Aviator Style

LE STYLE AVIATEUR

We never knew Jean Desparmet, our grandmother's brother. He was one of those daredevil aviators who risked their lives in the early part of the 20th Century for the advancement of the airplane industry. He gave his life to it at the young age of 21 at a meeting aerien, an air show, when his monoplan crashed near Paris, 7 months after he had obtained his full licence. He is and always has been one of the family's dashing heroes, as he should be.

He was the chief pilot of the Maison Bleriot and had a grand funeral, des Funerailles Nationales, in Lyon where the family resided. 

The imposing monument that was erected at his grave had his likeness in stone as well as a fallen Icarus, broken wings and all.

I love these old postcards, this one with the one aviatrice- tres chic- at least there was one- bravo Jane Herveux! Jean Desparmet is the one on the far left.

It is not only the movies that have come out lately about aviators (and aviatrice Amelia Earhart) that made me think of my great uncle but also the Aviation Memorabilia that I have spotted here and there in interiors lately.

model airplanes of the purely decorative sort

air plane parts, their aluminum and varnished wood shined to perfection; a stunning statement in a room.

this desk  makes your home office something of an aviation museum, in a very modern way

a dramatic chaise bent and rounded from a polished wing, rivets and all.

a desk carved out of an engine cowling with a "cockpit seat" chair 

artists lent their talent in posters "romanticizing" the French Postal Service and what was certainly adventurous flights to far away places

and they did not forget to add a little humour to their posters

this is the piece that truly inspired this post. Is that Jean on the wing? no, he flew a monoplan, on a (single) wing ....and a prayer

images, asimplertime, ebay, freshbump, goodhousekeeping, du-cote-du-design.net, munstr, via google

au revoir.

T.G.I.F. watches transformed

C'EST VENDREDI et...

today's fun find

Geraldo Reis Pfau has an impressive hobby : making mini bikes and motorcycles out of old watch parts. The concept is fascinating. The craftmanship is impeccable. The result is prodigious!

images via http://www.funforever.net/

 

alors, amusant?

au revoir.

POMPOMS and FRINGES

LES POMPONS et LES FRANGES

I love the look of pompons -no translation needed- on decorative accessories or at the edge of a pillow or towel; My dear friend Evelyne had the coverlet and pillows below made by the tisserands (the weavers) in Tangier Morocco; they make the cloth for you in your colors, the width and length you need, and they weave pompons of your choice- size, colour, position- into the fabric as they go along. Stunning results.

a bed throw, all puffy pompons, on graphic bed linens

two fun pillows wake up a serene living room of her all white Paris apartment.

 these pillow covers from Mia Zia for la Redoute would be so attractive in their clean simplicity in Evelyne's bedroom

I also love anything fringed, well, almost anything; I don't really like bullion fringe or fringe cords on lampshades but I do like the way fringes delightfully finish a piece; see below.

a  delicate ivory linen damask for a hand towel with a stunning knotwork adorning its long  fringe

a handtowel embroidered on canvas-like raw linen, during a few very quiet, very productive winter evenings, in the south of France, a few years ago.

a large, luxurious Hammam towel from Morocco; for the real candle-light-and-perfumed-oil bath lover

age -let's call it patina- showing on a family tablecloth I adore, messy fringe and all.

 I had two pillows made from one very large, very intricately woven, fringed silk and linen damask scarf.

au revoir.

WEDNESDAY: the LONDON BULLETIN

C'EST MERCREDI

By Nan Mabon from London

This is the very first article for The French Eye of Design London Bulletin by Nan Mabon, owner of Antiques Resource in London, the enormously successful antique furniture and accessories sourcing and buying service in London. I am delighted that Nan will be a weekly contributor to my blog; she has the most exquisite taste, she knows the London market thoroughly and will certainly dazzle us with her choices and reports from one of the most lively, most trendy cities in Europe. So without further ado, let me leave the page to Nan.

