Line Vautrin was a designer whose work is as fascinating as her life story.  In the manner of her compatriot, Coco Chanel, she was strong, creative, ambitious and inventive.  Line was born in Paris in 1913 and left home at 14 unfulfilled with school to find her passion. At age 20, after various employments, she decided to set up her own jewelry business.  She initially learned her craft from her father who ran his parents foundry. 

Line’s career took off after the 1937 Universal Exhibition in Paris.  Working primarily in bronze she incorporated symbols and text into her pieces.  The primary motifs being: fire, stars, sun, moon, love, friendship, masculinity, femininity, among others.  In 1950, Line developed and patented a new material, Talosel, the name derived from the combination of the substances used to create it: cellulose and acetate.  Using Talosel she encrusted small pieces of colored mirror into frames and other larger objects that became highly favored in the interior design world. 

Vautrin was also a woman that embraced change.  She moved to Morocco in 1949 and opened a boutique in Casablanca through1952.  At this point, she returned to Paris with her daughter, having left her husband, and opened another boutique on the Left Bank.  Here she gained a celebrity clientele such as Brigitte Bardot, Ingrid Bergman and Yul Brenner.  Unfortunately, due to her limited management skills, she had to close shop in 1967.  She then decided to open a school to pass on her knowledge and expertise especially in the area of Talosel.  The school was open only for a few years as it was not a sustainable venture.   She continued to work and innovate and wrote a book until her passing in 1997 at the age of 84 of a sudden heart attack when advised she had cancer. 

In 2006, Christie’s auction house in New York had a sale of her work totaling $2.6 million.  www.christies.com

Please visit: www.line-vautrin.fr for a more information on Line Vautrin.

Above: 1970 - Line Vautrin working on a mirror in her workshop at 29, Quai des Grands Augustins in the early 1970s.  Photo: from www.line-vautrin.fr

Above: "Soleil" mirror Photo: from www.line-vautrin.fr

Above: This "Créte de Coq" circa 1950 mirror sold at the Christie's auction for $72,000 Photo: © JCM from www.line-vautrin.fr

Above: "Gribiche" mirror Photo: © JCM from www.line-vautrin.fr

Above: "Étincelle" mirror Photo: © JCM from www.line-vautrin.fr

Above: "Perruque" mirror Photo: © JCM from www.line-vautrin.fr

Above: Bronze cigarette box Photo:  from www.line-vautrin.fr

Above: Sample decorative brass and talosel panel  Photo: © JCM from www.line-vautrin.fr

Above: "Canard" wall sconce Photo: © JCM from www.line-vautrin.fr

Above: 1995 - Line Vautrin poses for Jean-François Gaté at her home in the 12th district of Paris.  Photo: from www.line-vautrin.fr

Mansour Modern has a wonderful collection of antique and contemporary rugs; some of my favorites are part of the The Circa Collection.  What makes this collection unique is that they are actually antique rugs that have been unraveled and rewoven into vintage inspired designs - taking green to a whole new luxurious level.   Founder and head designer of Mansour Modern, Ben Soleimani, says  “Although these are new designs, the wool and yarns are repurposed from vintage rugs to create a contemporary piece with a unique and perfectly aged hand.  They are magnificent in their texture and touch – they have a soul.” Shown below are rugs from the Circa Collection and a couple from the Vintage Collection, which are equally timeless and soulful. 

www.mansourmodern.com

Above: 'Souk' rug from the Circa Collection

Above: A Circa Collection rug

Above: A Circa Collection rug in a Kelly Wearstler designed room from Domino Magazine (photographer: Melanie Acevedo)

Above: Circa Collection rugs in Kelly Wearstler's Hillcrest estate from Kwid's website

Above: A close-up of a Circa Collection rug

Above: A Vintage Collection rug

Above: 'Balzane' rug from the Vintage Collection

Darcy Miro

Last year, while wandering New York City’s West Village, I stumbled upon Darcy Miro’s shop and was blown away by the highly textural and unique designs.  The shop is full of amazing cuffs and rings done in beautiful, corroded-looking metals that give them a timeless and witty appeal. What interested me most were the custom residential and commercial pieces on display, such as door and cabinet handles, architectural panels and small metal ‘Topo’ tiles that can be applied as three-dimensional wallcovering.  These objects are all one-of-a-kind with layers of textures, organic shapes and patterns that just draw you in towards them and beg to be touched.  If you would like to learn more about Darcy and her work, visit darcymiro.com.

Above - Darcy Miro's architectural panels.

Above - 18 K gold cuff with black diamonds

Above: Custom door handle

 Above - 'Topo' tiles/3-dimensional wall-covering

 Above - A selection of gold cuffs

Above: Storefront at 60 Bedford Street, NYC 10014

I am thrilled that Balustrade and Bitters is not only here to inspire us, but also that they have graciously asked me to help them by doing a little guest blogging.  This serendipitous invitation was a nice opportunity for me because I thought it was a good way to categorize all of the stuff that perpetually consumes both my mental and physical space.  So, here it goes, let the blogging begin…

Pollock-esque, splattered paint… I’ve been seeing this application in wallpaper quite a bit and I absolutely love it.  It is reminiscent of this amazing 1950’s Lucio Fontana and Osvaldo Borsani table and wall unit that Wright had at auction in 2006 (see pictures  below).  Ever since I saw those pieces, I’ve wanted to recreate that concept in an interior or furniture application.

Above: Lucio Fontana and Osvaldo Borsani coffee table, 1955 Wright Auctions
 

 Above: Lucio Fontana and Osvaldo Borsani, 1954 www.wright20.com

Above: Hinson and Company ‘Spatter – Brown on White’

Above: Ralph Lauren’s Studio Kraft wallcovering
www.ralphlaurenhome.com

Above: Porter Teleo's 'Fluidity'. www.porterteleo.com 

Above: Not quite splattered paint but felt this was worth a mention:  Artist’s Ani Hoover’s work as seen in Interior Design magazine.

www.anihoover.com.