Gorgeous little things, darling...

There are so many incredible estate pieces available right now.  I've been dying to show you some of my favorite selections.  And I know I'm supposed to write all of this stuff about them to entice and educate you, but in reality, I just want you to see the pretty pictures!  Ready to be dazzled?  

In 1993, Henry Dunay designed and made "The Lachrymosa" mask for Elizabeth Taylor with the proceeds benefitting the American Foundation for AIDS Research--AmfAR.  The "The Lachrymosa" mask represent the weeping and tears that Elizabeth Taylor and Dunay viewed the AIDS epidemic.  The Mask is set with over 130 carats of diamonds in gold and platinum.  Dunay is the four time winner of the Diamond International Award.  

Cartier, Spectacular Art Deco Jade Diamond Set Clock, France, circa 1925.

Beautiful and rare desk clock of Oriental inspiration: the circular dial, inlaid with tessellated mother-of-pearl, hosts royal blue enamel details and diamond set hands.  The rock crystal bezel is applied with diamond-set Roman numerals, set within a jadeite frame, and accented with sugarloaf lapis lazuli. 

Nardi, Blackamoor Brooch, Italy, circa 1960s.

Stunning Ebony Blackamoor Brooch set in 18K and embellished with diamonds.  Intricately detailed front and back, in original Nardi Venezia box.

Chinese Jade and French Art Deco Diamond Set Brooch, circa 1920.

A beautiful antique Chinese jade pendant, with a French Art Deco platinum and diamond set mount.  The jade is 19th century, the mount circa 1920.  Beautifully carved with an undulating gourd motif.  Very fine quality and illustrates the synergy between Eastern and Western craftsmen.  

Excellent condition.  Height: 3.25" Width 1.5".  $25,000.

Ebony and Diamond Bangle, USA, modern.

Solid Wave style Ebony wood with over 18 carats of diamond accents.  A Donna Vock collectible.

Faberge, Mauve Enamel and Rhodonite Bellpush, Russia, 1908-1917.

A Russian silver gilt and guilloche enamel bellpush, Adrei Adler, St. Petersburg.

Of low circular form, the body covered in pale translucent mauve enamel over a radiating wave pattern, chased gilt laurel leaf collets and a bullet-shaped rhodonite push.

$14,000

Wheat Shagreen and Diamond Star Cuff, USA, contemporary.

A wheat color shagreen cuff bracelet designed with a vintage diamond star set in 14K gold, by Marcella Ciceri (.25 carat diamond).

Ivan Saltykov, Enamel Teapot, Russia, 1894.

A Russian silver gilt and cloisonne enamel teapot of traditional form.  The teapot, handle, spout, and separate lid completely covered in opaque turquoise enamel between twisted wire scroll designs and outlined with bands of white enamel beads.  

Height: 4.5" $8500.

Art Deco Black Enamel Jade Diamond Box, France, 1925.

"Jumbo" Mouse Brooch, Italy, 1950's.

Extra large figural 18K gold mouse pin. Brushed coat, diamond eyes.  

Very solid.  $7800.

Very Rare Troisieme Boucheron Plique-a-jour Enamel Bangle, France, late 1800's.

19th Century 18K gold and silver, Plique-a-jour enamel and rose diamond bracelet.

Frederic Bourcheron, Paris, circa 1875-80.

Cartier, Ivory Rose Ladybird Pin, Paris, 1960.

Chopard, Diamond and Tiger Eye Bracelet Watch, Switzerland, 1970's.

A rare, 18K gold, bracelet watch designed as an elliptical face of tiger eye stone surrounded by diamonds.  Watch unclasps in the rear.  Manual winding (original mechanism).  These yellow gold and hard stone watches were primarily made in the 1960-70's and are extremely hard to find, particularly the models with diamonds.  Internal circumference of approx. 6.5" will fit a small to medium wrist.  Face measures 2.25"W.  Signed Chopard Geneve.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day Date Watch, 50th Anniversary Limited Edition, Swiss, Modern.

