KINGSTON----i.e., I got nothing

Well......... I am now entering day No.39 of my being home. That's means home and that's it. No masks, no 6 feet, no gloves.........my immune system is super compromised so I simply can't go out. Soooooo I'm down to posting about my cat. Kingston has fought me all day for the computer---I guess he likes the warmth. He patiently waits beside me and the moment I leave the computer, he assumes either that position or one completely covering the key pad.

There might be some glimmer of hope on the horizon--take a look at this map

It looks like (if the data trend holds) California might consider opening up certain parts of the economy during the second week of May........Of course there is no guarantee about anything these days, but it does brighten my spirit just a bit.

Cole has been failing over the last couple of months--he is officially a very very old lab--almost 15. So we are living every moment to the fullest with him--he now gets treats and loves non-stop and boy!--has he become the most spoiled dog ever.

Wishing safety, care and blessings

Mary & Cole

MORE PRETTY THINGS

My first passion (after cars when I was 5) was jewelry. Living in Mexico gave me a huge advantage when it came to being exposed to magnificent gems and jewelry design. My mother and I would go shopping in the "Zona Rosa" in Mexico City--at the time this section of Mexico City had gorgeous shops--the jewelry stores were always my favorites....

......The Verdura designs far outstrip the jewelry designs that entralled me as a child...but the Zona Rosa played its part in training me eye to focus on beauty and form.

Here's another Verdura masterpiece--I think that the majority of Verdura designs were masterpieces.

Please stay safe; focus on beauty; focus on gratitude; focus on new growth; focus on our communities; focus on being a positive force---with just a tiny bit of light, darkness dissolves.

Blessings for the day.

Mary & Cole

A VERY PRETTY THING......AND OTHER THOUGHTS

I have always felt that I was a fairly patient person. But now I'm not so sure. I have not left the house since March 14 and I'm going just a bit nuts: I miss my peers; I miss the stimulation of my clients; I miss Roberto and worry about him and his family as I do not have any work to give him....... I miss being able to create; I miss my auction (almost to the point of having a full fledged withdrawal meltdown). I do not 

miss driving in LA traffic--that's about the only thing that I do not miss.

.........So I've been spending more time looking at very pretty things!! The Verdura piece above was commissioned by Dorothy Hirshon in the early 1940's. I think I need it to lift my lagging spirirts. YEP!!!, this might just do the trick and hold me over until we have good testing methodologies and a vaccine.

                                    # # # # # #

Now, I have caught up with things that were lagging....Sent the 18th c. Swedish Drop Front Secretary to Camilo (actually he picked it up and then took his family to the beach) to restore. 

Here is the secretary waiting for me at auction...

She looks pretty down-trodden and lonely. Here she is in my garage waiting for restoration

She looks even worse in the garage....but now I can show you the inside of the drop front, which is finely detailed in burl wood and is in excellent condition. It was a surprise to find that the fitted secretary section had not been painted. Good fortune did strike: all of the hardware (except the metal lid support) is original and I even have the key! Now to the last photo: once I could see the bottom of the secretary, it became evident that my puzzlement regarding the feet was spot-on. The front feet are old replacements---I knew that the back feet were bad replacements, but the front ones kinda looked OK. Camilo will replace all four feet; he'll carved a small section of the dentil molding that encircles the top section and there are couple of other areas that need a little help. When Camilo is finished, Roberto will match the painted surface.
When all spiffed up the Secretary will look similar to this one (I think this came from Tone-On-Tone, Loi Thai's shop in DC, as I recognize the topiaries)

I think this gorgeous secretary (which is superior to mine) is a one-piece; whereas mine is a two-piece. This example has a beautiful soft gray surface; mine has a scraped surface, which is also acceptable. I'll have Roberto soften the painted surface just a bit. But you get the idea. Thank you, Loi.

My thoughts are with New York and all of the parts of the world that are being devastated by COVID-19.
Prayers for our health and safety. I pray that we emerge with a renewed sense of community and purpose; with a restructuring of our priorities; with a renewed commitment to our communities.

Blessings for the day.

