Jones and Cole

Me and Mariano Fortuny

2012-02-17T08:58:00.000-08:00

MJH Designarts Vintage Fortuny Pillows

Yesterday I picked up a few new vintage Fortuny pillows and a pair of Scalamandre "Le Tigre" pillows from Pam, the principal of Fine Details, Inc. (finedetailsinc.com) my amazing pillows creator/fabricator. I have been collecting antique and vintage Mariano Fortuny fabrics for many years with the intent of creating a line of fine decorative pillows for MJH DesignArts. For several years I had searched for just the right pillow creator (and it takes a very detail oriented person to create these perfect pillows), my first creator is located in Texas, and although her work is exceptional--truly every pillow was a work of art.

Add caption

Wonderful Texas Fabricator

Note the beautiful tiny stitches and the mitre work!!

I had to find another fabricator because of the high cost of shipping everything back and forth to Texas. Second creator did a wonderful job, but communicating with her was a bit of a problem and she lived in a section of Los Angeles where parking is almost nonexistent (trekking around with the heavy down inserts and heavy fabrics really was a challenge with my dealer-back situation)--but her pillows were perfection and Maria was a joy to work with. Unfortunately, Maria retired and moved back to Guatemala (and that would really be a schlep). Next up was a professional upholsterer and pillow maker in Fullerton, where I live.........she seemed great when I spoke with her and also when I brought in the fabrics and custom 30% down to 70% pillow inserts. Of course, I use a very special and tiny welt to detail the pillows (which I explained and showed to Victoria). She said that she would have no problem. END RESULT: she used my custom fillers on pillows that she was making for another client; she couldn't attach the antique Houles trim; her stitching was too large; the welting was too large and wrinkled, etc. (I ended up eating these pillows)....Next. I tried a high-end tailor in Pasadena. He happened to be Korean; so we had a slight communications problem. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY-----he didn't center the pattern when he cut the pillows AND he stitched the vintage Fortuny with the GOOD SIDE ON THE INSIDE--plus HE BLAMED ME (I ate some of these pillows, also)!!!

AND NOW I HAVE PAM!!!!!!!

Fortuny "Peruano" Pattern--right side

Fortuny "Peruano" Pattern--reverse side

"Peruano"(right side) tiny, tiny welt

(I've been trying to move the photo up -- but can't----HELP). But, at least the font has stayed in Verdana (?) the entire time--definitely improving on the posting technical end.

"Peruano" (right side) detail

I chose to create a pair of pillows in Fortuny's c. 1970's "Peruano" pattern with the "right" facing out and a second pair of pillows in "Peruano" with the reverse side facing out. I loved the more intense, moody and dramatic presence of the reverse side, as well as the soft muted grays and crisp white of the right side. The pillows are backed in a high end Kravet charcoal silk strie that adds wonderful texture without detracting attention from the Fortuny itself. See that little tiny welt--Pam does a beautiful job--no wrinkles!!! I formed a deep bond with this particular Fortuny pattern and colorway: being raised in Central Mexico surrounded by Aztec symbolism there was a definite deep connection to the symbolism of the pattern. Additionally, charcoal and gray are my preferred accent colors (but please do not get me going on what red and cinnabar do for rooms). And I love the interplay between refined and ethnic or rustic/rough elements--these pillows look great on Madame Victoire who is the epitome of refined detailing.

The "Peruano" pillows are for sale on my website (mjhdesignarts.com).

Have a great week-end. Be well........
Mary

Ruminations on "And The Winner Is..." (Grammies, Oscars, Little League Titles, Olympic Medals...etc.) etc.

