Looking for a few up to the minute decor ideas before the Empress Eugenie comes to stay. Imagery from “The illustrated catalogue of the Universal Exhibition” which was held in Paris in 1867. The catalogue appeared in print as a supplement to the publication “The Art-journal” in 1868.

Clock – Greek in character, contributed to the 1867 Paris Universal Exposition by Paris Bronze Manufacturer M. Henri Houdebine. Page 47 of The illustrated catalogue of the Universal Exhibition of 1867 published with Art Journal which was published in London and New York in 1868 by Virtue and Company. Cc0 License 3.0. https://archive.org/details/hartley52087804/page/n47/mode/1up

From the many and varied contributions of Mr. J. W. Benson – Goldsmith and Jeweller, of London – we select, for engraving, the CASKET in which was presented to Prince Alfred (Duke of Edinburgh) the freedom of the City of London. It is carved in oak by Mr. W. G. Rogers. Minute tracery of carved work and fine gold in high relief. Page 28 of The illustrated catalogue of the Universal Exhibition of 1867 published with Art Journal which was published in London and New York in 1868 by Virtue and Company. Cc0 License 3.0. https://archive.org/details/hartley52087804/page/n28/mode/1up

Messrs. Winfield and Company, of Birmingham, who have long-established repute for the production of works in Brass and Or-molu, more especially Bedsteads and Chandeliers, contribute several works of a high order, with reference to design as well as execution. of the CHANDELIERS we give two admirable examples; they are of considerable merit, and confer honour on the great capital of the metal district. We add one of the suspending pillars. Those who call to mind the collection exhibited by this eminent firm in 1862, will readily believe that these contributions manifest exceeding and invaluable perfection of finish. Page 81 of The illustrated catalogue of the Universal Exhibition of 1867 published with Art Journal which was published in London and New York in 1868 by Virtue and Company. Cc0 License 3.0. https://archive.org/details/hartley52087804/page/n81/mode/1up

The Paper-hangings (PAPIERS-PEINTS) of Paris maintain their high position; they have an excellence which the artists and artisans of other countries vainly strive to reach. We engrave on this page the decoration of the side of a room, and part of another, the manufacture of M. HOOUK, the successor of the long-renowned firm of DELICOURT, to which firm France was largely indebted for its supremacy in this art. The designs are applied by an eminent artist, M. VICTOR DUMONT. We can give no idea of the brilliancy and harmony of the colours employed. Page 266 of The illustrated catalogue of the Universal Exhibition of 1867 published with Art Journal which was published in London and New York in 1868 by Virtue and Company. Cc0 License 3.0. https://archive.org/details/hartley52087804/page/n266/mode/1up
Front cover. Collections of the Hartley Institution Southampton Reference Library. Image 1 of The illustrated catalogue of the Universal Exhibition of 1867 published with Art Journal which was published in London and New York in 1868 by Virtue and Company. Cc0 License 3.0. https://archive.org/details/hartley52087804/mode/1up

“Dollhouses and other Miniature Worlds” for May 29th in the 2026 spring show . . .

my series post for today published to my Substack at the link if you’d like to see it

https://sarahbguestperry.substack.com/p/dollhouses-and-other-miniature-worlds-36f

View of a house in Los Angeles, California looking past the courtyard towards the living room. June 2025 image. Faux miniature. Derek Swalwell, photographer. Rob Kennon Architects. via @newfielddesign on Instagram. From their Instagram.

Sticking down the last felt letter on the parade banner and off to be a druid lady at the Fêtes des druides au Mont Gildas in Brittany. Doesn’t look like they have these anymore but judging by the pictures it was lots of fun. Collections of Gallica BnF the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

