I got a message from my friend, James Archer Abbott today. He is the curator of Evergreen House here in Baltimore and also the author of two definitive books on Maison Jansen.
Evergreen is putting together an exhibition on Billy Baldwin, who was a friend of the owners of this house. You can read a little about the friendship here. As part of the exhibition, they are looking for a piece of the dark-chocolate-on-white textile that was based on a Matisse drawing. It was used in the apartment that Baldwin and his partner, Woodson Taulbee owned in the 1960’s. The fabric is on the cover of Billy Baldwin Decorates.
The Billy Baldwin exhibit will open at Evergreen in May 2010.
**UPDATE** My friend Christopher found the fabric, after a bit of searching. It’s called “Arbre de Matisse” from China Seas and it’s available through Quadrille at $110/yard. Click on the image for the link.
I wish I did!!!
ReplyDeleteGood Luck... I hope someone comes up with it!
Isn't that book cover still gorgeous? Outside of wanting to "supersize" the Chinese screen, I'd walk into that room and think it was decorated yesterday, not thirty years ago.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to your friend in his hunt for that fabric. What a great score if he does!
Quadrille's "arbre de Matisse" and Clarence House's "Fauve" are both similar to this print and come in many colorways. They all seem to be inspired by Indian palampores.
ReplyDeleteTracy... it would be perfect to have something made with it in the exhibition!
ReplyDeleteAnon@22:27... I think that he wants the exact fabric for the exhibit, but the suggestions are great.
ReplyDeleteI will spread the word! Agree the design looks very courant!
ReplyDeleteKarena
http://quadrillefabrics.com/66.html
ReplyDeleteafter seeing the above photo, on second thought, i'm going to stand by clarence house "fauve". but they are both so similar, would anyone but us nit-picky decorators ever even know the diff?
oops- my first comment didn't get posted, but i've always thought it was clarence house "fauve":
ReplyDeletehttp://cgi.ebay.com/CLARENCE-HOUSE-Fauve-Printed-Cotton-Brown-White-Trees_W0QQitemZ350314105891QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20100208?IMSfp=TL100208199015r249
but according to this post by style court, hobac thinks it's quadrille:
http://stylecourt.blogspot.com/2007/08/timeless-prints-ii.html
i had also said go with hobac and style court 'cuz they are way smarter then moi!
An Aesthete's Lament, the fount of all knowledge, knows for sure. Ask him, as all I can recall is it wasn't either.
ReplyDeleteDo call the showroom Hinson & Company, which is located at the D&D Building in New York City. That particular pattern is still made by that firm, if I am not mistaken.
ReplyDeleteLuuuv the Evergreen House! Can I tell you how many times we scaled that fence from the Loyola grounds? That was back when I was a naughty girl...XXOO
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful print. So glad to know now what it is! Marija
ReplyDeletedammit. i KNEW better then to disagree with hobac & stylecourt. silly moi.
ReplyDelete