Ruby vintage begins here
August 2014
Published by
While I have seen many a style trend come and go, American Modern has peaked my interest. It’s always a challenge to remain current and yet incorporate furnishings and accessories from the past and this style does it beautifully. Coined by interior designer and a recent Elle Décor A-List Thomas O’Brien who has made a career of combining modernism with casual, vintage and urban notes, the look is a refreshing one. Any of you who follow my articles know the subject of film and television set décor is a passion of mine, so I am thrilled feature set decorator Andrew Baseman who is also an expert in the world of “inventive repair,” His blog, Past Imperfect: The art of inventive repair is a thoroughly entertaining read and a treasure trove of his ideas for “make-do” repairs. Who knew there was a world beyond Krazy Glue? His interiors have graced both the large and small screens – HBO’s Normal Heart, FX’s The Americans and the upcoming Gotham on Fox just to name a few. I am also thrilled to have Veranda Magazine’s Interiors Editor Carolyn Englefield join us in our monthly feature, Favorite Finds. I am constantly on Ruby Lane in search of finds for the magazine (and of course myself) and love to see what a talented tastemaker such as Carolyn pops up with. It’s hard to believe August is here and my list of summer house projects has barely been touched. Oh well, there is always fall! Happy Collecting!
Letter from the Editor
Photo credit: Russ Harrington
There are a lot of design trends bandied about these days. Styles in the usual categories such as traditional, eclectic, country or contemporary are often taken one step further, indicating that pretty much anything goes.
Cathy Whitlock Editor-in-Chief cathy@rubylane.com
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Table of Contents
6 Thomas Johnson Publisher and Founder
Cathy Whitlock Editor-in-Chief cathy@rubylane.com
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Marcia Sherrill Creative Director
Jeff Shotwell
Imagine It! Media, Inc Art Director
Art Escobedo
Imagine It! Media, Inc Graphic Design/Layout
Palmer Pekarek
Advertising Sales palmer@rubylane.com
Elizabeth Betts Hickman Candace Ord Manroe Courtney Sconza Contributing Writers
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Ruby Lane is the premier online community of over 2,500 individually-owned shops from around the world offering antiques & art, vintage collectibles and jewelry. Š Ruby Lane 2014 | Š Ruby Read 2014 Copyright Notice All written content and photo images are the property of Ruby Lane unless otherwise noted and credited. Kindly do not copy or reuse in print form unless you have written consent.
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26 28 30
Marcia Sherrill Must Haves
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Designer Spotlight
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Past Imperfect
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My Favorite Finds
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On Design
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Eye on Color
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Vintage Styles
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Collecting
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The Calendar
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Shop Owner Spotlight
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Finis
Thomas O’Brien
Andrew Baseman
Carolyn Englefield
Decorating on a Budget
Orange is the New Black
Bohemian Chic
American Art
Upcoming Events
Victoria’s Curio
For the Love of Leather
Marcia’s Must Haves 6
The
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Ruby Read Brand Advisor and Creative Director, Marcia Sherrill, is both a fashion and interior designer. A member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, she sells her accessories and home furnishings lines worldwide. Marcia shares with us her absolute Must Haves from the shops of Ruby Lane.
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Antique Bohemian Perfume Bottle Ooh La La…this is going to be the coolest perfume bottle in my collection. It is a stunner and very typical of Bohemian glass from the period. Now how do I pour out the Bal a Versailles?
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Bohemian Cranberry Glass and Saucer I am having a Bohemian moment. This cranberry glass with gilt decorations is more than worthy of my Folger’s instant coffee and powdered creamer. How dare I use such beauty? I forgot about the Sweet’N Low.
Fabulous Antique Bohemian Ruby “Trunk Shape” Hinged Box
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What could be more fabulous than this antique Bohemian, ruby red, hinged box? It looks like a miniature trunk complete with buckles and straps. I am a huge traveler and this little darling will make me want to stay home for once. Or I could take it and use for toiletries. Eccentric? Yes, a little!
1960’s Rudi Gernreich Color Block Harmon Knitwear Sweater
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Being a member of The Council of Fashion Designers of America (for what seems like a millennium), I was weaned on Rudi Gernreich. I adore this vibrant color block sweater. With a 40 inch bust and a 36 inch waist, I know I can squeeze in. This screams Sixties retro chic!