2012-02-14T22:47:00.002-08:00

Jones

I didn't watch the "Grammies" Sunday night (and I didn't watch the Golden Globes, neither) because TV was rotting my brain (so I no longer have one). But I am left with my usual sense of unease following these immensely expensive endeavors at self-promotion. I feel the same way when I see bumper stickers regarding someone's child being an honor student somewhere or a Little League Team (and I was a team mother for many, many teams), a high school football. soccer. volleyball....track team being No. 1 in LEAGUE. (And just how big was that league)
I usually come away from such designations wondering who really remembers, in the larger scheme of life and years down the road, whether Vince Gil or Lady Gaga or The Black Eyesd Peas won a Grammy (besides, doesn't Grammy mean grandmother?) in 1975?
I'm showing a picture of Jones--because he is a No. 1 winner in my book, but I am biased and the pond is relatively small for such a broad designation. I will never show Jones (at 8 months he was more than I could handle; so off he went to get snipped) and I will never need outside verification to know that he is awesome. And more to the point, Jones is happy being a happy dog who loves to go to work and greet everyone--I don't think there are any awards for being a greeter........
The same is true of so many areas where participants are forced into artificial categories of competition. Is it possible to rank competitively the love shown by parents to children??? No. Can you measure quantitatively the joy of discovery between individuals? No--and the minute you would attempt to quantify joy--it would disappear into the "me first" ego race.
I have been blessed to have a child who would never fit the standards of "And the award goes to.."--he has always walked with a different step and fought valiantly for his own path. Through him I have learned compassion, tenacity in the face of many up-hills battles, and most of all, I have had to learn to remain silent (this is still a lesson in progress). Would having a child who consistently came in No. 1 have given me the same invaluable gifts? (And I also have one of those) No. But this creative being who started writing poetry in the ninth grade while getting a D+ in English, still carries the scars of not being able to fit into the role of "No.1" from his first and second grade teachers. What are we teaching our children about who is valuable?? I hope that the love that is represented by St. Valentine becomes the measure of greatness--who wins No. 1 lover? Can't be measured or judged because love is what exists in our hidden hearts. It is overflowing love for all of creation that will propel our world forward.
Anyway, I'm spending Valentine's Day with and baking brownies and lemon bars for this very special gift of a unique son....and finally it feels good and right. He will be off--back to living in Thailand, and yes, TEACHING ENGLISH. And writing poetry and music and he will be missed.
Happy Valentine's Day to all Mothers and Fathers!!!
Be well, Mary

MADAME VICTOIRE HAS A NEW HOME

2012-02-11T00:33:00.000-08:00

My glorious Madame Victoire has been sold to my favorite clients and I'm sure that she will have a great home that will continue to care for her in the way her many previous owners have. Below are photos of Madame Victoire after being french waxed and having her bronze hardware buffed just a little. I'm really going to miss her.........Ah, Hah---now the hunt starts for another exceptional pieces of 18th c. furniture.

Have a wonderful week-end.

Hint: antique decorative arts make superb Valentine's Day presents.......

Be well. Mary

SERENDIPITY

2012-02-07T11:15:00.000-08:00

Perfect Chests

This has been a week, ten days to be exact, of several serendipitous occurrences...including these super Brown & Saltman chests...combined with several non-serendipitous (and very frustrating) events.

Before I go into details I thought I would quote Wikipedia and Webster's definitions of "serendipity"--apparently one of the most difficult words to translate in the English language (who knew??) Wikipedia states that Horace Walpole (1719-1792) coined the word fom the Persian fairly tale "The Three Princes of Serendip" whose heroes "were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity of things they were not in quest of." Wikipedia further states that a PREPARED and OPEN mind is required on the part of the scientist, inventor (or "whatever" -my interpretation) to detect the importance of information received accidentally. And Websters defines serendipity as "the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for."

By now you are thinking "this lady is really boring"--but hold on... how many of life's events are simply random and how many seem to orchestrated by an unseen hand. I have been deliberating these concepts for most of my life and still haven't come to a conclusion regarding my role in this mystery. But I do know that when I put myself "out there" things start to happen...If only I could control the sequence of these happenings or nudges that move me forward--or if my vision included God's unlimited perspective, life would be considerably more easy.....but then I guess I would never be force to stretch and extend my horizons.

