WE WON IT--AUCTION BLESSINGS

I spied this divine antique Chinese cart or carriage wheel at Preview yesterday.........I was instinctively drawn to it. Most of the other Chinese cart wheels that I have seen are are very, very rustic and heavily degraded.

But not this guy, he retains his great waxed hardwood surface. I love the fact that he has been repaired with forged iron braces and that his forged iron rim has been retained.

The minute I saw him I sensed so many of the meanings of the circle--a mandala, the Buddhist and Hindu symbol of the universe or, in a dream, the dreamer's search for unity or completeness. It represents pregnancy either with child or with creativity; it represents the joy of existence and hope in what will be revealed; the potential of each individual.

I really didn't think that I stood much of a chance to bring him home......We bid against all of the heavy hitters in Los Angeles, i.e., Joel Chen, Blackman Cruz, etc. But I guess they just weren't interested.....and Gerry won with an incredibly low bid. I am so excited--over the years I have bought thousands of items, but this will always be one of my most treasured. 

The fall sky is with us now and it brings joy to my California heart.....Yeah!! I get to wear cashmere again. It's supposed to rain on Saturday and only get up to 69* or 70*--which definitely means a cashmere day.

I'm off to bed----sending blessings for the day.

Mary & Cole

GOT TO KEEP MOVING.........NEW SPACE!!

 I just cannot resist expanding......so when a space became available next to me, I grabbed it. Just for reference, I redid a space a couple of weeks previously using the screen (see below) 

So now the screen backs the new space, being the link between my yin&yang colors. With this new space, I wanted to bring out my traditional side (hence the mauve and gilt frames and fine traditional antiques) facing off against the intense warm yellow to highlight black & white abstracts and other work on paper along with modern or high level 20th c. furniture.

Traditional............

And my wild side...........

I still have to finished hanging art, etc. But it's coming.....

Of course, this new space required that I completely redo the other (packed) 1200 sq. feet; so Roberto and I have been busy. Amazingly, but true to what I've learned about energy movement, as soon as I moved everything around--sales went through the roof. So with that inspiration, last Thursday and Friday, I put about 10-12 hours into reorganizing my 1stdibs and Chairish sites and yesterday, Saturday, 1stdibs took off. So now I know exactly what to do when things get a little slow.

I have no idea where the desire for stools came from, but I have three new ones that required spiffying up. Lalo graciously came to the rescue, along with three serendipitous (favorite concept) fabric finds.

I think that I have already talked about this great walnut George I stool (c.1720) that came upholstered in a dated 1920s needlepoint which did nothing for the stool....... 

Lalo brought back the stool last week in the 17th c. flemish tapestry fragment--now we're talking.

(I have been obsessing over what to do with the rest of the tapestry fragment--hate to waste anything with a 350 year history. A new designer came in yesterday looked at the tapestry fragment and bought it for more than what I had paid!! Serendipity)

I bought this little 18th c. footstool a few months ago thinking that I could get the stained leather dyed.....

But nobody wanted to dye it; so.........

I went through my fabrics and found the remnant of Scalamandre "Le Tigre" that I knew I still had.......and Eureka!! The stool shimmers.

And last up: Boring mid-19th c. French small ottoman. I knew I could make it fun, but how??

I won a long Kuba cloth runner on Ebay that I thought would be great--but then decided that would be something too Boho and a style past its prime. And then I came across (my favorite!!) Clarence House "Equus" Belgium Linen reduced from $295/yard to $19/yard......I bought 10 yards!!! And here are the before and after photos.

And voila!!!

Just add a silver tray and you have a coffee table.

Sending blessings for the coming week. Can't believe that Labor Day is next week-end. The summer has sped by so quickly. But those of us in Southern California still have 2 more months of heat. And I can't wait 'til its cashmere weather.

