THE VAULT--Antique Fortuny Fabric

I just sold my last antique c. 1920 Fortuny pillow to one of my favorite clients.

Which means that I GET TO DESIGN SOME NEW ONES. I need to search out just the right silk for the backs and teeny tiny welts that I insist on. Perhaps a fine Italian silk velvet? Or pop it up with a more contemporary silk faille?

Here are the two lengths of c. 1920 Fortuny that I have in "The Vault"

The first was once a drapery panel. You can see the wear to one edge that was exposed to sunlight (the opposing side is in excellent condition)--I will trim the damaged edge and measure the width from the center of the textile to each side. Unfortunately, I will loose a few inches on the right side--but that seems to be a reflection of life--retain the core of one's being (enough of my philosophy).

The pillow at top was fabricated from the deep hem and headers of the drapery panel that had never been exposed to sunlight--you can see how the sun has faded the panel, but it is still gorgeous and will make gorgeous pillows measuring approximately 18"w x 15" to 17" high.
Next up is the fragment of a 1920's wide Fortuny border that came directly from the estate of an intimate friend of Mariano and his wife. The border measures 15" wide--I'll design pillow fronts with the border, framing the sides with a three inch silk border and with the connecting seams overlaid with antique French gilt metallic trim (more hunting).

I love the fact that the carved wood printing blocks were lightly pressed in certain areas and with more pressure in others. The unique qualities and rarity of this textile makes it very desirable. The fact that it retains its original color intensity after almost 100 years is also very unusual. I'll make a trip to see Pam in the next week or so--just need to pull in the silk and the antique trim.

Usually the hunt for vintage and antique Fortuny textiles is arduous, but this fragment simply walked in the door and right to me. Perhaps I am learning to let go??

Mia and Grace are home. I see the cyst dissolving and Mia happy, running and well. Thank you for all of your prayers and love.

Be well,

Mary & Jones & Cole

THE HUNT FOR VINTAGE FORTUNY FABRICS

Yesterday was auction day....I woke up early as I had previewed the day before and knew there were a few things that I wanted to bid and that were coming up quite early. As I completed my morning mediation time, I realized that I felt as if I were in "The Zone".....yes, bidding at auction is quite a bit like an athlete's feeling of being in the zone--perhaps a deep connection to the moment (wish I always felt this way--working on it).

One of the first items to be brought to the block was to be a 1950's low slung sofa in very poor condition, but............it was covered in 1950's Fortuny in the Maori pattern. Wish that I had thought to take a photos of the sofa....but just look at what I cut off the back of the sofa

 

  

This is almost two yards of "Maori" that dates to the mid-1950's. The blue color way is very desirable, especially right now as very ethereal, soft colors are being shown in many of the shelter magazine. 

These last two photos are detail shots of the Maori--as you can see, the fragment is faded, but still very beautiful and it retains quite a bit of the silvery gold overlay. The reverse is for comparison and I'm deciding whether to use the reverse for the pillows--maybe make two smaller pillows using the reverse?

And for the icing on the cake, just look what I had in my fabric stash............

Yes! A length of vintage silk that perfectly coordinates with the 1950's fabric. You're probably wondering if I bought a large sofa just for this length of vintage Fortuny?  Yep...and it was worth it. Good vintage Fortuny fabric is getting harder and harder to find and it is so much more beautiful than Fortuny created today. Although the current Fortuny Owners represent the fabric is identical to the original, it really isn't. (I left the sofa at the auction--what in the world would I ever do with a 7-8 ft. long sofa?)

I bought some other great items, but those will have to wait for another post.

MIA UPDATE

Mia came through surgery just fine a short while ago. The surgeon said that the cyst "just fell away from the optic nerve"--I am so grateful; so many answered prayers. Mia and her parents are so far away in Tennessee, but I know that they are in the best hands.

Thank you for all of your prayers.

Be well.

Mary & Jones (and Cole--Luxie went home-poor Jones)

Me and Mariano Fortuny

MJH Designarts Vintage Fortuny Pillows

Yesterday I picked up a few new vintage Fortuny pillows and a pair of Scalamandre "Le Tigre" pillows from Pam, the principal of Fine Details, Inc. (finedetailsinc.com) my amazing pillows creator/fabricator. I have been collecting antique and vintage Mariano Fortuny fabrics for many years with the intent of creating a line of fine decorative pillows for MJH DesignArts. For several years I had searched for just the right pillow creator (and it takes a very detail oriented person to create these perfect pillows), my first creator is located in Texas, and although her work is exceptional--truly every pillow was a work of art.

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 Wonderful Texas Fabricator


Note the beautiful tiny stitches and the mitre work!!








I had to find another fabricator because of the high cost of shipping everything back and forth to Texas. Second creator did a wonderful job, but communicating with her was a bit of a problem and she lived in a section of Los Angeles where parking is almost nonexistent (trekking around with the heavy down inserts and heavy fabrics really was a challenge with my dealer-back situation)--but her pillows were perfection and Maria was a joy to work with. Unfortunately, Maria retired and moved back to Guatemala (and that would really be a schlep). Next up was a professional upholsterer and pillow maker in Fullerton, where I live.........she seemed great when I spoke with her and also when I brought in the fabrics and custom 30% down to 70% pillow inserts. Of course, I use a very special and tiny welt to detail the pillows (which I explained and showed to Victoria). She said that she would have no problem. END RESULT: she used my custom fillers on pillows that she was making for another client; she couldn't attach the antique Houles trim; her stitching was too large; the welting was too large and wrinkled, etc. (I ended up eating these pillows)....Next. I tried a high-end tailor in Pasadena. He happened to be Korean; so we had a slight communications problem. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY-----he didn't center the pattern when he cut the pillows AND he stitched the vintage Fortuny with the GOOD SIDE ON THE INSIDE--plus HE BLAMED ME (I ate some of these pillows, also)!!!

                                  

                                 AND NOW I HAVE PAM!!!!!!!

Fortuny "Peruano" Pattern--right side

Fortuny "Peruano" Pattern--reverse side

"Peruano"(right side) tiny, tiny welt

(I've been trying to move the photo up -- but can't----HELP). But, at least the font has stayed in Verdana (?) the entire time--definitely improving on the posting technical end.

"Peruano" (right side) detail

                                                                












I chose to create a pair of pillows in Fortuny's c. 1970's "Peruano" pattern with the "right" facing out and a second pair of pillows in "Peruano" with the reverse side facing out. I loved the more intense, moody and dramatic presence of the reverse side, as well as the soft muted grays and crisp white of the right side. The pillows are backed in a high end Kravet charcoal silk strie that adds wonderful texture without detracting attention from the Fortuny itself. See that little tiny welt--Pam does a beautiful job--no wrinkles!!!  I formed a deep bond with this particular Fortuny pattern and colorway: being raised in Central Mexico surrounded by Aztec symbolism there was a definite deep connection to the symbolism of the pattern. Additionally, charcoal and gray are my preferred accent colors (but please do not get me going on what red and cinnabar do for rooms). And I love the interplay between refined and ethnic or rustic/rough elements--these pillows look great on Madame Victoire who is the epitome of refined detailing. 


The "Peruano" pillows are for sale on my website (mjhdesignarts.com).


Have a great week-end. Be well........
Mary