Sunday, February 14, 2010

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 

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

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