with wallpaper as I then you must pick up Wallpaper: A History of Style and Trends
Le Palais-Royal, c. 1808-11 (maker unknown). According to Thibaut-Pomerantz, this example is a precursor to scenic decors. The grisaille paper is mounted on an eight-leaf screen; the blue background is hand brushed. I knew I had seen a similar scenic paper before. 
Here is a strikingly familiar scene in the 1953 House and Garden's Complete Guide to Interior Decoration
And then I started to think about this paper:
An 18th c. inspired scenic paper designed by Georges Geffroy, installed in the bed-living room of designer Marcel Rochas.
So now I'm on the hunt for grisaille paper with a blue background. Any ideas where to look for reproductions?
(Image #2, Wallpaper: A History of Style and Trends
Jennifer -- I love the connections you brought together. The pictures in the book really are stunning. Good post.
ReplyDeleteSeconding Courtney on this one - terrific memory.
ReplyDeleteJennifer- Here is the book I would love to see! Just what you have brought to this wp book with the connections as Courtney puts it. You have a great eye for this-think about "An Eye for Chic" book! la
ReplyDeleteYour memory for rooms and details is amazing! I love old French scenic wallpapers--a couple of years ago I was able to buy a six panel late 18th/early 19th c. grisalle screen. Although the harbor scene had suffered quite a bit of water damage and would be extremely pricey to restore, the screen (all 12 ft.) fills one living room wall and makes me happy every time I look at it. Isn't that the point of interior design--to make us happy! Thanks for the great post.
ReplyDeleteThat arcaded wallpaper is a beauty, Jennifer, especially with the vibrant blue sky, and if you have an extra $42,000 sitting around, you can go right over to the A. L. Diament website & grab a 12-foot long multi-panel set of the same design, printed back in the 1920s. This particular set is not en grisaille, but sometimes, one just has to make do with what's available.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.aldiament.com/_thumb.asp?filename=05a&dw=500&dh=350
Dear Ms. Bowles!
ReplyDeleteHow timely of you to share this subject and how commendable of you to bring this splendid tome to our attention! I was in fact in NYC to see the exhibition of Madame Pommerantz's wallpapers that were being shown at Mallet's this last month of Oct. She was there to answer questions and I had the added pleasure of counting her as a guest at a very nice champagne reception later that evening to celebrate my 50th birthday and during which time she kindly autographed and inscribed my copy of the book which had been the birthday gift to me by our host! Seeing her superb efforts and sound connoisseurship recognized in your incomparable blog is a truly appreciated gesture towards a valued and esteemed colleague. When Madame Pommerantz exhibits here in Palm Beach for the annual Antiques Show, her booth is stunning! And I much appreciate that you shared the image of the Rochas bedroom by Geoffroy which I had never seen!
will have a go and take a look. thank you
ReplyDeleteHave you checked with Stark Wallcoverings? They have a great selection of vintage scenic wallpapers.
ReplyDeleteMagnaverde- Gorgeous? Yes! In the budget....unfortunately no. Such a shame. But, one can dream, right?
ReplyDeleteCurious- I think that's a party you will never forget! I agree- the book is a gem. Just might need to make a trip down to PB for the Antiques Show; I'm sure her booth alone would be well worth the trip.
ReplyDeleteDon't vomit but Thibaut has some grisaille copies that actually aren't horrible for the price. We don't all have 40,000. for wallpaper. also f. schumacher has some murals. one thought - you could always do just one wall in the paper and paint the other walls the deep gray. with white linens it would make a gorgeous bedroom. Marilyn Evins has a gray mural in her bedroom that is too die for. in the Arch Digest of her apartment - with the original tortoise shell study.
ReplyDeleteHello Jennifer - Francis Elkins used the " Le Palais-Royal " panorama in her Monterey home , it's illustrated in Stephen Salny's monograph on Elkins . Hope you're well , David
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