...I'm looking for a new location for my humble shop--definitely want to move back to West Los Angeles as that is where most of our great Los Angeles designers are located (it is a bit of a schlep over to Pasadena) and West LA is definitely where most of the action is. I called my friend Carlos (Carlos knows just about everything regarding any question you might have) and he told me that there was a retail space available in the next block up from him. On the way over, I kept thinking that it would be great if Carlos and I could join forces. We arrived to check out the available location....but it appeared to have been leased as there wasn't any real estate signage. Of course, Carlos, knowing every one, goes next door to inquire..........after two months of negotiations, the agreement to lease had fallen through the day before. (And this space is perfect--large, airy, great location, no work needed, and not expensive.) Ah, Hah! Not only this little bit of serendipity: after checking out the space Carlos asked if he could join me??? Now, please explain this one? I do not know if I will lease this particular retail space, but there was definitely some sort of non-me communication occurring and which was leading me in the direction in which I set my heart.

Now, as for the "Perfect Chests" (above)--one of my favorite designers called me to ask if I had another pair of chests--he had been looking at the great pair of mid-century chests (below) that I had put into inventory about 6 weeks ago, but he thought that they were a bit small and feminine.....

Of course, he happened to call the day I was picking up "Perfect Chests" from the auction house......and I could happily SERENDIPITOUSLY tell him that I had a pair coming in that were a bit bigger and definitely more masculine. Now, please explain how these events could have played out without divine intervention?? And the story gets even stranger: when he came in, he decided to buy "Perfect Chests", but when he measured the height of the intended space at his client's home, only the chests shown above would fit. And he would not even have given them a second thought if he hadn't come in to see "Perfect Chests." I'm not sure how this is going to play out---but it is an adventure... (a bit stressful as you just never know...and there is that thing called "rent").

Thanks for joining me on the ride.

Mary

A Tale of Two Beautiful Chests of Drawers

2012-02-06T23:30:00.000-08:00

This is the gorgeous chest (with it's pair sitting behind) that I thought I had lost the bid on a few weeks ago. As it turns out, when I voiced my concern to the auctioneer (I've bought from him for many years) that my bid had been ignored, the chests miraculously appeared on my bill. (I think that I need to learn how to speak up more often) When I was bidding on the chests, I did not realize that they were designed by John Keal and crafted by Brown & Saltman, a highly desirable mid-century Los Angeles furniture manufacturer. The chests are in almost mint condition and did not require any restoration. The proportions of the chests are perfect: not too heavy and not too light.

Brown & Saltman Mid-Century Chests of Drawers

Notice the perfectly shaped and proportioned front feet with a bevel edge adding just a bit more lightness to their feel.

Brown & Saltman Chest/foot

Next up on my list of perfect features are the beautiful custom pulls. The oxidized minimalist backplate together with the polished nickel "arrow" is a unique design element and perfectly complements the classic design of the chests. This is really SEXY hardware!!!

Brown & Saltman Chests/Custom Hardware

In the photo below take note of the fine booked* veneer work applied to the sides of the chests. With cases pieces, usually the fronts and tops of the piece are given the most attention, but with this pair, the sides were deemed to merit as much detail as the front. This is a further indication of outstanding quality. *Booked veneer is when the wood is sliced finely and then applied to the piece so that the slices appear to have been opened as one would a book.

Brown & Saltman Chest/booked veneering

And here is the last photo of my perfect mid-century chests. What more could a dealer ask for?.........Some one to come in and buy them tomorrow before I become too attached.

Brown & Saltman Chests/Side view

Because these chests are classically proportioned (think small Louis XVI commode or Georgian bachelors chest) and are of the highest quality they could be integrated into a room that featured mainly period (18th c.) antique furnishings.

I have listed these chests on my website (mjhdesignarts.com) giving more detailed specifications.

Thanks for visiting and sharing the adventure.

Mary

I'VE BEEN HACKED!!!!!

2012-02-05T23:40:00.000-08:00

For the second time in about 2 months my Yahoo email account has been hacked! I hope that this doesn't happen to anyone else--but it is a huge problem. I have no idea why I have been singled out for this adventure in frustration and inability to get an appropriate response from Yahoo--it is as if my requests for help, forwarding the offending violator's (as in rapist) email (etc.) to Yahoo were going into the void of internet black holes.

