Can't think of a title??????

Well, it's another Friday night and I can't wait til November. Another Friday night and the Washington White House has given us another _____ show. I really didn't think mr. small t could get much worse, but he has. And I am deeply concerned. We have always been a nation based on the rule of law. The current administration continues to make a mockery of all of our cherished democratic institutions. Mr. small t is begging for impeachment--let's give him what he wants.

      PLEASE VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE IN NOVEMBER. 

Now, on to other more important matters--nothing is more important than the above, but we can pretend.

I have been fighting pneumonia for the past month and I am sick of it. Thank goodness G is fully functioning and we've been able to buy some unique and beautifully items. But not many as prices have been extraordinarily high.

I love serendipitous occurrences and I have had a few this week and last. I have been selling quite a bit of furniture and lamps. Lamps for me are funny. I'm very fussy about my lamps: they must be chic; they must be functional; they must not need too much work (eats up profit); they need to be just a little bit different from the usual. And I buy them expensive hats (shades) which I sell separately from the lamps.

All of which means that my lamps go to very specific buyers (not easy sellers).

G and I bought the above lamps last week. They were marked "Chinese Export"--and no they are not Chinese. Here's a close up......

This is a gorgeous pair of "Longwy" majolica covered jars that have been electrified. The intense turquoise blue, the chrysanthemums, jeweled borders, reserves and excellent craftsmanship make this pair of lamps just what I look for......and they don't need anything but shades (perhaps rewiring, but that's minor). The jars have design elements of the Aesthetic Movement and Art Deco--so I'm dating them as 1920s. And they are quite big. 

And that is all that we managed to buy.....I really wanted this pair of Italian c.1960s pottery elephant tables/stools and I thought that we could get them for about $400

  

Boy!! Was I ever off my numbers: Gerry bid them to $1000 and they sold for $1400 + lot or $1620...being at home, I almost fell out of bed when G called to say what they had sold for..........

......This week at Preview guess what was back?? Yep, the elephants!!! The buyer did not pay his bill.... and we (G) bought them for $450 + lot. I have sold every elephant I could put my hands on this year and really needed these guys.

We sinfully coveted a pair of exquisite French carved Art Deco chairs

But it was not to be. These chairs are the best of what they are. I wish that I could name the creator, but I can't. Hopefully the chairs now are on their way back to France, which is where they should be.

I wanted this bistro table (even though the marble top was broken--fixable)........

.....too pricey for my blood (and darn, I needed it).

And G really really wanted this exquisite (I know I'm using that word a lot--but it seems to be the only one that applies) Japanese lacquer table cabinet.

Even the interior of the drawers are done in makie and the tiny handles on the doors are in the form of swans. The condition of the lacquer was exceptional --and condition is key in lacquer works of art. But it also sold for a very high $$$. I suppose if I had done my homework and contacted one of my New York buyers, we could have bought it. But there is always more stuff on the horizon.

I do need prayers to overcome this silly pneumonia... I'm one of the lucky ones: one friend acquired sepsis resulting from pneumonia, another friend was in the hospital for 7 days and another friend fought it for over two months. I need to be functional by Monday!!! So many projects are just sitting around whining at me.

Wishing everyone a great St. Patrick's Day tomorrow...I'm 95.5% Irish and we usually celebrate as a family, but I'm letting it slip this year.

Blessing to all---please pray for our nation to be delivered.

Mary & Jones & Cole

Oooooopppss. Forgot about the large vintage shell encrusted mirror that came home with the elephants.

This guy is big--maybe 48-50 inches in diameter.

PATINA AND STAYING MINDFULLY IN THE FLOW

This beautiful chunk of metal was hiding behind a mirror when I previewed "my" auction yesterday and I simply didn't see it. But today, something told me to look behind the mirror and there he was.

The deep natural patina on this table would be impossible to fake/replicate. I know there are many who would disparage the condition; for me, in today's design aesthetic, this unusual table is perfection. I believe that it is either a small pastry table (perhaps a butcher's display table?) that dates to the second half of the 19th c. I know that I've spoken previously about the differences in current forged iron and antique forged iron--antique iron was much more malleable and could be shaped in more intricate detail without cracking under the stress of forging. It also has a softer (more matte) surface adding depth and character to the piece. Of course, with a deep patina like this guy, you don't appreciate the intrinsic qualities of the iron used.

