Arthur Pope Watson & The Chateau Austin-Four Pieces of Fortuny Remnants Ca 1965

Description: Estate FindArthur Pope Watson, Jr.andRobert Wayne GarrettThe ChateauAustin TexasThe Fortuny Drapery Remnants We offer four remnant pieces of vintage Fortuny drapery fabric that once lived at the historic home of Arthur Pope Watson and Robert Garrett, The Chateau in Austin, Texas.The fabric remnants are printed cotton, date stamped 1965, from the textile firm Fortuny founded by Mariano Fortuny in Venice, Italy. The color way is a soft salmon-peach on one side and silvery on the reverse.There are two pieces that could be used for pillow fronts and two border pieces.One panel measures 28 3/4” in width and 24” in height on one side and 23 3/8” on the other side.The second panel measures 28” in width and 24 1/4” in height on one side and 23 3/8” on the other side.One border piece measures 7 12” in width and 23” in height.The second border piece measures 3 7/8” in width and 23” in height.The Fortuny fabric dates from 1965 and the fabric remnants are presented in gently used vintage condition. Provenance Arthur Pope Watson, Jr., F.A.I.D., Texan (1926-1993) Robert Wayne Garrett, Texan(1930-2021) Watson and Associates Interior Designers was the premiere interior design firm in Texas from the 1940s-1990s.Arthur Watson was the Texas version of Sister Parish, both of whom who would determine if a client’s old money and family status were worthy of their services. Arthur was from old Austin families and he would brag how he inherited three different family legacies and spent every dime.In 1948, Arthur was State President of the Texas chapter of American Institute of Decorators later honored as a Fellow. He graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York in 1950 and studied in France and Italy. He worked with the Historical Society in restoring Neill-Cochran House and the D.A.R. State Headquarters. Watson Associates' best-known works include The University of Texas System's Bauer House, The Littlefield Home, the Regent's Room, the Faculty Center, the Driskill Club, the restoration of the Neill-Cochran House, and UT’s Lila B. Etter Alumni Center, and several other projects for The University.Frank Erwin, Jr. (1929-1980) was chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Regents and oversaw extensive building projects on the campus. He was also Arthur’s fraternity brother. When Arthur designed the Regent’s Boardroom, he made note he designed it “like Versailles… it was meant to last forever”. There were some raised eyebrows on the $2,500.00 spent for each Regent’s chair and a sofa so large that it had to enter the building by a rooftop crane after removing a window on the top floor. After Frank Erwin’s passing, The University of Texas quietly instituted a bidding process for future furnishings…Arthur and Robert designed many of the most stunning and unique homes and ranches in and around Austin.Their home together for thirty years, The Chateau, at 500 East 18th Street was the address for legendary parties and gatherings. The Chateau was built in 1853 by Margaret Francis Neville Bowie, widow of Rezin Pleasant Bowie, Jr. inventor of the famous hunting Bowie Knife, and brother of James "Jim" Bowie, who died at the Alamo. Famous residents included an Austin suffragette and also a Texas Governor’s paramour. Acquired in 1959 by Arthur and Robert, it was their home until his passing in 1993. Robert left in 2009 after fifty years of residency.

Price: 300 USD

Location: Austin, Texas

End Time: 2024-08-18T19:21:22.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD