“Petits Pois Chinois”:

Pattern diametre: approximately 45cm
… except for “Un Rat”, approximately 31cm

Hand-painted wallpaper:
Width 53cm: €12.00 incl. VAT/m
Width 85cm: €16.00 incl. VAT/m
Width 106cm: €18.00 incl. VAT/m

Printed pattern: €50.00 incl. VAT/piece 
+ 10% for the varnished version

 

 

 

The patterns are borrowed from China: “The freehand-cut ‘hua yang’ are used for small articles of everyday use, such as shoes, children’s dresses, and aprons… It is not possible to date or locate the origin of these designs. Evidently, they have existed and been used for centuries. Examples still survive in every province and village. They are made of red, sometimes gilded paper, and also serve as protective charms for the household during festive and ritual uses, particularly during New Year celebrations.”
W.M. Hawley, September 1949

Each of the images used has an origin story evoked by its Chinese subject. But it can also evoke another story, more freely, just by looking at it: an invented story, like those knitted to send a child to sleep. So, and this is what amuses me most, when several of these images come together, the relationships between them are inevitable. Indeed: what can the dragon possibly say to the unicorn? And is the unicorn fleeing the dragon because she’s afraid, or is she simply in a hurry because she has an important appointment? And what is this appointment, anyway? Is she meeting the happy little stray dog ​​that’s passing quickly
(the Chinese say it’s a rat, but frankly, I don’t really believe it)?
The playing field for these stories can be wallpaper or a curtain at the window, the canopy of the bed, a velvet or linen blanket, a large cushion, wherever we print our patterns. You choose the characters for your game and your imagination will do the rest, at least I hope so, because nothing beats a rich inner life to never be bored, even if futile and fleeting, like these stories of free imagination, bordering on waking dreams.

Excerpt from “The Game of the Little Chinese Pea,” part 3 of the book
“By Agnès Emery Par Agnès Emery”
AAM Editions