Mid Century Lamps

My career in sourcing antiques spans the last 25+ years, starting off in New York, then Italy, and finally London since 1992. I love the fact that taste has changed dramatically over the years and am particularly glad that the era of chintz is behind us. Mid-century furniture is now plentiful in London and British dealers are buying all over Europe. 50's and 60's lighting from Scandinavia is in fashion now, especially Orrefore glass lamps. Often, you find them with their original labels on, probably because they are collector items in Scandinavia. Many of my US clients have bought multiple pairs.

These are Orrefor and the price range is about 850 £ for the pair. I have sold these to clients who frequently use them in a bedroom.

Below is a pair of Murano lamps from the 1960's that I bought at the King's Road shop Guinevere a few years ago. They were an "investment" purchase but I found them irresistible since we lived in Venice for three years and thought they were a great compliment to the Ida Kholmeyer painting which we have owned for 30 years.

This is our conservatory with Liberty Moroccan style tables circa 1910, vintage Lloyd Loom chairs mixed with a painted, 19th century French canape. I love this type of Orrefor lamp, and also own a pair of dark blue ones with a slightly different design. All very ecclectic but they work together.

Below is an Italian standing lamp from the 50's, part of a constantly changing inventory of Italian lighting that is all sourced by an eccentric Genovese who lives in London and operates out of Alfie's Antique Market on Church St. near Edgeware Road.

This is a 60's lamp in chrome and brass, probably English; it is a real classic and works well with a variety of styles---even the very traditional ones.

Below is a French lamp, probably a 50's copy of an earlier design from the 1940's.

images antiques resource and JADHny

Nan, Merci,Merci;

à mercredi.

au revoir.

Epiphany: The Galette des Rois

LA GALETTE DES ROIS

"La galette des Rois (the cake or "wafer" of the Kings) is a cake celebrating the Epiphany and traditionally sold and consumed a few days before and after this date. Epiphany, has a variable date - it can either be 6 January or the first Sunday of the month-.

In modern France, the cakes can be found in most bakeries during the month of January. The cake consists of flaky puff pastry layers with a dense center of frangipane, a buttery almond filling.

Tradition holds that the cake is “to draw the kings” to the Epiphany. A figurine, “la fève”, which can represent anything from a car to a cartoon character, is hidden in the cake and the person who finds the trinket in their slice becomes king or queen for the day and will have to offer the next cake. Originally, “la fève” was literally a broad bean (fève), but they were replaced in 1870 by a variety of figurines out of porcelain or - more recently - plastic. These figurines have become popular collectibles and can often be bought separately. Individual bakeries may offer a specialized line of fèves depicting diverse themes from great works of art to classic movie stars and popular cartoon characters.

During the tirage des rois (the cutting of the cake), the person who pulls the fève (that is, who finds it in his/her slice of cake) becomes king or queen, receives a paper crown (provided by the bakery), and chooses a partner.

To ensure a random distribution of the cake shares, it is traditional for the youngest person to place themselves under the table and name the recipient of the share which is indicated by the person in charge of the service." sibo-sibon.wordpress.com.

 LES FEVES

sibo-sibon notes

. Formerly, one divided the cake in as many shares as guests, plus one. The latter, called the  "share of the poor" was intended for the first poor person to arrive at the home.

. Rules of etiquette do not allow the French President to “draw the kings” on Epiphany.

RECIPE of the GALETTE DES ROIS

 INGREDIENTS:

125 grams (1 cup) freshly ground almonds

100 grams (~7Tbl) softened butter

100 grams (1/2 cup) sugar

2 large eggs

2 sheets of puff pastry

1 ceramic fève

egg wash (one egg yolk mixed with 1 tsp. of milk/water)

simple syrup – equal parts melted sugar and water (optional)

STEPS:

Roll out one the pastry sheets and cut a circle with a 10-inch diameter. Using the other pastry sheet, repeat and cut another circle, but make this one 10 1/2 inch in diameter. (This larger circle will go on the top of the filling later). Place both pastry rounds in the refrigerator to chill and rest for at least 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small/medium bowl, blend with a spoon the ground almonds, butter and sugar. Add one egg and mix until thoroughly combined. Now, add the second egg and mix again.

