Category: Decorative and Fine Arts Sourcing

Extraordiary Art & Design at England’s Legendary Chatsworth

Extraordinary settings fit for even bigger dialogues on Art & Design. Bewitching arts by world famous artists are presented by Sotheby’s at the majestic Chatsworth’s property in England. Get blown away as you watched this exciting video. The list list of who’s who in modern contemporary works from British artists such as Tony Cragg, Allen Jones and Bill Woodrow to international artists such as Stephan Balkenhol and Unus Safardiar are on full display at this important and enchanting UK property.

Watch It on YOUTUBE.

Design as an Art Form

“Collecting Design” by Daniella Ohad

Collecting modern and contemporary design has become one of the most dynamic, influential territories in the international marketplace, a territory that stands at the forefront of style and taste. While at first it was fueled mainly by the fine art market, collecting design has emerged as a discipline in its own right; one that not only dominates interior design, but also attracts those who value living with beautiful things. The design market is now a global barometer of trend forecasting, signifying status and culture. Collecting design inspires scholarly analysis, art fairs, museum exhibitions, and monographs, and was cited recently by the Wall Street Journal as a lucrative avenue of investment. Although collecting design generates tremendous interest worldwide, a dedicated program was nowhere to be found. To fill the gap, I authored the first course exclusively devoted to collecting design, and it is open to everyone.

In the ten-session program, I examine the themes, periods, and styles with the strongest presence in the marketplace, including the American Arts & Crafts Movement, French Art Deco, American Modernism, Mid-Century Design in the US, Italy, and France, the Studio Movement, European Design of the 70s, and Contemporary Design. Each lecture is complimented by dialogues with dealers, collectors, curators, designers, and writers. I have the honor of sharing insights and candid advice from the world’s most knowledgeable experts. Together, we examine exhibitions, publications, auction records, relevant connoisseurship, major design fairs, and the stories behind the scenes. For information and registration: https://www.nysid.edu/academics/continuing-education-professional-studies/collecting-design.


Images courtesy Wright Chicago
Contributing Story from Daniella Ohad

This Week’s Featured Products

The Girls of Summer: Greg Lotus, Swimmer Cap, 2007,
Robin Rice Gallery: Now through September 15, 2013
Swimmer Cap by Greg Lotus emphasizes viewer eye movement through the use of hyper-realistic colors in vibrant swim head wear. A beautifully composed image that is influenced by fashion photography plays with a melodrama belied by the bright, animated color. Three young women pose in a retro gym, two of them distant and one up close captivating the viewer with intense regard that dares you to look further.

Dining Options: Dining table in jacaranda with blue under painted glass top. Designed by Joaquim Tenreiro Brazil, 1960s. Set of six “Cantu” chairs in jacaranda with tan leather seats. Designed by Sergio Rodrigues for Oca, Brazil, circa 1959.

Making a Statement: Flock Star Stripe black and white wall paper from Graham & Brown. Inspired by the ‘mad, bad and dangerous to know’ Georgian poets who broke hearts with their rock ‘n’ roll Gothic poetry, read out in Regency striped salons to an audience of impressionable, swooning young women.
Graham & Brown’s newest wallpaper collection, Casa Nova, an exclusive range of opulent wall coverings by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. Casa Nova is a deeply felt homage to the sensuality of hte decadent aesthetic behind some of history’s most luxurious designs.

Home Graphics: KnollTextiles, Summer of 2013 first collection of interior fabrics
designed by Alejandro Cardenas
Characterized by its lively colors and graphic, modern imagery, the collection consists of theree upholstery designs: Soon, Glider and Biscayne. The textile papperns have diverse influences; Soon was inspired by a song of hte same name by one of Cardenas’ favorite bands, Glider’s repeating lines and shapes represent the feeling of gliding over a landscape, and Biscayne is named after Key Biscayne in Florida.
Blue Magic: Simon Miller‘s limited run of indigo dyed beach blankets available at
The Surf Lodge in Montauk, NY. 
The indigo dyed, block printed beach blanket is made using hand-cut blocks that reference classic surf motifs. The plant-based indigo dyeing was done through Noon Studio using hand crafted and artisanal methods. The blanket will be available in the Surf Lodge shop, on their website (the-surf-lodge.myshopify.com) and in guest rooms through the end of September.

Note: Photographs above the bed are by Max Snow, Photo courtesy Billy Farrell Agency
Simon Furniture Design Credenza
“What Light There Was” Collection, New England 2013, is inspired by two years that Simon Lowe have spent in Providence RI. Having arrived from the Caribbean, Simon realised that light and space are precious wherever there is a long winter. He designed and made three tables, a chair and a door which celebrate light, air, movement, gesture and the space between things. Each was crafted from locally sourced, sustainable materials, with the use of an innovative combination of the most modern computer assisted fabrication and exceptional hand skills.

Nature’s Choice: Bamboo wall clock designed by J.P.Meulendijk
This big bamboo wall clock will catch your eye by changing shape when you walk around it. When you stand in front of the clock: the numbers are clear and visible. When you walk around it: numbers slowly dissolve, and seem to fall apart in little floating white balls. This optical illusion results in a striking and intriguing piece of wall-art. Inspired by “MOTION CAPTURE” technique used in movies such as “Lord of the rings” + “Avatar” click here to watch clock-movie

Insights with a Visionary in the Fields of Art & Design

Vyna St. Phard admiring a Pablo Picasso plate from Leah Gordon, New York
A few of my Favorite Things
These are the long awaited photographs from my tour of the Armory earlier this month. So much have happen since then… And again, I’d like to thank everyone who came to the tour and stuck it out for more than one hour and a half. Yes, that’s right. The tour was at 3 in the afternoon, but we finished close to 4:45pm. Everyone had so much fun, we all learned so much, and the time just flew by. I hope you’ll enjoy the images as much as I have. Have an excellent week, and a tres bientot!
William Weston, London
John Eric Riis, Georgia
John Eric Riis, Georgia
John Eric Riis, Georgia
John Eric Riis, Georgia
Douglas Dawson, Chicago
Leah Gordon
Carlton Hobbs, New York
Carlton Hobbs, New York
Carlton Hobbs, New York
The 2013 Spring Show at The Park Avenue Armory
 Brett Beldock, New York
 Vyna St. Phard visiting with  Brett Beldock
  Right: Brett Beldock, New York
Lillian Nassau LLC, New York

Photo credit High End Weekly™

Old World Splendor: The Michael Smith’s Sale at Christie’s

A Palladian Villa by Michael S. Smith
Photo via Christie’s

Classical Sensibility, Modern Context
The unbelievable art and furniture gathered together at the Palladian-style villa auction at Christie’s span the past 500 years. Going through the sale, it’s hard to imagine that such an extraordinary amount of art and design were put together for a single auction. But given that they’re from a private property that was designed by the Obamas’ White House interior designer, Michael S. Smith, it came at no surprise. There are over 450 lots of museum-quality pieces, including Asian art and antiques, Old Master paintings and historic European furniture. Walking through this “Palladian villa”, it became apparent why the designer is planning on bidding on some of the items that he himself have been putting together for this sale for the past five years.

Yes, the overall collection is old world, but the pieces offer an extraordinary level of comfort that one can easily live with in modern times. Further, what I also liked about this sale was that the estimated prices were quite varied, and they offer an excellent opportunity to bid between some of the fairly reasonable pieces to the most lavish ones. Michael is said to be so passionate about this sale, that he even wrote a book about it, “Building Beauty: The Alchemy of Design” (Rizzoli).
Vyna St. Phard, Christie’s 2013
Background: A group of five African masks from the Ivory Coast/Liberia/Democratic republic of Congo (including a Lega-style mask, a Guro mask, and two Dan masks)
Counting sheep: Francois-Xavier Lallane ‘Mouton De Pierre’ A pair of sheep, designed circa 1979, welcome visitors to the Palladian Villa Sale
Pair of sheep from Francois-Xavier Lalanne (1927-2008)

