Art Deco Legacy – Eltham Palace
Once a mediaeval royal palace, London’s Eltham Palace is today the finest Art Déco mansion open to the public. Through the centuries, it has hosted kings, queens, and international statesmen – in 1400, Henry IV welcomed Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos to Eltham to celebrate Christmas. It is one of the few mediaeval royal palaces in England to survive with substantial remains intact.
Initially a moated Tudor house, it was given to the future Edvard IV by Bishop Bek. Under his ownership, the house was completely reconstructed, and the 1470s great hall was added. Beginning in the 16th century, the manor went into decline, and for 200 years following the Civil Wars, it was used as a farm.
In the 1930s it was acquired by textile magnates Stephen and Virginia (Ginie) Courtauld, who wanted a semi-rural property within easy reach of central London. They contacted the architects Seely and Piaget, and the new house was built in a way that linked the new construction to the Great Hall.
The Courtaulds hired some of the foremost designers and craftsmen of their time to create a range of lavish interiors and outstanding gardens. The house was decorated with the couple’s collection of art and furniture.
Visitors will first see the curved entrance colonnade, flanked by two tall, copper-clad pavilions. The green-painted steel casement windows, by Henry Hope and Son, are typical of the 1930s. The infilled arches of the colonnade are inspired by Sir Christopher Wren’s Hampton Court Palace and the library at Trinity College.
Typical features include wall surface lined with a range of native and exotic woods, the use of pale paint colours – a contrast to the strong colours favoured by the Edwardians – and ceilings designed as an integral part of the room.
The most dramatic interior from the remodelling is the triangular entrance hall, created by Swedish designer Rolf Engströmer. The walls are lined with black bean veneer and decorated with marquetry, probably the largest in a private setting, manufactured by the Swedish department store NK. Stephen Courtauld wanted it to depict some of his favourite places. On one side of the wall, a Roman soldier is depicted in a colossal format, surrounded by famous buildings from Florence and Venice. On the other side, the entrance appears to be guarded by a romanticised Viking. Next to him is Stockholm with the City Hall in the centre. Additionally, both Gripsholm Castle and the Visby City Walls are clearly recognisable, showcasing Courtauld’s interest in Scandinavian history.
Benches, sofas, armchairs, tables and low cabinets – all furniture in this room is designed by Engstörmer, making it one of the most significant collections of his designs.
The extravagant design room was designed by Italian Peter Malacrida, defined by contrasting tones and textures for effect, with birds-eye maple veneer walls and an aluminium leaf ceiling. The distinct black and silver doors depict animals and birds, drawn fro mlife at the London Zoo.
Many of the bedrooms of the first floors are built in the “Cunard style”, made fashionable by the cruise liners of the time.
In 1844, the Courtaulds left Eltham, and the site was occupied by the Army educational units. In 1995, the English Heritage took over the site, restoring the 1930s house and gardens.
Eltham Palace & Gardens
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/eltham-palace-and-gardens/