For a while I couldn't access any of my contacts to attempt to apologize for the emails sent from London (Yes, I would really like to go to London--Paris, even more so) requesting money because my passport and wallet (or some crazy misadventure) had been stolen.

One thing I did learn is that I really do have friends who care for me enough to check and see how my London trip went???!!!! Have I ever written to anyone (ever) asking for an emergency handout?

So the last week has been spent canceling or changing email addresses for the newsletters and blogs that I subscribe to...it has been a multi-hour endeavor and it's still not completed.

Next it is onward to sending emails apologizing for the spurious emails and notifying everyone of the email address change................

Net week will definitely be a better week.

Mary

DECO BENCHES: RESTORATION ADVENTURES

2012-01-27T21:06:00.000-08:00

Sorry that I haven't posted about these beauties after winning the bid on Thursday... Here are the period Deco benches as they were at the Auction. Pretty, but with surface issues. One of the most difficult decisions we make as antiques dealers is regarding restoration of finishes or do we have to resort to stripping..Yuck!! You never get the original finish quality with a refinish--no matter how good the restorer is because YOU CAN GET THOSE DAMN (oops, I meant darn) TOXIC CHEMICALS ANY MORE. I am a super "green", organic, recycler and minimalist--but please give me back my toxic furniture chemicals...

And here are the beauties in my shop..... see how lovely they would be if only I could get the right products. The other problem is finding the perfect restorer who loves to do a French Polish. I used to have my list of professionals, but because of these wonderful traditional age-old TOXIC products, many of them have gone a little nutty and can't work any more.

(For some crazy reason I keep getting booted back to the "Times" font--can some one tell me why, please?)

So I have decided to have my life-saver, Roberto, bring the finish closer together with a touch up technique only. And perhaps die the faux lizard Edelman leather that I have --maybe a deep buttery yellow.

Ultimately (there we go back to times).....

Oooops, darn, the sun just came out and it has stopped raining which means that I had better get to the shop--I was going to take a rain day (we take our rain very seriously in Southern California) but now I don't have an excuse and I'm late!!! See you later.
Be well..........Mary

THE ETERNAL HUNT--AUCTION TIME

2012-01-18T22:42:00.000-08:00

This is what the first hour of my favorite weekly auction looks like. A huge pile of stuff. Fortunately, as the the day and the auction progresses, the items (lots) are more organized and you can see what is being auctioned. This is basically the "Junk Pile", but I have discovered some amazing "sleepers" in these piles. If you are really on the hunt, then you have to arrive early and be prepared to spend the entire day. And it is always wise to preview the day before.... That said, this particular pile, does not look very inviting or promising; so I won't be coming too early.

I'm going to give you a close-up of that "pink thing" on the right--it's labeled "pink glass lamp table"--I don't think that I have ever seen anything quite so tacky as this guy--but it has an actual gold leafed wood base--go figure??

Coming up just after The Pile are a pair of period Art Deco stools/ benches that are starting to call to me. They are in rather poor condition, but I love the waterfall lines and the rosewood veneer.

I'm considering what I have at hand to reupholster the leather seats and how much time Roberto will have to spend restoring the finish. (I never strip unless the surface is in very bad condition.) Roberto is a miracle worker when it comes to finish restoration.

I have an Edelman leather faux snake skin hide that I think will look great on the benches.... it's an off-white/ivory shade. Of course, Edelman leather is top notch.

So it's decided: I'll bid on these benches. I really do not need any more chairs (my friends are instructed to physically restrain me from buying any more chairs of any form). What I really need are some case pieces and these are hard to find. (Madame Victoire is the most gorgeous of all case pieces, but not an easy piece to sell because of her price point). I'm looking for mid-century case pieces and I just don't see any today--which is fine because I spent "my wad" on Madame Victoire.

I'm going to show you some of the variety of objects that I spied today. They run the gamut from the tacky pink lamp table to sweet bronze cherub candlesticks and a very cool Minton for Tiffany & Co. dinner service. Take a walk with me.......

