DESIGN DICTIONARY: Singerie

Jeff Koons' take on a singerie

If you are going to walk the walk, you should talk the talk.

What is a singerie?

Singerie: Derived from the French word for "monkey tricks." A monkey mimicking human behavior, often with satire, used as a decorative motif.  Typically the monkey is fashionably dressed.  

Then and now

Singeries were popular decorations during the French  rococo period, but they have been used since the late 18th dynasty of Egypt.  The most famous rooms decorated with singeries are called (fittingly) La Grande Singerie and the La Petite Singerie, located in France's Chateau de Chantilly.  French artist Christophe Huet created them in the 18th century.

Singerie detail from the Le Grande Singerie

Singerie: Le Grande Singerie by Christopher Huet for the Chateau de Chantilly in France

Other famous singeries include those found on the walls of the Monkey Island Hotel in England.

Singerie etching from the Monkey Island Hotel

Singerie: Andieu de Clermont's decorative ceiling of the Monkey Room at Monkey Island Hotel, located on Monkey Island in Bray-on-Thames, England.

Meissen's fanciful Monkey Orchestra, first created in 1753 by Johann Joachim Kaendler, also is iconic.

Porcelain singerie: Meissen's fanciful Monkey Orchestra, first created in 1753 by Johann Joachim Kaendler

Additionally, singeries were in vogue during the Jazz Age.  They graced the walls of speakeasies, including Manhattan's Monkey Bar.

The singerie motif remains popular today. In 2009,  as part of a restoration, Edward Sorel created a new mural at the Monkey Bar  with famous Jazz Age celebs and monkey waiters.

Singerie (monkey) waiters: Detail from Edward Sorel's mural at Manhattan's Monkey Bar

Personally, I love the monkey mural  at the Inn at Little Washington (I wrote all about the Inn here) where I have celebrated many happy occasions, including my 30th birthday and first wedding anniversary.

Singeries at the Inn at Little Washington

Get the look

singerie wallpaper collage

Wallpaper is an easy way to get the  singerie look.  Schumacher, Cole & Son and De Gournay all have fine examples.

Another way to bring a singerie into your home is with home accessories.  Little monkeys don't always have to be scampering along your walls.  Consider adding these simians.

singerie home accessories collage

My favorite singerie with all of the 3 C's: (chic, cheap and cheerful) remains the monkey spray painted by Christian May!   Do you have any monkey tricks up your sleeve? Do share.

Photo Credits:  DetailLa Grande Singerie EtchingMonkey Island Hotel NYC Monkey Bar   Wallpaper clockwise: DeGournay Deco Monkeys, Cole & Sons Fornasetti  Frutto Proibito available through Lee Jofa, Schumacher Singeriesporcelain  Shopping: 1. 2.3.4.   The Inn at Little Washington photos, my own.

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