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Bohemian Hand - Blown Art
Since I started using Nicorette gum, I am addicted to Pellegrino and lemon which I have been drinking in a WalMart Big Gulp cup. So now I can have this Bohemian glass chalice with its little candy cane twist stem. And I love the Venetian style. It dates back to the 19th Century, so I may need to not drive with it between my thighs.
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1960’s Vintage Sunglasses Check these modster sunglasses out. I can’t believe they aren’t straight from a European runway but they are 1960’s. I need them on my Vespa where I will look like something out of a Fellini film.
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Vintage 1960’s Bill Blass For Maurice Rentner Jeweled Lamé Dress
I am on a Sixties kick so what could be more iconic than this Bill Blass cocktail dress with bejeweled sleeves? Enhanced with colored rhinestones and gold metallic thread, it is a headturner and just the way I like my clothes. Its vibrant palette is perfect year round. 8
1960’s Nan Duskin Lamé Gown With Rhinestones & Bullion Trim I’m not stopping until I get this Bohemian gown. Again, its jewels, rhinestones and bullion dazzle the eye. The Empire waist will let me indulge at Olive Garden as the brocade fabric is very “forgiving.”
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Antique Native American Beaded Belt On Red Felt This antique Native American beaded Belt is perfect for my Bohemian chic obsession. Wear with white or denim jeans and you will add insta-pizazz.
1960’s Pierre Cardin MOD Avant Garde Mini Kite Dress Coat Be still my heart! Pierre Cardin’s uber-mod Mini Kite Tunic fits in with my color-blocking mood. And it’s so darn groovy. Makes me want to belt out Up Up and Away by the Fifth Dimension.
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Designer Spotlight
AMERICAN MODERN
Top interior and home furnishings designer Thomas O’Brien masterfully edits pieces from the past to make them fresh for today By Elizabeth B. Hickman All Photo Credits: American Modern by Thomas O’Brien written with Lisa Light, Photography by Laura Resen Abrams
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While many interior designers incorporate wonderful antiques into their projects, New Yorkbased designer Thomas O’Brien is a standout in his field due to his brilliant use of 20th century antiques and vintage accessories in projects that soothe and calm the senses. Indeed O’Brien, founder and president of the respected interior design firm Aero Studios and owner of AERO, the famed home furnishings boutique, continues to refine and put warm, livable modern style on the map. In the introduction to American Modern (Abrams, 2010), O’Brien’s influential book he wrote with Lisa Light, he masterfully sums up his approach: “So, when people ask about what I do, I might say that I help find the classic elements from past generations, and then edit them together for this one. An American idea of reinvention: traditional things for modern living.” A careful study of O’Brien’s broad portfolio and his iconic book reveals five top techniques that he often uses to help seamlessly incorporate the best of the past with the way we live today:
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Consider a creamy backdrop for your collections. Whether it’s a wall of colorful art, restrained framed drawings, or linear vintage maps, a creamy white background does double-duty, showcasing art and beautiful brown or ebonized furniture to its best advantage. Graceful shapes will stand out against a light background, and a lot of O’Brien’s rooms feel airy and light thanks to quiet backgrounds without a lot of contrasting trim and challenging patterns and colors. It’s all about the balance of dark and light. You’ll see cerused oak furnishings alongside gleaming mahogany pieces too, which goes to show that furniture with great bones and good design holds its value over time, regardless of the period in which it was made.
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Use vintage fabrics to soften contemporary spaces. O’Brien loves how vintage silk velvet is not only comfortable to the touch but fades beautifully over time, creating a lush patina. Upholstering a lone chair with a small piece of a special fabric is a great way to use a vintage textile fragment. Fabrics from the 20th century are often affordable and are useful: be on the lookout for soft, natural-fiber napkins, raw silks, and 1950’s Russel Wright plaid cloth. Plain ivory or cream vintage linen napkins and hand towels lend a quiet elegance to even the most modern of settings.
