Historic Seattle presented its ninth annual Bungalow Fair on the last day of September. I was invited in my capacity as Antique Lady and arrived early on Sunday morning, Oct. 1, planning to attend a lecture presented by Megan Thomas, curator of the metalwork section of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The lecture was on the craft of C.R. Ashebee, one of the greats of the British arts and crafts movement.
Historic Seattle is a 31-year-old local organization dedicated to the preservation of threatened historic buildings, education and advocacy for the arts and crafts movement. The Bungalow Fair, assisted by the arts and crafts guild committee, is the highlight of the year's activity. This has enabled them to host more than 50 architects, interior designers, antique dealers and craftspeople in metal, tile, glass, lighting and furniture in 10,000 square feet of space at Town Hall (the former Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist).
Historic Seattle has made the Bungalow Fair a yearly tradition anticipated by thousands of residents and visitors.
Seattle's-and Queen Anne's-growth, residential and neighborhood development and architecture are strongly tied to the arts and crafts era, from the 1890s into the 1920s. One exhibitor of particular interest to me was Charles Rupert Designs Limited, its booth presided over by a very interesting couple: Stuart Stark, a third-generation Victorian (Victoria, B.C., that is) and his English wife, Margaret Graham Bell. The company was named after Stark's grandfather, an Edwardian bank manager of some style whose bank was just three blocks away from their original retail shop.
Charles Rupert Designs Limited is a Canadian company specializing in historic designs in wallpapers, fabrics, tiles, hardware and more. Their customers include architects, designers, curators of historic sites, art directors for films and homeowners trying to restore heritage or character to homes, or for people who simply like traditional style.
Maggie and Stuart are also involved in local historic preservation projects, and they have made their home a landmark. They specialize in original William Morris designs.
Their company, started in 1989, launched its first exclusive wallpaper collection at the Grove Park Arts & Crafts Trade Show in Asheville, N.C. The Historic Wallpapers Collection includes wallpapers from 1865 to 1912, from Victorian to William Morris and arts & crafts designs, all printed on historic wallpaper printing machines.
William Morris
William Morris-designed wallpaper, fabric and tile patterns have remained in production for more than a century. Widely acknowledged as the father of the arts and crafts movement in England and North America, Morris worked to reestablish the value of handcrafted work in the industrial 19th century. His dictum, "Have nothing in your houses which you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful," is as valid today as it was when he wrote it in 1880.
A man of prodigious energy, Morris was also a painter and a respected poet who was asked by Queen Victoria to be England's poet laureate-an honor he declined.
Morris' other talents included designing and weaving tapestries and carpets, designing furniture and designing the typography for his own books.
It is interesting to note that Morris' whole idea was to counteract the Victorian Era idea of clutter; maybe this is why he turned down the queen's offer. He died in 1896, and Morris & Co. continued until 1905 when it was renamed Morris & Co. Decorators Ltd.
Success continued through 1925 with yet another name change to Morris & Company Art Workers Ltd. With the onslaught of the Depression and changing tastes, business declined and the firm was liquidated in 1940. At that time, Arthur Sanderson & Sons Limited acquired Morris' original wallpaper printing blocks from Jeffrey and Co., which had printed wallpapers and fabrics for Morris & Co.
Many of William Morris' designs have been in continuous production for more than 130 years, which speaks to their enduring appeal. His designs were at the forefront of the development of the arts & crafts movement in England, and are just as appropriate in today's restoration or construction of arts & crafts-style homes in North America.
Charles Rupert Limited also handled the wonderful historic fabrics created by Scalamandre. Charles Rupert's fabulous traditional wallpapers are available locally from Daly's Paint and Decorating at 3525 Stoneway N. in Seattle. Daly's has a tradition of its own, beginning in the early '30s when Walter J. Daly arrived in Seattle. Robin Daly is now the third generation offering decorating advice with the company.
My own association with Daly's goes back to the late '70s, when they were one of the sponsors of my radio program, "The Stately Homes of England," featuring antiques, interior design and conservation. It was then that the popular phrase was coined, "You and Your Stately Home in Washington State," and I earned the illustrious title "The Antique Lady" (and getting more so all the time!).
So here's The Antique Lady signing off until next time. You can reach Charles Rupert's Web site for more information at www.charles-rupert.com-and mark your calendars now for the 2007 Bungalow Fair, Sept. 29 and 30 at Town Hall Seattle.[[In-content Ad]]
