Zardi & Zardi work with award-winning team in the restoration of Stowe House – one of England’s finest Georgian country houses

Written for Zardi & Zardi who have full copyright.

Since 2000, Stowe House has undergone extensive restoration under the direction of The Stowe House Preservation Trust (SHPT), and Purcell architects. The Grade 1 listed property, home to Stowe School since 1923, was built and extended by the Temple-Grenville family as one of England’s largest Georgian country houses, set within the gardens and landscapes designed over time by William Kent, Charles Bridgeman and ‘Capability Brown’. The creation of SHPT allowed for a major National Heritage Lottery Fund grant to be used in the restoration of, initially, the North Front of the main mansion.  

Working through a sequence of internal and external restoration projects included the South Front, North Hall, Blue Room, State Library, Marble Saloon, with the two most recent projects - the State Drawing Room and the State Dining Room – requiring the specialist expertise of Zardi & Zardi. Taking the lead from a contemporary watercolour illustrating a colour scheme of peach/orange, as well as mention of orange damask in the estate guidebooks, in the State Drawing Room, Zardi & Zardi took up the challenge of recreating this vivid wallpaper, with the added requirement that it be hard-wearing enough to withstand its role as a school dining room.

Image c/o Zardi & Zardi. Image credit: Andy Marshall

Recreating the wallcoverings in the State Dining Room was an altogether greater task, with five large tapestries measuring approximately 3.5m high and in some cases 7.3m wide, plus smaller panels at intervals throughout, covering all four walls. The original tapestries depicting Roman mythological figures Venus, Diana, Mars, Bacchus and Ceres, from the Triumph of the Gods series, were originally woven in 1749 and sold in 1922. Textile historian Annabel Weston tracked down the originals in Europe, and worked with PJ Keeling, Director of Zardi & Zardi, to painstakingly reproduce the texture and colours with as much accuracy and as close to the originals as possible. Working from an archive of black and white turn-of-the-century photographs, they were able to hang them in their original order and bring this impressive room back to life.

The State Dining Room has a rich history of hosting royalty including Queen Victoria in 1845 and Queen Elizabeth II in 2007. With magnificent windows and breathtaking views across the South Lawns down to the Octagon Lake, the room is bathed in natural light reflected by the opulent gilt ceiling decoration. Venus and her mythical creatures look on from above.

The recent completion of restoration works at Stowe House has resulted in a unanimous award from The Georgian Society for ‘the sheer cumulative scale of works, the underlying pragmatism that allows the building to continue to function as a school, and the quality of what has been achieved in establishing new restoration standards.’

About Zardi & Zardi

Zardi & Zardi is the leading reproduction specialist of antique tapestries in the UK, regularly commissioned by historic houses and organisations for museum-grade replicas. They also produce a range of fabric and wallpaper products inspired by historical designs, enabling more people to own a beautiful piece of history. The Capsule Collection is a ready-made collection of linens and wallpapers in standard sizes, which includes the unique concept of tapestry repeat patterns. www.zardiandzardi.co.uk

General Enquiries & Samples +44 (0) 1452 814 777  / enquiries@zardiandzardi.co.uk

Request a Capsule Collection Consultation: _44 (0) 7990 587967 sarah@zardiandzardi.co.uk

A Bespoke Specification Service is also available: enquiries@zardiandzardi.co.uk

Note to editors:

Reproduction Tapestry Wall Hangings are available to purchase via the online shop: https://www.zardiandzardi.co.uk/twhs  For the Capsule Collection we have selected our favourite tapestries that lend themselves to being printed on a single fabric drop. These designs are offered at a reduced scale to the original pieces and will make a beautiful addition to any room. They are available lined and interlined with Velcro/batten wall-fixing.

Downloadable PDF Product Sheets available online.

*All products are printed to order with a lead time of 4 weeks. 

For all PRESS enquiries please contact:

Sarah Edmonds    Sales & PR    +44 (0) 7990 587967    sarah@zardiandzardi.co.uk

Images are available on request via email and Dropbox.