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Look for special antique pieces that hold their own no matter what you place around them. “I hunt for objects and furniture that are charming, if unsung; well and regionally made; marked by the unique history of where they were found, but not too serious,” writes O’Brien. “These are good choices to form the foundation of a collection – good foils, too, for the modern pieces with which I often combine them.” For example, for a beautiful home in New England, O’Brien worked with a large collection of antique picture frames, many of which were fitted with handmade, antiqued mirrors rather than pictures. The result is quietly sophisticated and the mirrors reflect a lot more light throughout the elegant rooms. “Finely framed mirrors are something I use very often in interiors to bring an architectural moment to a wall,” he writes. “The mirrors bounce and multiply light throughout the rooms, and the forms feel practical and modern in their own way.”
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Incorporate the judicious use of vintage or vintage-inspired lighting and accessories to freshen a traditional room. In a kitchen, that might be the use of 20th-century industrial pendants, or simply new pendants with an industrial look, or drum lampshades to snap a vintage lamp into the realm of the contemporary world. In an office, it could be an old desk with all new desk accessories, or vice-versa: a new desk dressed with old wire baskets and vintage office supplies. 14
Use trays – wh This is one tip bathroom to dis a 1940’s enamel organize varied
hether wicker, wood, or metal, to corral collections. that can be translated throughout a home: from a narrow silver tray in a splay vintage perfume bottles to a tray on a mantel to hold candlesticks, to l tray in a kitchen to keep spices handy. “I use trays all the time as a way to objects without the appearance of clutter,” writes O’Brien. 15
Past Imperfect
ANDREW BASEMAN By Cathy Whitlock
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A love of antiques and a passion for collecting became the basis for one of our favorite blogs, Past Imperfect: the art of inventive repair. Written by the multi-talented interior designer, set decorator and book author Andrew Baseman of Andrew Baseman Design in New York, the amusing and informative blog provides both a history lesson and primer on the creative ways to repair our cherished collectibles.
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Baseman’s lobby designs for the fictitious Manhattan apartment building 666 Park Avenue in the ABC show of the same name. Photo Credit: Courtesy of ABC
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Andrew’s fascinating career is far from imperfect and perhaps you have seen his television and film work. As a Hollywood set decorator, his beautiful interiors have graced both the silver and small screens – Manhattan high-end digs for The Nanny Diaries and ABC’s 666 Park Avenue to seventies period details in the FX spy thriller The Americans and HBO’s recent docu-drama Normal Heart. Taking a moment from his latest set design project – namely the upcoming Fox crime series Gotham – Andrew sits down with Ruby Lane. RL: Where did you get the idea for your blog? It’s a very unique and specific topic. AB: In 2010 I decided to create a blog showcasing my collection of antiques with inventive repairs. It was a way to catalog and photograph examples from my collection, which at that time numbered about 250 pieces. I had been casually collecting for about 20 years and I felt like I was rescuing and finding a home for these mostly unwanted castaways. I was, and still am, moved by the poignancy of the repairs, and admire the tenacity of these early survivors, and the ingenuity of the repairers. As each piece is unique yet unsigned, I enjoy speculating on who the original owner was, how the piece broke, who fixed it, and how many homes it lived in prior to my acquiring it. RL: What sort of things do you collect antique-wise and why? AB: I have always been drawn to quirky and unusual things, and never follow collecting trends. When I first moved to NYC right out of college, I would regularly hit the Upper East Side thrift shops, as the best quality merchandise was found in the high-end neighborhoods. 18
I bought clothes to wear, as well as antiques, at the over-stuffed and sometimes snooty shops. My favorite finds were $1 psychedelic silk ties from the 60s signed “Emilio,” which I wore with white shirts and jeans. Years later I discovered they were Pucci originals (one shopkeeper called them “Puck-ies”), but this was about 15 years before wearing Pucci was considered hip. At the same time I collected vividly printed vintage silk scarves, many by celebrated artists and designers, paying no more than $5 each. The first scarf I purchased, and still my favorite, has a 1950’s black and white illustration by Charles Addams, complete with members of the Addams Family, flying bats, and their haunted house at center. I used the collection as the source of my first book, The Scarf, published by Stewart, Tabori and Chang in 1989. Since then my collections have been diverse, and have included bound volumes of 18th-19th century Japanese fabric swatches, first edition books by Edward Gorey, antique post cards (I still have my winning show ribbons from exhibiting at deltiology conventions while in my early teens!), and original artwork and illustrated books by faves Hilary Knight, Maurice Sendak and Roz Chast. RL: What sort of advice would you give Ruby Lane readers on inventive repairs? And any recommendations on sources for parts? AB: The advice I give to all collectors is to buy what you love. If you are filling up shelves and rooms in your home, then you’d better like looking at them daily. I know of one collector who only buys wine goblets with replaced bases, and another who just buys oil lamps. My taste is more varied, as I like the wide spectrum of different types of repairs. And I love being surprised. I have a single, seemingly
unremarkable brass candlestick which if perfect, I wouldn’t have given a second glance. But this one has a replacement base made from a carved coconut shell. Clearly this was done at home and the clever repairer used whatever material was at hand. I also have an early porcelain teapot with ž of a silver thimble used to replace the broken end of a spout. As far as sources for parts, check out local antiques and junk shops for inexpensive broken items with useable parts. A dented tin pot can be repurposed for its handle or spout, and a broken teapot or sugar bowl can be bought for its lid. And don’t forget to look in your basement or garage for an endless source of knobs, parts and gadgets.