I covet this large 19th c. Japanese Tansu--just look at that amazing hand wrought iron strap work detailing--the iron pulls and the little drawers to the right side. It needs quite a bit of surface work, and it is a beautiful case piece, but I think it will go pretty high (we'll see....)

Next up is this very fake PreColumbian covered jar with a turtle? iguana? (note the repaired neck)--finial. I am sure there will be a buyer for this beauty. The lamp behind Mr. Precolumbia is really pretty and vintage and inspired by an antique chinese form, like the super desirable Christopher Spitzmuller lamps. But it is almost impossible to sell single lamps (I personally think that matched pairs can be rather boring--but what do I know?).

Next up are a few items (lots) from the higher-end portion of the Auction --the good stuff.

I am in love with this English Minton for Tiffany & Co. porcelain dinner service. Do you see where Versace got his design inspiration for his highly desirable dinner services? Minton's quality cannot be equaled. Versace's designs are way over the top for porcelain services--Minton's is much more classic and with finer execution.

LOOK at the fine detail on the classical greek urn and the greek key pattern...just count the several rings of the border...GORGEOUS.

And finally, here is a sweet pair of 19th c. French bronze cherub candelabra...the bronze is finely executed and the children have wonderful character and patina--they form part of a French bronze and marble clock suite.

I love this pair of candelabra-- at one point I had a very large collection of 17th c. through 19th c. candlesticks and candelabra--and I know this set will sell very high.

Wish me luck--I'll give you an update tomorrow.......

Thanks for visiting. Mary

MY BIG SALE--20% TO 40% OFF EVERYTHING... (MAYBE MORE?)

2012-01-18T07:18:00.000-08:00

SALE-- SALE-- SALE-- SALE-- SALE

MAGNIFICENT SET OF 8 KLISMOS DINING CHAIRS

MJH DesignArts (that is, Jones and I) is having a BIG SALE!!!

I'm discounting my entire inventory (even Madame Victoire)----- over 300 items through FEBRUARY 14.

Most of my inventory is posted to my website mjhdesignarts.com--but some of the smalls and decorative items are not.

Please email me at mjhdecorativearts@yahoo.com or contact me through the website mjhdesignarts.com Contact page.

Jones will be present most days to assist in sales and be his usual happy self.

MID 20TH C. KARGES CHINOISERIE DESK

PAIR MID=20th c. CHESTS OF DRAWERS

3 PAIRS FRENCH IRON SCONCES

SET OF 4 PERIOD DECO MAHOGANY SIDE/DINING CHAIRS

LOUIS XVI STYLE DAYBED c.1840

PAIR 19th c. GILT LOUIS XVI SIDE CHAIRS IN SCALAMANDRE SILK

PAIR MID-CENTURY MARBRO LAMPS

MINI BEAST HAS BEEN NAUGHTY LATELY--I'M GIVING HIM TO THE GYSPSIES

ART DECO STYLE LINEN VELVET SOFA WITH FORTUNY PILLOWS

J.L. CLEMENCEAU ACADEMIC DRAWINGS

DECO VENETIAN BERGERE

PAIR MID CENTURY FORTUNY PILLOWS

DECO STYLE LINEN VELVET SOFA--50% OFF!!

PAIR 1959 (DATED) ALL ORIGINAL DOROTHY DRAPER TABLES

FANTASTIC CARVED WOOD 20TH CENTURY CAMELS--33" HIGH

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY.

MARY (and Jones and Cole)

**I still don't have this picture positioning thing resolved---but I'm not giving up.

Mary

Madame Victoire, Part II

2012-01-17T01:04:00.000-08:00

I picked up Madame Victoire this morning. AND SHE IS MORE AWESOME THAN I THOUGHT. (Usually, it is just the opposite and I have embellished the item)

I'm going to run through her good points to give you a glimpse into French Provincial commodes. First off, although I had originally thought that she was in walnut, upon further inspection, I believe that she is solid mahogany as a primary wood. Mahogany was imported to Europe from the colonies and being a foreign species is not subject to insect damage as is the softer native European walnut. Mahogany is also a much more dense wood (more difficult to carve) which means that the piece can withstand more wear and tear than the softer walnut. And this accounts for the fact that Madame Victoire is all original: her snail carved feet (very sexy feet) retain their original carving, although the feet on the front naturally exhibit more wear than the rear feet. A further note of quality is the fact that Madame Victoire has four fully carved snail form feet. The majority of Louis XV provincial commodes had block feet to the rear. Now let's look at Victoire's beautifully proportioned sinuous bombe form--it is perfectly balanced and with a curvy sensual figure. The three drawer fronts have beautiful crisply carved molding surrounds and a carved center cartouche for the escutcheon.