Mary & Cole

SERENDIPITY................. (again)

I am constantly amazed at my (our) interconnectedness to all things. At the importance of being open and available to the circumstances that confront me (us), that challenge me to grow and to accept what is. Last week this gorgeous Sendai Tansu was up for auction.....I wanted to bid on it, but was so focused on the Louis XVI chest, that I forgot to focus on the moment and I put my hand up to late to bid on the Tansu. It sold for a ridiculously low price. I kicked myself and did enormous amounts of gilt and self-loathing because I lost the moment thinking of what might happen (or not) in the future.

Well, today, as I waited for nothing in particular to come to the block, up comes my "missed opportunity" Tansu....again. And she (maybe a "he") is gorgeous. The last Sendai Tansu that I purchased was older than this one, but not in the superb condition that this one is in. This piece is nearly pristine. It has beautifully cast and forged iron typical of the later Meiji period and it is a two part Tansu, rather than a single chest.

The drawers are all in excellent condition and the surface is also not blemished. It has lost two of its four side lifting handles (not a huge defect) and its keys are MIA. Other than that, it's to die for.

Needless to say, it came home with me today--and I hope that I have finally learned to stay in the present--where life and its blessing are.

Yes, the Healthcare bill has been dealt a serious blow, hopefully fatal. We still need to continue to raise our voices in protest.

Mary, Jones & Cole

NET NEUTRALITY and other stuff

One of my passions is the joy in contemplating the freedoms that we all have in this amazing nation. One of the newest of these freedoms is access to the internet. At what other time in all of recorded history has connecting with others, access of information, ability to spread our personal beliefs, dreams and hopes with others been so effortless and so fast. Of course, there are negatives that arise with all freedoms; however, I choose to be free to make the decision whether to use the internet for good.

I received an email today regarding the Net Neutrality Day of Action. It was a request for bloggers to publicize July 12 as a day of protest and action against any efforts to restrict free access to the internet--below is the text of the email.

On July 12, 2017, websites, Internet users, and online communities will come together to sound the alarm about the FCC’s attack on net neutrality. Learn how you can join the protest and spread the word at https://www.battleforthenet.com/july12/.

Right now, new FCC Chairman and former Verizon lawyer Ajit Pai has a plan to destroy net neutrality and give big cable companies immense control over what we see and do online. If they get their way, the FCC will give companies like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T control over what we can see and do on the Internet, with the power to slow down or block websites and charge apps and sites extra fees to reach an audience.

If we lose net neutrality, we could soon face an Internet where some of your favorite websites are forced into a slow lane online, while deep-pocketed companies who can afford expensive new “prioritization” fees have special fast lane access to Internet users – tilting the playing field in their favor.

But on July 12th, the Internet will come together to stop them. Websites, Internet users, and online communities will stand tall, and sound the alarm about the FCC’s attack on net neutrality.

The Battle for the Net campaign will provide tools for everyone to make it super easy for your friends, family, followers to take action. From the SOPA blackout to the Internet Slowdown, we've shown time and time again that when the Internet comes together, we can stop censorship and corruption. Now, we have to do it again!

Learn more and join the action here: https://www.battleforthenet.com/july12

I hope that all of us who care about our freedoms (which we sometimes take for granted) will participate in this important movement. We can no longer be quiet.

Thank you for letting me blog about what is truly important and about what is relatively trivial as I get back to blogging about my life as an antiques dealer...

THIS WEEK'S HUNT

This was the first item I saw when I went to preview My Auction on Wednesday........gorgeous late Louis XVI (c.1790-1800) walnut chest of drawers in great condition with its beautiful original grey marble top. It was coming up at the end of the auction; so I knew it would be a long day :(, or maybe a :)...you just never know what the outcome will be.

But I also found this.........

I know it's hard to tell from these photos, but there were a pair of these gorgeous cast iron (or so I thought) 19th c. bistro table bases in a Louis XV style and just look as those dolphin-shaped feet!! (I'm a sucker for just about anything with dolphin feet). I was pretty sure that these guys and the Louis XVI chest were coming home with me the next day......

