Simply the best...

 

I need it.

 

Read more about Lee B. Anderson and his AMAZING collection of Gothic Revival furniture and decorative arts here...

 

His renowned collection is up for sale this weekend... I need to be on a plane to New Orleans stat.

These things are ridiculous

... and I can't help but love them.

 I stumbled upon this British circa 1850 example at the Philadelphia Museum of Art last weekend...

American, circa 1850. The seat cushions are dreadful...

but the decoration? Superb. 

and per usual Florian Papp always has something incredible...

The upholstery is relatively unfortunate, but again, the decoration is really extraordinary...

I particularly enjoy the Moravian star detail

Some beds are better than others...

Italian, mid 20th-century

Something I'd like to own...

Male Nude, Seen from Behind

Hippolyte Flandrin  (French, Lyons 1809–1864 Rome)

To Die For

A set of four green painted and parcel gilt side chairs, circa 1965

by Pierre Delbee of Maison Jansen

Amazing.

Sold at Christie's London, 2009 for $16,000

$6,000 over their estimate.

I've been awful...

and I feel terrible about it. Things have just been so busy, but I've got a back-log of things I want to share and discuss, so to start tipping the scales in the right direction I thought I'd share this week's blog post from Thomas Jayne's Blog Decoration- Ancient & Modern

This week's post is about the Merchant's House Museum in the East Village. I visited this museum right before I moved to New York and fell in love with it...

I mean, Duncan Phyfe chairs covered in horse hair?

And a Chippendale mirror flanked by callalily gas sconces?

Come on.

Read more about this fascinating and beautiful property here.



Obsessed

I think we all know by know that I have an affinity for drapery or tassels especially when rendered in materials other than fabric or thread. These 18th century French consoles are particularly beautiful and unusual. 

Future husbands please note: if I don't already own these, don't waste your time on a ring. 

Available here on 1stdibs.

Up at the Villa...

Anne Bancroft is looking fabulous.

Her best line of the film?

"...you know, sex and champagne in the afternoon or something like that."

And the sets aren't half bad either... 1930s fascist architecture and Florentine villa casualness meets Sister Parish chic. Definitely worth a view. 

The most sybaritic sale to date

I stumbled across Sotheby's sale of the Collection of Prince and Princess Henry De la Tour d'Auvergne Lauraguais the other day at work. If only I was in London on May 3rd... 

I could definitely find a few things to bring back to New York.

A gilt bronze mounted mahogany green painted and parcel gilt campaign bed, Empire, 1st quarter of the 19th Century

Two pomegranates, Qajar, Persia 19th Century

Three gilt bronze and green painted tole chandeliers, Empire Style, 20th century

A silk and metal thread applique "bohca" panel, Ottoman, Bursa, or Istanbul, 19th Century

(ethnic textiles are a new love)

Emilio Terry (1890-1969) An Ornate Fountain, 1931

A number of these fantastical sketches are included in the sale

View the rest of the sale here.

You won't be disappointed... the Prince and Princess were studied sybarites.

Who said subways can't be glamorous?

I stumbled upon these fantastic 1970s gold and bronze glazed tiles in the 34th Street subway station. I hope when this subway is renovated in the next 20 years and these are removed I'll be in position to acquire them for whatever amazing property I'm inhabiting.