The Nanny Diaries (2007) Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
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Period Fire Island beach house design in HBO’s drama The Normal Heart. Photo Credit: Courtesy of HBO
RL: Interior design these days appears to be trending toward more modern and contemporary styles. How do you get clients to incorporate antiques into the mix for a touch of old world and authenticity? What are some of your favorite categories or items antique wise that you like to use? AB: I think (hope?) that the bubble has finally burst on the trend of using strictly mid-century modern furnishings in interior design. Clients will always want modern and contemporary but 20
I have recently seen a shift and heard from dealers that good quality American and European antiques are selling stronger than in recent years. My personal esthetic has always been to mix periods, styles, metal finishes, and colors…as long as the final result looks good! To me, there’s nothing more boring than seeing an uptight room with every metal surface matching exactly and every stick of furniture made of the same color wood. While I greatly admire rooms decorated all in one period, I respond more to an interior full of variety, mixed colors and styles.
One of Baseman’s inventive repairs on a china plate.
RL: We can’t wait to see your next television project. What sources do set decorators glean when accessorizing sets?
I tell my clients that antiques are an investment and can appreciate in value, unlike a newly made table that just like a new car, loses its value the minute it leaves the showroom. But if a client is drawn to modern pieces, for example, I can usually get them to invest in a good piece of French Art Deco or Biedermeier. And for the record, I deplore the derogatory term “brown furniture” to describe all antique furniture that isn’t modern.
AB: Currently I am working on Gotham, a new television series for Fox/Warner Bros., airing this fall. It’s an exciting premise that tells the backstory of Batman’s Gotham City, and we see the early development of Bruce Wayne, the Penguin and other iconic characters. It has great potential for operatic-like settings that incorporate various periods and styles and I am ready to sink my teeth into it. Unlike decorating residential interiors, I have much less lead-time to procure items. More often than not, I have just a few days to fill a set with furniture, lighting, flooring, artwork and “smalls”, so I depend on the immediate gratification of shopping Ruby Lane, etc. So keep your eyes open for some subtle foreshadowing set dressing seen in The Penguin’s mother’s apartment set! 21
My Favorite Finds 22
CAROLYN ENGLEFIELD VERANDA INTERIORS EDITOR Carolyn Englefield, Interiors Editor at Veranda Magazine, discovered some amazing finds this month in the shops of Ruby Lane. Carolyn’s choices were influenced by her upcoming book Veranda A Passion for Living: Houses of Style and Inspiration (Hearst, October 2014) that feature an insider’s view of stunning homes from France and Belgium to Italy and Sweden. Axel Vervoordt, Jacques Grange, Kathryn Ireland and Christian Liaigre are just a few of the design luminaries who opened their doors to the talented author and tastemaker who spent thirteen years in Paris as a European correspondent for American design magazines.
Red Chinoiserie Decorated 19th c. Dutch Linen Press from Pia’s Antique Gallery Every great room needs a signature piece, and this magnificent mid-19th century Dutch Linen press decorated in gilded Red Chinoiserie enamels is a perfect one to build a room around. I’m passionate about its elegant color, scale and proportions, and it has a multitude of uses beyond the obvious as storage for linens, china, silver, or crystal. It could serve as an elaborate open bar or alternatively, as a stylish and chic place to hide an unsightly TV or entertainment system.