I debated whether to purchase the 17th c. Italian writing table. I sat beside him. I told him that I loved him and then had to apologize.......I decided not to buy the table. And I am really proud of myself for paying close attention and listening. The energy of this guy was not what I want to bring into the shop at this point in time. I want a certain lightness, so that a conversation can take place between disparate elements without one overwhelming another.  The Italian writing table didn't sell; so maybe next week I will feel differently......

I did kinda step a little outside my comfort zone today.......

I usually am not drawn to "frou-frou" highly decorated pieces (give me neoclassical), but this little 19th c. Venetian Secretaire had been flirting with me for two weeks. She is not a beauty. She's been greatly loved. Her form is just a bit off: who ever heard of putting "cubbies" where the middle drawer should be and those cubbies appear to be the original design. But there is just something about this little girl. Once again, it's the rich, original, untouched surface. The patina is deep. And, to my eyes, gorgeous. (Are you nodding your head Loi?)

Here are a couple of additional shots

Don't you adore those exaggerated Venetian feet? The strong Venetian turquoise? and it's tiny size? 

I'm not going to touch the surfaces of these unique pieces. Roberto will clean them lightly and maybe apply a bit of hard paste wax to the iron, but that's it.

Thanks for listening to me rant about my passions. Have a wonderful Fall week-end: It will be 101* in Pasadena this Saturday and I will be jealously thinking of you East Coasters.

Be well---

Mary & Jones & Cole

BACK TO BASICS--THE HUNT

It was a great Auction Thursday....sorry, forgot to take photos; so I pulled some images of pieces from Google and 1stdibs that are similar to what I bought today. You really have to go to auction with a very open mind--you just never know what is going to go way too high (and I've set my sights on just that piece) or what will go low. Or (as what happened today) the auctioneer doesn't see your bid because some one jumps in front of you...

I wanted to purchase a set of four Katavolos T-chairs (and so did a lot of other people)........ I loved the patination of the carmel colored leather---there's always more!!

I wanted to purchase a 19th c. French farm table similar to this one........

But didn't get it!

And I really, really wanted a 19th c. large French Bistro table

The Bistro table at auction today had a slightly more refined marble, but it went for twice the price of this 1stdibs listed table.......not my kind of price point. (It's a secret, but we dealers do try to make a little profit)

HOWEVER---I did bring home some really good pieces:

I bought a period Louis XIII small side table similar to this one, but with more exaggerated turnings and finial and it appears to retain its original dark surface and it has a little lip around the top. This is a nice little Louis XIII table, but just a tad bit boring, n'est pas?

Next up was a trio of glass sculptures by the well-listed American artist Suzanne Pascal (1914- ). Here's an example (higher level than mine)

I'm embarrassed at what I paid for them--yep, a bit of profit here.

Then I bought an early 20th c. Chinese lacquered pigskin trunk something like this guy

but in better condition and with its original lacquered stand. I have a client who was looking for a black Chinese trunk--perhaps this one will work.

And, at the very end of the auction, I bought two medium-sized Steuben footed bowls.

I realize that Steuben is not currently "in", but these beautiful Steuben pieces are classic and this amazing American company--sadly, is no long in existence. Quality never looses its value.

I also bought some other stuff--just for a bit of filler.

Hopefully Roberto will be close by so that he can come unload for me.

It takes a huge amount of perseverance, focus and a lot of patience to stay at auction all day--but I love this serendipitous, never quite knowing what's evolving process. (Note to self: drink plenty of water and coffe and always carry good chocolate.) Plus I get to see many of my dealer buddies (remember: there are no friends at auction).

It hit 90* today. I pray that is not signaling the end of winter just yet. We need quite a few more good storms to roll through to alleviate our drought--lots more snow in the Sierra. I hope that Boston is beginning to thaw--wish it were possible to truck all that snow to California.

Jones is gradually getting back to himself. And I'm grateful. I'm settling in to my two new/old locations and am soooooo happy. 

I'll take photos of these items and post them to my website shortly....for now it's off to bed.

Have a wonderful almost Spring week-end.

Mary & Jones & Cole