Dramatic: Background Painting – Fedele Fischetti (Naples 1732 – 1792) La toilette de Psyche, oil on canvas 
Christie’s presents a two-day sale of a Palladian Villa on April 23-24, 2013
A ‘Zanzibar’ mother-of-pear and pewter inlaid hardwood chest, late 19th/Early 20th century
Top: Two Bamileke Style masks, Cameron
A Chinese black-lacquered altar table
Top center: Chinese Scroll Fragments, in and color on silk, Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
The first portrait of a scholar
Left: A pair of oak folding theater chairs, modern
Each with a padded back and seat, covered in suede leather. Right: An Irish Regency mahogany open armchair, circa 1815, attributed to Gillingtons
Top drawings: Pable Picasso (1881 – 1973), Alphabet anthropomorphe, signed ‘Picasso’ (on the fourth sheet) pencil on paper
Bottom: A pair of French oak dinning chairs, mid-20th century
Top: Sam Glankoff (1894-1982), Untitled, PP 2067, signed and dated “Glankoff 73” (lower right) ink and cassein on Japanese handmade paper
A pair of George III mahogany side chairs, circa 1780
Background painting: Leon Polk Smith (1906-1996), Correspondence Green, Signed, titled and dated
Laurence Fayard
Background painting: Sean Scully (b. 1945) signed “Scully” oil on two attached canvas. Executed in 1989
Left: A Chinese Rootwood Table, 19th Century
Top: Jean-Pierre Pincemin (b. 1944), Canto IV (Paris Generation Plus, collection Grand Format). A pair of George III Elm Ladderback Side Chairs, Late 18th/19th Century
Forefront: A circular marble table with baluster support, 19th century
Left: Central European silvered and cream painted side chairs, German or Northern Italian, circa 1780. Right: Follower of William Larkin, Portrait of a lady,
full-length, in black embroidered gown with lace collar
Left: A brass boat propeller sculpture, 20th century
Photos courtesy High End Weekly™

Top 5 Design Galleries in New York City

DESIGN POWER

In celebration of our 2nd year anniversary, I’ve chosen Design as the main theme for the week. After all, what will a great interior be without great designs? By design, I mean strictly the decorative arts. The design world has long held much interest for me. I find it alluring, and when a client express a keen interest in acquiring an outstanding piece from the applied arts, I work hard on researching and pursuing the very best for their collection. New York City is a haven for this type of art. While I was compiling the list of dealers for this post, I thought of all the outstanding galleries in this town, some of them have been in business for more than 40 years, others just arrived on the scene. It’s impossible to name them all, so I’ve chosen a few favorites. Some I’ve worked with, and others who remain constantly on my radar.

Above image from Anthony DeLorenzo

DeLorenzo has been coined undoubtedly “one of The best Art Deco dealers in the world”. His inventory includes designs masters such as: Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, Andre Groult, Eileen Gray, Eugene Printz.
“In America, design has never really been an important subject.
In Europe, it is part of everyday life.”
Zesty Meyers and Evan Snyderman, R 20th Century Design
The design duo, Zesty Meyers and Evan Snyderman have made R20th Century one of the most distinguished galleries in the city, if not the entire world. They are best known for curating shows of Poul Kjaerholm, Joaquim Tenreiro and vintage Wendell Castel.
Barry Friedman is the proud owner of Friedman Benda. Located in Chelsea, the gallery specializes in some amazing cutting-edge art. He’s also the co-founder of Friedman & Vallois, and sole proprietor of Barry Friedman Ltd, which specializes in painting, works on paper and photography as well as design.
Maison Gerard offers an outstandingly beautiful mixture of fine French art deco, and contemporary design. The gallery has “helped form the collection of Walter Chrysler Jr., now in the Chrysler Museum of Norfolk, VA., assembled the Design Collection of the Utsonomia Museum in Japan; and built numerous private collections.” Founders Gerard Widdershoven and co-owner Benoist F. Drut specialize in Jules Leleu, Jacques Adnet, Jean Girel, Marc Bankowsky, Thomas Boog, Nicholas Howey, Claude Lalanne, Matthew Solomon, Hervé Van der Straeten, and others.

