BAGUES STYLE TABLES...........

Although I slept late this rainy Thursday morning and was dilly-dallying about going to my Thursday Auction, I did make it there in plenty of time to score some little tables. Neither set was there on Tuesday when I previewed the auction; so you just never know what is going to turn up. Thank goodness I followed the quiet little nudge of inspiration that was pushing me out the door. Besides, there was a film crew at the auction that was filming a pilot for a new National Geographic series---I'm going to be on TV? Well, since I don't own a TV (it was rotting my brain)--I guess I'll never know.

One of my good antiques dealer friends is going to have his own antique furniture and design show next season. Bill Gordean is the owner of Villa Melrose, a top fine antiques destination in Los Angeles and a super charismatic guy--perfect for TV. Bill is about 6'6", handsome, gracious and funny--what more would a TV show need? Perhaps this will be just the inspiration required to push the decorative arts field back towards fine and decorative period antiques--of course, always mixing with contemporary and great 20th c. pieces to bring life and positive energy to interior spaces.
Being raised in Mexico which is famous for its modern and mid-century architects designers and artists, I have always loved the mix of fine antiques with ethnic and mid-century pieces. And of course, my seven years in Europe deepened my passion for the "perfect mix". The French mastered "the mix" centuries ago--we are relatively new to this aesthetic. As multi-cultural based Americans, we have much to contribute to the future of design and I can't wait to see the next leap in American design innovation. Currently, we seem to be at a stage of relative insecurity where only named and signed 20th c. pieces are considered highly desirable and the prices are skyrocketing. Unfortunately, some of these pieces were not fabricated to the highest standards (some are even a bit shoddy). I would love to see the American decorative arts buyer reach a level of sophistication on a par with the French, where good design and quality of materials and fabrication is recognized and applauded no matter what the pedigree.

Well, on to my "new" little tables. I have been looking for mid-century French (or American) brass and glass nesting tables for about two years (they used to be much more accessible). Bagues and Jansen (and their imitators) made them in France and a couple of American companies made them here...I finally found a beautiful French set with beveled and banded eglomise tops and finely designed brass legs. And I paid for them--big time!! But........I also bought a pair of sleepers. John Widdicomb was the best of the best of 20th century American furniture manufacturers and I got a pair of small occasional tables (could be a coffee table if placed side-by-side) in an unusual form with great sexy legs. Pictures are coming in the next post as I needed to run up to the shop after the auction and didn't have time to pick up the lots.
I'm still not nearly ready for Christmas.......but am going to make pecan balls tonight. Christmas would not be Christmas for my family if I didn't make at least a few hundred pecan balls. And my daughter (Cole's Mom) is coming tomorrow to help me search my storage for my Noah's Ark animal tree (I collected at least 100 animal ornaments and hung them on a small iron tree--haven't it used in ages)......it will happen.

Be well.

Mary and Jones (& Cole)

THE SPACES BETWEEN

I've been pondering  "The Space Between" question quite a bit lately. For me, "The Space Between"  is the freedom for creativity to exist within a beautifully designed interior space--when a room is never perfect; when it leaves open spaces for the person experiencing the room to insert (perhaps only envision)  a piece of themselves, leave a footprint of their creative spirit. 

I used to relish baroque rooms--grand carvings, over-scale furniture, luscious textiles in velvets, silks, brocades--you name it--anything that filled my senses. My first memories are of being in the Cleveland Museum of Art (yes, Cleveland has a small and pretty great museum and symphony), I loved the armor!! And the Egyptian rooms with the mummies. But the paintings were always my favorites....... I still see them vividly--my first introduction to the Impressionists, the Renaissance Masters--but no modern works (no "spaces between").  I used to walk into baroque rooms or paintings (yes, you can walk into a painting) and be completely absorbed by what was given, by what my senses were experiencing. I loved being overwhelmed. (My Mexican and Spanish years)

But gradually, I've shifted. I've come to rest with my neoclassical passions. I love the silence that neoclassical based rooms allow me to have. I love the "spaces between" the given elements. I love how a life-giving abstract expressionist painting (which I may or may not like) becomes the perfect neighbor to a French Empire chest of drawers or an out-scrolled arm daybed (just to let you know: I'm not buying any more daybeds. I still adore them, but they take up a lot of space and they are really a hard-sell in California).

