I opened "Habitually Chic" this morning and look at what Heather had posted*!!!!!!!! Just look at those KLISMOS chairs (and we do know how much I love Klismos Chairs).

The next photo gives a better shot of these amazing chairs; I don't know why Michael Bruno isn't smiling?

 

 

But we'll pretend that he temporarily forgot that he lives in one of the most beautiful houses EVER and has great TASTE and access to all the best SOURCES. The point is that these chairs are to die for. Just look at those super sexy legs; the exagerated curve to their backs--pure passion.

Of course, I had to find some more information regarding these duck bump-producing beauties. My first source was 1stdibs.com (thank you Michael Bruno for this website). I came up with this pair of mid-century Danish chairs

These guys aren't quite the same, note the out swept back legs. Actually, I think I prefer this pair. But Michael Bruno's pair is definitely smile-worthy!! The klismos form of chair dates to the Classical Grecian Period--I don't think that it will go out of fashion any time soon.

Update:

Roberto came for 1.5 hours and I finally feel as if we are making some progress. By Wednesday, almost everything should be ship shape.

Have a wonderful week--stay warm and dry.

(We need wet and cool over here)

Mary & Jones (& Cole)

*Original photos: WSJ Magazine.

IT'S BEEN TOO LONG

It has been a super busy time......I've been "Morning Mom" to my little beauties which means that I've been getting up around 4 am to get to my son's house before he leaves for work.....and then it's off to the LA freeways after I take Kaia to her kindergarten class at 10. But all is well! Mia's tumor has not grown and she is tolerating the Proton Radiation therapy very well. We are blessed. This is Mia on her 3rd Birthday last Tuesday...looking very good.

And this was Mia's surprise on Friday---everyone travelled to Orlando to spend 5 days with Mia and Mommy.

I can't wait until Mia and Grace are home for keeps--probably another 3 weeks.

UPDATES

I did sell the pair of Drexel chests about 3 hours after we brought them in. The client wanted custom lacquer work; so here are the before and after photos:

I took these last photos with my Iphone; so they are not so great. But the lacquer work on the chests is exceptional--I do hope the client likes them. When choosing a color for lacquer work, it is almost impossible to know exactly what the color read on the completed item--there is a tremendous amount of light refraction with high gloss lacquer.

Russian Karelian Birch side chairs before being reupholstered:
  

After, with Scalamandre woven silk... just the way they were designed in 1815.

  

Tomorrow a new TV show is being filmed at the shop--Pasadena Antiques and Design (it's a Cooperative)...so I need to be up bright and early to get to Pasadena. I'll take photos of the TV crew filming. Not sure what the name of the show is.... Jones is coming too, maybe he'll become famous??

Mary & Jones (and Cole)

RUSSIAN/BALTIC SIDE CHAIRS--PHOTOS

Oooooooops--didn't intend for Jones to get in the middle of this shot. 

Here are a couple of photos of the Black Lacquer chests that I bought last week--now that they have been delivered and are viewable, I think that they are even better than what I had originally guessed

  

  

These photos were taken with my iphone; so there is a bit of distortion. In actuality, the cases are in perfect shape, but appear a bit warped in the photos. I love the minimalist perfect proportions and that the brass hardware is the only break in the high glass lacquer front...sexy.

I took these photos of the Russian/Baltic side chairs today after Roberto and I were organizing.

These neoclassical guys are another variation on the "Klismos" chair which is, of course, my favorite chair form.

I'm not sure exactly what the wood is, I think it's mainly mahogany.... will have to do a little research.

Note how tall the slip seats are; the back legs have a very stylized back sweep; the front legs are carved with acanthus leaf (?) detailing and a plain and a fluted ring at the bottom of the chair legs. The gilding on the acanthus leaf carving is not original--but does add a bit of interest. My favorite detail is the charming carving of the back splat--unique to Russian chairs. There are remnants of the ebaniste's label, but so far I haven't able to make sense of it. Serendipitously (word ?), I have just enough of a Scalamandre striped cut velvet to reupholster the chairs!! They have to have a stripe. The chairs are a bit later than I had originally guessed, probably 1830's.

These guys are a little too dressy and stiff for mainstream Southern California decorating, but will be more appealing to an international client.