In the heart of the gallery district in Chelsea, Suzanne Demisch is celebrated as a leading specialist in European designs of the 1970s, Maria Pergay, Pierre Paulin, Stefan Zwicky, Joseph-Andre Motte.

Art or Decorative Arts – which one is a better investment?

New York City is such a vibrant place for Art & Design. From modern & contemporary furniture, art and antiquities at the Park Avenue Armory fairs, the whimsical and fresh designs to be had at the MOMA stores, to the exuberant atmosphere at the various auction houses week after week, this town is truly a shopper’s paradise for interior designers, art connoisseurs, collectors, and fashionable patriots for the arts & crafts.
But as you shop, remember buying design is different from buying art…

“Here’s to treasures, great and small…” VSP
Vyna St Phard @ Sebastian & Barquet sitting on a Johnny Swing Chair
   
Vyna St Phard @ Trinity House
Vyna St Phard @ the Park Avenue Armory
   
High End Weekly™ Images
All rights reserved

Collecting Design: Sebastian and Barquet

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Sebastian & Barquet are Design Dealers who are quite well known for focusing on and bringing back to the public eye the impressive work of renowned artists such as Buckminster Fuller, Charlotte Perriand, George Nakashima, Gio Ponti, Isamu Noguchi, Johnny Swing, Paul Evans, Joe Colombo, Vladimir Kagan, Le Corbusier and others. The gallery, located in the trendy high line district of Manhattan, offers an impressive collection of 20th Century Design.


A client of mine was interested in their 1984 Michelle de Lucchi’s sidetables, so I took a trip there a few months ago, only to find that not only did they carry this important piece, the gallery was a temple of design savoir faire. We were impressed with their Carlo Bugatti’s collection which was featured on its own special section. This artist’s work was beautifully curated so that one can truly appreciate the furniture and art in their true sense and form. I noticed that some of Buggatti’s art work consisted of inlaid bronze and pewter, materials which I am drawn to since they offer such a striking finish. The main gallery is a mecca for collecting great design. They have an excellent collection from one of my favorite artist, Prouvé. I’ve always emphasize to you, dear readers, the importance of an artist like Jean Prouvé. He was a brilliant creator and a totally committed citizen, craftsman, workman, industrial constructor, architect, and designer. If you are serious about collecting, this is one of the trusted dealers that are worth your time and resources because of their expertise and commitment in their respective specialities.




Gio Ponti, a rare and important secretaire and chair, circa 1930



Sofa and chair by Vladimir Kagan
George Nakashima Walnut dining room table and chairs. Background painting from Julio Galan,
The Black Pear, 1990

From Left: Charlotte Perriand, Sconce Collection – Set of 12 from the Galerie Steph Simon, France, circa 1962. A Gio Ponti armchair from the Hotel Parco dei Principi, Rome, circa 1964. Right: Le Corbusier, a partially painted wood wardrobe/room divider, 1949
Ko and Luisa Parisi Sof, circa 1946, and Guilermo Ulrich, Grand Console. corca 1940, in the background



Photos courtesy High End Weekly™

Biennale des Antiquaires – Part 1 of 3

The fêted Biennale des Antiquaires was announced last March at the French Consultat General de France. Looking back, the actual fair seemed so far away…. Nowadays I’m reminded that it is just about a little over a month away. This grande dame of antique fairs will take place at the Grand Palais in Paris from September 14th through the 23rd.

