This world-famous department store has long been a favourite of the Queen and once held the wedding list for the Prince of Wales. In Spring the store relocated from Sloane Square to South Kensington introducing new designers along the way.
I was invited to supply a collection of velvet cushions hand painted with a slightly fierce, slightly demure looking dragon head. This design is based on an Elizabethan grotesque wall painting found in a house in Surrey.
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| Elizabethan wall painting |
Here are some shots I took at the workshop then in store later on.
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| Newly painted Dragon cushions at the Fairlyte workshop. |
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| Dragon cushions piled up at the workshop before delivery to London |
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| Dragon and pompom cushions amongst others at The General Trading Co. Store. |
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| Cushions dotted around the store |
Along with the Dragon cushions I also supplied unpainted pompom cushions and some linen cushions painted with leaves:
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| Pompom cushions in six colours. Pictured here at the workshop against one of my fresco secco panels titled "Dragonfly tree" |
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| Linen cushions with painted leaves in four shades pictured at workshop |
It was good to have a large order like this from such a prestigious shop. The connection was made in November 2010 when The GTC hosted the first gathering of QEST scholars. Called The British Craft Fair this was an opportunity for craftsmen and women to sell their crafts to the public. I became a QEST scholar in 2007 when I was awarded a sum of money to carry out further research into Elizabethan painted interiors. Hopefully there'll be another show this year. I'll keep you posted.
As for the Dragon; I've been very fond of this dragon wall painting for a while now and as an aside, here's a fresco secco panel I painted recently:
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| Bagshot Dragon Fresco Secco |
WHERE TO BUY:
Dragon, Pompom and Leaf Cushions
Available uniquely from The General Trading Company. Priced variously between £90 and £185
Bagshot Dragon fresco secco panel
30cm2, £170 from Early Oak Reproductions
Dragonfly Tree fresco secco panel
w122cm x h92cm, £950. Available directly from the Fairlyte Workshop - Contact Melissa: info@fairlyte.co.uk
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