One of the most arresting entrances imagined was created by Pierre Delbee of JANSEN, in the 1960s. Finding the perfect balance in making a grand entrance dramatic, without staging, is a fine one. This hall, as it is referred to in The Best of European Decoration, satisfies.
Five ebony doors, one, seen above were designed by Delbee in ivory, silver, copper and brass. The grey & blue walls are done in Louis XV-style paneling -the ceiling as well, further defining the space. Black lacquer cupboards, c.1760, fit jewel box like into the corners and are decorated in carved & gilded wood. The classic leopard fabric, likely a velvet, adorns two benches-note the mismatched attitude of the pair.
Nowhere was Jansen's craft exhibited more brilliantly. The Delbee creation reads beautifully in these color photographs- from the book JANSEN.
As the entry expands we see a much larger space-& its many incarnations. The Entry-now a Dining Room- is hardly recognizable-were it not for the ebony and ivory veneered doors.
Recreating such a space- impossible. There is a studied singularity about the room. It would seem set-like & the genius of the room would be lost. The best take aways from Delbee are the jewel box impact: the paneled walls, varying color to highlight the moldings, symmetry, punctuating the grey with all the black that can be found, working the ceiling in the same way as the walls & an unhesitating hand.
sources and photographs sited in the text & here, JANSEN and The Best in European Decoration.
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Pierre Delbee's entrance hall is a wonderful example of how a relatively modest space (in this case in an apartment) can be made quite spectacular with well chosen decoration, both architectural and furnishings. Of course it helps that he was head of the most influential design firm of its day, and this was his own apartment! The doors are certainly magnificent, but it is the blue steel and gilt bronze (?) folding dining table that I wish for.
ReplyDeleteFabulous post! but I don't agree that the entry is hardly recognizable... The door, you are right but the detailing and the corner pieces? Love your blog as you surely know.
ReplyDeleteJust superb
ReplyDeleteIt is a minor point, perhaps, but the middle name of the author of the 2006 book JANSEN (and the follow-up JANSEN FURNITURE), is Archer. James is a wonderful guy, a former classmate at Attingham, Class of '91.
ReplyDeleteJohn, an important point and thank you I have changed it.
ReplyDeleteDED- it truly is.
J-A D-H, thank you- I think it is the addition of the table as dining room and the expanse of the photograph, but it is no doubt completely one of a kind.
Positively exquisite. Indeed heart stopping!
ReplyDeleteDevoted Classicist,my thoughts exactly. the book described the space as ongoing for nearly a decade.
ReplyDeleteby the way, the Jansen book is superb.
Sensory...exactly....and you KNOW im a decibple of that emotion!x colette
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely wonderful! It came to life in colour xx
ReplyDeleteThis hall has always epitomized what great interior architecture and decor is all about--invention, history and style.
ReplyDeleteJansen was always a favourite of mine, as you always had the surprise of something that was totally disparate with the rest of the objects in the room but tied it all together
ReplyDeleteThe doors are phenomenal so graphic and completely suprising always love what you have to share.
ReplyDeleteGaye, A most fabulously designed entry!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Breathtaking! I have a puzzlement: studying carefully.......I found the leopard velvet stools on either side. However.....more studying did not show a "mismatched attitude" of the pair......could you have meant a "mismatched altitude?" I cannot for the life of me tell what the "attitude" of those stools are...or is???
ReplyDeleteWonderful, wonderful post......the perfect example of what a brilliant blog post is!!!
Something no one knows or has seen! (or at least most of us)!
Take away ideas - one of my favourite things about your blog. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThe second picture takes my breath away.
ReplyDeleteQ., Christina, Kathy,Karena, I found the change of color to be startling. the b& w interior photographs do less justice to a space,while b& w portraits are my preference. It is a bandbox perfect space.
ReplyDeleteShelley-appreciated, I try to keep it real. Though such a place is enviable It is not within my reach.
Colette- sensory is what it is all about, what other reason for the work and effort.
ReplyDeleteDavid, Anon., That the firm was called upon so often by Nancy Lancaster, Elsie d W. and the like is proof of their greatness.
Kaveri- you must do something with those doors!
Penelope- This phrase means the casual nature of the two benches- being different with the same fabric covering on them- in an otherwise, very symmetrical space.
i love these pictures! you have such a great artistic taste. =)
ReplyDeletehttp://pinkchampagnefashion.blogspot.com/
Exquisite on many levels.
ReplyDeleteDear Gaye,
ReplyDeleteRefreshing to see this posting on A SCHOLARS' apartment. Delbee has long been in the shadow of Boudin...you bring this apartment which remained intact from his death in 1974 to life again. In 1999, after years of remaining intact, all contents were auctioned off in Paris thru Christies. I have the Auction Catalog and the doors of course were SO spectacular, they ARE the cover of the catalog. There is a Metaphysical Aspect to them, aside from their historical references to the Ancient World and Mathematics...Lot 476 - A SUITE OF FIVE INLAID EBONY DOORS BY JANSEN circa 1957...estimate FFr80,000-120,000 they sold for 1,002,500.
His library is much like Jayne Wrightsmans' London library...very similar indeed. You can see each of them deep in conversation in Paris or London and feeling comfortably at home.
You are a WONDERFUL articulate and well-versed Woman of History, Architecture and Beauty...continue to shimmer for all!
This last image is one that I wish I could do a little time traveling, wander around taking in the beauty of each magnificent detail!
ReplyDeleteThe suite of doors took 20 months to make, I have read. And likely the entire fantastic apartment was funded by Delbée's stylish wife, Suzanne "Suzy" Lazard. Née Kober, she was the much-younger widow of multimillionaire French banker Robert Lazard, a Jew who died while being deported from France during WW2. She married Delbée in 1950, and they moved into the Avenue Foch apartment in 1957.
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