Salvador Dali and Edward James collaborated on two artworks together in West Sussex?

Salvador Dali, West Sussex and Edward James, what an intriguing combination?In honour of two extraordinary men and one great location which was Edward’s family home, here is a little snippet, Mae West’s Lips, and the Aphrodisiac Telephone (Lobster telephone. ) You can visit and see the works there even now.

Mae West Lips Sofa:

  • The Lips Sofa was obviously inspired by Mae West designed from the inspiration of Dali’s paintings and drawings of the actress.
  • Edward James, the wealthy and eccentric poet and collector,  together with Salvador Dali, produced the “Mae West” lip sofa, one of the 20th century’s most sensuous and iconic pieces of furniture. In 1936 Dali was in London for the  International Surrealist Exhibition and it was then he conceived the idea for the Sofas. Dali like many artists experienced financial difficulties and hence he actually signed an agreement with Edward to exchange a years output for a wage. James with his considerable family wealth became a great benefactor to the arts and crafts movement and was a creative soul himself.
  • Production of the Sofa took place in 1938 with James deeply involved in specifying and choosing the fabrics and colours. This resonated with his passion and interest which survives to this day post the world war he witnessed in the Henry James Foundation and West Dean College, a charitable foundation for ensuring the survival of the skills and artisan trades which he feared might be erradicated and wiped out by the outcome of the war.
  • The two extreme individuals set about designing a series of pieces of  surreal furniture, and hence the connection to Monkton House a Lutyens (the architect) designed Dower House on the Jame’s family estate in West Dean  in West Susex. Bizarrely this English country house was transformed into a mauve-walled extravaganza of surreal fantasy.
  • Possibly such a creative relationship was less than likely to yield a profitable ongoing concern, just 5 sofas were produced, with 3 remaining in the ownership of the Henry Foundation. What an intriguing connection to art history in the 20th century!
Aphrodisiac Telephone alias Lobster Telephone (two versions 1 all white)
Does function follow form? Not a question that Dali was particulalry concerned about or was he. This iconic surrealist image strangely works although (pardon the fun) the connection between a lobster and the telphone might become a little odious and fish over time? Think what kind of mind dreams up this stuff, dripping clocks seem perfectly mundane by comparison.
Dali made the telephone in association with the pioneering British interior designer Syrie Maugham (1879-1955) for the home of the surrealist collector Edward James. This has become a classic Surrealist piece was among the most desirable 1930s original objects Now here is where it gets even more interesting and intriguing, in terms of the connections amongst the rich, famous and the talented. Certainly a bit of history repeating itself with wealthy patrons taking artists under their wings…
does function follow form? Not for Salvador Dali

 

 

 

 

 

Syrie Maugham was a very successful wealthy and radical interior designer. Her initial success was founded on her radical all white rooms, for which the White Lobster Telephone was distinctively designed. what a creation for an interior designer, a product designed by one of the leading surrealist artists.

Yet more intriguing connections: She was very much part of society of the day as was Edward James. House Guests to West Dean included Edward the Prince of Wales and both he and Wallis Simpson were client’s of Syrie as were many socialites of the day. She designed Cecil Beaton inspired papers and again this resonates with West Dean which has many original prints of photographs taken and featuring Cecil Beaton again a house guest at west Dean.

  • In 1901 she had met Harry Wellcome (American born but British industrialist) who was more than twice her age. The marriage was unhappy sadly despite the wealth of  her own and her husband’s pharmaceutical success and his firm which was to become Burroughs Wellcome. The rest as they say is history and yes this is the Wellcome Foundation family. They had one child with a learning disbaility that kept him apart from his family. It is believed Syrie had numerous affairs including Harry Gordon SELFRIDGE (department store magnate) Percy most notoriously William Somerset Maughan.
  • Syrie had one child  with Somerset Maughan after years of separation from Wellcome: Mary Elizabeth was born but given Wellcomes name, he sued subsequently for divorce. Eventually in 1917 Maughan and Syrie married but it was a radical relationship with Maughan who was gay spending much time away from Syrie and pursuing other relationships. They later divorced and in his memoir of 1962 he was highly critical of his ex-wife but this was later rebutted in publication by Beverley Nichols a close friend of Maughan.
  • Edwards James a passion for Surrealism he could afford to indulge: whilst a poet in essence himself, Edward james became a passionate patron of it’s early period. In addition to his close association with Dali he allowed René Magritte to stay and paint in his London house. He was the subject himself of two paintings by the artists Portait of Edward James and Not to be Reproduced. He had a voracious appetite for art and beauty and his collection included Hieronymous Bosch, De Chirico, Picasso Klee, Giacometti, max ernst and more. this extensive collection was to yield the funds two years after his death which so well endowed his foundation and ensured it’s long term development.
  • James most fantastic surrealist creation was realised in the Mexican rain forest, a surrealist Sculpture garden, “Las Pozas” which you can read about in related posts.
Whilst the story of the connections to Syrie’s world may seem tangental, we see again how the extended circle and connections are more than a little intriguing: two artworks reveal a whole series of connections between a house, it’s guest and their susbequent lives. The number of open marriages between women and their overtly gay male partners leaves you wondering why women would put-up with such relationships? Syrie’s relationship with Somerset Maughan has a certain resonance with Oscar Wilde and the deep troubles that these marriages caused the wives in particular. In truth the publicly, the notorious become widely known but how frequent were such circumstances in less famous lives I wonder? A great price to pay for a love not truely requitted. But as ever there are always two sides to any family story…
All these connections and a tangled web from Edward James and Salavdor Dali in a remote country house in West Sussex and two iconic artworks! A great place to visit, can’t wait to go there again. There can be little doubt that the House and it’s archives have many as yet unrevealed connections that may in time unfold…People and personalities how they connect, who knew who and, who influenced what. This has got to be another
The Edward James Foundation

Rural England and it's American benefactors...

If you have an interest in the art, craft and many other humanities subjects you can enjoy at West Dean do try a visit. A walk in the expansive and stunning grounds, or a short course, preferably residential at very competive and great value fees is a must, if you can. It is a truely inspiring and creative environment with captivating and compelling objects and artefacts both inside and outside the main house, yes I am a fan. Thank you Edward, another great example of wealth turned to the advantage of the many in a great philanthropic flourish by it’s patron. Edward James was a character in his own right. Imagine the fatal and fascinating combination of dinner with Edward, Dali and whoever else was invited for the estate’s hospitality.

Edward James What an interesting man he must have been and what connections he made, in his life from 1907-1984 he lived life to the full and generously established a true cultural legacy of his house home and dream for the survival of the arts and craft movement by the establishment of his educational and arts foundation. Both during and his life and after his death quite a contribution.

For more intriguing People & Personalities and to help reveal some more intriguing connections take a look here

 

 

 

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