Procession, Fêtes des druides au Mont Gildas (les druides). 1911.  Bretagne, France. Press photograph, photo credit Agence Rol. Collections of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Estampes et photographie. In the public domain due to age. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b53111545x?rk=21459;2
Procession, one man with a harp. Fêtes des druides au Mont Gildas (les druides). 1911.  Bretagne, France. Press photograph, photo credit Agence Rol. Collections of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Estampes et photographie. In the public domain due to age. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b53111529w?rk=42918;4
Processing with banners with the four men in the lead in civilian dress not druid costumes. Fêtes des druides au Mont Gildas (les druides). 1911.  Bretagne, France. Press photograph, photo credit Agence Rol. Collections of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Estampes et photographie. In the public domain due to age. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b531115399?rk=107296;4#
General view of the crowd and the druids. Fêtes des druides au Mont Gildas (les druides). 1911.  Bretagne, France. Press photograph, photo credit Agence Rol. Collections of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Estampes et photographie. In the public domain due to age. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b53111528f?rk=193134;0#
Man in Vendéen Costume. Fêtes des druides au Mont Gildas (les druides). 1911.  Bretagne, France. Press photograph, photo credit Agence Rol. Collections of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Estampes et photographie. In the public domain due to age. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b53111547t?rk=257512;0

Lithograph pages from a ca. 1860s-1880s trade catalogue put out by Stabilimento Salviati and Company of Venezia, Italy. In the collections of the Rakow Research Library at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York. The Cooper Hewitt has some of the lithographs from the same catalogue.

Lampadaro. Number 1. Giorgio Corradini, (Litografia Corradini), Venezia, lithographer. Lithographic page from a trade catalogue put out by Stabilimento Salviati and Company Glass of Venezia, Italy. Collections of the Rakow Research Library, Corning, New York. Artwork in the public domain due to age https://cmog.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/view/UniversalViewer/01CORNING_INST/1261562240004126?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-4056,-298,12125,5955&r=0
Lampadaro. Numbers 4 and 3. Giorgio Corradini, (Litografia Corradini), Venezia, lithographer. Lithographic page from a ca. 1860s-1880s trade catalogue put out by Stabilimento Salviati and Company Glass of Venezia, Italy. Collections of the Rakow Research Library, Corning, New York. Artwork in the public domain due to age https://cmog.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/view/UniversalViewer/01CORNING_INST/1261562240004126?c=&m=&s=&cv=1&xywh=-1397,-1,7620,3743&r=0
Lampadaro. Numbers 5 and 9. Giorgio Corradini, (Litografia Corradini), Venezia, lithographer. Tavola Number 12. Lithographic page from a ca. 1860s-1880s trade catalogue put out by Stabilimento Salviati and Company Glass of Venezia, Italy. Collections of the Rakow Research Library, Corning, New York. Artwork in the public domain due to age. https://cmog.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/view/UniversalViewer/01CORNING_INST/1261562240004126?c=&m=&s=&cv=4&xywh=-1589,-1,10324,5071&r=0
Mirrors. Numbers 1-5. Giorgio Corradini, (Litografia Corradini), Venezia, lithographer. Tavola Number 14. Lithographic page from a ca. 1860s-1880s trade catalogue put out by Stabilimento Salviati and Company Glass of Venezia, Italy. Collections of the Rakow Research Library, Corning, New York. Artwork in the public domain due to age. https://cmog.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/view/UniversalViewer/01CORNING_INST/1261562240004126?c=&m=&s=&cv=9&xywh=-1564,0,10358,5087&r=0
Mirrors. Numbers 8-10. Giorgio Corradini, (Litografia Corradini), Venezia, lithographer. Tavola Number 9. Lithographic page from a ca. 1860s-1880s trade catalogue put out by Stabilimento Salviati and Company Glass of Venezia, Italy. Collections of the Rakow Research Library, Corning, New York. Artwork in the public domain due to age. https://cmog.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/view/UniversalViewer/01CORNING_INST/1261562240004126?c=&m=&s=&cv=9&xywh=-1564,0,10358,5087&r=0
Mirrors. Number 13. Giorgio Corradini, (Litografia Corradini), Venezia, lithographer. Tavola Number 20. Lithographic page from a ca. 1860s-1880s trade catalogue put out by Stabilimento Salviati and Company Glass of Venezia, Italy. Collections of the Rakow Research Library, Corning, New York. Artwork in the public domain due to age. https://cmog.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/view/UniversalViewer/01CORNING_INST/1261562240004126?c=&m=&s=&cv=9&xywh=-1564,0,10358,5087&r=0
Glassware. Corradini, (Litografia Corradini), Venezia, lithographer. Tavola Number 20. Lithographic page from a ca. 1860s-1880s trade catalogue put out by Stabilimento Salviati and Company Glass of Venezia, Italy. Collections of the Rakow Research Library, Corning, New York. Artwork in the public domain due to age. https://cmog.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/view/UniversalViewer/01CORNING_INST/1261562240004126?c=&m=&s=&cv=9&xywh=-1564,0,10358,5087&r=0
Glass bottles, some being decanters. Giorgio Corradini, (Litografia Corradini), Venezia, lithographer. Tavola Number 18. Lithographic page from a ca. 1860s-1880s trade catalogue put out by Stabilimento Salviati and Company Glass of Venezia, Italy. Collections of the Rakow Research Library, Corning, New York. Artwork in the public domain due to age. https://cmog.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/view/UniversalViewer/01CORNING_INST/1261562240004126?c=&m=&s=&cv=16&xywh=-1538,0,10185,5002&r=0
Number 711. Coppa da frutta ondulata; Number 712. Coppa da frutta; Number 713. Pezzo di Centro per tavola in Filigrana; Number 714. Pezzo di Centro per tavola in Filigrana; Number 728. Number 729. Candelabro per tavola a 3 lumi; Number 730. Candelabro per tavola a 6 lumi. Giorgio Corradini, (Litografia Corradini), Venezia, lithographer.Lithographic page from a ca. 1860s-1880s trade catalogue put out by Stabilimento Salviati and Company Glass of Venezia, Italy. Collections of the Rakow Research Library, Corning, New York. Artwork in the public domain due to age. https://cmog.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/view/UniversalViewer/01CORNING_INST/1261562240004126?c=&m=&s=&cv=9&xywh=-1564,0,10358,5087&r=0
Specimens of Tinted Glassware. Giorgio Corradini, (Litografia Corradini), Venezia, lithographer. Tavola Number 17. Lithographic page from a ca. 1860s-1880s trade catalogue put out by Stabilimento Salviati and Company Glass of Venezia, Italy. Collections of the Rakow Research Library, Corning, New York. Artwork in the public domain due to age. https://cmog.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/view/UniversalViewer/01CORNING_INST/1261562240004126?c=&m=&s=&cv=9&xywh=-1564,0,10358,5087&r=0