Contemporary Christopher Guy Four Seat Belle Epoch Style Confidante from Pia’s Antique Gallery This sexy belle epoch-style confidante is a glamorous conversation piece for any room. Designed by Christopher Guy Harrison, a contemporary designer of British luxury furniture and decorative arts, it’s an authentic piece I just couldn’t leave behind. A parcel gilt and ebonized finish accentuate the sensual lines and the simple white linen adds an understated elegance. I would make it a focal point in my living room, where guests could sit and chat over bubbling glasses of champagne.
French Faience Tureen Creil et Montereau Alsace Décor – pre 1920, France from Amulet Art and Antiques As a passionate collector of all things porcelain, I couldn’t resist this charming pre-1920s French Faience Tureen, which is Creil et Montereau Alsace Décor. The painterly mustard yellow and blue motif evokes a sense of naïveté, giving the piece an Art Popular or American Folk art spirit. It’s a great serving piece to mix with my other blue and white dishes. 23
Rock Crystal and Ormolu Candlesticks from New Hampshire Antique Co-op This elegant pair of 20th century rock crystal candlesticks with gilt bronze cups and rings are exquisite quality in the refined French taste. They’re like a simple black dress or a unique piece of jewelry—you can dress them up or down and no matter what they look fantastic anywhere. They add just the right sparkle and energy that makes a room come alive.
Lead Ram’s Head Mask Garden from Black Tulip Antiques Ltd. Talk about personality! This striking lead ram’s head with ribbon and fruit motif would certainly add a lot of character to any room inside or out. Its three-dimensionality, weathered patina and perfect proportions make this piece a showstopper.
French Lyre Back Painted Louis XVI Chair from Black Tulip Antiques Ltd. I believe everything you collect should have its own personality and also reflect your personal style and taste, which is why I was drawn to the poetry of this French lyre-back painted Louis XVI chair. It has a melodic spirit and worn patina that shows the passage of time and the beauty of imperfection. Personally, I would cover the seat with the vintage blue and white toile and use it as a desk chair. 24
Large Shell Shaped Footed Bowl Silver Plate on Copper from Amulet Art and Antiques Every room needs a few special and unique accessories. This simply elegant shell-shaped footed bowl is a perfect decorative piece or a serving dish for nuts or small hors d’oeuvres. A lovely birthday, wedding, or anniversary gift, I’m definitely adding it to my wish list.
Burr Nicholls (American, 1848-1915), Antique Oil Painting on Panel, Chickens by Barn, Signed from Silla Fine Antiques I’ve always dreamt of having a little house in the country with a barn full of chickens in the back. The purity and simplicity of this genre painting, Chickens by Barn, by the American artist Burr Nicholls reminds me of that vision. It just goes to show that you can take the girl out of the country but you cant take the country out of the girl!
Vintage French Toile Blue and White Fabric Large Amount of Yardage from Black Tulip Antiques Ltd. Another one of my favorite things to collect are antique textiles, in particular Toile de Joie. Covering everything in one fabric is the easiest way to decorate a room and also give it a strong point of view. This classic blue and white vintage French toile would be perfect. Cover the walls, bed and hangings along with a few simple pieces of upholstery—et Voila!—the room is transformed in the blink of an eye. 25
On Design
DECORATING ON A BUDGET Great style and a big budget do not have to go hand in hand. Here are a few wallet-friendly items that make an immediate impact on any room and best of all, they are under $500.00.
Italian Hand-Painted Three Panel Screen Perfect as a wall divider, headboard wall hanging or an addition to an empt corner, this Italian hand-painted screen provides instant panache.
Brass Pushup Candlesticks One can always find a home for a pair of candlesticks and brass is particularly trendy this year. 26
Pair of Banded Drop-Leaf End Tables If you favor a more traditional or neoclassical interior then a pair of banded leaf end tables is a must for your living room.
Gilded Wood Framed Mirror An old-world gilt mirror makes an elegant statement in any powder room.
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Modern Parsons Chairs with Black Lacquer Frames While the stylish, sleek and sophisticated Parsons chair originated in the 1930s, the simplicity of this beloved classic is at home with any period of design.