As usually happens when I really want something, it took forever for the Iron bistro tables to come to the block--it seemed as if everything was getting pushed in front of them. But, finally, up they came. And the auctioneer plus the floor manager (Miguel) insisted on singing their praises (so much for their being sleepers and going for very little). The bidding started at $50 and I waited til they were at $150 to bid and up and up they went..........and I finally got them for just about the max that I was willing to spend, as I still need to have new marble or granite tops cut for them plus inventing a way to secure the slabs to the bases. Well, when I picked up the bases today, I took a really good look at them--paying close attention to their patination and the patination is green. If the tables were iron, they would be a bit rusty in color--not green. The only thing that I know of that is cast metal and turns green is BRONZE. Miguel checked the tables with a magnet (that's easiest way to see if something is bronze) and they are not iron!! They are definitely bronze--boosting their desirability way up there. As always, I am so grateful.

I bought a couple of other things will waiting (and waiting usually gets me into trouble) for the chest of drawers, including this adorable little (about 18"w x 9"d x 12"h) camphor wood trunk to add to my collection of Chinese trunks that, by the way, are not selling. I know: not the smartest way to do business, but I couldn't help myself........

And then this table came to the block. I hadn't noticed it during preview or during the auction, but Dear Lord, it has elephant-head legs.........what was I to do??

This gorgeous Japanese lacquer table is in the Aesthetic Movement (c.1890) style, but most probably dating to the 1950s or 1960s. And no one was bidding on it. Yep, it came home with me for a ridiculous amount of money. I'll post more photos when I get it into shop. I did find a very similar table on 1stdibs (the lacquer top is not nearly as nice on that table) for $6500. My price point is going to be about a 1/3 of that.

And finally, after I asked the guys to bring it up, the Louis XVI Chest came to the block. The bidding starts at $250........and up and up and up it goes. I didn't even raise my hand as the bid zooooomed past my max. It ended up at $1500--way more than what I wanted to pay. You know, we are supposed to be making some profit in this crazy business.

I won't go into the health care debacle.......enough has been and will be said in the coming weeks. But I am so disappointed that those elected to serve The People are only serving the wealthy. We deserve much better governance.

Need to get up early tomorrow. Thankfully it has cooled down a bit, at least for a few days.

Be well and PLEASE STAY INVOLVED. "WE can't keep quiet, any more."

Mary & Jones & Cole

IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?

After many years of not applying to be a Dealer on 1stdibs--I finally did and was accepted right off the bat!! Many of my items have been listed on 1stdibs by third parties over the past 11years---but it does feel great to have my own "little" shop. 

So I have been busy loading my items to the 1stdibs site over the past few days--and it is not a quickly executed task--items, photos, descriptions, etc. have to be just right. The MJH Design Arts page should be functional Wednesday afternoon..... please take a look.

Now on to the really important (not) things in life...... I showed this photo to my last post--

I knew that it was a set of tribal necklaces, woven steel wire(?) and perhaps from Africa. But I couldn't find any African pieces that looked like it. So I expanded my search. What I discovered was that the neck pieces were a true gift: they are a set of early 20th c. Miao Hmong SILVER neck ornaments. I've just learned that the Hmong are a minority ethnic tribe located in the southern mountains of China and who have migrated into Southeast Asia. My neck pieces date to the early 20th c. and are woven of silver wire that is 60% silver and 40% alloys of copper, zinc and nickel. Here are some close-ups

I have already had quite a bit of interest in them--we'll see what happens. My joy is the discovery and journey to uncover the unexpected truth of an item.

NEXT UP---THE RIDICULOUS WEEKLY

My dearest Friend-In-Arms, Missy, just sent me this twitter shot.  It's perfection. Alternate facts = lies. How could anyone (let alone a government official) create a MASSACRE?  The only answer is that her/their playbook is taken directly from North Korea. It's too far fetched for even Putin.

