The editors of the July issue of
Architectural Digest thought the main attraction was Elizabeth Taylor's Bel Air estate. For me, the highlight was Lauren Davis's stunning home, also in Los Angeles, which she decorated herself, revealing talent that rivals the top professionals (and a hefty pocketbook!). In the accompanying article, Davis confesses that she is an avid collector. The family room, above, features part one such collection: Palissy ware. Palissy was a 16th century French potter. In the 19th century, Mintons, the famous English porcelain company, named a line of majolica after him, rustic in style, with raised snakes and all manner of sea creatures.
The bad news is that there is no Palissy ware up for auction at this moment in the United States, that I can see anyway. But I included this photo because a) I like it. and b) the Ming pottery bowls, below, which feature FISH (to get back to the theme at hand), are so gorgeous and would look fantastic in a similar setting, don't you think?
As we discussed in the last blog entry, fish are, unsurprisingly, featured on a lot of table ware and various dining accoutrements.Perhaps some of these will proove, um, alluring.
There are two upcoming glass ware auctions, the 19th and 20th Century Glass and Lighting sale at Jeffrey Evans and Associates in Mt. Crawford, Va on July 30th, and the Stretch and Fenton Glass Auction on August 12th at Jim Wroda in Ashville, New York. Together, they provide ample opportunity to stock up on delightful vintage American glassware that is definitely a cut above what you find at the box retailers--so add some to the mix! Or buy a pretty piece, fill it with cut flowers (be it from your garden or a deli) and give it as a hostess gift or birthday present (isn't it nice, when your entertaining, to have the flowers arrive already in a vase? So much easier).
I am fascinated by both dolphins and "dolphins"--and I put the latter in quotes because the 17th century version of a dolphin looks NOTHING like actual mammal! (If you don't know what I'm talking about, look at my logo: those are Wedgwood "dolphins!") To my mind, these Baroque dolphins, as the latter group is known, are fascinating creatures. I think I love them so much because they remind me of that time in our history when much of the animal kingdom was a marvelous, slightly menacing, mystery. Jim Wroda has several pieces of glassware with a Baroque dolphin detail, such as the Fenton vase above, estimate $25-75, and the Wright compote below.
But how can one discuss fish and not mermaids? And you know how I feel about kitsch. These Meissen candlesticks are high-end kitsch, to be sure. I think they're fabulous (check out their odd tail-legs), and would definitely spark conversation at your next dinner party!
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19th century Meissen porcelain candlesticks, at auction August 27th, estimate $600-800.
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c. 1900 Dutch silver fish spice container, at auction August 17th, estimate $200-300.
You can often find these lovely fish in Judaica sales, such as the Greenstein Gallery's August 17th auction in Cedarhurst, New York, because spice containers are part of the Sabbath ritual. They are highly collectible, I think, and it would be a fun challenge to figure out the ideal way to display them. | |
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Of course, fish don't have to be high end. Au contraire, many of the best fish pieces are designed with the rustic cabin (or game room or family room or teenage boy's room) in mind, such as this handsome swordfish, from a bait shop in San Pedro, California.
This fish engravings are small, but well colored and well framed. I hope you're spotting a potential bargain here! (this auction house has another set of
beauties here.)
And finally, I close with a lovely 19th century Black Forest carving. Isn't is gorgeous? At auction in Ventura, California on August 7th, estimate $350-500.With all these options over two postings, now you can do everything with fishes except--hopefully--sleep with them! Happy bidding everyone!
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