Something I saw

While running errands a week ago I stumbled upon Maison Gerard and this amazing pedestal by Marc Bankowsky in their window...

I then checked 1stDibs to see what the pedestal was selling for... instead of a price I found a "price upon request" which is obviously never a good sign. However, I did find a matching screen...

 

 

 

These pieces are like Serge Roche meets draped Victorian funerary monuments...

 

 

 

Two of my favorite things, so it's only natural I would love these as well.

It appears that Maison Gerard is the only outlet to purchase Bankowsky's work from unless you're requesting a custom commission. These draped pieces are my favorite, but they're also just the tip of the iceberg.

You can visit his website here. 

 

Something I enjoy looking at...

 

This vestige of the interior design business from another era always brings a smile to my face when I walk by it on 2nd Avenue near 59th Street. That graphically painted sign always reassures me that I'm in the right place doing the right things.

and they're back

after a series of less than spectacular sales, and some pretty horrendous faux leather and plaid furniture, One Kings Lane is finally back! Tonight's sale with items from Lauren Copin left me drooling.

 

The things I could do with this chest... 

Ledoux is one of my favorite architects...

I could never have enough sketches of Antinous...

Love, love, and love...

 

This frame is pretty amazing...

 

 I think it's safe to say I could house almost all of these objects... well I could maybe do without some of the females nudes.

View the sale here.

To Die For

 

A cast iron urn with serpent handles? 

Yes and yes.

Available at McKinnon and Harris, NYC

Something I saw

After a Sunday of shopping, I headed back to my friend's place where I'm temporarily staying and passed by this amazing Art Deco eglomise panel...

 

 

I don't know that beautiful is the right word, but these panels are definitely amazing in their severity. This building stands at 570 Lexington Avenue and was designed by Cross & Cross and built between 1929-1931. It was built for RCA but later deeded to General Electric before the building was even finished. 

I will definitely want to borrow this motif later on... especially the intertwined lightening bolts.

To Die For

 

Just a little something discovered at the D&D building... 

Nympheus in the aubergine colorway by Lee Jofa

The Pope

 

So are you obsessed with the painted Empire screen, the cast bronze leaf, or the taxidermy bird? They're all amazing and they're all available at my favorite Charleston antiques store, John Pope Antiques. John has had the shop for the last 4 or 5 years and has done amazingly well... from museum quality antiques to really affordable pieces, you'll definitely find something to take home.

Normally most people would be worried about the extra expenses of living in New York... I'm actually going to be saving money since I will no longer be able to regularly frequent this shop.

 

A collage of paintings from every period... I've always loved the St. Sebastian on the demi-lune table...

 

I love everything about this combination... the painting, that tribal fabric, and the blown glass light fixture...

This pair of lamps are definitely my favorites right now. Cast metal painted to simulate marble? I don't care if they're Jansen or not, I'll take them!

 

A detail of my lamps...

 

What is there not to like about this? 

Well... actually I can understand someone hating it, but that's fine, just means it'll have a better chance of ending up with me.

 

I love the vibrant glazes of these Asian statues... instant collection. I'm particularly obsessed with that turquoise color right now.

 

and finally, something I wouldn't normally go for... but I love the purples and blacks in this painting, especially combined with that pop of chartreuse 

Basically you have to stop by if you're ever in Charleston... I mean, he carries around an 18th century chalice to drink out of with his Pope costume every Halloween... I'm pretty sure it doesn't get any more sybaritic than that.

Today I saw the world for the very first time

The adventure has begun.

Stapled Porcelain

Ever since I was little I remember a set of early 19th century Coalport Finger and Bow patterned plates that hung on the wall of our living room. I was intrigued by these plates because each one had been broken into about ten to fifteen pieces and had been reassembled with staples. These repaired objects have always held more interest to me because of how loved they were to be repaired rather than discarded. After spotting a teacup with a stapled saucer while in an antiques store in Asheville my interest was renewed.

 

and then I found this great little Minton creamer...

 

and then this fabulous Flight & Barr plate...

The collection is still expanding... stay tuned. 

I have also discovered a wonderful blog by designer Andrew Baseman called Past Imperfect: The Art of Inventive Repair (please click here to be directed to his blog). All the following images come from his blog

A plate repaired with 35 staples... the reverse is much more interesting than the front of the plate which leaves something to be desired...

 

 

 A Crown Derby polychrome tray for a teapot... much more my aesthetic. I love everything about this... the colors and decorative devices. The reverse exposes a stapled repair...

 

Baseman even features a crystal ewer repaired with staples... amazing.