Antiques Fair News: London's LAPADA Fair Runs October 22-27, 2024, Featuring Luxury Wall-Coverings by Fromental

The LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair, taking place from October 22 to 27 in Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London, remains a premier destination for those passionate about fine art, furniture, jewellery, and collectibles. Known for blending tradition with modern luxury, the fair is organized by the London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association (LAPADA) and is renowned for its meticulously curated exhibits. It continues to serve as a vibrant hub for antique and art trading in central London, attracting an international audience.

Fromental's hand-embroidered designs at Decorex 2024.  Photo by Lucia Carpio

This year, British brand Fromental, celebrated for its luxury wall-coverings featuring hand-painted and hand-embroidered designs, especially in the chinoiserie style, plays a prominent role through two special collaborations. One of these showcases their iconic chinoiserie design, which wraps the exterior of Berkeley Square, paying tribute to the venue's historical significance and timeless elegance.

At the Decorex interiors fair held at Kensington Olympia, London October 6-9 2024, 
Fromental presented a selection of hand-painted and embroidered silk panels suspended overhead,  with walls on either side showing the brand's embroidered chinoiserie wall-coverings.
Photo by Lucia Carpio

In addition, an innovative use of Augmented Reality (AR) allows visitors to scan the design with their smartphones and watch as the intricate Nightingale songbird comes to life and takes flight, adding a dynamic, interactive element to the artwork. This fusion of tradition and modern technology offers a fresh, engaging way to experience the craftsmanship behind Fromental’s designs. 

Lizzie Deshayes, Creative Director at Fromental, explains, "This collaboration explores the interplay between historical influences and contemporary design. By integrating technology with classical art, we’re pushing creative boundaries while staying true to our roots."

The exterior wrap pays homage to classical craftsmanship, featuring rich details such as magnolias, fruit trees, and peonies, all brought to life through Fromental’s signature hand-painted artistry. It's a celebration of historical techniques reimagined for the present, demonstrating how tradition can evolve alongside modern innovation.

Inside the LAPADA fair, Fromental’s wall coverings also grace the restaurant space, providing visitors with an immersive backdrop that further enriches their sensory experience.

A Bespoke Design for the Berkeley Square Collective stand,
curated by the talented Stephanie Barba Mendoza, features Nobuko from Fromental.

Meanwhile, another of Fromental's bespoke wallpaper designs is showcased at the Berkeley Square Collective stand, curated by designer Stephanie Barba Mendoza. The wallpaper, titled Nobuko, draws inspiration from Stephanie’s recent travels to Tokyo and the works of French sculptor Ivan Leon Alexandre Blanchot. Combining Art Deco influences with modern techniques, the design presents a striking fusion of elegance and history.

Hand-finished on iridescent paper, Nobuko features a floral motif in a trompe l'œil style, resembling a stone bas-relief. It is framed by faux marbles inspired by the Villa of Mysteries in Pompeii, creating a space that captures both historical richness and contemporary artistry. Stephanie’s curation of the stand artfully weaves together art, antiques, and design, offering visitors a distinctive experience that bridges the past with the present.

Fromental's silk panels at Decorex 2024
Photo by Lucia Carpio

At the Decorex interiors fair, held at Kensington Olympia, London, from October 6-9, 2024, Fromental presented a stunning display of hand-painted and embroidered silk panels suspended overhead, flanked by walls showcasing the brand's signature embroidered chinoiserie wall-coverings. 

Photo by Lucia Carpio

The centerpiece of the installation was a striking creation from fashion designer Harris Reed’s couture collection, as seen above, crafted from Fromental’s silk wallcovering panels and previously featured at the Met Gala in New York.  The dramatic ensemble featured a three-dimensional corset, a draped train and extra-flared trousers.

Fromental was founded in 2005 by Tim Butcher and Lizzie Deshayes.  Their high-end wall-coverings are often seen in luxury interiors around the world, including private homes, hotels, and commercial spaces. 

Orientalism taking hold in fashion and interior designs

Take the cue from the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Paris which has just launched “Yves Saint Laurent: Dreams of the Orient” as its first temporary exhibition since its opening in October 2017.

The exhibition - running from October 2, 2018 to January 27, 2019 - brings together some 50 haute couture dresses inspired by India, China and Japan from the museum’s collection, presented for the first time alongside ancient Asian artifacts loaned by the National Museum of Asian Arts, as well as private collectors, to offer authentic context to the collection’s historical influences.

All things inspired by cultures of the orient are presently having an influence in fashion as well as interior designs as evidenced in two of the latest wall-coverings launched this Autumn by British brand Fromental.  Known for their high-end couture approach to wallpapers and fabrics, Fromental's new ranges have been inspired by oriental cultures and focused the brand's bespoke approach with the use of hand embroidery and hand painting.

Above, as shown at a launch event set up at Centre Point in London was one of
the colourways of the Kiku wallcovering from Fromental.
Table lamps shown on shelves in the temporary installation are some of the new launches
from Gestalt's latest collection.
Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018

Kiku for example draws much of its inspiration from the Japanese art and Europe's infatuation with form.

The Kiku design combines hand-painting and screen-printed details in a beautiful
panelled wallcovering, hand-painted onto paper-backed silk.

Separately also from the new range is a new colourway in their Cibar design.

Cibar wall covering on display at the launch event held in the Centre Point, an iconic 1960s building, being developed into luxury residences in the heart of London. Wall lamps shown at the same event are 

from Gestalt's latest collection.

Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018

According to Fromental, Cibar is the epitome of mastery in design, representing hundreds of hours of refined skill and craftsmanship.

With its detailed painting, silk background and embroidered motifs, Cibar is a modern take on 19th Century Chinoiserie.

Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018

In Cibar, the shifts between layered detail and open negative space, lead the eye through the compostition.  Note the hand-painted and hand-embroidered silk detailing.  Master artisans work in Fromental's studio in Suzhou, China, a city traditionally known for the production of silk and imperial embroidery.

Fromental is currently exhibiting in two galleries in London:  Lorfords Antiques and Talisman Gallery.  The brand founded in 2005 by partners Tim Butcher and Lizzie Deshayes who often collaborate with international clients to create customised designs.

A collection of 30 Japanese Kokashi dolls (1930s - 1970s) as spoted at the Autumn Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair which put Japonisme in the spotlight at the latest edition held at Battersea Park, south London.
Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018

At the Autumn 29018 edition of the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair that took place 2 - 7 October at Battersea Park, south London, a themed Foyer Stand at the entrance demonstrated the infuence of Japonisme on European interiors.  On display were examples of Glasgow School and Aesthetic Period British furniture, secessionist designs from Austria, Art Nouveau decorative arts and mid-century pieces, alongside a small selection of 20th century and contemporary Japanese works.

Two Japanese silk cushions with hand embroidery on printed ground showed
by Bleu Anglais at the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair.
Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018

Kazuhito Takadoi from Nagoya, Japan works with a wide range of materials: grass, gold leaf, washi paper and sumi ink,  to create unique art work.  He was represented by Jaggedart London at the
Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair.  Photo © Lucia Carpio 2018