It’s difficult to believe that it was nearly two years ago that the COVID-19 pandemic took hold and we all hunkered down at home and binge-watched “Tiger King” on Netflix. Here we are now in 2022–the actual year of the tiger!
For those not familiar, many East Asian countries observe the lunisolar calendar, which is based on the cycles of both the moon and the sun. In 2022, the Lunar New Year will be celebrated on February 1. The Chinese tradition assigns an animal to every new year on a 12-year cycle, based on the 12-year orbital cycle of the planet Jupiter. For 2022, of course, the animal is the tiger.
The Chinese zodiac can be quite complex. If you wish to know what fortune has in store for you, it is best to consult with someone familiar with the Chinese almanac. However, if you just love tigers and want to incorporate them into your home decor, read on!
Eye for the Tiger
Tigers are the largest extant members of the family Felidae. They have been admired for millennia for their power and prowess and, with black stripes on orange ground, appear visually striking. No wonder, then, that tigers are a popular motif in interior design.
The most prominent use of tiger decor in interior design has to be Lee Radziwill’s famous sofa. Upholstered in Scalamandre’s “Tigre” velvet, it took pride of place in Radziwill’s New York City living room more than 50 years ago.
Eventually, the well-worn sofa was passed down to Radziwill’s daughter-in-law, Carole, who ultimately had it reupholstered in blue fabric. Apparently, she was quoted $50,000 to have it reupholstered in the “Tigre” velvet!
Now, there are many purveyors of tiger velvet fabric. Scalamandre itself offers two versions of its famous “Tigre”: one in silk and one in viscose. Bevilacqua, Brunschwig and Fils, Clarence House, Le Manach, Nobilis and others also offer some version of tiger velvet. Still, recreating the famous tiger sofa will set you back many thousands of dollars.
Are there other ways to incorporate tigers into your decor without paying the equivalent of a year’s tuition at Harvard College? Absolutely! Here, I have compiled a list of my favorite items to help you celebrate the year of the tiger:
Any of these beautiful decorative items will have you roaring in the lunar new year, but when it comes to interiors, the tiger is timeless.
