PRINTS FOR A CHALET IN SWITZERLAND AND NEW THINGS IN THE SHOP

We have recently framed and hung a large collection of finely detailed 18th century prints of Switzerland for the grander chalet………….

From From the publication 'Tableaux de la Suisse, ou Voyage Pittoresque fait dans les Treize Cantons et Etats alliés du Corps Helvétique' by the Swiss historian Béat Fidèle Antoine Jean Dominique de la Tour-Châtillon Baron de Zurlauben & de la Borde1720-1799, they have tremendous charm and are framed in water gilt frames with pale gluey grey sides.
Lake Geneva in the 18th century showing the Chateau de Chillon

The Devil's Bridge on the Mont St. Gothard above a roaring torrent…..

and as painted by Joseph Mallord William Turner in the first years of the 19th century. 

The bridge opened the first passage between Switzerland and Italy.  There are many bridges that legend relates were built by the devil, they are normally represent a significant technological success in the face of nature. 

According to a local myth, building the first bridge was very hard and so the Devil himself agreed to build it. The condition attached to the construction was that the Devil would get the soul of the first to pass over the bridge. So, when the bridge was finished, people chased a goat over the bridge. Angered by the trick, the Devil went to pick up a large stone (called Teufelsstein, the Devil's Stone) in order to smash the bridge to pieces. On his way to the bridge however, he encountered an old believing woman with a cross. Scared of the cross, he left the stone and fled. The devil's stone weighs 220 tons and stands near Göschenen. In 1977, the stone was moved 127 meters to make way for the new motorway passing over the St.Gotthard Pass, at a cost of 300,000 Swiss Francs.

Popular belief has it that the moving of the stone was the cause of an increased number of accidents on kilometre 16 on the St. Gotthard road tunnel.

We always have large sets of prints and this set of aquatints after Raphael are very striking

Each engraving with an allegorical figure set against a black sky holding an item or animal with a predella scene in the lower border, these depict scenes of animals, again relating to the respective times of day and night.

Meanwhile we now have two shop dogs Nancy and now the younger Lucy.

They also do their bit posing……………………here seen in front of and early 18th century English Tapestry sitting on an Empire chair.

THE DOWNTON LOOK……

The English Stately home look is all the rage and particularly in the USA where 1stdibs have just  run an article on "Getting the Look". I thought that we could add to their selections

The entrances or halls of large English house can be magnificent indeed, often with soaring ceilings and the use of marble as here at Houghton Hall in Norfolk, where until recently the magnificent exhibition of pictures bought by Catherine the Great was on show loaned by the Russians.

Halls aren't always this big! but if you have the space a centre table with a wonderful bunch of flowers always gives a grand impression on entering a house

William IV mahogany centre table with a 4ft 6" diameter is a good size for a large display of flowers from the garden……

and somewhere to sit down and get your breath after a long drive a pair of gilt wood William IV arm chairs add a sense of theatrical grandeur.

From the entrance advance into the house to the drawing room or sitting room

Here the stately homes of England display their finest furniture and pictures, often bought abroad during the 'Grand Tour' in the late 18th century or just acumulated over the generations. English country houses are known for their freezing cold bathrooms and dogs on the furniture……….

Here are some further ideas for that look, 

Here in England we may no longer hunt foxes with hounds but they are still part of country life.

The dining room where politics, flirtation and gossip can abound, where certain subjects are taboo and where almost anything can become part of the conversation as long as it not too vulgar ……..dogs and horses rather than children, shooting parties and fishing in Scotland, plans are discussed and history can be made.

English William IV Sideboard 

Every house would have had a wine cellar but for everyday convenience the cellaret is a small elegant piece of furniture where a 20 bottles of wine can be kept at close hand

With dinner by candlelight mirrors on the wall add to atmosphere

Above the dining table chandeliers glitter in the light from the candles on the table

All large English houses had libraries, somewhere to go and read in peace

Comfortable chairs, book lined walls and luxurious tapestries tables to sit at when reading and desks to write those long letters

An 18th century English tallboy opens to reveal an escritoire 

The top of this architects table lifts and slopes or can remain flat

A large desk is a luxury and this one is large with loads of storage space 

and so that you can check that you are looking your best before going down for dinner a full length cheval mirror

and for the walls….

You don't need a stately home to get the Downton look, it always helps! But the look is more than achievable in a more normal sized house and it doesn't need to be in England it can be anywhere…..