Investment Pieces for the Home: Rose Uniacke

If money is no object and the object of our affection is an interior exuding European old money grandeur, a trip to Rose Uniacke's furniture showroom and interior design studio in Pimlico, London, beckons. The interiors' Queen of Serene will help you make it happen and morph your dream home into a reality.

Rose's credentials are rock-solid and her offering a one-stop shop. Her knowledge base as both an interior and product designer, in addition to her understanding of family-friendly, functional, cosy personable interiors, combine with her invaluable experience as an antiques dealer, fabric designer, gilder, paint and lacquer specialist and furniture restorer, her respect for the history and style of the buildings they sit within, the importance of sensible renovation involving the cream of craftsmen and experts in order to turn the house into a workable and lovable space with its integrity of character, and the carefully-curated heirloom objects that weave a fine balance of form and function into the canvas of the property. 

Rose translates her clients's wishes and expectations into homes that intimately fit their personality: homes that are an extension of who they are. Her client base includes household names such as David and Victoria Beckham and perfume maestro Jo Malone, should you care to know. As may be judged from her portfolio, Rose is used to juggling £multi-million property renovation contracts, without compromising on craftsmanship or style. Cleverly mixing the old and the new in a balancing act only she knows how will usher you to the past without nostalgia while by the same token keep you in the present with a well-honed sense of history. Your home is in safe hands with Rose Uniacke and her team.

Arts & Crafts Repoussé Lantern, England, c.1900 (£2,700/ $3,569)

Now here is my shortlist of unique pieces which no home with a healthy cashflow should be without. I do admit the prices are extravagant but do not let this hold you back if you are prepared for style no matter the cost! Bear in mind the pieces are bold, unique and in good condition.

Source: (1-5) Rose Uniacke's Pimlico home is a pared-down affair that peeled off the layers of successive conversions to its bare walls, complete with restored plasterwork and mouldings. The 19th century property was originally a professional artist’s combined studio, gallery and private residence. It was later converted into a smaller residence flanked by four apartments. Rose reverted it back to a family home, complete with wine cellar and interior courtyard plus the modern conveniences of home cinema, spa and pool - without betraying the essence of the building. In such a setting, heirloom pieces like the (3) 19th century waterfall chandelier (attributed to the Spanish Royal Glassworks), effortlessly come to life. More photography from the Vogue slideshow and article (March 2017), photography by François Halard. (6-8) Antique items available to purchase from the Rose Uniacke online shop. (6) The Arts & Crafts Repoussé Lantern (£2,700/ $3,568.60) will add some Gaudí-esque brass drama to the entrance lobby. (7) The Large French Ormolu Alabaster Hanging Light stands out in style and price, a cool £12,000/ $15,860. The original ormolu bronze includes the foliate mounts and canopy; the veined alabaster dish will bathe your sitting-room in flattering soft indirect lighting. (8) Recently reduced in price, the Finely Cast Victorian Brass Table Lamp by George Smith is almost a snip at £1,100/ $1,454. (9) Note the original three lion-paw feet on a tripod plinth supporting the fluted column.

Large French ormolu alabaster Hanging Light, France, late 19th century (£12,000/ $15,860)

Finely Cast Victorian Brass Table Lamp by George Smith, England, c.1850 (£1,100/ $1,454)

Close-up of the lion-paw feet on a tripod plinth

Villa Grecque Kérylos

In the elegant French Riviera resort of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, at the tip of the peninsula, and set against the dramatic landscape of its rocky shoreline abruptly crashing into the bay on its way to Italy, stands a palatial estate from the Belle Époque era. Its architectural style pledges allegiance to classical Greece, to which modern comfort was discreetly incorporated.

The vestibule, photography by Veran.

Théodore Reinach was a gifted, French multi-disciplinarian of German descent, mostly remembered as a historian, archeologist, numismatist, and above all a fervent Hellenist. He joined forces with architect Emmanuel Pontremoli in order to manifest the hellenist vision, in the shape of Villa Grecque Kérylos, palais antique de la Côte d'Azur. In Greek, Kérylos means Halcyon, a bird of good omen, a blessing for the house to be.

The peristyle, photography by Sophie Lloyd.

The property was designed and built between 1902 and 1908; it was inspired by the oppulent properties on the Greek island of Delos (200 B.C.). Like its bona-fide counterparts, Villa Grecque Kérylos is constructed around a peristyle (central courtyard surrounded by a colonnade). The estate incarnates the wish of every architect's worth their salt: a well-appointed, architectural delight that will stand the test of time in its timeless elegance and inspire generations of residents and visitors.