Hope your last days of summer (before school starts) are glorious--it has cooled down a bit here and I'm loving it.

Have a super Sunday.

Mary and Jones (& Cole)

OTHER AUCTION TREASURES (SCORES)

Last Thursday was a very good day--and I was in the "zone".....Here are just a couple of the items that I bought (in addition to the vintage Fortuny fragment). Of course they need a bit of restoration, but then most antiques do--major cleaning, polishing, finish work, reupholstery, etc.

This gorgeous (soon to be) Meiji period Japanese candlestick in black lacquer, gold leaf and repouse brass was a sleeper.

   

I went to 1stdibs to find a comparable candlestick....

I'm not going to quote the 1stdibs price point for these gorgeous sticks--these guys appear to be in all original condition, which does increase their value considerably. My single stick, having been electrified and having lost its mate has a much lower valuation point, but has wonderful decorative value. I do have to change the electrical fittings and bring the lacquer back to a higher level and polish the brass detailing--my amazing magician Roberto will have no trouble doing this restoration work.

Peacock Fan chairs were emblematic of the late 60's and early 70's. Hans Wegner created one 

  

Verner Patton created an entirely unique peacock chair

But the one I bought was the rattan peacock chair designed and woven in the Philippines.

And it even came with its matching little table. Both the chair and the table are in exceptional condition and ready to go--as you can see, this rarely happens.

And then....eureka!! KLISMOS CHAIRS!! I spied this fantastic set of 4 French (?) wrought iron klismos chairs hiding under some stuff and being sold with a table that did not match

Just look at the gorgeous forge work--little feet, detailed saucy arm rests, thick soft iron, etc.

I know, I know, I promised myself that I would not buy any more chairs.....but how could I pass them up?

The last item still needs to be further researched. I know that it is most probably a unique piece dating to the 1960's and Italian...beyond that, it is still a mystery. 

  

It needs to have two of the glass sun rays restored--but I have a very good glass restorer who is coming tomorrow to give me an estimate.

As always, I feel so grateful to be able to do what I love--the eternal hunt...research...and bringing an item back to its best condition.

MIA UPDATE

It has been a tough few days, but tonight Mia seems to be doing better. Prayers still needed as her recovery remains tenuous--tomorrow (the 4th day post surgery) should be a much brighter day.

I hope that the week brings fantastic summer weather for everyone--not too hot, but just right.

Be well.

Mary & Jones (and poor Cole)

ALL MOVED IN: BEFORE and AFTER ROBERTO

In the midst of moving and Christmas and New Years, silly me got sick which is why I haven't been writing my usual posts....The only benefit that I can see is that I have lost a ton of weight (which I needed to do).

Anyway, these two photos below show the mess of my second room before Roberto and I put our heads together to organize things. We are not finished, yet...but the heavy lifting (and brain work) is done.

Now, for what it looks like at this moment:

  

I just sold these fantastic mid-century klismos dining chairs to one of the most recognized Los Angeles (and National) designers.

He also bought this adorable pair of French Chauffeuse  or slipper chairs.

   

    

Needless to say, I was thrilled to have the conformation that this torturous move has been worth the effort. This designer will be back and I'll post more about him in future posts.

AUCTION TIME

Illness has not kept me down when it comes to hunting down finds--although I did miss a couple of weeks of auction sales.

Last week I bought this fantastic mid-20th carrera marble bust. He is not as handsome as I would have liked in a partner, but he is very interesting.

   

The bust is carved in the antique Roman style and the carrera marble is in excellent condition with appropriate patina.

This week I scored even more treasures, but will post about them once they are delivered....oh, well--just a hint: a period Georgian mahogany pedestal partners desk....and it was a sleeper!!

Thanks for checking back with me.

Jones says "hi"--he has been a great nurse with his head on my feet the entire time I was in bed.

Mary & Jones (& Cole)

I Love Klismos Chairs

     

Examples of Grecian Klismos Chairs found on Ceramics

Grecian Klismos Chair

I have a passion for just about everything neoclassical, but neoclassical chairs send me into another realm. And those of you who are addicted to chairs know what I mean. In fact, I have instructed my friends to hold my hand/arm down whenever they see me bidding on more antique chairs... At one point I had over 40 chairs in my smallish shop (and that does not include sofas and benches/stools). I can look at a chair, associate it with the hair style of a certain era and immediately visualize who may have been sitting on it and what she was wearing....just a little distorted (I know).

