Vintage - Paper-backed wall coverings by Pirat and Moire

In the early 14^th century silk was a hugely popular choice of fabric, while many European countries participated in its production, nowhere was quite like the silk industry in France, or more specifically Lyon. In 1446 King Louis the XI decided to develop a national silk industry in Lyon however the Lyonnais people protested so strongly against this that the industry was moved to Tours. This didn't last for long as in 1540 King Francis I granted the city of Lyon a monopoly on the industry and by the early 1600’s Lyon was the European leader in silk production.

An original Pirat paper-backed wallcovering fabric available in Martin-Hudson &Gibson

The industry was vast and encompassed all areas such as silkworm agriculture, spinning, dyeing, weaving, and textile design. By the mid 17^th century over 15,000 people were employed in the silk industry giving Lyon the highest concentration of workers in France at that time. There was an astonishing 14,000 looms in operation and the industry fed over a third of the city’s population alone.

During the industrial revolution it was uncertain whether the silk industry would survive in Lyon, but through the introduction of new machines such as the Jacquard loom the industry began to prosper once more. During the following years new fabrics types were developed including; bayadère, rep, taffeta, velour, cannelé, and gros de Tours.

Weave diagrams were highly technical in the nature so much so that up until 1920 they had remained relatively unchanged since the introduction of the Jacques loom, which had introduced the punch card diagram system. It was this system that led to the development of the first mechanical calculator and then to the modern computers.

Teal water silk (paper-backed) Moire wallcovering

A close up of a Pirat wallcovering

Martin-Hudson & Gibson have two beautiful paper-backed vintage wall covering fabrics in store today, the first designed by the very famous 'Pirat' company and the second by the equally famous 'Moire' company are at least a quarter of a century old and in excellent condition.

By Emma Lowe

Warner Grand Panel

A perfect match of 70's Style.
A curtain of Warner Grand Panel chintz on a Kirsch Atavio Gothic Rail.

By Elisa Pérez Manso

Vintage Wallpaper

Cole&Son - Canonbury Flock

This installation of Coles Canonbury  damask wallpaper was fitted in Mountjoy Square in the 80's. 
Coles periodically recolour & reinvent their designs to reflect the current trend and the smaller picture shows their current offering in flock.  


Posted by: Alessandra Petrecca

Our James Joyce window was anticipated by Giuseppe 
Arcimboldo.He also anticipated the Four Seasons sculptures 

by Philip Haas about to go on display at the Dulwich 

Picture Gallery along with works by Andy Warhol. See 

the splendid centrefold of Monday the 18th's Guardian newspaper.

James Joyce

after

Giuseppe Arcimboldo

1527-1593

created by

Alessandra Canfield Petrecca

&

Aislinn Ni Fhearghail

He said yes to our Queen Anne chair.

For this Vintage Wednesday we have acquired a unique 1950's fabric which can be used in a variety of different Interior Styling, From curtains to minor upholstery. 

 
By Marcelo Artur Cecill & Rebecca Reid

Our Bacon Table

Check out our Bacon table, the newest edition to our upcycled furniture collection. Inspired by Francis Bacon's workshop and originally painted by Lu Pan, it's available here instore for the quirky price of 1000 guineas.




Posted by: Ciara Russell

Upcycling Vintage Furniture

Upcycling furniture to give to a new lease of life is big in 2012. Check out some of our decorative painting which we did here instore.

Here is our decoratively painted standard lamp. It has a splatter effect on the base and a two tone effect on the shaft of the lamp.

Also here is a decoratively painted coffee table embellished with accents of wallpaper on the top and bottom in a beautiful damask pattern.

Posted by Ciara Russell