Alpaca Wool & The City of Paris
Not looking for anything in particular I stumbled upon this amazing 4 yard bolt of vintage alpaca wool in The White Elephant's fabric dept.
Someone had it wrapped in this old newspaper and stored it like this for almost 40 years!
It was originally purchased at the famed San Francisco Department Store, City of Paris.
The City of Paris Dry Goods Company (later City of Paris) was one of San Francisco's most important department stores from 1850 to 1976, located diagonally opposite Union Square.
During the mid 20th century it opened a few branches in other cities of the Bay Area.
The main San Francisco store was demolished in 1980 after a lengthy preservation fight to build a new Neiman Marcus, although the store's original rotunda and glass dome were preserved and incorporated into the new design.
The ship was the official seal of the City of Paris department store in San Francisco. Built in 1909, the Latin inscription translates: "It floats, but does not sink."
In 1981 the 2,600 pieces which comprised the City of Paris dome were sent to Massachusetts for restoration. In 1982 the dome was reinstalled by Neiman Marcus as the focal point of its Rotunda Restaurant, only 100 feet from its original location.
Back to the fabric...
The photos hardly due it justice.
It has a smooth flat side with flecks of silver threads while the other side has this amazing texture and the flecks.
I was told it was intended to be made into a coat, but I was thinking about all the fabulous possibilities for home decor!
My first thought was for pillows in my black & white toile den/office.
I loved the idea of using a fine dressmaker's fabric to give it that chic Chanel Couture feel.
I'm considering making 2 pillows using the smooth side and 2 using the textured side.
But then my uber talented friend, Lisa, suggested covering my ottoman with it and adding a monogram!
I love the idea!
Best of all it's affordable because I got this treasure, not for $350 but, for $100. That makes it $25 per yard. I just hope 4 yards is enough!
What would you do with it?
Comments
~jermaine
Carrie
http://readmylifeascarrie.blogspot.com/
xo E
I worked in the new Neiman Marcus closely after it had it's Grand opening. I worked there for 4 years. I have a lovely dictionary that was left over in our department from a past City of Paris employee. It was given to me because I loved to do the jumble in the S.F. Chronicle on a daily basis in our stock-room on the 3rd floor. ;-)