Mary & Cole

EASTER SUNDAY

(I grabbed this image from Habitually Chic--I don't think Heather will mind)

I'm sure just about everyone will agree that this Easter Sunday is one that we will remember, always.

No family gatherings, no Easter Egg hunts, no Church and so many other traditions from which we are abstaining are truly missed. Hopefully, next month will see the lifting of many "shelter-In-Place" directives.

Remember the meaning of Easter is the restoration of light and hope to the World. This year I pray that the true Spirit of Christ radiate within all of our hearts. The spirit of gratitude, of mercy and compassion, the spirit of love for our neighbors , the spirit of forgiveness, the spirit of joy and the power to overcome the world, as Christ did. I pray that God send forth a spirit of righteousness--a commitment to overcome and heal the damage wrought over the past years.

Blessings,
MARY & COLE

WYNKEN, BLYNKEN AND NOD--THE SAILORS THREE

SOCIAL DISTANCING (FAIL)

In these days of trouble and confinement I sometimes wish I were one of "the sailors three"--Wynken, Blynken and Nod. I wish I could sail the seas in a wooden shoe casting my net into the deepest seas. But, since I can't, lets just pretend.

I grabbed these photos from Architectural Digest Online......Pick your favorite island to spend the remainder of our "social distancing" adventure.

Can you guess my first choice? Better yet, pick an island hide-away and then imagine how you would decorate your space using antiques and art to suit the island and the culture. Or imagine how a 19th c. British Colonial would choose to decorate..........

Here are some of the less-traveled islands in which to seek refuge.

This island looks pretty posh!

It's a little too structured for me. But that hasn't stopped me from imagining a few of my newer items furnishing a suite:

I'd place this great mid-century tropical bench at the foot of a luxurious bed--bedding in a Madeline Wienrib textile and abstract rug. I am positioning these two antique walnut chests on either side of the bed

I can imagine the rich patina of the walnut complementing a carved Anglo-Raj carved headboard. 
Now for a pair of lamps for the chests......

Some parrots for the walls

A faux coral chandelier....

A pair of mid-century faux bamboo barrel back chairs in a tropical green (sorry about the photo--these guys didn't make it to shop before we were shut down)

A Mastercraft Brass garden stool/drinks table between the chairs for the Mai Tai's (I'd rather have a martini/Bombay Sapphire gin, please)...

A Regency mahogany tray to serve as a very chic bar (for the Bombay Sapphire)

Placed on the sculptural root table--which could serve as a desk for a luxurious remote office

OK, now it's your turn--here are the Architectural Digest island photos--all less-traveled islands

I hope I've taken you to far-away places and provided a few minutes of day dreaming fun.

Sending blessings,
Mary & Cole

MY NEW ATTITUDE

         This is my new attitude for the foreseeable future:

                               TAKE NO PRISONERS

We need to band together to support each other--that includes landlords, mortgage holders, credit card companies, etc. Yes, apparently The Senate is going to sign the Emergency Relief Act (or whatever it will be called....), but each of us, standing in the foot steps of our friends and neighbors, clients and service providers, will be the positive force to move us forward.

I have added an additional layer to my attitude adjustment:

If you don't support community----------

       ******** YOU WILL BE EATEN********

Sending blessings...stay safe.

Mary & Cole

***Fine Early Edo Period Tiger Scroll***

Source: 1stdibs.com

AND HERE WE ARE........... + +CHIC.SEATS.COM Fine Chairs, Daybeds, Benches, Ottomans, etc.

Like just about everyone else, I'm home "social distancing". Praying for those that are ill and praying that this scourge will not reach the worst-case scenarios that are being put forward. Thank you to all who are heeding the mandates to stay at home and stay safe. We are all doing our best to fight off the worst-case scenarios. My heart breaks for Italy and Spain, where I lived for seven years. These are countries where people are intimately connected with one another; where hugging and kissing is the cornerstone of friendship--so missed in our more distanced culture--which is exactly what has spread the virus so effectively.