The library, photography by Sophie Lloyd.

Detailed precision was never compromised in the loyal reinterpretation of Greek classicism, no shortcut allowed! The best materials were used throughout, for cost was no issue for this grandiose project in style. And only the most talented tradesmen and craftsmen were tasked to conjure up their skills into the making of this unordinary abode from the ground up. And the brief goes beyond the proverbial brick and mortar, with made-to-spec furnishings and homewares given careful thought and attention. The panoramic garden is too a faithful representation of a classical Greek garden: olive, palm, pine, carob, pomegranate, myrtle, acanthus, cypress, papyrus and more.

The peristyle, photography by Sophie Lloyd.

Villa Kérylos wasn't designed as a showhome. The Reinach family would vacation there. On the death of Théodore in 1928, it was bequeathed to the prestigious Institut de France. Tragically the villa was seized by the Nazis during WWII and one of the Reinach children, Léon, his wife and their children sent to the death camps of Auschwitz, never to return.

After the war, the Reinachs would continue vacationing at Villa Kérylos until 1966 - fifty years ago - when it finally became a French national monument.

Triklinos, photography by Sophie Lloyd.

Troubled wartime aside, a feeling of peace, sobriety and Greek splendour envelops you as you visit the estate that seems cut off from the vagaries of modern day. Should you be on a quest for simplicity that stands tall, noble, luxurious and steeped in Antiquity, this place requests the pleasure of your visit. Step in and you will step 2,200 years back! How regal for a time machine that is carved up in marble, clad in rare woods, sequined in mosaic, assembled together by colonnades and saluted by statues, and with ample space provided in between for enchanted introspection and other errances of the mind...

Andron, photography by Sophie Lloyd.

If 'Labour of Love' were in search of its physical representation, Villa Grecque Kérylos would be it.

Sources: The interior photography of Villa Grecque Kérylos was sourced from the excellent dedicated article by Alain R. Truong; photography by Sophie Lloyd and by Veran. (1) A bronze serpent statue takes pride of place in the vestibule. (2) The peristyle frescoes are a work of art and furnish the space all to themselves. (3) The library bears a little Art Nouveau influence. (4) A stroll down the peristyle is likely to put you in a contemplative mood. (5) Triklinos is the Villa's octogonal banquet room, where daintiness expresses itself. (6) The Andron breaks off with classical lines through its flamboyant marble walls and colonnades, ornate friezes, coffered ceiling and floor mosaics. (7) There is a notable touch of modernity in the Oikos, with the custom-made Pleyel piano, concealed in its lemon tree wood cabinet. Note the delicate garland detail on the white stucco wall. (8) Exterior view of Villa Grecque Kérylos at dusk, uncredited photograph via Concierge Royal Riviera.

Oikos, photography by Sophie Lloyd.

More architectural details about Villa Grecque Kérylos may be found on Wikipedia (in French). Further architectural eye candy from early XXth century French Riviera awaits, via ibid. In order to enjoy their slide show, double-click the top picture to load it on the screen and scroll from there using the side arrows.

The Tile Files: Majolica

In interior design and the decorative arts, an Italian noun that rolls off the tongue in a little dance usually has a lot of premise to it, and Majolica is one of those words! Welcome to Mirabelle's monthly design series, The Tile Files. We've had quite a journey so far, from Tomettes to Mosaics, via Azulejos and Delftware, and right now we are about to embrace the wondrousness of Majolica in its bold design, rich decorative layers, deep strong colours and endearing crackled glaze. 

Tin-glazed Earthenware Dish, via The Metropolitan Museum of Art

As much as Majolica is mellifluous by name and by nature, it seems that its heyday is being reinvented by every major art movement. First off, Majolica is a generic term. Scratch its veneer and you find a confluence of timelines and spaces, yet rooted in the same influences. For the purpose of our tile-based research, we aim to concentrate mostly on Victorian Majolica decorative tile, although we need to be aware of other variants of the ware, most notably the decorative tin-glazed earthenware of Maiolica, popular in Italian Renaissance (14th-16th century). The name is believed to be a Medieval Italian reference to the Balearic island of Majorca, a pottery stopover on the Hispano-Moresque wares trade route to Italy. Maiolica ware was mostly used for presentation dishes, drinking vessels and apothecary jars. The designs on the wares depicted a scene or told a story as istoriato wares do.