Moving on to study Victoire from the side, you can see that she is just as beautifully detailed as on her front. She has a molded drop at the bottom which matches the drop on the front and the snail feet are positioned in such a way as to be beautiful when view from the side.

Next we need to look at Victoire's jewelry. Because she is provincial, her jewels ar simple. I believe that the bronze hardware which she now wears dates to and was fitted to her in the 18th c., but originally she had more simple bronze or brass bail-type fittings. The bronze hardware is beautifully cast with great detailing and is in excellent condition.

And finally, we are coming to the condition of Madame Victoire--she is in really great condition considering her 260 years of use. The drawer sides, bottoms and locks are original, her patina is deep, although there has been some resurfacing. No major splits to the wood.

(Yes, that is the tips of my foot)

Now, just to make sure that we are dealing with a period pieces of furniture, we have to looked at Madame Victoire's backside: Is it the appropriate type of construction? YEP. Are the back boards of the same wood and of the same level of patination? YEP. Are there any square nails or nail holes? YEP.

**See how a fabric strip has been applied to the back--this is a really good sign of appropriate shrinkage and repair.

LOOKS LIKE SHE'S A WINNER.......

(I have no idea how or why the photos and text lined up like this--but it looks intentional and good, right?)

I am definitely improving--but this dragging photos business is for the birds......

Please let me know if I am boring you with these nit-picking details.... Until the next adventure....

Mary

Chilly Southern California Chicken Vegetable Soup

2012-01-15T23:10:00.000-08:00

I love it when we have cloudy, rainy, chilly (only going to be 60* today!!) days in Southern California. Yes, I know, for the rest of you this is warm and gorgeous. But here we take our cold very seriously. This is when I get into the mood to make home made soup. My favorite is chicken and vegetable soup made with as many organic or locally grown ingredients as possible. If you can't find all organic ingredients, the most important organic vegetables are celery, tomatoes and carrots and parsley and, of course, organic chicken. I know it is a little pricier and a little more work, but it is definitely worth the effort. This is what I'm making today--yum. Plus, when I'm under the weather, I make this soup and eat only this until I'm well--and I'm better in about 3 days.

INGREDIENTS Whole or cut up chicken... (save breasts for other dishes)
Organic, please! 5-10 whole cloves
A few (15-20) fennel seeds
Bay leaf
3-4 Qts. water in large pot to generously cover chicken
Simmer the chicken with the spices for about 1.5 hours. Let chicken cool;
remove from bones and skim fat. (Today I also added a bit of rosemary and
coriander seeds.)

4-5 stalks celery, chopped medium
1/2 large red pepper, chopped medium
3/4 lb.- 1 lb. baby carrots, cut in half
baby peas
2 zucchini, sliced 1/2" thick and quartered
green beans or haricot verts, cut in half
tomatoes, cut up or whole cherry tomatoes
(any other suitable vegetables at hand)
1/2 c. dry little white beans (soaked and cooked separately--add
liquid to soup stock)
1/4 lb. or more Portobello (or other) mushrooms
1/3 c. chopped sweet onion (or 1 leek)
2 cloves chopped fresh garlic
1/3 c. (or more) pressed down chopped Italian parsley
Fresh ground black pepper
(Adjust seasonings to your taste)

Add the vegetables to stock and bring to a simmer. Add the boned chicken;
continue simmering until the vegetables are cooked. DO NOT LET
VEGETABLES BOIL. ( To preserve their nutritional value the vegetables
must not reach boil)
Add two heaping tablespoons prepared PESTO to soup, stir and remove from
heat.
Serve with chopped avocado and/or freshly grated peccorino romano cheese
and toasted garlic French bread.
*** Skip the gluten (French bread) if you are ill.

