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.

Something fantastic at Beauvais...

While waiting for samples at Beauvais Carpet the other day I stumbled upon this amazing Louis XIV Gobelins Tapestry screen...

I typically don't go for things like this...

however...

Lemurs?

Cranes?

Toucans?

I think I could get used to them.

More Herter Brothers

John Tackett over at The Devoted Classicist sent me this image of the Vanderbilt Drawing Room on 5th Avenue which shows the chairs from my previous post in situ. 

The garnet studded onyx columns seen above the chair are now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

Herter Brothers for the Vanderbilts

The auction house where I grew up offered these chairs for sale this morning. A pair of Herter Brothers chairs designed for the drawing room of the Vanderbilt Mansion on 5th Avenue, circa 1883-84. The upholstery is original and is described in accounts and period images of the house. 

Their provenance is as follows:

Provenance: William H. Vanderbilt, New York, 1881 

Cornelius Vanderbilt III, New York, 1885 

Private collection of a lady El Paso, Texas 

Bequeathed to the Centennial Museum at her death in 1969. 

Property deaccessioned from the Centennial Museum at the University of Texas at El Paso to benefit the Museum Collections Fund. (Accession #E69.26.347 and E69.26.348) 

The estimate, shockingly low in my opinion, was 10,000 - 20,000

The pair sold for 250,000. I really hope someone purchased these for the Metropolitan Museum of Art to ensure their conservation.

Also included in the sale were a pair of Herter Brothers ballroom chairs. Their provenance does not tie them back to the Vanderbilt Mansion, but they were purchased by the same woman who bought the above chairs and donated all of them to the museum in El Paso. 

They were estimated to sell for 2,000 - 3,000

Again, incredibly inexpensive for what these are...

They sold for 60,000.

Baber House

Baber House, Macon, Georgia

2nd Floor Stair Hall, 1936

As a general rule...

I really dislike Degas. What can I say, pastel Ballerinas just don't do it for me. However, mythological/biblical images of women with scarlet ibises really peak my interest. I vaguely remember reading some short story in middle school about a scarlet ibis, and ever since then I've always loved these bizarrely shaped red birds.

I stumbled upon this painting a few weeks ago at work while doing some research and have been fascinated since. It's in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and dates from the early 1860s. Degas made sketches for this painting in Rome between 1857-58. Between 1860-62 he added the ibises. The Met's description mentions that he also added similar birds to his historical painting "Semiramis Building Babylon" around the same time (I don't see the birds, google it and check for yourself. However, be warned- the name is more impressive than the actual painting which leaves MUCH to be desired). 

I love the vague Oriental cityscape in the background...

This painting has singlehandedly reformed my opinion on Degas. 

Something I saw...

When I was little we would visit my grandfather in rural upcountry Georgia. Nearby there was a relatively  impressive antebellum house that I loved not only because of its unique architectural features, but also because of the peacocks that lived on the property. So naturally, I'm completely in love with this circa 1830 workbox in the form of a peacock. 

Amazing, right? 

He can come live with me whenever he wants. 

Really?

Cast iron drapery and tassels? 

In love. 

Available here.

An update...

Click here to read my guest blog post on Jayne Design Studio's blog Decoration - Ancient & Modern.