Art Nouveau Floral Majolica Tile, via Tile Heaven

In general, Victorian Majolica is known to be brightly coloured, richly adorned, layered, moulded and embossed, with emphasis upon florals and curves. Contrasting from the multi-coloured designs are the monochrome ones, which play on the depth and intensity of one single colour, from deep and dark to watered down to a watercolour effect. Closely-guarded trade techniques produce the high-gloss lead-glazed finish, with other effects of translucency and opacity being also achieved. Alongside colour and finish, relief techniques were achieved, by means of cloisonné, tube-lining (a.k.a. slip-trailing), or barbotine (raised painted slip decoration). Stencilled slip tile designs befit the streamlined industrialised processes. Meanwhile the advent of the Arts & Crafts Movement and Art Nouveau will confer Majolica a modernist, angular and voluptuous decorative edge that bridges the gap between the 19th and 20th century.

Art Nouveau Majolica Tile, via Tile Heaven

Historically-speaking, Mintons Ltd. (part of The Minton Tile Companies) is the English pottery manufacturer that is the most associated with Victorian Majolica. The firm started off under Thomas Minton, producing blue transferware for dinnerware, including the popular Chinese-inspired Willow pattern. His son Herbert Minton took the family business to pastures new (with a resolutely modern, design-led approach), branching out into decorative encaustic tiles, and forming partnerships with designers and architects in the process, attending worldwide trade fairs and gaining recognition as high-profile contracts were signed. Minton took on French engineer Léon Arnoux as Art Director and the latter produced Majolica coloured glazes that gained a lot of attention at the Great Exhibition of 1851.

As much as the second half of the 19th century had heralded Majolica's heyday, the 20th century took the fortunes of the English pottery industry as a whole into disarray, through a series of mergers and restructurations that progressively squeezed innovation out of the production model and with it the richness that had been experienced in earlier times. Staffordshire, the pottery county of Britain par excellence, took a hard blow in the process. This bittersweet statement shouldn't prevent us from admiring and appreciating those designs of the past that actually appear so contemporary and fresh through their choice of bold colours and inventive motifs.

Art Nouveau Tile by Sherwin & Cotton, via Art Nouveau Tiles

Sources: (1) Tin-glazed Earthenware Dish, late 14th century, Tuscany, Italy, via The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (2-3) via - and available to purchase from - Tile Heaven. Let us note in passing their interesting history of art section on Majolica. (2) Art Nouveau Floral Majolica Tile, manufactured in the U.K. by Corn Bros, circa 1900, features the popular Victorian and Art Nouveau theme of foliage and florals. The central motif resembles a blue poppy, with a foliage border surround. Interestingly the motifs sit at the intersection between Victoriana and Art Nouveau, with signs of Victorian exuberance, as opposed to the more rigid and restrained (stylised) geometric representations of Art Nouveau, as found for instance in the (3) Art Nouveau Majolica Tile, manufactured by id., circa 1905. Further fine examples of Majolica tiles may be viewed from Tile Heaven. (4) Art Nouveau Tile, circa 1910, by Sherwin & Cotton (1877-1911), via Art Nouveau Tiles. The website boasts a fine Art Nouveau collection, with some stunning examples by the likes of Marsden Tile Works, Alfred Meakin and Pilkington.

The Tile Files: Mosaics

Welcome to Mirabelle's monthly design series, The Tile Files. So far, our celebration of enduring tile design has taken us to the south of France (Tomettes), Portugal and Spain (Azulejos), and finally north of the old continent, to The Netherlands (Delftware). This has been quite a journey of stylish discoveries!

The Cul-de-Four Mosaic, Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica (Marseille, France)

For this month's article, we need to delve deep into the arcana of Antiquities - to the second half of the 3rd Millenium BC - in order to track back our very first Mosaics. The decorative impact of those versatile and hard-wearing tile pieces belies no diminutive potentiality! In other words, the face of Antiquity would be disfigured if stripped off them! And it appears that from Empire to technique, Byzantine rules the finesse of the art!

Mosaic tiles (Tesserae) owe their perennial popularity to ceramic (clay that is glazed or unglazed). However, earlier mosaics referred to roughly cubic, terracotta brick, cut-stone (marble, limestone, granite or onyx) or cut-glass tiles, of irregular finish. Mosaics were sometimes made out of other materials such as natural pebbles, seashells, gemstones, precious stones, or ivory fragments.