Andrew started eating the soup before I had time to take a photo.
He also ate 2/3 of the bread before I took these shots. (The amount of food consumed by this man/child never ceases to amaze me)

I think I've got it!!! The pictures got to where they are supposed to be on the first or second attempt. I'm still having trouble with "Helvetica" and the large size font--I think that I can only change font and size at the beginning of the post (correct me if I'm wrong)--but things were pretty smooth.

Thanks for visiting. Be well. Mary

Bringing Louis XVI Into the 21st Century

2012-01-12T22:45:00.000-08:00

This is a tale of bringing a rather homely Louis XVI bergere into the 21st century. I call this rather neglected little Louis XVI girl Louise: she has great lines and well detailed carving, although she is slightly, about 30 years, out of period*. But her stylist really has her wardrobe all wrong--frumpy and boring. She spent some time at my house waiting for her make over and Mini Beast, my huge adopted Siamese decided that Louise was his. He spent all of his spare (does a cat have spare time?) time--whenever he wasn't eating or terrorizing Maddy ( very small cat)--luxuriating in Louise. Sadly, Mini Beast returned to the spot where Louis had sat for more than a month--I guess he thought that she was returning to him.

In August I decided it was time to start on Louise's makeover. First came paying some much needed attention to the sunburned old dull finish which included stripping (using green products and lots of elbow grease and even dental picks) the beautifully carved frame down to the raw (greige) walnut and smooth sanding the wood (my son, Andrew did this portion). Next came choosing the best fabric to highlight the raw wood--I chose 2 complementary very high end linens: a Donghia silver linen for the front and a very heavy Anna French 100% linen burlap for the back. Then Louise went to my fantastic upholsterer, Lalo, a very American Spaniard from Malaga. First Lalo tightened up Louise's joints, added new padding, gave her a new down cushion and finished the upholstery in tape made from the corresponding linens and nail heads. And here she is all sassy and ready for her new home. I love the earthiness of the raw wood combined with the linens.

Sometimes, when a piece of furniture turns out as well as this chair did, it is hard to give it up. I think of Louise as the perfect chair to add a bit of class to a boudoir, bedroom or even a bathroom (study ?). Yes, she is small in scale, but really comfortable for even big men.

I think that I'm actually getting the hang of this blogging adventure: photos are almost where I want them to be and I managed to stay in Helvetica!!

Thanks for stopping by--Mary

*Period and early 19th century bergeres and fauteuils usually (but not always) have an exposed back with the center support showing. They also are usually crisply and well carved and of a smaller proportion (think of Napoleon). My photo quality doesn't do the carving justice.

THE HUNT

2012-01-09T10:08:00.000-08:00

Today is auction day and my blood is starting to run a little quicker. Just by chance, I checked one of my auction house postings last night and discovered that they were having an early January auction! Now the work begins: previewing what has been posted on-line; researching those items that seem interesting; deciding ball park bidding limits; actually previewing the auction in person; timing when I will get to the auction or if I will leave an absentee bid........

So many of my friends have said to me over the years: "Wow, auctions must be so much fun--please take me." The truth is that auctions are fun; but they are also a lot of work and huge amounts of patience are required just waiting for your items to come to the block (not to mention the little fact that many auctions are held in warehouses without the benefit of air conditioning or heat==torture). Preparation and knowledge are key--but timing and focus (things go really quickly--before you know it, the item is bid and gone) are just as important (perhaps more). There is also the element of pysching-out other bidders. Body posture, expression, subtleness and operating under-the-radar are all valid tactics. I have to admit that I'm not very tall (used to be 5' even) and I firmly believe in the practice of true humility (which is unusual in Los Angeles and sometimes is taken as weakness); therefore, I choose both subtleness and to operate under-the-radar and it usually works for me (except when the auctioneer doesn't see me--oooops).

