In the immense fortress of the Palazzo Pitti, at the far wing of the gallery is a room, with
floor to ceiling length curtains drawn against the sun's light, where here in the arid coolness lay fragments of Eleonora's final costume. Tatters of velvet, metallic thread, some parts of her skirt and bodice all carefully presented. One can barely see the imprints of buttons and alterations of the velvet and the smooth places where the silk pressed against her skin. Fascinating to look upon her favorite gown, the one she wore when she caught malaria at the age of 40 and perished too soon. Cosimo noticed her one day in the court and chose to marry her, they loved one another greatly and started a dynasty of Florentine power and history which resounds to this day.

MET Renaissance essay

Since these silk velvets from Florence, Venice and Lucca were produced by the best textile artisans in the 15th & 16th centuries, they show the versatile and gorgeous colours attainable with botanical inks. Most of what has endured through the ages looks more beautiful with the patina of well-loved apparel.

MET Fortuny Gold

MET Fortuny Delphos

Fortuny gallery here chosen from the Antonio Ratti Textile Center
at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan, NYC
He produced his fabulous textiles in the 20th century in Venice, Italy
choosing only the highest quality silk from Japan and pressing metallic ink
patterns over sumptuously beautiful botanical colours.

My concept for a celestial room, details drawn from European travels
and inspiration from many elegant places.

Venetian very pale gold grey glass chandeliers hanging at different places into the space    Walls a lovely warm white with panels extending up as columns embellished
with a painted and adorned design mother of pearl and stone
in pale colours of intricate florals and edged with gold leaf pattern   
windows of very pale green and ivory opaque glass with gold olive branch
design inscribed on and up high   
light wooden tables inlaid with lapis lazuli and doves and flowers of olive tree   
at each window side a long flowing length of my Italian marble stone silk in pale creamy calacatta gold   vases of Venetian pale celadon and aqua glass   
thick textural upholstery in linen velvet with overtone of olive tree branches
and blossoms and fruit    round tufted seats edged with gold filigree
 
Perfectly square dimension wherein a perfect circle can be made into the ivory carpet    only a round glowing cream divan in center with larger chandelier above   
gorgeous silk flowers in vases     Italian furniture