Rolex oyster perprtual day-date "Presidential" reference 118348, serial Z07xxxx in 18K yellow gold with enamel and pave set diamond dial, engraved bezel is set with 52 diamond, and is on a Rolex President bracelet with concealed clasp.

Wood and Gold Unusual "Claw" Bracelet, France, 20th Century

A most unusual 18K textured gold and wood bracelet of a stylized claw motif (Bryant:  Clearly, these are antlers!) with a rear hinge which allows the bracelet to twist open.  

Approx. internal circumference of 6.25-6.5". 

Wow, huh?!  Isn't it amazing to think that the Tsars of Russia had electricity by the turn of last century, with these incredible desk-mounted buzzers?!

Ciao for now. :)

LOVE this!

Check this out!  The Brazilian design factory, NOONO, photoshops helvetica font signage over the actual signage to show what a difference design can make.  It's still being updated and you can peruse old posts.  Fun, fun, fun!

http://tryhelvetica.tumblr.com

It's A Jungle Out There!

Yes, it's so hot here in New York it feels like the Serengeti.  It must be zebra time!  Here are some beautiful ways to incorporate this delicious pattern into your decor.  Wallpapers, rugs, fabrics...classic, modern, transitional!  Including the ubiquitous Scalamandre zebra print wallpaper, of course.  Sorry the photos are so small on this one!

Thanks to Elle Decor, Domino (sad!), et al.

Robert Bradford: Recycled Toys :)

How charming is this series of works by artist Robert Bradford?  These life sized (or larger) pieces are all created from discarded toys and plastic items.  

Here's what Robert has to say about his work:

For a long time now, I have preferred to use materials that are not bland, i.e. have some kind of history of weathering or use.  One day about four years ago, out in the studio, I was looking into my children's box of outgrown/discarded toys, which happened to be stored in the same building and responded to the random collection of colours, shapes, and forms they made.  I figured that if I could find a way of putting them together to constitute a larger form they would have great potential as larger scale sculpture.

Over the next while, I experimented with two other construction methods (which both had their downsides) before one day about a year ago, in frustration, I tried putting a screw through one toy and then many others.  To my surprise most didn't crack or shatter and the new series has been largely based around and developed from that fact.

Ideally the pieces will work on many levels.  The toys themselves interest me in their own right as mini sculptures by unknown and uncredited artists.  Mostly, I use the toys abstractly as forms with which to build muscle, bone, or internal (or external) organs; but all types of human pursuits can be referred to and represented through them:  things loved or hated, things used and carried as tools, etc., etc.  They provide interest in surface detail, whilst making their contribution to the totalities.  The toys also provide a moving history of fads and fashions as they pass through the media and our awareness, temporarily significant and then forgotten.

Public reaction to the sculptures has been largely very positive, in some cases gleeful.  Often, children drag their parents to come and look at the pieces and then a whole sequence of recognition and recollection usually begins, naming the various toys and recalling the times and circumstances of their use.  There is usually some fascination with the sculptures, the individual toys used, and with the process of their acquistion and construction.  Sometimes, there is outright laughter.  There is usually a whole process of going back and forth between looking at the sculptures as a totality and the individual parts from which they are made (which of course is my intention).  Some people, of course, just say they are rubbish, which is perfectly true!  There is also often talk about consumerism, waste, and recycling, which, whilst not being my central concern, is also, in my view, positive when it occurs.  Some find the sculptures beautiful/curious/scary/weird/emotional and etc., which, considering all they really are is bits of what is usually seen as trash, is great.

In a way, the sculptures are also history pieces.  In the sense that you could date any one of them. roughly speaking, from the tie that the last toy screwed onto the sculpture was produced.

What do you think?  Where could you imagine placing these sculptures?

Thanks to Robert Bradford