This a superb example of a Baltimore
painted and gilt  "fancy chair"

The examples of Grecian chairs from the 5th or 4th centuries B.C. are the models from which all subsequent klismos chairs derive. The Grecian chair first appeared in the 4th c. B.C.; was perfected in the 5th c. B.C......and then saw it's first resurrection in Paris of the late 18th c., around 1786-87 and was further developed by the the French Maitre, Georges Jacob. The klismos chair, and Neoclassicism, reached its peak in the early 19th c. with French Empire and English Regency, Swedish Gustavian and German/Austrian Biedermeier.  In the mid-20th century the "Hollywood Regency" style prompted a revival of the neoclassical form.  


Here are a few examples of early 19th c. klismos chairs.

Early 19th c. American Klismos Chairs

Note the beautiful front saber legs terminating in carved paw feet on these gorgeous American chairs that were created in Boston. The swagged backs reference Grecian drape.

Antique Klismos Chairs

Regency c. 1805 Klismos Chair

     

The chair directly above the pair of Gustavian Blue seated klismos chairs is a Michael Smith designed chair that references the best of English neo-classical Regency design. And the Gustavian, early 19th c. Swedish side chairs are also perfection.

Steven Gambrel Klismos

Steven Gambrel Klismos

Robsjohn-Gibbings Klismos Chair c. 1937,  Metropolitan Museum 

 Now, I'm finally getting to the reason I decided to post on Klismos chairs. I was perusing the Derring Hall site the other day and came upon this fantastic NEW Neoclassical klismos chair by Steven Gambrel.......At first glance, this chair appears to be really great: cerused oak, very dramatic Grecian form, definitely a riff (sp?/real word?) on Robsjohn Gibbings mid-century design as shown directly above.

I love the design aesthetic of Steven Gambrel--I have not seen a single room designed by Gambrel that I would add to or subtract from--that said: I really don't think that the design of these chairs is up to his usual high standards. The form is highly stylized and elongated, but comfortable?....not too sure. Take note of the wood projections to the front of the seats---I can only imagine getting hung-up on these square off pieces of wood. Yes, they mimic the Robsjohn-Gibbings chair, but lack the grace and construction details of the earlier chairs. Also, (in my humble opinion) the legs are chunky and clunky rather than anticipated elegance of traditional Klismos chairs. I think that these chairs come off as impressive and stagey rather than patrician. The cerused oak is gorgeous. I think that you'll get a better idea of what I mean by comparing Steven Gambrel's chair with other examples of klismos chairs. Below are examples additional examples of iconic Robsjohn-Gibbings mid-century chairs. The connection of the first klismos chair to the Gambrel chair is clearly evident. I guess I just wish that Steven Gambrel had stayed a little closer to his personal design criteria.

Robsjohn Gibbings Klismos Chair by Saridis

Robsjohn Gibbings Klismos Dining Chair

Mid-Century Stylized Klismos Salon Chairs

These super elegant Klismos-inspired mid-20th c. Salon Chairs are another example of great American design. I have sold several versions of this chair--they always make a room sing--to bring it into 21st century design, the upholstery could be switched out to a high-end Ikat.

And now............

Mary's Mid-Century Klismos Chairs

   

     
Guess where these beauties currently reside? Yep, they are mine. I have a set of 8 of these gorgeous mid-century lacquered and brass inlaid Klismos dining chairs. They date to the late 1940's/early 50's and are in great original condition. Three of the chairs have had their cane seats replaced (you cannot stand on caned seats!!), otherwise they are all original with brass details to the back rail and seat rail.

              AND THEY ARE REDUCED FROM $4800.00 TO $3200.00
                                    FOR MY SUMMER SALE

This is a fantastic price (only $400/each) for a set of eight perfect klismos chairs and in this condition. (Note: I have a period English Regency 54" round solid mahogany table that would be the perfect partner for these great chairs--not listed on my website).

Please check out my website  mjhdesignarts.com  for more neo-classical pieces that are currently reduced.

(PLEASE: forgive the mis-steps in formatting this post---can't quite figure out the ins and outs--stick with me).

Thanks for joining me on this adventure.

Mary and Jones (and Cole)