It ain't pretty in my corner---fortunately, I have a pile of books that were waiting to be opened. And I have a lot of website work to distract me from the fact that business--like for many millions--has come to a standstill. Our collective, Pasadena Antique Center, closed on Monday ahead of governmental mandates--Chairish and 1stdibs have quieted, too, but I'm hopeful that when the stock market stabilizes--online sales will pick up at bit (happy face). As for so many small business owners, the prospect of a delayed recovery is daunting. 

Of course, not knowing what exactly was roiling towards us, we bought a lot last month. In this business, we can't simply order when stock runs low; we have a "buy it when you see it" perspective.

Despite the fact that we were buying blind........I always feel blessed whenever God drops unique inventory in my lap. And we were definitely given many gifts. In my last post (and it was too long ago) I showcased the amazing large Italian ceramic hippo, the large Italian Baltic-style chandelier and the large 19th century terra cotta shi-shis (we definitely need their protection now).

I finally was able to get some good shots of a 1990s Steuben vase entitled "Equinox"--when I took this photo, I had no idea that once I had manipulated the lighting on the computer, I had captured the essence of the sculpture.

The shadow captured by the refracted light is truly spectacular. (I wish I knew what I had done when I shot the image???) It was simply luck.

We also acquired quite a few less important pieces:

This is a terrible image (taken just after they left the auction block) of a pair of "A Rudin" Napoleon III-style chairs. (A. Rudin is one of the best-of-the-best upholstered furniture companies) 

Best of all, the button tufted upholstery is in a subtle grisaille chinoiserie pattern and the upholstery is in near mint condition.

Next up: A mid-century pair of barrel-back club chairs in near-perfect rich minty green silk upholstery, which is also tufted.

We bought two long upholstered benches. The blue (53") is going out to be upholstered in an ethnic Clarence House woven fabric called "Gazelle" (after we get back to business). I think I'll have Lalo tuft this bench.

I like the 60" long mid-century bench just as it is in a Palm Beach "Lily Pulitzer"-type cotton. 

I love the little balls at the tips of the bench's legs. 

Both of these benches would make perfect end-of-the-bed pieces. The blue bench would be a great fireside piece. Hall bench? Window bench?

I bet you are wondering what I plan to do with the 110+ seating elements that we have in inventory?? I was, too!! Gerry has persisted in buying all sorts of seating elements---I haven't listed even half of the new ones (we also have a pair of period 18th c. Louis XV footstools (to be upholstered in Scalamandre "Le Tigre" silk velvet) and a sweet little Directoire footstool (to be upholstered in a deep cerulean blue silk velvet).

I am definitely a "make lemonade" type of person. As I was pondering (obsessing?), I wrote down all of my assets and talents: Gerry (Partner's great eye), Roberto (great restorer), Lalo (great upholsterer), Me (my knowledge of design, textiles, techniques and current trends), My Auction Company (inventory source), my fabric sources and plenty of inventory--  I DON'T NEED ANY MORE CHAIRS--on hand. Obviously, this popped up before my eyes.

                           CHIC.SEATS.COM

                CHIC.SEATS.MJHDESIGNARTS.COM

I immediately purchased the domain name and one similar to it for good measure.

While hibernating (I have a severely compromised immune system--so I'm stuck), I'm going to design a website for CHIC.SEATS.COM. I also need a new site for mjhdesignarts.com.......we'll see what I come up with.

Thanks for letting me spout. Please send blessings for this new little venture and for my sales to open up.......we do need to keep flow open, even if its just a trickle.

OOOOPS--

Forgot to add photos of my newest pillows. 1 pair of Scalamandre "Le Tigre" and 1 pair of Scalamandre "Il Leopardo" Silk velvet pillows backed and micro-welted in a high-end fine strie silk. The custom filler is composed of 35% goose down to 65% goose feather, creating the perfect firmness for the heavy silk velvet.

It goes without saying that I'm doing AMAZING deals for the foreseeable future; so either call me (714-401-0556) or email (mjhdesignarts@gmail.com) me if anything strikes your fancy.

My most complete inventory listing is on 1stdibs.com,

but please contact me directly for more information or pricing.

Please stay safe. Blessings for the week.

Mary & Cole