Preheat your oven to 475F.

Take the chilled rounds of pastry dough from the refrigerator and with a knife, gently score the larger disc. You can make large criss-crosses, spirals or whatever fancies you.

Lay the bottom pastry disc on a sheet of wax or parchment paper. Add the almond mixture and spread in an even layer (be careful to leave at least 1.5 inch space at the edge).

Nestle the fève into the filling.

Cover with the top pastry disc. Carefully seal and crimp the edges. With a knife, score the edges.
Brush the center of the cake (not the edges) with the egg wash.

Bake on a baking sheet at 475F for 10 minutes. Then lower the the heat to 350F and bake for another 20 minutes.

When the cake is done, remove from heat and while it is still hot, you can brush simple syrup over the entire cake. This will add a lovely sheen.

recipe by linternaute.com via holybasil.wordpress.com

images via sibo-sibon, naobossa.exblog.com via google

Bon Tirage des Rois

au revoir.

CHAISES: we can rest now

LES RECAMIERS

Reposons nous.

Madame Juliette Recamier, painted in 1800, by Jacques-Louis David (Musee du Louvre, Paris), reclining on an Empire backless sofa. The type of couch on which she liked to recline, the récamier, was named after her.

This type of chaise (the English meaning of chaise) is also called a divan: "Originally, in the Orient (especially the Ottoman Empire), a divan was a long seat formed of a mattress laid against the side of the room, upon the floor, or upon a raised structure or frame, with cushions to lean against" -Wikepedia-  In the United States it is most often named a daybed.

Whatever the title, let us take a moment for a well deserved rest after all the festivities and deadlines and running around of the last few weeks.

the definition of twin beds

 quiet day-dreaming corners

waiting for Madame Recamier

Parisian Louis XVI family heirloom

Country house early 19th century Napoleon III  recamier; very "style Rothschild"

futuristic; Italian...of course

diva by umo masada
kiddy size; more like a bench but I love the image

and doggy size; only in America...

images vailima, xjavierx, caravane, domino, lorilangille, foreverfun.net via google


au revoir.

2010 NEW YEAR, NEW PROGRAM

2010  ANNEE NOUVELLE, PROGRAMME NOUVEAU

The brand new year is calling for un petit peu de piment, here at the French Eye of Design; so, skipping any unnecessary fanfare, let's go straight to the point or rather to the annonce:

The French Eye of Design will have three new features this year:

Nan Mabon, the sophisticated and knowledgeable American owner of Antiques Resource, the London antique furniture and home accessories sourcing and buying service, and a very, very dear friend, has kindly accepted to be my London Correspondant and share with us a weekly London Bulletin; 

Nan will report to us what she has discovered to be noteworthy, new, unique and otherwise remarkable during her latest forays into the London Antiques world she knows so well. It may be a trend she has spotted, or an exceptional piece she has found, or some great item worth bringing to our attention. 

Tish Jett, whom you all know from her exceptional blog A femme d'un certain age, has generously agreed to play a weekly game of Transatlantic Parallel;

Let me explain: Tish and I will pick a subject or subjects (something we can both analyze from our own side of the Big Pond) and we will juxtapose what we find, think, love, miss or even won't manage to live without from now on, each one in our adopted patrie. Tish, from the point of view of an American woman living in France with her French mari, and me, the exact opposite, French and living in the States with my American "sweetHart". You can flip  from one to the other and have fun with our two parallel point of views.

The French Eye (...moi) Every Friday, I will feature Ah, ca c'est amusant, an item, or look, or "truc" that I have noticed and that has made me smile, laugh, open my eyes in wonder or even think c'est vraiment ridicule...mais amusant- ridiculous but amusing.

Et voila! this is what is going to be on offer here in 2010. I hope you will find it all informative, pleasing, amusing and positively captivating...

 

 

au revoir.

DONE!

for Auld Lang Syne...

...a cup o'kindness yet

au revoir.