Page 24 - Our Wexford

EILEEN GRAY – Irish design legend

One of the world’s greatest Her celebrated Dragon chair,
designers, Eileen Gray grew up owned by Yves St Laurent and
in Brownswood, Enniscorthy Pierre Berge, broke records for a
in County Wexford. 20th-century decorative artwork
when it sold at auction for €21
Gray’s iconic furniture designs,
rugs, lacquered screens and light million in 2009.
fittings have left a lasting legacy An exhibition dedicated to her
in global design. work is on permanent display in
her hometown at Enniscorthy
Gray spent most of her life
in France but she remained Castle.
proudly Irish and returned to Eileen Gray died of lung cancer
this country on several occasions. on October 31st, 1976 and was
She was keen in her later years, buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery
for instance, to have her carpets in Paris.
made in Ireland.

TOP:
Eileen Gray
RIGHT:
Dragon chair

24 OUR WEXFORD