The Wonderful Worlds of Renzo and Tony

The New York Times style Magazine recently ran a fascinating article on Renzo Mongiardino.  If you don’t know this name, he was an Italian who became the decorating idol of the rich and famous in the 1970s and 80s.

I really resonate with his work because he is outrageous and fearless and, as the article describes him, “Employing lush romanticism and arcane classical references pulled from a magic bag of artificial effects, he enabled a certain sector of the very rich to make their own mark on the 20th century.”

Most of Mongiardino’s work lived in the grand houses of Europe and England, although he did design the occasional movie set, such as the one for Zeffirelli’s 1968 production of Romeo & Juliet and several opera sets for Minotti.  Lee Radziwill is the only American I can think of who had a Mongiardino-inspired home – and that was at Turville Grange outside of London.

This article, by Nancy Hass (photos by Simon Upton) is long and lush.  There are so many quotes that perfectly capture the Mongiardino mood – indulge me here again.  For him (Renzo) the past was fluid; historical periods and literary allusions were meant to flow together as gracefully as the Tiber.  His glamourous rooms, weeping with emotion, were always, as his friend Umberto Pasti wrote, dusted with ‘the corrosive breath of melancholy.’ “

Mongiardino was a brilliant and well-trained architect and lighting expert, but often departed from his training by focusing on the final effect rather than the approach.  He seemed rather indifferent to the materials he used (i.e., grand and more expensive was not necessarily better), and crafted much of the environment for effect.  “The point was to weave an immersive environment that would both inflame and soothe the spirit.”  Indeed.

I think I must have had a past life in 18th century Italy somewhere, because these rooms make me swoon, not only with their dusty colors and masterful faux finishes, but also the lush velvets and crackled murals that are the stuff dreams are made of!  Not to mention the antique busts and inlaid tables, curios on pedestals, and leather-bound diaries.  I do feel like bursting into tears.

But, wait!  America has its own design darling – Tony Duquette!  Whereas Renzo helps us sink into velvet with the weight of history, Tony takes us on a wild ride robed in glamorous excess.  If I’m not mistaken, I believe Tony’s motto was “more is more.”  If it wasn’t, it should be!  (It’s even the title of the second book written about his career.)

Tony Duquette was an artist; a genius at creating illusion.  His child-like imagination gave him special talents in designing costumes and sets for movies, outrageous interiors and gardens that were more fantasy than real, jewelry and fantastical accessories for the home that bordered on the surreal. Taken in as a prodigy by the very successful decorator Elsie DeWolfe, Duquette soon achieved international fame.  With his Hollywood allure, he became a phenomenon who could seemingly excel in every aspect of the arts.  In fact, he became the first American to be given a one-man exhibition for his jewelry at the Louvre in 1951.

Duquette lived a long and productive life with his wife, “Beegle (Elizabeth Johnstone),” traveling the world and creating magnificent interiors for the likes of J. Paul Getty, Doris Duke and Elizabeth Arden until his death at 85 in 1999.  Fortunately, his business partner, Hutton Wilkinson, has kept the artist’s legacy alive to this day, with the Tony Duquette, Inc. headquarters still housed at Dawnridge, Tony and Beegle’s home in Beverly Hills.

Wilkinson collaborated with Duquette for more than 30 years, and still continues to present jewelry and home furnishings collections inspired by their designs.

Several years ago, I met Wilkinson at the Baker Knapp & Tubbs Showroom in the Merchandise Mart.  He was unveiling some magnificent pieces from recognizable original designs.  The pieces took my breath away.  I expressed my adoration to Wilkinson, who actually gave me his cell phone number in case I make it to LA one of these days.  What a tour that would be!