Anyway, Jones and I are off to Pasadena. To sell, sell, sell.  I'm doing deals as January was a bit slow and I have tons of new inventory with no room to put it. Wish me luck. Text, email or call me if you see any thing that tickles your fancy..... (www.mjhdesignarts.com)....I'm doing deals just until I make enough room for the new pieces.

Happy Sunday!!

Mary, Jones & Cole

LIVING CONNECTED--SERENDIPITOUS WEEK

This has been a glorious early Los Angeles summer week. Two weeks ago we were sweltering in 100+ and this week we were in the mid-70's. And to top it off: not much traffic as lots of commuters took advantage of the 4th of July to go on vacation.

This week there were so may little details that needed organizing--miraculously, just when I needed to speak with some one or get help unloading a piece of furniture, an "angel" appeared to make the tasks effortless and I didn't even have to ask. I wish I knew exactly how creation is organized for this to happen, but I am constantly reminded of how intimately connected we are and how my attitude changes my reality. My old reality was to bean count and focus on little insignificant goals. I'm becoming aware of when I step back into those self-limiting patterns and I'm learning how to escape them. It feels good to be open without end-point expectations.

Last week I went to auction having previewed it, but hadn't seen much to strike my fancy--but decided to visit with my dealer friends.....no expectations, just open to what might show up.......and I did score (big time). I guess the biggest surprises/gifts were these guys

I had liked them the day before, hadn't checked them out very well, but they reminded me of Dunbar or Robsjohn-Gibbings chairs, c. 1950-60, plus the original upholstery was still in pretty good condition just needed new cushion inserts.

Well, when I picked them up today I looked for the maker's tags. Sure enough, they were marked Cal-Mode, Culver City. Although the name sounded familiar, I couldn't place it. Well, Cal-Mode was the name that Monteverdi-Young used in its first year of production!!!! And Monteverdi-Young is a really great company. I found this similar single Monteverdi-Young chair on 1stdibs--I think that my profit margin will be just fine

The legs are just a bit different and the back cushion is loose, but essentially it's the same chair. 

Next up is this late 1950's chest of drawers or buffet

An entire unmatched bedroom suite was being offered in one lot.... nobody wanted the entire suite; so I stole this gorgeous Henredon piece and donated the other pieces to charity. Usually black or ebonized pieces like this need to be completely stripped and refinished, but I think Roberto can fix this one. Chests like this can be placed in diverse settings: dining room buffet, grand entry, living room--and, of course, bedroom. I'd love to see this guy in a New York living room--the copper and wood hardware is to die for and all twelve handle are in perfect condition. Roberto finish the mirror black Japanese porcelain lamps-they would look better on a lighter buffet.

If anyone follows Ellie O'Connell's blog "Have Some Decorum", here is the latest: she's coming back to California (yeah!!!) and Ellie is having a fantastic sale this Friday with amazing new exclusive chinoiserie items. If you haven't read Have Some Decorum, I highly recommended it--not the usual design blog, but a heart-filled narration of one person's journey through life that is also filled with love and passion for people and antiques/decorative arts. 

Well, I've got to wrap this up and get to bed. Thank you for letting me vent my blessings/lessons of the day.

Mary & Jones & Cole

(Jones is still suffering from post horrendous 4th of July fireworks nerves--my poor boy starts to get shaky as night falls anticipating the booms)

WHERE TO FOCUS

I am so grateful to this wonderful world of blogging and the gift of the Internet that contains both the power to unite humanity and the power to fraction and isolate us.

