A Double Whammy of Publicity

This morning Gabriel Gibson Decorative Arts was featured in a blog on http://www.blog.vandm.com/. It is the first publicity we have received since our founding last year. Sales have perked up recently and online inquiries are increasing.

The interview I gave for the article was with artist and fellow dealer Bob Graham. Bob sells beautiful hand-crafted lamps-they are very sought-after! He really captured my style and the point of view of Gabriel Gibson Decorative Arts.

This is the landing page for my first blog article for VandM. Beautiful image of a running horse weathervane. Ever wonder what has happened to those collectors of folk art since mid-century modern has taken over the decorating scene. Read my take on the subject.

Idina Menzel: Is She Rachel's Mom?

Watch Glee Tuesday Night at 8:59 eastern and 7:59 central


I love Idina Menzel. Not only is she a Tony-award-winning actress and star of Wicked, but she is married to my favorite actor, the gorgeous Tay Diggs. They are going to tease us by not letting her sing right away, but when she does, it is sure to be a blow-out. I can't wait!

Coming Up: The 2010 Philadelphia Antique Show

My favorite antique show is coming up on the 17th.

The Philadelphia Antique Show 2010

This is the best show in the country-the antiques are the best and the people who attend are interesting--Jon Bon Jovi and his wife were there last year.

 SJ Shrubsole of New York City, my favorite jewelry dealer, will be there. They have the most exquisite antique jewelry and silver--they have something for everyone and in every price range. Plus, the staff is nice and will spend time educating you, if needed. This is where I heard about jewelry camp.


My other favorite dealer is Lillian Nassau. This venerable old company has been selling Tiffany lamps for many years and is the place where collectors go for the best in Tiffany. Owner Arlie Sulka and her associate, Eric Silver can be seen frequently on Antiques Roadshow.
Check them out and if you are in the Philadelphia area this weekend, check out the show-you won't be sorry.

Mexican Silver Part I: William Spratling

Spring is here and I'm back! I'm feeling bad that this is the first blog I have written since Valentine's Day. Sorry folks. My website at www.vandm.com is taking most of my attention, but it seems to be finally paying off-I'm starting to sell. Also, I have set up a Gabriel Gibson Decorative Arts Fan Page on Facebook so check it out.

For months I have wanted to post on Mexican jewelry, but just had a hard time finding a place to start. It is a huge subject with many important and interesting people.  I mulled it over and decided to begin at the beginning with one of the leaders of the Mexican silver renaissance-William Spratling. If you aren't familiar with Spratling you are in for a treat. He was an amazing artist with many passions. His silver designs are some of the best of the 20th century and he is widely believed to be the father of the Taxco silver renaissance. Here is Part I.  

The above pitcher was the first piece of Mexican silver I ever saw. It was several years ago in New York at The American Antiques Show in the booth of Stella Rubin. Stella is a top dealer in quilts and jewelry and a good friend. Her eye for great objects is unparalleled in the antiques world and I expect her to always have the best. This sparkling silver and rosewood pitcher stopped me in my tracks. Obviously not American, yet it somehow seemed American in its classic simplicity. And, those perfect proportions--I immediately knew I had to investigate the artist that designed this beautiful object. 

William Spratling (1900-1967) grew up in Alabama, went to college at Auburn, where he fell in love with architecture. He obtained a teaching post at Tulane in New Orleans and there he befriended the writer William Faulkner. 

Spratling in the apartment he shared with William Faulkner on St. Peter Street in New Orleans.

He made this sketch of Faulkner in 1925.

Spratling was a fine illustrator and published several books and many articles on local architecture. More than 100 illustrations were featured in Old Plantation Houses in Louisiana. 

Spratling took his first trip to Mexico in the mid twenties to see the architecture. He fell in love with the country, its people and their arts. He was drawn back to it for three summers  before moving there permanently in 1929. Spratling was lucky to arrive in Mexico at a time when Mexico was in transition. 


Next: Part II
Spratling in Mexican and his role in reviving the Mexican silver industry

Valentine's Day Eye Candy

This is not exactly the kind of eye candy I want to see on Valentine's Day. It is just a little too cute. I love over-the-top beautiful! Or, at the least, interesting. Nothing too trite or smarmy, like this Needlecraft magazine cover from 1940.

Illustration by Rene Gruau 

for cover of Madame Figaro, 1990

 Christian Lacroix Collection

Now, this is more my kind of eye candy. I hope the following images delight and inspire your imagination.

Photoplay Magazine, 1932

 Perfect face, perfect nails, and perfect jewelry.

This is Constance Bennett, the actress.

Really, did women ever look like this?

From Les Enluminures Gallery, shown in Art and Antiques, Jan., 2010

Speaking of jewelry....

Rings for the Gods. 

I will take any or all.

No one ever crafted a more perfect daisy.

Made by Alexander Calder.

This is, by far, the most perfect silver bracelet ever made. It is called the Matchstick Bracelet and was made by Antonio Pineda, Mexican silver master.

The Four Elements by Paul Manship

Sexy Art Deco!

Two of four panels made for the A T & T building in New York, 1914. These panels were offered for sale by the Gerald Peters Gallery in NYC during the Winters Antique Show.

Vogue

Speaking of sexy... Love this perfectly pink coat.

Every time I see this dress I think of a paper-cut valentine.

Perfectly Serene

An Asian-inspired bed

Chinoiserie chic

I like shiny stuff.

A perfectly simple living room

An Ikat Valentine

If I sent you Valentine card, this would be it. 

 Vogue cover, Salvadore Dali, 1939

A yummy mule from Godey's, 1852

Would Manolo Blahnik please make me a pair just like this?

