Truly Fine English Antiques & Accessories

 

Irwin Weiner ASID - Still so many memories from the invitation-only opening night preview of the latest Antiques, Art & Design at the Armory show this past September 21 at the Park Avenue Armory in NYC, co-hosted by Ellie Cullman, Jamie Drake, and Dr. Eva Andersson-Dubin.

With my South African orientation to all-things British, it was a pleasure to peruse the booth at Michael Pashby Antiques. When I asked the NYC dealer what his favorite items were, he said, "They're all special - otherwise they wouldn't be here." Well put. One of my cardinal rules in decorating a home is to include only those items which are special enough to be there. No waste, no dross, but just things you love and want to live with. Well, I could certainly live with the sandalwood and engraved ivory writing slope (Vizagapatam, India c. 1820 - top photo) ... or the exquisite pair of George III armorial mahogany hall chairs (English 1795 - above, middle photo) ... or the rich "plum pudding" Cuban mahogany George II tripod table (English c. 1740 - below, top photo) ... or the exceptional Charles II lacewood oyster veneer decorated walnut and fruitwood cabinet - on a stand with silvered feet, no less (English c 1680 - bottom photo). 

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Blown Away by Unusual Objects from Il Segno del Tempo

Irwin Weiner ASID - Still so many memories from the invitation-only opening night preview of the latest Antiques, Art & Design at the Armory show this past September 21 at the Park Avenue Armory in NYC, co-hosted by Ellie Cullman, Jamie Drake, and Dr. Eva Andersson-Dubin.

One of the show's absolute standouts was a collection of unusual technical and industrial antiques from Il Segno del Tempo, the collaboration of two gentlemen (Pier Luigi Carboni and Pierangelo Marengo) and their operation online and in Milan, New York, and Miami Beach. Yes, I'd like to possess most everything they were exhibiting. Examples of their amazing inventory: a rare thin stainless steel rug (top photo); a beautiful compound lever and compass - a scientific instrument that would add conversational interest to a coffee table tablescape (below, top photo); an industrial iron cart with wheels and a rotating glass tabletop (below, middle photo); and contemporary art from their "Are You Prepared?" series (below, bottom photo).

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Paris Flea Market Great DIY Idea

Irwin Weiner ASID - Shopping around. That's how I love to get some great design ideas. While in the Paris flea market - I believe it was in the Marche Dauphine - I found this great item. Quick digression - Parisians refer to their world's-largest antique markets as Les Puces (meaning "The Fleas").

How cute is this little settee made from an old steamer trunk? It's a great do-it-yourself furniture project, don't you think? Even though the booth where this was being sold had a sign prohibiting photographs, I couldn't resist taking a clandestine snap and sharing it with you.

And on the subject of sharing, we invite you to go to Design2Share's feature on the Paris Flea Markets for more information and an overview video. 

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Admiring Finds from Antique American Wicker

Irwin Weiner ASID - While we're putting away our outdoor furniture for the fall/winter season, we couldn't help thinking about what we're going to be putting out for spring next year! It's exciting to plan ahead, and we found a few "wish list" outdoor favorites we would love to have in our home during the invitation-only opening night preview of the latest Antiques, Art & Design at the Armory show this past September 21 at the Park Avenue Armory in NYC, co-hosted by Ellie Cullman, Jamie Drake, and Dr. Eva Andersson-Dubin. 

Immediate wish-list gratification came in the form of the Antique American Wicker display - always near the front entrance of the Armory shows. The Nashua, NH entrepreneurs Michael Donovan and James Butterworth are experts at curating beautiful and complete sets of wicker furniture, everything from dining room sets and seating (we think the seating in the top photo would look great on our farmhouse front porch - if the porch was perhaps twice its present size!) to lemonade sets and tea services (see the handsome tea table trolly above) and appropriate period-perfect antique lighting (see the 1890s mercury glass lamp below). 

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