|
“In beauty, in stately proportions and strength of design, the |
| London Daily Express |
Conceived with every
luxury and creature comfort imaginable; the very embodiment of
luxury and class - perhaps no other liner has so well defined
the essence of luxury at sea as has RMS Queen Mary.
Synonymous with elegance and modernity, the interior design of
RMS Queen Mary was a celebration of British
craftsmanship and design. While the great Normandie of
the French Line was seen as the most extravagant liner every
built - a celebration of excesses - the subtle refinement and
class of RMS Queen Mary proved to have a charm and
warmth that neither Normandie nor any other ship of the
day could duplicate. With thirty-three commissioned artists,
sculptors, and wood and metal workers, the Queen Mary
sported a vast collection of modern art highlighting world
renowned artist from both Europe and North America. She truly
embraced and embodied the superlatives the press and society
of the day bestowed upon her.
A magnificent centre for entertainment extending in height through three decks, the Main Lounge aboard Queen Mary was a luxurious and striking room that provided gala nights of entertainment while at sea. Located at the aft end was a stage and cinema screen - both of which incorporated ‘the latest sound equipment’ - while the carpeting rolled back to reveal a parquet dance floor, further increasing the functionality of the vast room. The walls were inlaid with maple burr veneer and highlighted by six foot alabaster torchières that cast a warm light upward - the effect adding a warm and earthy glow to the room. The centre focal point located at the forward end of the room was a gesso panel executed by Alfred Oakley and Gilbert Bayes “depicting two ‘Unicorns in Battle’” that stretched from floor to ceiling of the magnificent room. It was behind this gesso panel that the equipment to the cinema screen was located.
|
|
| Main Lounge Looking Forward | Main Lounge Looking Aft |
Perhaps the most awe inspiring room aboard Queen Mary was her cabin class restaurant. At 118 x 160 feet and three decks high, the immense room was designed to accommodate more than 800 passengers in one setting. Dominating the forward end of the room was a 15 by 24 foot map of the North Atlantic by the artist MacDonald Gill. The map featured a crystal model of Queen Mary that allowed passengers to see the relative position of the ship at sea. In later years - with the introduction of Queen Elizabeth - the map would be altered to display a model of Queen Elizabeth as well - showing when the two famed Cunarders would pass sea. The room inspired not only with its immense size, but the superb dining experience as well. Chefs aboard Queen Mary pampered diners with Fried Fillets of Whiting, Grilled Codfish-Parsley Butter and Kippered Herrings. A routine crossing aboard Queen Mary would see her staff prepare as many as 40,000 such meals.
|
|
| The cabin restaurant, one of the most impressive rooms afloat | |
Located at the forward most part of the ship’s superstructure was perhaps the most strikingly modern room aboard Queen Mary, the Observation Lounge and cocktail bar. Said to leave “a lasting impression of gaiety and warmth,” The room was of a distinctive flavour embracing the essence of art deco design. Adorning the room was a festive mural by A.R. Thomson titled ‘The Royal Jubilee Week, 1935’ depicting the “celebration of HM King George V’s 25th year as king.” The forward location of the room providing passengers with an uninterrupted view of the ocean and horizon beyond made the Observation Lounge a particular favourite among passengers.
|
|
| The Observation Lounge afforded passengers travelling in cabin an intimate setting for cocktails and casual dining at sea | |
|
| Page layout and design by Bryan R. Guinn. All photos not listed here are from the private collection of Bryan R. Guinn. Information presented derived from the book Queen Mary by James Steele. Full bibliography available here. No unauthorized reproduction. |