Visions of mid century luxuriousness by Albert Van Luit who dressed up Hollywood. Born in Cleveland Ohio, Albert Van Luit relocated himself to southern California at a youthful age. His wallcoverings defined mid century luxury interior design from the 1950s to the 1970s. These images are in the Huntington Library and were shot by Maynard Parker.

Dining room and wallpaper: Wallpaper setups in the Robertson store decorated by Mary Jane Carson, and at a decorator show. In an envelope labeled “Robertson window by Mary Jane Carson/Booths at Sports arena”. Los Angeles, California, where the Albert Van Luit and Company Complex was located. June 1964 image. American. Maynard Parker, photographer with this image being part of a photo shoot for Albert Van Luit which is archived at the Huntington. Originally under copyright. Fair use license. via https://hdl.huntington.org/digital/collection/p15150coll5/id/17906/rec/24
Wallpaper Setups. Presumably photographed at the Albert Van Luit and Company Complex in Los Angeles as a different location is not given. California, USA. March 28, 1961 image. American. Color transparency. Maynard Parker, photographer with this image being part of a collection of photographs and color transparencies shot for Albert Van Luit that is archived at the Huntington. Originally under copyright. Fair use license. via https://hdl.huntington.org/digital/collection/p15150coll5/id/17869/rec/25
Cannell and Chaffin. Display booth and Wallpaper: Wallpaper setups at decorator’s show at Hollywood Palladium. Hollywood, California USA. June 24, 1962 image. American. Photographed by Maynard Parker for Albert Van Luit and Company. Part of a Van Luit and Maynard Parker archive at the Huntington Library. Originally under copyright. Fair use license. https://hdl.huntington.org/digital/collection/p15150coll5/id/17913/rec/28
Ruth Brand: Display booth and Wallpaper: Wallpaper setups at decorator’s show at the Hollywood Palladium. Hollywood, California USA. June 24, 1962 image. American. Photographed by Maynard Parker for Albert Van Luit and Company. Part of a Van Luit and Maynard Parker archive at the Huntington Library. Originally under copyright. Fair use license. https://hdl.huntington.org/digital/collection/p15150coll5/id/17911/rec/30
Newport Bluffs Model Apartments (Living Room). Newport Beach, California USA. June 1965 image. American. Photographed by Maynard Parker for Albert Van Luit and Company. Part of a Van Luit and Maynard Parker archive at the Huntington Library. Originally under copyright. Fair use license. https://hdl.huntington.org/digital/collection/p15150coll5/id/20089/rec/60

