THE ART COLLECTION
Share our joy in exceptional 19th and 20th century art
The sense of creative energy throughout Number 31 is not just a legacy of Sam Stephenson, the renowned architect who once lived here. We are also blessed by the taste of Number 31’s late owner, whose rich collection of 19th and 20th century art is the source of our many extraordinary visual works.
Displayed in public areas for everyone to enjoy, this eclectic collection includes prints, posters and objets d’art. Here are just a few highlights from Number 31’s wonderful collection:
Displayed over the grand staircase – and originally hung in the Tavern on the Green, New York City - is a stunning George III-style 16-light chandelier which features delicate details, beaded garlands, bells and tendrils plus a stunningly bright blue trim.
Look out for the limited edition print of the smallest poster designed by French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864 - 1901). This was the only poster executed by Lautrec on zinc plates and the original plate was deliberately defaced after 100 prints were printed by the Chicago Art Institute in 1946.
The art deco travel posters of French artist Roger Broders (1883 – 1953) are celebrated for their boldness, colour and simplicity. Evoking all the glamour of the roaring twenties, our example of Broders’ work features fashionable couples gathering beneath Chinese lanterns, while a ballet is performed upon a floating stage.
The feature wall, also known as ‘The Jazz Wall’, is a stunning reproduction of panels depicting ‘The Joy of Life’ by artist Lillian Gaertner. The original was displayed in the proscenium at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York which, despite much protest, was demolished in 1966 to make way for a new skyscraper.