What could be better than 19th century Italian gilt-wood flame finials?
via 1stDibs
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
fabulous...
One of a pair of French corner lanterns, circa 1830...
Gilt spears and tole drapery?
I think we all know how I feel about these.
via Soniat House Antiques at 1stDibs
Friday, July 1, 2011
Giant
I finally watched George Steven's 1956 epic Giant and was captivated by the cinematography, elaborate sets, and of course...
James Dean.
Particularly this scene for obvious reasons.
Elizabeth Taylor's conservative Eastern seaboard home featured fabulous grisaille wall coverings in the entrance hall...
which contrasted perfectly with her flowing pink night gown in this scene...
I loved this first image of Rock Hudson's Texas home Reata... it's dramatic setting reminded me of Elmgreen and Dragset's 2005 Prada Marfa sculpture...
Coincidentally this sculpture was built about 35 miles from Marfa, Texas, making it very close to the actual outdoor sets of Giant...
The cinematography was exceptional...
I especially loved these next two stills...
On to the interiors of Reata...
The interior of Reata was initially decorated in a high Victorian style to coordinate with the French 2nd Empire architecture of the exterior. The general layout and details of the interior are generally unbelievable and the stained glass window at the top of the stairs is questionable at best.
... however I'm loving this black tufted leather sofa particularly with Elizabeth Taylor in her riding habit...
Taylor's style and refinement insures the viewer that this dated design will be heavily modified by the end of the film...
By the end of the film the red wallpaper and brown painted woodwork has been given a monochromatic treatment, and that horrible window has been covered with curtains and a fantastic scalloped cornice. I'm a fan of Victorian design, but this Hollywood Regency redecoration is obviously much more successful.
Particularly loving the slipper chair at the base of the stairs, the mirrored obelisks on the piano, and the gold leafed screen in the foreground.
And perhaps my favorite detail, which is only seen once or twice, is this geometrically painted black and white floor in the entrance hall.
The ruins of Reata
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Thomas Jayne
Stairwell in a Philadelphia townhouse, Architectural Digest
Loving the idea of the striped runner...
and obsessed with those vermilion Gothic chairs!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Romaine Brooks
Monday, June 27, 2011
Tassels
They're some of my favorite decorative details, particularly when rendered in a material other than silk or thread. During my trip to D.C., amazing tassels of iron, brass, marble, and carved wood seemed to follow me everywhere.
From the carved marble tassels of Hiram Power's Greek Slave at the Corcoran...
... also seen in this 1848 daguerreotype from the collection of the Getty
To the carved wooden tassels on the frame of this mirror in the Renwick Gallery...
...to a solid brass mid-19th century curtain pull I found at an antiques shop in Old Town Alexandria and couldn't resist taking home with me...
... and finally a cast iron example from my collection similar to one on a piece of ironwork at Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown.
and it continues...
I just returned from a brief trip to Washington, D.C. and made it a point to visit the Corcoran Gallery. During research for my previous post on the homes of Huguette Clark (available here) I discovered that the Salon Dore, which Senator Clark had imported from the Hotel Clermont in Paris for his 5th Avenue residence, currently exists in the collection of the gallery. I had to see it in person.
The salon during its period on 5th Avenue, circa 1925 prior to the demolition of the home.
The salon today in the Corcoran Gallery...
The room is amazing...
However, the ceiling leaves much to be desired.
A detail of the doors.
My favorite carved panel representing theatre. I particularly love the masks and peacock feather fan.
In addition to this spectacular room, Clark donated his entire collection of art to the Corcoran following his death in 1925. Following this donation a large addition was made to the museum in honor of Senator Clark.
The plaque honoring Senator Clark and mentioning Huguette.
The skylight and stairwell in the Clark addition. Classic and subdued compared to the garishness of the 5th Avenue mansion.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
A day trip...
Yesterday we found ourselves on an impromptu trip to Georgetown, a small port city an hour North of Charleston. Along the way we saw a detour for Hampton Plantation, and I couldn't resist taking a look. Unfortunately we weren't able to tour the home, but thanks to my many architectural history classes, I already had knowledge of the contents of this house, which is known for false windows and a large ballroom.
The plantation house was built initially circa 1740s with additions made in the 1760s. The distinctive front portico was added between 1790 and 1791, likely in preparation for George Washington's visit. The house is surprisingly elaborate with carved rosettes over each column and decorative modillions supporting the architrave of the pediment. This portico is considered the first of its kind on a residential structure in the low country of the Carolinas.
Since we were not able to tour the home, I searched the HABS photographs and came across these of the ballroom. To accommodate the coved ceiling in this room, likely added in the 1790s, the windows on the facade had their shutters permanently closed to maintain the symmetry of the structure.
An alternative view of the ballroom. The woodwork is a crisp white and the ceiling is an intense blue... a strikingly fresh and modern combination, but period appropriate.
Located nearby is St. James-Santee Episcopal Church, a remarkably sophisticated Classical structure built in 1768. This church would have catered to the wealthy landowners, such as the owners of Hampton Plantation and other nearby plantations.
The flemish bond brick columns with their molded capitals were my favorite architectural details. The bricks were imported from England.
The interior of the church with a coved ceiling and architectural detailing strikingly similar to that of Hampton Plantation.
The back of the church, which was initially identical to the front with an open portico.
The cemetery surrounding the church was lackluster... I can only imagine the majority of these landowners were buried in the cities of their respective townhouses or on the grounds of their plantation homes. However, this unusual brownstone marker struck my interest.
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