French chic, 1930-style

Vogue 1930

The photographer is Baron Adolphe de Meyer and the model is Helen Lee Worthing.

De Meyer was known for trying to capture an ideal of perfect feminine beauty and romance as well as pure luxury. 

20th century baroque by Cecil Beaton, photographer

 Model Mary Taylor for Vogue, 1935.

Her dress is by Chanel.

This is probably my favorite Vogue photograph ever.

The photographer is Irving Penn and the model is Jean Patchett. It has been said that this photograph changed the way Vogue showed fashion. It was 1949 and the location was Lima, Peru. 

Hooked Heart, Mary Sheppard Burton, Photograph courtesy of the author

Have a Happy Valentine's Day. 

from

The Antiquer

Photographs from: In Vogue: The Illustrated History of the World's Most Famous Fashion Magazine; 100 Years of Fashion Illustration; Silver Seduction; Calder Jewelry; Godey's Lady's Book; Elle Decor Magazine; House Beautiful; Needlecraft Magazine; Photoplay Magazine 

Guess What I Found at the Salvation Army?

Irish Marble Top Console

Clinton Howell Antiques

Right before Thanksgiving I dropped by my local Salvation Army store to look for inexpensive furniture to use for display when I exhibit at antique shows. In the office section I found a rather nice metal console-it was $30. Perfect! The mid-century modern glassware would really stand out against the gunmetal black. 

This got me thinking about the various styles of consoles and how they are used. I like the idea of having a convenient place to put small things, like keys, when I come in the front door. Also, this is the first thing people see when they come in my house. So it has to be a show stopper--something fabulous!

 

Elle Decor has a great article in this month's issue highlighting the 10 Best Consoles--and what do you know, but there is an identical console to my "find" at the Salvation Army. It is the 3rd down on the left.

Who knew Bottega Veneta made furniture? Their description describes mine exactly. Note the bottom of the legs--very stylish and just like mine. But, the price is not like mine.

Mine= $30

Bottega Veneta= $6,400

Here are some other consoles, if you are looking for one.

Ad in Architechtural Digest

  Osbourne and Little

Paul McCobb Console

Photograph from Rago Auction catalogue

French Marble Top Console

AD, Photographer, Steven Brooke

Antique Workbench

AD July 2009, Photographer David O. Marlow

Antique Piano

From English Country:Living in England's Private Houses 

by Caroline Seebohm and Christopher Sykes, photographer, 1987

This is my favorite!

A ghost console in Lucite

Winter Antique Show in Hunt Country-Middleburg, Virginia

Setting up for a show in early January is not fun. Loading and unloading a cargo van full of antiques when it is below freezing outside is really, well- bad. Dealers were grouchy, the promoter was preoccupied because someone fell on the ice and was hurt, the exhaust from my van was so thick that I could hardly see the boxes in the back, and my fingers were so cold they were numb. This was supposed to be fun? Note the ice on the drive. Even White's Ferry was closed due to ice on the Potomac. 

The lane where we parked our vans--it was behind the athletic fields and we took a shuttle bus back and forth. 

But, I loved the size of my space. It was 8 x 20 feet and papered in a nice, but muddy red. I was hoping the red would be clear--fire engine red-like the lipstick my grandmother wore in the 50s.

It took me and my assistant the entire day to set up. The dealer behind me hung his clip-on lights on my side and ripped holes along the edge of my paper. The then sent his wife over to complained that I was driving nails into their side of the wall. When I pointed out that they had ripped my paper, the wife frowned and hurried back to her side. It wasn't starting off well. One thing I have noticed about antique dealers at shows is they are extremely territorial. When you are paying a premium to be in these shows you want to make it count. 

Here is my booth finished. I liked the set-up in this space better than any other. Next time, I will buy lights. I had a lot of interest in the chinese lamps, but decided they look too wonderful in my living room so I'm keeping them. 

The Quilt Corner--is beginning to look better. I need a lot more quilts.

I recently  acquired 5 bags of very nice linens. Even though I haven't completed sorting and pricing them, I brought about half  in case someone was willing to dig through them. Another dealer, with a big interest in linens, went through much of them and purchased some really wonderful items. She also generously gave me a quick lesson on identifying point de Venice lace, chemical lace and machine-made lace. The show was beginning to look up!


The linen dealer, Snow Leopard, had a pretty booth. Following are some pictures.

She makes the scented pillows from vintage linens.

These art nouveau pillow cases were so pretty.

The dealer across from me, Ben,  sells antique tools and other good stuff. He gave me some rock-solid business advice that I intend to follow. I also noticed that his booth, bright yellow with good lighting, drew in the customers like bees to honey. He also had a million things for sale. The more things for sale, the more to chose from, the more you actually sell. Note to self-buy more!  

I'm on the left, Ben with his winning booth on the right. Look where the customers are.

The next few photos are of the promoter's booth. I like the clean look and the objects are of real value. 

 The promoter's husband, waiting for the show to open and the hoardes to arrive. They did.

One of the nicest dealer's around is Judy Brill of Brill's Antiques, Virginia Beach. 

She and her sweet husband have beautiful 18th and 19th century furniture. Here is Judy visiting with us during a slow period during the show. Judy usually brings her dogs with her and sits with them in her large van. It was too cold for the dogs this trip so we got to hang out with her more than usual.

Judy Brill visiting with Ben's wife.

The Brills at the Chevy Chase show.

i love these hooked rugs. 

An 1850s wrapper. This amazing wrapper has never been remade. It is in its original condition.

A dealer in French decorative arts admires these tinsel paintings. She has never seen any this early and in such great condition.  The white ground in the top painting is very uncommon.

The black console is metal!

I did well in Middleburg. Now, to try the Big Flea. A different audience and a much smaller space.