"Elegance and fabrics at the time of The Great Gatsby" - Exhibition at Prelle et Cie

Photo credit: Prelle et Cie

Like any lady, the city of Paris harbors her secrets. One of them, known almost exclusively by museum curators and interior designers, is the address of the legendary Prelle et Cie situated at the elegant Place des Victoires. Using the same techniques as they did in 1752, Prelle weaves reproductions of silk fabrics, such as the peacock feather silk wall hangings in Marie-Antoinette's bedroom at Versailles and the fabrics adorning the foyer of the Palais Garnier, for palaces, museums and historical homes in France and around the world.

Photo credit: Prelle et Cie

Two to three times a year, Prelle hosts exhibitions that display items from their extensive archives of historic designs. The latest, "Elegance and Fabrics at the Time of The Great Gatsby", features brightly colored panels of silk decorated with fountains, waterfalls and flowers along with magnificent dresses, hats, fans and a pair of silver lamé pumps from Les Années folles ("Roaring Twenties"). Having just finished Season 4 of Downton Abby, I was delighted to see a black beaded dress with a pair of white evening gloves that would have looked smashing on Lady Mary and a spectacular "Queen of England" coat with a fur collar that would have been perfect for Lady Edith. Timed to coincide with "1925, When Art Déco dazzled the World" at Cité de l’Architecture, the Prelle exhibition includes pieces by Maurice Dufrêne, Suzanne Lalique and Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann. 

"Elegance and Fabrics at the Time of The Great Gatsby" until March 29, 2014 
The exhibition is free and open to the public Monday to Thursday from 9am - 6pm and Friday 9am - 5pm
Prelle Showroom
5, Place des Victoires
75001 Paris

Please click here to see additional photos posted on Facebook.

In the United States, Prelle silk has been commissioned by many museums and stately homes, including the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and Marble House, the Vanderbilt's "cottage" in Newport, Rhode Island. (To see the complete list, refer to Prelle's Historical References 1947-2013)

Comments

  1. So stunning! I definitely don't have the body to wear things from the 20s, but I do love the deco patterns!

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    1. You most definitely do have the body to wear things from the 20s - I remember seeing photos of the 1920s party in New York and you looked lovely!

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  2. I enjoyed visiting this exhibition with you Mary Kay. I'm ready for their next one!

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    1. Thanks for joining me Karen! It was fun exploring Paris with you. I look forward to more adventures!

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