importance to small painted designs on leather rather than to hangings properly so called. Some of these leather paintings were like pictures and were used not only for wall decoration, but as hangings for beds and even as bedspreads of state. The custom of thus decorating beds lasted a long time. Pierre Bénard, an upholsterer by trade, established in Paris, and author of a collection of songs dedicated to the “Vertueuse Royne Marguerite,” first wife of Henri IV, refers to the use of “or basané” in this manner as an evidence of wealth.
Already under Catherine de Médicis, decorated leather had become extremely popular, and was preferred to all other hangings for the embellishment of apartments; its popularity lost nothing under the second wife of Henry IV, in whose native country this style of decoration was also held in great favour. In the reign of Louis XIII the influence of Anne of Austria brought Spanish leather again into fashion. From that time also, leather gilt or stamped in its natural colour and ornamented with copper nails (probably inspired by the marriage chests with their curious studded ornament) was found in the mansions of the great and became the principal material for covering chairs.
The grandiose style of architecture of the time of Louis XIV called for the decoration of spaces framed in gorgeous pilasters and was favourable to the application of decorated leather in the style of Bérain. But this did not long remain popular, and leather was replaced by Gobelin and other tapestries made in France, whose introduction gave the deathblow to the manufacture of leather hangings.
From this period till the present day the art of gilding leather has been on the decline. Of this no further proof is needed than the following preface written in 1762 by Fougeroux de Boudaroy, who had been commissioned by the Academy to take over the work of research, previously conducted by Réaumur, on the subject of leather hangings:
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19. Back and Seat of Chair in cut, embossed and gilt cowhide with punched background. Executed by Rosalie Vigers from a design by Frederick Vigers. Modern English.
“Flanders, Holland and England are reputed to have furnished the first gilt or silvered leather hangings seen in Paris. Some attribute their invention to Spain, but without apparent reason, since to-day there are in France no such hangings of Spanish manufacture, nor are they much known in that country. The gilt leather hangings which come to us from Flanders are nearly all made at Lille, Brussels, Antwerp and Mechlin; those derived from the last-named place are the most prized of all. Some very fine ones which we have attempted to imitate are made in Venice; manufactures were also started at Lyons and met with success.