I love walking into a space that lets me breathe, where my eye rests, but is somehow stimulated to create at the same time. This is not to say that I'm enamored with super structured neo-classical: perfect pairs (please--too boring and over-done). Stiff sculptures and bronzes up the wherever--not for me.

Mid-century design was born from Art Deco which derives from Biedermeier; Biedermeier (can you believe that I can spell Biedermeier without spell check?) derives from Regency (Federal) and Empire  and it's predecessor, Louis XVI; Louis XVI/George III derive from Roman and Greek antiquity and there is some Egyptian thrown into the mix. (I guess that we are back to the mummies)

And... what I love most (well, maybe not "most", but it's up there) is the fact that neo-classical furniture lends itself beautifully to "the perfect mix" without loosing its identity.

That's why I'm buying good neo-classical pieces right now.

Early 19th century pieces are currently very accessible and are probably bottoming out in the downside of the inevitable swings in what's in and what's out in design. A  good Federal or Regency sideboard that used sell for $20,000-$25,000 is now fetching about $8,000. (The California market has always been much lower than the East Coast or European markets for neo-classical pieces.) 

Here are some of my recently acquired late 18th c./early 19th c. pieces that are in storage or being restored and will be set to go when the market for neoclassical pieces returns to its upward swing.

This is a gorgeous and almost mint French Empire (c. 1810) Bed (some would call it a daybed)--I bought it for about a third of what I would have had to spend a few years ago. Can you imagine it paired with a beautifully lacquered Tommy Parzinger credenza? A Karl Springer lacquered parchment console?

   

This is a rather large (57" wide) oval English Late George III Breakfast Table (c. 1800). Just look at the swoop of those legs. A sofa table for an Edward Wormley sofa? Between a pair of Papa Bear Chairs?

   

This table is also a late George III Breakfast table--the large diameter (54") makes is highly desirable and I bought it and the oval table for a fraction of what I used to pay for these tables.

I wonder where Mr. Saarinen derived inspiration for his "Tulip" table? Could it be late George III/Regency?

Mochatini Blog

Mochatini Blog

 Yes, the Saarinen "Tulip" tables were inspired by nature, but there is also the obvious reference to neo-classical design.  I can envision a suite of "Tulip" chairs surrounding  my late George III table. Perhaps a Cocteau rug in the same room? For the time-being, when the table comes back from being French-polished (a hand rubbed varnish finish--pricey), I'm going to pair it with my set of 8 mid-century klismos chairs.

   

With "The Spaces Between" left open, there is even an opening for a large Baroque painting.......maybe a Chinese Altar Table.  Would a Jackson Pollack or a Diego Rivera feel out of place? I don't think so.

Thank you, Patricia (PVE blog) for your daily inspiration to create and love. Have a wonderful holiday!

Jones says "HI"--he's busy babysitting his cousin "Luxie" (bichon) while Luxie's parents are in Cancun. Have a wonderful Sunday filled with connections and love.

Mary

I'VE BEEN BAD--MORE CHAIRS

There are times in life when resolutions need to be re-evaluated. I know, I had promised not to buy any more chairs...I have a lot in inventory. But once in a life time chairs are something that I couldn't pass up and shouldn't; so I didn't.

This pair of mid 20th century pull up chairs has all of the details that make for a perfect chair:

----solid and figured veneered mahogany

----KLISMOS form

----excellent condition

----beautifully caned backs in excellent condition

----iconic mid-century form of pull up chair

----attributed (perhaps) to Billy Haines or another designer of equal reputation

I'm sending these guys out to be reupholstered in an ivory w/ chocolate stripe tweedy fabric. (I would love to do them in a bold greek key, but it is too specific and might frighten away buyers....)

    

I'll post new photos when the chairs come back next week.

I hate to brag, but we have been having the most wonderfully cool summer so far. Last week warmed up a little, but then we even had a little rain (unheard of in Southern CA in the summer) and beautiful clouds thanks to a hurricane down south. My heart hurts for those suffering with the drought, fires and storms. I am so thankful to be blessed this year.

Be well and thanks for joining Jones and me.

Mary