fromental
chinoiserie
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With many years experience recreating historic wallpapers, we aspire to retain the elegance of 18th century chinoiserie whilst bringing something new to a traditional aesthetic. Our collection includes both classic and contemporary interpretations of the genre, comprising designs based on archive originals through to entirely new compositions. Hand-painted and often hand-embroidered in exquisite detail on silk backgrounds, fromental’s wallpapers are created with craftsmanship of the highest quality and painstaking care.
FRONT COVER AND LEFT design - part embroidered paradiso colour - fern ABOVE LEFT design - sylvaner colour - burnish ABOVE RIGHT design - paradiso colour - mahogany
Every fromental chinoiserie is made to order with the pattern redesigned to perfectly fit the client’s room. The composition, colours and techniques are tailored to meet individual requirements.
“Their embroidered silk wallpapers are the last word in luxury interior landscapes.”
Wallpaper*
LEFT design - nonsuch colour - armando RIGHT design - paradiso colour - blue light
a little history Chinoiserie is often misunderstood as being of Chinese origin. In fact this decorative style represents the first fusion of eastern and western tastes, based on an idealised interpretation of the mysterious Orient. In the late 18th century, the first specimens of Chinese hand-painted wallpapers arrived in England. Comprising richly coloured, exotic flora and fauna, their exceptional draftsmanship was unequalled by anything produced in Europe at the time and their beauty and sophistication quickly led to them being selected for some of the finest interiors of the time. Popularity peaked towards the end of the 18th century and the genre was favoured by monarchy and aristocracy throughout Europe. To this day, these exquisite wallpapers adorn the walls of royal palaces and stately homes across the world and remain the pinnacle of refinement and luxury.
“Cutting-edge, pioneering papers�
Veranda
fromental chinoiserie Our collection predominantly comprises ‘bird and flower’ design layouts of varying densities, historically the most popular of chinoiserie motifs. These range from intensely detailed, luxuriant gardens in full bloom to pared-down, elegant and understated backdrops. Our basic designs are available in over 60 standard colourways with 5 background styles, all of which can be customised either in part or whole. Giving breadth to the collection, fromental offers both flamboyant, vibrant combinations of colour in addition to more muted, monochromatic schemes.
“The fashion-forward styles, classic yet cutting-edge cool”
LEFT design - part embroidered nonsuch colour - custom ‘warrington’ THIS PAGE FROM LEFT design - embroidered millefleurs colour - odyssey design - nonsuch colour - feldspar design - embroidered paradiso colour - mahogany
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backgrounds
embroidery
silk Our hand-painted and embroidered chinoiserie is most often produced on a silk background.
Fromental pioneered the technique of embellishing traditional painted chinoiserie with fine silk embroidery, taking an already supreme decorative form to new heights of opulence. The wallpapers are hand-painted prior to being fully or part-embroidered in silk and metallic threads in hundreds of colours. Fromental’s artists spend up to 600 hours stitching individual panels.
frescoed Using a mixture of chalk and paint, these backgrounds are painted in contrasting shades and sanded to give a faded, weathered effect reminiscent of the frescoes of Pompeii. The delicate colourways use softer, muted shades for a more traditional setting. lacquered A mix of paint and polish is used to build up a glossy background of faux-lacquer. Lacquered chinoiseries are easier to clean and perfect for use in dining areas or bathrooms. metallic 12 carat gold leaf, striated washes and pearlescent paints are used to create subtly different metallic textures. Touches of fine hand-embroidery can also be added.
“The tradition of skilled craft has almost disappeared in Europe so we’ve chosen to locate manufacturing in the country that hosts the world’s best painters and embroiderers for the designs we want to achieve. We have a window in history to produce works of the beauty and skill which have not been witnessed since the 18th century.” Tim Butcher, Creative Director of Fromental
OPPOSITE PAGE FROM LEFT design - floribunda colour - sungold design - nonsuch colour - ‘khan’ on 12 carat gold design - nonsuch on frescoed background colour - moss
THIS PAGE FROM LEFT detail of fully embroidered paradiso colour - tar detail of embroidered paradiso colour - gunpowder detail of embroidered paradiso colour - moghul detail of embroidered paradiso colour - blood olive
design layouts Our chinoiserie is available in several layouts which vary according to pattern density and design elements. Any of our colourways can be applied to these layouts onto a variety of backgrounds. All Fromental wallpapers are redesigned to precisely fit your space and customised to achieve the desired effect.
Elegant and understated. Most suitable as a backdrop in a room, rather than a dominant feature.
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C051 cibar Our newest adition to the chinoiserie collection. The most pared down of our collection, Cibar is an open bamboo design.
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This design has many elements drawn from historic papers. Highly decorated but with open spaces creating a winding composition across the walls.
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C017 millefleurs
Standard design height 2400mm (90”). Different design heights are available as required.
C001 nonsuch
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A very dense design which runs off the wall. Traditional and sophisticated, a visually arresting full composition which works best in a large room.
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C045 floribunda
Standard design height 2400mm (90”). Different design heights are available as required.
Standard design height 1860mm (84”). Different design heights are available as required.
Incorporating bamboo amongst a variety of flora, this design works particularly well in bold colours. A modern take on original18th century chinoiserie.
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Standard design height 2400mm (90”). Different design heights are available as required.
C026 paradiso
Standard design height 2400mm (90”). Different design heights are available as required.
Standard design height 2400mm0(90”). Different design heights are available as required.
C008 sylvaner
‘A thousand flowers’, the delicacy and intensity is homage to the original spirit of chinoiserie. Perspective is created by a background of bamboo, overlaid with minutely detailed flora and fauna, hanging baskets and ornamental jars.
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FROM LEFT design - folly colour - de bruijn design - indienne colour - anson design - bismarck colour - kew
1888 A series of traditional chinoiserie scenic wallpapers that pay homage to the era when the genre was at its most popular. Each design is based on archive elements from some of the most beautiful extant papers. In contrast to our more contemporary stylised chinoiseries, these designs have a greater diversity of rich flora and fauna with a bolder, more classical aesthetic.
china trade A hand-painted scenic portraying aspects of 18th century Chinese life and industries. The story unfolds from left to right as the journey follows the working of land through to goods passing through the Hongs of Canton.
THIS PAGE design - china trade colour - avebury photo: Avebury Manor, England
about fromental Established in 2006, fromental aims to make the world’s most beautiful wallpapers. Combining highly skilled craftsmanship together with luxurious fabrics, fromental’s distinctly British style blends classicism with a little of London’s fashion scene to create contemporary, timeless interiors. Our elaborate hand-painted and hand-embroidered designs now garner industry awards and adorn some of the most prestigious commercial and residential properties around the world.
“It’s reassuring to know that there’s a source today for this level of workmanship and detailing. Investing in such fine quality wallcoverings guarantees a room that’s timeless yet memorable.” Absolute Magazine
LEFT design - fully embroidered sylvaner colour - custom ‘aviary’ on cardigan silk THIS PAGE painting and embroidery BACK PAGE design - paradiso colour - kelly
Brochure photography by David Jensen