de Gournay

de Gournay is a family business specialising in the creation of the world’s finest handmade wallcoverings. Every artist involved works for us in-house, enabling us to deliver a product of the highest possible quality. Possessing between them hundreds of years’ experience hand-painting to the exacting specifications of our clients, our artists’ profound knowledge of the techniques, processes, and materials of the medium – down to the smallest of details – constitutes de Gournay’s unique strength.

Everything de Gournay creates is made entirely by hand, allowing us near-limitless bespoke capabilities. With access to archives built up over the decades, we offer clients the opportunity to transform their dreams into reality. Although many of our designs are deeply rooted in the past, our creative team and studio artists are passionate in innovating and adapting our products to contemporary settings.

Chinoiserie Collection

Chinese wallpapers, initially known as 'India Papers', first appeared in Europe during the 17th century, adding momentum to the growing trend for papering walls where previously fine interiors employed fabric hangings. By the mid-18th century decorating in the Chinese taste had become the height of fashion and many of the finest interiors in the world have included at least one room in this style. Thomas Chippendale comments in his Director, London 1762, when writing of his chair designs in the Chinese Taste, that they be "very proper for a Lady's Dressing Room: especially if it is hung with India Paper."

de Gournay's Chinoiserie Collection affords our clients the opportunity to continue decorating in the style that was employed by the wealthiest individuals and most of the crowned heads of Europe during the halcyon years of the 18th and 19th centuries leaving us with such remarkable interiors as Drottningholm, Brighton Pavilion, Sans Souci, Schloss Worlitz, Charlottenburg, Oranienbaum, Temple Newsam and Chatsworth to name but a few. To follow in the steps of this history, de Gournay are able to offer a deep knowledge to guide you as you choose from a range of the finest quality wallpapers, fabrics and porcelain made by our remarkable skilled craftsmen and craftswomen, employing our unique understanding of the original techniques.

Whereas de Gournay still produce papers for grand rooms in classical houses we pride ourselves on continually adapting and developing our collections to offer elegant contemporary products that have evolved from the historical ones. de Gournay’s designs and colours offer a spectacular solution to match every taste no matter what or where the project may be. Furthermore, modifying these designs or making custom designs according to particular specification is de Gournay's specialty, and there is no request which we will not try to accommodate.

The 'Earlham' Chinoiserie

Thin and elegantly shaped trees reach towards the sky in de Gournay's ‘Earlham’, carrying profuse varieties of those most revered flowers in Chinese culture, tree peonies, chrysanthemums and plum blossoms. Delicate and intricately worn decorative rocks adorn the ground in front of a finely painted moss horizon while above some of the grandest and most recognisable species of gaily coloured oriental birds play in pairs amongst the branches.

The source for de Gournay's Earlham design is a set of panels in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, dating from the middle of the 18th century and representing both an amazingly well preserved and excellent example of their type. The size of the antique panels is a very typical 12ft tall by 3ft wide, being the ideal dimensions in a set of 25 panels for the average large Georgian mansion of the period. de Gournay put great efforts into maintaining the feel of the panels at the original scale when creating the shorter design height required for the majority of contemporary applications.

The remarkable condition of the antique panels can be attributed to the fact that perhaps these, as we know was the case with other papers, may have been brought out of their boxes for special occasions only and hung temporarily on rollers during royal visits or important receptions. Surviving records state that the Duke of Buccleuch did such a thing at his residence on Petersham Road, Richmond, in preparation for a visit from Queen Victoria I. It is natural that the beauty, rarity and cost of these unusual papers, even for the wealthiest individuals in the 18th century, led to elaborate arrangements when applying them to walls to preserve them for the greatest time possible.

Dreweatts x de Gournay

Enhancing this photographic collaboration, the Fine Furniture, Sculpture, Carpets, Ceramics and Works of Art auction will offer three exclusive lots featuring de Gournay’s ‘Earlham’ Chinoiserie hand-painted panels (Lots 501-503). This provides a rare opportunity for design enthusiasts to acquire a piece of the brand’s signature craftsmanship at auction and integrate it into their own interiors.

View Page Turning Catalogue

Auction Details

Wednesday 26 & Thursday 27 March, 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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VIEWING:

• Viewing in Newbury: Donnington Priory, RG14 2JE
  • Friday 21 March: 10am-4pm
  • Saturday 22 March: 10am-3pm
  • Sunday 23 March: 10am-3pm
  • Monday 24 March: 10am-4pm
  • Tuesday 25 March: 9am-4pm
  • Wednesday 26 March: 9am-4pm
  • Thursday 27 March: 9am-1pm
• Dreweatts Remote Viewing Service | Available from Friday 21 March
• Dreweatts 360 Virtual Auction Tour | Available from Saturday 22 March 

Discover more from de Gournay

Website: degournay.com
Instagram: @degournay

+44 (0) 20 7352 9988
info@degournay.com

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