JAPANESE MEIJI PERIOD VERY LARGE NEEDLEWORK

This past Thursday there wasn't much of interest to me except this exceptionally large fine Japanese Meiji period silk needlework. The white peacocks are rendered in magnificent detail on a charcoal/dark brown ground that has begun to shred. Otherwise, the silk panel is in good condition. The photos are taken "through the glass"; so please forgive the reflections in the last photos.

Japanese needlework is exceptional with realistic almost photographic renderings of natural forms. 

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Although, I haven't been formally "shopping" in a couple of weeks, I couldn't pass up these c. 1960's Chinoiserie Lamps. The detail on these particular lamps is excellent--I'm pretty sure that when I open them up (separate the pottery from the wood bases, I'll find an Italian mark. And I love 1960's Italian pottery. Most people would think that the lamps are Chinese in origin, but I'm pretty sure they are not. And just look at their original pagoda form shades--to die for.

This week I really need to replenish my inventory--business has been bubbling along, but I've got to buy in order to sell.

Blessings for the week--it's going to be super hot here: up to 100* even at the beach. Fortunately, I think this is summer's last hurrah before (thankfully) Fall brings rain.

Mary & Jones & Cole

THE GIFT KEEPS GETTING BIGGER AND BETTER

I thought that my Maitland Smith Table was tessellated marble...........  IT'S NOT.

THE TABLE IS TESSELLATED BONE--which ups the value considerably.

God's gifts are always over-flowing in abundance (I could say more) and I am grateful.

Mary & Jones & Cole

WIN SOME =/= LOOSE SOME

Today was just one of those auction days: TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE (and then some).

I arrived fairly early, having previewed on Wednesday. I was pretty sure that I would get at least one of the high ticket items that I had my eyes on............well........I didn't intend to bid on a dining room table (space considerations): the bidding started on a Maitland-Smith tessellated and brass inlaid table. I had glanced at it the day before, but knocked it out of contention, not only because of its size, but because of the weight. Check it out

Yes, that is the marble top on its end. The top measures 78" x 40" and its marble. And the base is also tessellated marble. I pulled these photos of an identical table from 1stdibs--pretty impressive table.

 And this table is exactly the reason that I show up early almost every week. Nobody wanted the table--?? maybe it was its large size or the anticipated weight to move it???? I really do not know. 80s furniture is just coming into its own at the moment; so this table is right on point. Anyway, I choose to believe that God wanted to give me a gift today.........I bid $50 and won the bid. Best of all, Roberto can pick it up tomorrow---we tried to fit it into the Trusty Explorer, but the top was 2" too long. Best of all, although heavy, the table isn't as heavy as anticipated.

Now for the "Loose Some"..................

I went to $750 for a round resin-topped table and was the under bidder. I don't think that the table was Aldo Chale, but it could have been???

And I went to $1550 on a pair of late 18th c. Spanish Colonial tin mirrors that were to die for. My friend with the deepest pockets in the world won the bid............I really wanted those mirrors, but there is always next week and maybe, just maybe, Bill will forget to show up. 

Anyway, the auction house loves me (they really do) because my bids brought the bid amounts of the items to respectable levels.

Jones and I need to go to bed...........

Mary & Jones & Cole

SMOKEY AND ASH(Y)

This is a shot of the sun at 1:30 this afternoon. No, it was not a cloudy or overcast day. The Anaheim Canyon Fire is located about 15-20 miles from my home; the smoke and ash seemed as if we were in the fire zone.

The fires up north are even worse with 1500 structures lost in Santa Rosa, alone.

Prayers are needed for California--prayers for rain and cool moist temperatures.

Prayers for Puerto Rico and the immense suffering of its people.

Prayers for our nation and for a quick end to the destruction being brought by an administration that is deaf to the voices of the vast majority of Americans.

Prayers for the victims of the Las Vegas massacre.

Prayers for all of the children who have lost health insurance because of a fearful, heartless, ignorant (need I continue) Republican majority Congress......

Unfortunately, this list is a minute fraction of the concerns I have for all of us.

I hope that the result of this season of trump (no caps) we all become more aware of the incredible gift we have been given--the gift of living under the rule of law. We need to put our historic tradition of democratic rule of law and our sense of compassion for all first on our list of priorities. 

LOTS OF STUFF--and IT'S ALL STUFF

After the devastation caused by Maria and Harvey and the atrocity in Las Vegas over the past few weeks (add in the continuing trump administrations efforts to rip apart the fabric of our nation) and every thing that I buy is beginning to seem like just stuff. I've always been conscious that what I do can, on a certain level, be thought of as fluff. Granted, I hope that it is good fluff; nevertheless, when compared with the monumental rebuilding efforts--rebuilding of home and lives and the more painstaking rebuilding of lives shattered by gun violence--what I do is inconsequential. Hopefully my prayers and donations to these relief efforts will have a modicum of positive effect.

But to get to what came up this week at auction, there was a lot of stuff......

Hans Hartig painting

Amazing faux antler lamps

Exceptional Chinese Mirror Black Monochrome Vase--now a lamp 

Very large antique Tibetan Tanka

Large antique carved gilt mirror 

Louis XVI painted grey petit sofa (I think it's period, too)

19th c. Venetian landscape painted secretaire (my favorite)

This mirror looked new, but it's early 19th c. Italian 

There were tons of people and tons more items at auction today, which means that the prices were high. I did manage to snag the above mirror and the Hans Hartig painting. And then I decided to leave. You can always find more STUFF.

Prayers for our nation, please.

sending love,

Mary & Jones & Cole