Mosaic, c.200-100BC, discovered in 1993 during the construction of the new Alexandria Library, Egypt

Mosaics are assembled together with many more in order to pave a floor, a ceiling or a wall. Their small size enables them to cover curved and/ or uneven surfaces like columns or basins. Yet mosaics do not only lend themselves to the practicality of surface covering, they also hold a high ornamental value. To do so, they are combined together according to a specific colour pattern in order to create a repeated decorative motif (tessellation) that will define a border, or create a figurine or landscape element that will be part of a 'bigger picture', a mural, medallion, or bas-relief. As mosaics tell a story, they may even incorporate a name, a date, a motto, a sacred text, or a few descriptive words and other symbology.

Manufactured processes include gold glass, that is produced according to the Byzantine mosaic technique. The latter is applied to stone, gemstone, ceramic, seashell or glass, and brings together irregularly-shaped and handcut mosaic pieces of different geometric shapes that follow the artwork lines. Stone Glass Byzantine Mosaic murals are either made out of Smalti (hand-poured and hand-cut opaque glass) or manufactured glass tiles (of uniform shape and size). Both types of glass may be cut into irregular shapes for Byzantine mosaic.

Parque Güell, Sala Hipstila (Barcelona, Spain)

Parque Güell, Sala Hipstila (Barcelona, Spain)

Mosaics have been precious visual story-tellers, not only to archaeologists, historians, anthropologists and ethnologists, but to anyone appreciative of their testimonial accounts, as they document passages of history, capture rites of passage or moments of daily life. Through their iconographic representations, those murals have contributed to relate the history of ancient civilisations, and the making of humanity.

The ancient decorative art of mosaics has transposed well into the present day, owing to their durability, which results from their individual compact size. This confers them that extra strength, and a certain fluidity of movement (under the duress of substrate shifts) when combined with other tesserae, making them less prone to breakage and cracks. To that effect, let's note the well-preserved three-millennia old cone mosaic courtyard (made out of polychrome terracotta cones), from the ancient Sumerian city of Uruk, and the glazed brick mosaics of the Ishtar Gate of Babylon (ca. 575 BC).

The Basilica of San Vitale (Ravenna, Italy)

More recent mosaic artwork is found in the ancient city of Ravenna (Italy), former last capital of the Western Roman Empire (5th Century AD) and headquarters of Theodoric's Ostrogothic Kingdom. The Basilica of San Vitale is part of an ensemble of Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna, described as being one of the most important examples of early Christian Byzantine art in western Europe, especially noted for its remarkable mosaics. The monument is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Mosaics have remained popular to the present day. The specs and technique have overall remained the same, despite being updated to fit mass-production criteria. The use of the cheaper vitreous glass (i.e. cast glass), mirror, ceramic materials with or without photoluminescent effects, all cater for mass-market fads. Other substrates include aluminium or wood. New effects are achieved thanks to a wider range of geometrical shapes. Cast or hand-cut options are available, according to the finished look sought out (sleek and modern or artisan). The pre-assembled (mesh-backed) mosaic sheets have streamlined the tiling process considerably.

Inspiration Green

Mosaics not only transcend the timeline from Antiquity to the present day, but also faith, creed and cultures, as their popularity, harked back from the cradles of civilisation of the Middle East (Mesopotamia) and the Mediterranean basin (Ancient Greece and Roman Empire), has since encompassed the whole world, to decorate sacred buildings, public places, and private residences alike.

In the course of the 20th century, mosaic popularity has been illustrated all the way from major design projects (the mosaic-inspired pique-assiette technique by Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona's Parque Güell springs to mind), to the more 'mundane' panels that take pride of place in commercial or domestic kitchens or spas. Meanwhile a tile company by the name of New Ravenna will - if only by name association - ensure that the mosaic grandeur of Ravenna remains in the collective psyche, and not only so... Countless other tile companies have too capitalised upon the versatility and durability of mosaics, Porcelanosa, Agape Tile, or Original Style, to name but a few.

'Jacqueline Vine' by Sara Baldwin for New Ravenna Mosaics

This article has only scratched the surface of tesserae. You might wish to scratch it a little deeper and unveil new treasures. A quick browse through the 1000+ eclectic mosaic collections from The Metropolitan Museum of Art will reveal more about mosaic versatility. Meanwhile Agape Tile has an interesting potted history section on Ceramic Tiles, and so does Designboom.

In next month's episode of the Tile Files, we will be gazing at the wondrous world of Majolica, in all its Florentine grace and Victoriana, and unfold more visual treasures along the way! Be there or be square!