Galerie Jousse, 2008

FINE ARTS
Etienne Dinet (1861-1929), “La Lutte Des Fillettes” (“Young girls fighting”), Oil On Canvas, Signed on the left flower side
(Chadelaud)

The idea of an “antique dealer fair” first appeared in the 1950s and more precisely in 1956 under the aegis of the new chairman of the SNA (National Union of Antiques Dealers), Pierre Vandermeersch. The dream was to create an event where the beauty of the objects on show could compete with that of the women who come visit the exhibition, a venue where elegance, prestige and celebration would await a host of art lovers and collectors. – SNA-France. The 26th Biennale des Antiquaires will feature an unprecedented 120 leading international art, antiquities and fine jewelry dealers representing over $50 billion worth of Archaeological treasures, arms and armor, furniture, paintings, drawings, graphic works, sculpture, books and illuminated manuscripts, tapestries, rugs, objects d’art, coins and medals, stamps, ceramics and jewelry.
Jean Raoux, (Montpellier 1677 – Paris 1734), “Portrait of a woman slightly undressed”, Oil on canvas
(Alexis Bordes)

FUN FACTS: Key People from BDA: Karl Lagerfeld, Scenographer Christian Deydier, President of the Syndicat National des Antiquaires. Sample List of Exhibitors: Wallace Chan, Chaumet, Bulgari and Boucheron, Piaget, Chanel, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston, Cartier, Christian Dior.

Johann-Ernst Heinsius, (Thuringe 1731 – Erfurt 1794), “Portrait de Pierre-Simon de Laplace, mathématicien” Oil on original canvas. Inscription ” N. Largillière” On the book, bottom right
Elizabeth Taylor by Andy Warhol, silkscreen ink and acrylic on linen
(L& M Arts)

FINE JEWELRY

Chanel Necklace
FUN FACTS: Did you know that it was André Malraux who opened the path to the Grand Palais, a legendary Parisian landmark built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900? Yes, the first International Biennale, in its present form, was held in 1962. It was a focal gathering of the greatest French and foreign antique dealers, decorators, jewellers and book store owners under the famous glass roof in a magic setting made up of pavilions, gardens and fountains.
Bague (ring) Piaget
DECORATIVE ARTS
Eugène Printz (1889-1948) , Jean Dunand (1877-1942)
Galerie Marcihac
Art & Décoration 1933, modèle similaire avec un décor différent reproduit page 297. Guy Bujon et Jean-Jacques Dutko, E. Printz, éditions du Regard, Paris, 1986, modèle reproduit page 278
Paul Evans Sideboard in structure in bronze, wood and covered with weld steel plates. Bronze low relief in front, like patchwork, circa 1970
(Galerie Yves et Victor Gastou)
Marcel Coard (1889-1974)
Galerie Marcihac
Provenance : Ancient collection of Monsieur E. , collaborator at La maison Jansen Décoration. 

Copyright images. All Rights Reserved

Masterpiece London

Third time’s the charm. Masterpiece London, will open for the third year at the South Grounds of The Royal Hospital Chelsea, on Thursday, June 28th until Wednesday, July 4th, 2012. A Preview will take place on June 27. This fair has become popular for its astonishingly broad range and fusion of disciplines. For example, in addition to the finest works from classical antiquity, ethnographica, furniture, ceramics, Renaissance bronzes, paintings, furniture and jewelry, one will can also expect one-off bespoke works of art, be it a Rolls Royce or Harley Davidson, made specifically for the fair.
Merrin Egyptian Mask


Masterpiece London aims for the best of the best in all categories, ancient or modern. Hence visitors, who come to look for watches, vintage cars or fine wine, will engage with extraordinary masterworks that they might never otherwise had the opportunity to see.

Safani Egyptian Cat
Photos courtesy Masterpiece London
Sixteen leading galleries from the United States have signed on this exciting exhibition. Returning to Masterpiece London are Kentshire, Michele Beiny, Les Enluminures, Safani Gallery, Elle Shushan, favorites like Tambaran Gallery, The Silver Fund, and A La Vielle Russie. The new kids on the block are: Collisart, The Merrin Gallery, Fred Leighton, Siegelson, Sebastian + Barquet, and Sperone Westwater & Alberto di Castro, all New York-based galleries. Not only will a visitor to Masterpiece London 2012 be spoilt by a trove of magnificent exhibits to discover, there will also be a complimentary education programme of informative lectures offered by leading experts, including those from The Wallace Collection in London. Besides the expertise of these authorities, Masterpiece London visitors will have the opportunity to draw on the knowledge of the exhibitors themselves, each of whom has a well-informed background in their fields.