Return To A Passion—FORTUNY
In and around 2008 I discovered my passion for Mariano Fortuny textiles. I had heard about these hand-made fabrics for a while—but I never really felt the draw until I saw my first truly antique Fortuny textile and fell madly in love with the actual cotton fabric upon which the designs are hand stamped. Once I had done a deeper dive into this multi-faceted artist/creative/inventor, I was hooked. Around 2009 I started collecting vintage and antique Fortuny textiles—My collecting parameters have always been (1) pattern (2) age (3) condition of the textile (4) created during the life of Mariano or his wife, Henriette Negrin (Mariano died in 1949 and Henriette, in 1967 or (5) before the sale of the company to the sale to the Riad Family in 1988.
I created my first Fortuny pillows in 2020-2011. At that time there were only 5 or 6 creatives focused exclusively on Fortuny Pillows and textiles such as antique Wall Hangings and framed panels. I am so grateful to those initial creators — I learned so much from their offerings. For several years I happily sold my Fortuny and antique French Ticking pillows along side my higher-end Continental antique furniture and lighting ……….. until some one started copying my Fortuny pillows (I will not name names—but he’s become a mass produced Fortuny and other named textiles pillow fabricator)—I could tell he was directly copying me as he used the exact wording, sizing and filler composition for his pillows as I used for the pillows that I published on my website. (This individual’s pillows are not to be confused with mine as he uses new Fortuny and off-the-rack generic backing and lower qualith fillers, etc.) So I decided to mainly offer the pillows by custom order.
After many more years of collecting Fortuny Textiles, I am, once again, creating Fortuny pillows incorporating my carefully selected Fortuny textiles. My pillows are designed using only antique or vintage Fortuny fabrics created prior to 1987; I only employ unique high-end silk from major fabric houses for the pillow backings; I specify micro-welts; either a hand-stitched or invisible zipper closer; and a 30% goose down to 70% goose feather insert. Below are a few of the Fortuny fabric that I will be incorporating into my pillows. Please contact me with requests for specific Fortuny fabrics and custom pillows sizing. (The price point depends upon the pillow size and the Fortuny textile chosen.) Please go to my shop (mjhdesignarts.com) for listings of already created pillows or fine antique furniture, art and other “stuff”.
Very Early Fortuny Neoclassical Wall Hanging c. 1920
Antique Fortuny in “Museum”
Fortuny “Caravaggio” Pattern, c. 1970-1980
“Farnese” pattern with dated 1965 stamp
Fortuny “Moari” in bright yellow.
Fortuny “Mayan” in “Plum”
Fortuny “Mayan” in “Plum”
Fortuny :Mayan” in “Jungle” green.
Fortuny “orsini” in “rust” and “gold”
Fortuny “Mayan” in “Jungle Green”
Antique (narrow) Fortuny c. 1920-1930 in Burgundy and gold/tan.
Fortuny “Moresco” in black.
Fortuny “moresco” in black.
Please contact me by text (714-401-0556); by email (mjhdesignarts@gamil.com) or simply pickup the phone and we can chat.