'Avila' by Paul Schatz for New Ravenna Mosaics

Sources: (1) 'Mosaïque du Cul-de-Four de l'Abside', detailed iridescent Byzantine mosaic in the apse of Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica, Marseille France. Photography by Robert Valette, via Wikipedia. More from Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde. The Basilica stands out in its hilltop Neo-Byzantine grace, that so befits the muted exoticism that exudes from its hometown of Marseille, known as the doorway to the Orient (la porte de l'Orient). Despite the church edifice dating back to 1864, the religious history of the place originates back to 1214, where a chapel once stood. (2) An antique advertisement for His Master's Voice or Tickle's ancestor? Mosaic floor depicting a dog and a knocked-over gold vessel, via Urge to Create. The c.200-100BC mosaic was discovered in 1993 during the construction of the new Alexandria Library, Egypt. It now sits in the Greco-Roman Museum in Alexandria. The tiny size of the tesserae (only 1-2mm across), allows great detailing and a painting-like effect. The technique was known in Antiquity as opus vermiculatum (‘worm-like work’). The photo originates from a book by Susan Walker and Peter Higgs, Cleopatra of Egypt. From History to Myth, Princeton University Press (2001). (3) Sala Hipstila, Parque Güell, Barcelona Spain, via Europaen Fotos. (4) id., via Park Güell. (5) 'Interior of San Vitale' (Ravenna, Italy), photography by Lawrence OP, via Flickr (July 2013). The Basilica of San Vitale is a jewel of early Christian art, featuring rich mosaic frescoes. The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is equally sumptuous. More from Ravenna, Turismo e Cultura (Ravenna's official tourism website). (6) Cob bathroom, via Inspiration Green. (7) 'Jacqueline Vine', a jewel glass waterjet mosaic shown in 'Amethyst', part of the Silk Road Collection by Sara Baldwin for New Ravenna Mosaics. (8) 'Avila', a natural stone waterjet and hand-cut mosaic shown in 'Gold glass honed', 'Afyon White polished', and 'Cloud Nine honed', part of the Miraflores Collection by Paul Schatz for New Ravenna Mosaics.

The 1940s Paris Apartment

Picture the scene - Five years ago, one Solange Beaugiron, a 91-year-old French lady, passed away in the south of France, leaving in her estate a mysterious Paris apartment located in the 9th arrondissement, less than a mile away from Opéra Garnier. The apartment belonged to her grandmother, a one-time actress and high-class courtesan known as Marthe de Florian (1864-1939).

Marthe died in the apartment that she shared with her only son, Henri (1884-1966). In 1942, under the German occupation of Paris, Henri's daughter, Solange, relocated down south. Meanwhile Henri carried on leaving at the apartment until his death. Solange never returned to clear the property, instead limiting her involvement to paying the obligatory taxes and expenses.

Miraculously for all of those years that the Paris apartment had been put to a forced and restful slumber like Sleeping Beauty incarnate, it remained untouched. A thin veil of dust enshrined its contents, as if to preserve them from the harshness of the passing of time. When the De Florian estate officials carefully pushed open that front door, they were faced with the stuff of fairy tales that transcends any secret expectation: a treasure trove of time-defiant relics and antiques-worthy artefacts (the monumental vanity table to begin with!), not to mention piles of love letters, and a portrait of Marthe by Italian painter and personal admirer of hers, Giovanni Boldini (1842-1931) that would go on to fetch a record €2.1 million at auction!

The apartment got Mirabelle's mind into overdrive. I imagine that some of the artefacts I have included below might well have found themselves at home in such a place! Just think of those little classy - short of rococo - vintage pieces that Madame de Florian would have fancied surrounding herself with: -

Are there any artefacts which you would like me to add to Madame de Florian's apartment? Let's have a little fun and email me the links to mirabelle.inspiration@gmail.com and I shall upload the pictures to this very article.

Sources: (1-3) Madame de Florian's apartment, via Démotivateur. (3) Portrait of Madame de Florian by Giovanni Boldini. The painting was found in the apartment. (4) Antique French Pink-Lined Trinket Box (jewellery case) and (5) Victorian 14K Gold Amethyst and Seed Pearl Ring, both via Paris Hotel Boutique. (6) Pellucid Earrings by Sorrelli, and (7) Pont d'Arcades Clutch by Santi, both via BHLDN. (8) Signed Art Nouveau 14K Gold Enameled Pansy Flower Pin Pendant and Watch Holder, via Ebay.

@parishotel You are very welcome! Your boutique items are all so lovely indeed!

— Mirabelle ♥ (@MirabelleDesign) June 23, 2015