Learn a bit more about Albert Van Luit, the business he created and the people who worked for him here https://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/blogs/lapl/discover-lgbtqia-los-angeles-albert-van-luit-complex

Off to a fashioncade. I don’t think they have these any more but it sounds like it was similar to streaming designer runway shows on vogue.com but in real time wearing a girdle and a string of pearls out at the country club or the home of the president of the PTA . From TESSA, Digital Archives of the Los Angeles Public Library.

Fashions in furs with the photograph caption dated October 17 1957 and reading, “Presenting a pre-view of autumn furs to be shown in the “Future Unlimited Fashion Fair” sponsored by Encino Woman’s Club are Mmes. I. L. Bagwell, president; C. W. Hartford, F. Norwood Yale and Miss Carroll Hunter, from left. Benefit fashioncade on Oct. 31 at Sportsmen’s Lodge will aid ‘Futures Unlimited.’” Ed J. Clarke, photographer for the Valley Times newspaper. TESSA, the Digital Collections of the Los Angeles Public Library. Under copyright in 1957. Fair use license. https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/photos/id/55626/rec/4
Fashioncade of furs with the photograph caption dated February 25, 1955 and reading, “Mrs. Ben Pannell, seated, who always thought just any fur coat would be nice, seems puzzled when she sees an array of garments dating from 1890 to modern times. Modeling the coats from left are Mmes. Calvin Glendenning, Don Barnett, Nick George, Don Furst, Win Hovey and Roy Barron. The fur pieces will be modeled at a benefit sponsored by Kappa Omicron of Epsilon Sigma Alpha.” Photographer not given but shot for the Valley Times Newspaper. TESSA, the Digital Collections of the Los Angeles Public Library. Under copyright in 1955. Fair use license. https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/photos/id/68564/rec/1
Comic Relief with the photograph caption reading July 16, 1958 and reading “Mrs. Ruth Litt in old fashioned swim-suit, prepares to ‘get in the swim’ while Mmes. Norma Miller and Barbara Kaufman, from left, cheer from side-lines. Trio will model in aquatic fashioncade at July 23 membership swim party of Elana Group of San Fernando Valley Chapter of Hadassah.” Photographer not given but shot for the Valley Times Newspaper. TESSA, the Digital Collections of the Los Angeles Public Library. Under copyright in 1958. Fair use license. https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/photos/id/63107/rec/7
Fashion pageant with the photograph caption dated August 12, 1959 and reading “Valley members of the Daughters of Penelope inspect decor for fashioncade which will highlight Aug. 16-23 supreme convention in Ambassador Hotel. From left are Mmes. Nick Zafiris, George Shanis and George J. Brotsis.” Photographer not given but shot for the Valley Times Newspaper. TESSA, the Digital Collections of the Los Angeles Public Library. Under copyright in 1959. Fair use license. https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/photos/id/126085/rec/8
Here Comes the Bride with the photograph caption dated May 8, 1957 and reading, “Mrs. Lou Shields, foreground, displays lovely bride doll door prize for May 13 fashioncade of Sherman Oaks School mothers. Left to right, background, Mmes. Louis Marino and Rad Robinson plan arrangements; Mmes. Nell W. Hanner and Marion C. Beatty admire a doll. Event at Mrs. Beatty’s Encino home will feature spring styles.” Photographer not given but shot for the Valley Times Newspaper. TESSA, the Digital Collections of the Los Angeles Public Library. Under copyright in 1957. Fair use license.

FYI these are 1950s furs to go with the 1950s ladies wearing them in the pictures. Why I think the images are all right to use. If they were recent, I wouldn’t.