Bermuda is closer than you think.
The Verdmont Mansion is the must-see destination for tourists to Bermuda and serious students of American colonial history. This extraordinary house-turned-museum is filled with an extensive and rare collection of antiques — most of which were amassed by John Dickinson, the wealthy ship owner and Bermudan politician who built the mansion in 1710.
An exemplar of Georgian architecture still in pristine condition, it was used as a private residence until opening as a National Trust Museum in 1956. Virtually no structural changes were made – the former owners never even added electricity or plumbing – which makes this home a true treasure.
The Verdmont gardens contain an assortment of herbs, old roses and fruit trees, and the sweeping view of Bermuda’s South Shore is spectacular. The house is renowned for its wonderful collection of 17th-century oil paintings, English porcelain, and delicate antiques, including the pint-sized furnishings and period toys that fill its upstairs nursery.
This tercentennial treasure is the inspiration for the latest line of fabrics from Lee Jofa – the Verdmont Collection.
It includes hand-screened prints on linen and cotton chintz, bringing back some of Lee Jofa’s iconic documentary prints in a fresh new palette, with such island-inspired colors such as green, mango, pink, yellow, and aqua.
The fabric collection celebrates details and themes found in the Verdmont’s fine antiques and porcelains. Featured are a new colorful chinoiserie toile and a classic blue and white adaptation of an 18th century French Toile de Jouy, depicting an oriental fantasy garden scene with oversize and smaller scale motifs. (Chinoiserie designs were just the thing in France and England during the 18th century, as is evident in a tour of the Verdmont mansion.)
Naturally, the Vermont Collection by Lee Jofa is assembled with a full catalog of complementary designs to capture the many moods, themes and palettes of this Bermuda landmark. Tyler Crewels create a whimsical mood in new tropical colors, especially when paired with Gibraltar silks in mango, salmon or peony. Ellerton stripes contrast delicate Chinese Peony – a loosely interpreted adaptation of an English hand-blocked design dating from the early 20th century, with intertwined tree peonies, wild roses and sprigs of flowering cherry. The Tree of Life design represents various tropical birds, in a colorful take on the chinoiserie style, perched along a dramatic 49 1/2-inch vertical repeat.
For interior designers looking for a new angle on a Colonial theme, a way to bring a touch of Georgian elegance into a contemporary setting, or a historically-relevant twist on a tropical island theme, it’s all here.
Ask us about the Verdmont Collection from Lee Jofa. You can set sail for Bermuda without ever leaving our showroom. Or start planning for your next inspirational Caribbean cruise right here.
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