Every morning I am greeted by many of my blogging friends. My first go-to blog is Seth Godin. Today's post (as so many others over the years) related to personal choice. Seth suggested making TWO LISTS. One where we document and detail all of the wonderful, serendipitous experiences, decisions, journeys and relationships of our life. The other, where we document all of our negative experiences and interactions. Seth's point being that at every point or even moment of our lives we make the choice of pulling out one of these virtual lists. It is our choice whether we act and make decisions based on all of the good in our lives, or, conversely, choose to come from a negative, rejected, hurting place. Yes, it our choice whether to walk in the light and power of the actual present or to be stuck walking without the blessings of life. 

It is also our choice whether to stay enmeshed in the past or to grow and overcome in order to walk in the light of the moment.....it's not an easy path, but it is do-able.

NOW....to get off my soap box and on to the more important issues of the day.............

...................MY CHAIR ADDICTION.....................

I think I've mentioned my "problem" relative to acquiring chairs many, many times.......well, I've fallen off the wagon (again).

A few weeks ago I bought these chairs

  

Then I bought these chairs

  

Next, I bought these stools/benches (still qualify as chairs)

  

Last week (Oh! S____!!!) I bought a pair of these (Isn't Jones handsome?)

  

Of course, I couldn't end the binge with those guys ........

This (potentially) amazing French Regence-style Fauteuil came next... (but just look at the carving?!)

  

But, in order to buy the Regence Fauteuil, I also had to bid on this early 20th c. Gainsborough-style solid mahogany chair.........

  

I'm in deep doo-doo now.

But it could be worse. Just this week I had tons of confirmation from different sources that (maybe) I was going to be OK.

Heather (Habitually Chic) posted a few photos of Hamish Bowles apartment

See those Regency Klismos side chairs? Not that different from mine (mine may be a bit more finely detailed with the brass rosettes and shaped crest rail--and of course, mine are rosewood and The Hamish chairs are lowly mahogany).

  

My Gainsborough Chair

Then...1stdibs posted 3 (not 1 or 2, but THREE) Gainsborough Chairs on the FRIST PAGE. Of course, my chair is early 20th c. and not drop dead to-die-for like the 1stdibs chairs--nevertheless.

1stdibs Gainsborough Chairs

  

Loi (Tone On Tone Antiques), who carries the most glorious Swedish and French painted furniture in his shop in Washington D.C., featured this chair in a post of early this week

Of course, this chair is perfection! My chair is his little brother--not bad, but it doesn't have the old scraped painted surface or the simplicity of carving of this one.  But it will work.  I'll upholster these guys in a natural silvery linen by Suzanne Kasler.

I love Art Deco furniture--and my little boudoir bergeres fall into that category. To bring out their Deco lines I have painted them black (I use metal paint to paint furniture--it goes on very smoothly with a couple of thin coats)

  

George--my mounted deer (who looks a bit like Jones) is supervising my work and Maddy refuses to eat anywhere else; so she gets to smell the paint. This pair of Deco Boudoir chairs will be upholstered in a gray silk blend velvet. I know that they are not California style and will probably go back East.

As for the stools......well. The round ottoman is a discontinued MacKenzie Childs piece, love those solid brass bun feet. The little guy I made up for OKL, not quite me. We'll see if it sells.

Because of the Financial Crisis and resultant changes to the decorative arts field I have had to change my business model. I can no longer afford to be a perfectionist--perfection isn't selling that well. I've had to adjust to the benefits of internet sales. I've had to acknowledge that there are so many different tastes that I can offer. Naturally, this involves all different kinds of buying......

After I finished painting the 1st chair black, I read the instructions on the paint can: light coats and DO NOT OVER-BRUSH!  That really got me to delving into myself. How much of life have I been over-brushing in my quest to bring perfection to life (mind you, it's my limited ideal of perfection). So today forward my motto is I DO NOT OVER=BRUSH.

Have a wonderful fall week-end. Please pray for rain for California.

Be well.

Mary & Jones & Cole

  PS  I just studied the Gainsborough chair......looks like the back legs are missing their scroll feet....ooops. This guy will go back to auction, but I'm keeping "Frenchie".

xo Mary