I'll be taking and posting photos of the items that I'll preview later this morning. (Wish me luck)

.......I'm back. Well, it was a very interesting (as in complex) auction as I decided to phone bid. The proxy bidder calls me to bid on the first lot (lot is the auction term for an individual item or group of items up for auction) on my list, for some crazy reason beyond my control and comprehension, the telephone proxy bidder didn't raise her hand to get my bid in???!!!! I have been to hundreds, maybe I'm starting into my second thousand auction and this has never happened to me. For the second item, the bid went too high. I was really focusing on the 3rd item (lot) on my list-- a grouping of 4 framed sets of antique 19th c. Grand Tour intaglios: the caller must have misdialed by number--I never got the call (by now my feathers are definitely getting ruffled), I don't think that I was overly nice to the proxy bidder (perhaps a little bitchy describes my communication style more appropriately). And finally the 4th lot on my list comes to the block: I'm on the phone with the proxy bidder and things are looking good. After the bidding starts, I realize that I have another inexperienced proxy bidder; I become pretty forceful. The bidding gets to where I want to stop, but I realize that there is just one other bidder; so I keep going to see if I can psych him out--no go. But at this point there is NO WAY that I am going to loose this lot: four bids later (the increments were pretty high at this level) and... I bring my baby home.
AND HERE SHE IS

***A FANTASTIC WALNUT PERIOD LOUIS XV BOMBE COMMODE***

And this lady is PERFECT--no extensive restoration or even polishing necessary--I'm IN LOVE. I'm naming her "Madame Victoire" after one of the daughters of Louis XV.

I hope that you got a glimpse of what auction buying really entails. By the way, this auction lasted from 5:30 pm til 10:30 pm with no food or heat. Torture if you ask me.

Note: I still need to work through the bugs in this blogging business--I can't seem to be able to insert text along side the photos or to change the fonts, etc. Hang in there with me.... MARY

LOOK AT THOSE SEXY FEET!!!

SO MUCH INSPIRATION

2012-01-06T12:39:00.000-08:00

I'm intrepidly starting 2012 off with my first post on "Jones & Cole." I'll need to introduce you to Jones, my faithful shop assistant and publicity rep. As you can see from the photos he is a great guy and loves to come to work and be the perfect greeter. Cole is Jones' best friend and brother who does not comes to work. Jones is very smart and Cole likes to focus on his ball.

I have been following so many wonderful blogs--the blog that I first wandered into was Habitually Chic by Heather Clawson--Heather is amazing--and from the first post, I was hooked! Next I ventured to Maison 21 (I love Christian and he also in the LA area) and from there I was off to Pigtown Design, All The Best, Slim Paley, Brooke's blog, Velvet and Linen, Slow love life by Dominque Browning (I finally found her after missing her editorials at House and Garden), Little Augury (makes my brain go to work overtime), DECORNO, Eclectic Revisted, The Style Saloniste, Peak of Chic, and Aesthetes Lament. I finally discovered the French bloggers that transport me back to my many years in Spain: Kristin Espinasse and Vicki Archer and these are just a few of my blogging inspirations. I am so grateful to these wonderful bloggers for their inspiration and faithfulness to their daily or weekly posts--it is a huge commitment.

But I noticed that there might be a niche for an Antiques type blog. So here goes.......... I hope to leave a footprint of my adventures in the antiques and decorative arts forest (sometimes its a jungle) and to share my passions which include cooking, just being, serendipitous encounters and growth.

Now if I could get the font to remain in Helvetica and the size to stay in Large--but I did manage to move the photos around....Ooops-- I keep deleting the photos. I have a lot to learn regarding this blogging thing. I do hope that you will hang in there with me. (I haven't figured out how to remove "d caption" under Jones without deleting the photo); I just hit delete and the entire page went away. I am technologically challenged, but I get to where I need to go.

I do post most of my inventory on my website mjhdesignarts.com--so if you are curious about my personal style, the website is a good start.

Wishing everyone the most wondrous 2012.

Mary

(I've been proofing this over and over--I guess that I will have to push that "publish" button pretty soon.)