Brian J McCarthy's Luminous Interiors

Brian J. McCarthy brings Hollywood glamour
to an Entrance Hall with a pair of Serge Roche
plasterworks flanking the doors to a
chic lacquered library.
Image from LUMINOUS INTERIORS.

In this season of so many particularly fine, newly published design books, one that really stands out is LUMINOUS INTERIORS by Brian J. McCarthy.  Brian, who was recently named to Architectural Digest's AD100, and I are friends from our days as co-workers at Parish-Hadley.  He launched his own firm Brian J. McCarthy, Inc. in 1992 and this, his first book, features his interior design for nine spectacular residences.

A detail of a photo of a Powder Room
from LUMINOUS INTERIORS.

Brian J. McCarthy is a decorator and designer in the true sense, a big step above the standard in the field who is essentially a salesperson/expediter, and only orders factory-made furniture from catalogues and sells fabric from swatch books.  For example, Brian didn't just paper the walls of the Powder Room of a 1930s Regency Revival house but had them Venetian plastered and stenciled in gold and inlaid with mother-of-pearl and abalone.  The desk was commissioned especially for the space and the chair is from the 1930s.  The Bagues chandelier dates from the 1940s.

The book consists of Brian's interesting story of each project accompanied by lavish color photos, many full page, none of which are done justice here.  It is one knock-out image after another.  Although difficult to pick a favorite room, one of the most memorable is glimpsed in the first photo of this posting.  The turquoise lacquer paneling with gilt bronze banding was fabricated in the U.S. and then sent to Paris for finishing.

An Empire Style Library for a new Long Island house
from LUMINOUS INTERIORS.

Brian had the mahogany Library boiserie for a new 30,000 square foot chateau on Long Island Sound made in Paris by Feau & Cie and finished by Atelier Meriguet-Carrere.  The painted ceiling, better viewed in other images, was also produced by the famous Meriguet workshop.

A Long Island Dining Room
from LUMINOUS INTERIORS.

The Dining Room of the same Long Island mansion also features paneling from Feau & Cie.  The Wedgwood-blue and ivory scheme is accented with panels of mirrored glass painted with neo-classical motifs.

A Master Bedroom from
LUMINOUS INTERIORS

The Master Bedroom of the previously mentioned Regency Revival house features a Serge Roche-inspired, mirrored canopy bed.  The curtain fabric is better seen in other photos in the book; based on a design by Balenciaga, the motifs are appliqued and embroidered on voile over taffeta.

Brian's Master Bathroom in the country.
Image from LUMINOUS INTERIORS.

The Master Bathroom in the Ulster County, New York, weekend home that Brian shares with his partner Danny Sager follows the casual theme of the rest of the house.  But it also reflects his great appreciation for art and craftsmanship.  The chandelier crafted from plumbing parts was made by Thomas Blake.

Brian J. McCarthy
photographed by Fritz von der Schulenberg.

Brian J. McCarthy will be making a much-anticipated appearance on Saturday, January 18, 2014, to speak at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art at 10:30 am.  Sponsored by Decorative Arts Trust, Brian will present a talk, "A Grand Tour of Design: Collecting for a Personal Home," giving advice on how to scout for objects while traveling and to collect pieces with great impact for one's own home.  A book sale and signing will follow.  The event is free to the public with regular museum admission and no reservations are required.





Baguès

A design for a wall light
for Chanel, 1940.
Image:  1stDibs.

My friend and sometimes collaborator Hector Alexander recently snagged a drop-dead low table during the opening minutes of an estate sale that had been produced by the elite firm Maison Baguès.  Still in business and noted for its distinctive (and often copied) light fixtures, the atelier once also produced a line of accessory tables.


A bronze low table
with a lacquer top.
Image:  Elle Décor.

Either a palm frond or bamboo motif were popular leg forms for these tables.  Hector's low table in the form as shown above has a clear glass top, but the same model with the original smoky antique mirror top was offered in 2002 by Malmaison Antiques in NYC for $20,000.


A small tripod table
in the bamboo motif
with a marble top.
Image:  1stDibs.

Noël Baguès started a firm in Paris around 1860 that produced bronze candlesticks and other items used in Christian worship services.


An advertisement for Eugene Baguès.
Image:  eBay.

 

Eugene Baguès in his New York office.
Image:  Elle Décor.

His son Eugene introduced bronze light fixtures in 1880.  In turn, Eugene's sons Victor and Robert expanded the lighting collection in the 1920s and added gilded iron fixtures as well.  At one time, there were additional retail branches in New York, London, Brussels, Rome, and Cairo.


The Galleon chandelier
is one of the signature pieces of
Maison Baguès.

Although the company went under the control of bankers during The Great Depression, Victor's son Jean-Pierre was able to eventually buy back the company in 1957 and revived the collection and also made new introductions.
 


A sconce for seven candles in the popular
double parakeet form.  Also available
in a number of variations, this sconce
is the most copied by other makers.
Image:  Elle Décor.

When Jean-Pierre Baguès retired in 1995, his successor Mr. Souriou relocated the business to Viaduc des Arts in Paris, an area of fine metal-workers.  In 2007, a second location was added to make large chandeliers and other products.


An inventive model using the bamboo motif
in gilt and patinated bronze.
Image:  Elle Décor.

In 2011 Mr. Gesteau formed an association with the maker of decorative cabinet hardware Bronzes of France.  Some pages of a vintage Baguès catalog may be seen on the web site of Riad Kneife here, a reference for some of the dates and names associated with the firm.  The current catalog of Maison Baguès may be seen here. 


A mirror of eglomise glass
in a giltwood frame.
Image:  Elle Décor.

One of the best customers of Maison Baguès was the legendary decorating firm Maison Jansen.  Since Jansen furnishings are highly prized, vintage Baguès pieces on the market today are often advertised as "supplied by Jansen" or "Jansen Style".  Baguès items were seldom marked or labeled with the maker's name, which also leads to mis-identification.  Chic antique shops in New York City such as David Duncan Antiques, R. Louis Bofferding, and Malmaison Antiques often have Baguès light fixtures and occasional tables among their offerings.  And occasionally, the furnishings come up at Sotheby's and Christie's auctions.  Estate sales are generally less dependable as a source, but it helps to have a keen, educated eye like Hector.