Sculptured Spiral Pottery Brass Lamps Whether flanking a sofa or placed on a pair of bedside tables, these white ceramic Mid-Century lamps make a modern statement in any interior.
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Eye on Color
The color orange is certainly enjoying its time in the spotlight. From interiors to fashion, the juicy citrus shade provides the perfect pop that can turn the drab into fabulous. And for more proof on the color’s popularity, the color has even had a hit television series named after it (Orange is the New Black on Netflix).
1960’s Miss Boutique Tangerine Orange Wool Dress 28
Murano Orange Bullicante Vase
Gold Ring with Red Coral Cabochon
Orange Vintage Estate Napkin Rings
Orange Vintage 1974 Necklace Sautoir
Orange Lucite Squares Bib Necklace
Napier Dome Ring
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Vintage Styles 30
Often known as Hippie Chic, collecting Bohemian styles is making a comeback and in our humble opinion, never left. Here are a few vintage items for your inner “boho.�
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Collecting
AMERICAN
S
ART
By Courtney Sconza
Harold Von Schmidt - His Muscles Relaxed - Original Illustration Art
So you’re ready to bring some new art into your home - possibly even start a collection. Lucky for you, the time is right to start collecting American art. But how do you begin? And what if you can’t afford Warhol or don’t care for his work?
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“The rule for collectors with limited possibilities is usually to buy minor pieces by major artists, but I do not believe in it,” says Jacques Protat of the Ruby Lane shop, American Art. “I believe in quality and the capacity of the piece to arouse interest and emotion. Look for art that you can truly
relate to, art that triggers a deeply positive reaction in you regardless of name, period or whatever values you have been taught to associate with art.” Jon Berg of the Ruby Lane shop, Jon Berg Fine Arts and More, agrees - you don’t need millions to begin and you have to actually like the art you are buying. “The artist doesn’t necessarily have to be ‘listed’ (have a track record at auction, be listed in reference books and art dictionaries, etc.) If you’re buying as a collector, obviously that painting had better elicit
in you some kind of emotional response, had better trigger a pleasant memory or association. If it doesn’t appeal to you personally in some way, you likely shouldn’t be buying it.” In fact, he still has the very first piece of art that he ever purchased way back when for only $25. Still cherished and sentimental, he doubts he’ll ever sell it. Great! Step one: buy what excites you. Step two: hang it on your wall. Seems easy enough, but where can you find this art? And how can you learn more about it? The answer, according to Berg, is simple. “Start somewhere… fleas, antique shops, thrift shops, auctions, and last but not least, estate sales. Gradually you’ll begin to realize that you have gained experience - more than you would ever believe!” Just by talking with sellers or other buyers, reading auction catalogs or visiting shops, knowledge will begin to seep in. You will become familiar with the possibilities of American art, and your tastes may become more discerning. “As you advance,” continues Berg, you “acquire some knowledge of art history, and you come to understand the links between artists, who influenced who, who studied with whom. You can go down the line and sort of fill in the blanks, acquire a work by this artist and that artist and hang them together, to contemplate the relationship and watch the development.” American illustration might be a good place to begin your collection while the prices are still reasonable. Jacques Protat notes that interest in illustration has been increasing steadily, yet prices for illustration remain greatly underpriced. “Western and pinup art are continuing to increase in value steadily, and everything is more expensive
John Gannam - Impromptu Concert - Gouache Painting
E.L. Spearman - American 1942 Regionalist Landscape Painting
19th Century American Watercolor of a Coastal Camp
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if it has nudity or a cowboy,” he says. “Illustration art is slowly integrating the Art world with a capital A and enjoying wider recognition as an essential element in our cultural history. After all, not only have many major 20th century also been illustrators - Edward Hopper comes to mind - but practically every major artist in the history of art was actually an illustrator. Go for the more tasteful,” he suggests. “It is often less expensive and your love for it will only grow.” “People seem to be buying oil paintings more than watercolors and prints,” observes Berg. “So there are bargains to be found there, especially the pencil signed black/white prints of the WPA period by artists like Adolf Dehn, Stow Wengenroth, and others of the Associated American Artists period.” Who knows? With a keen eye, you may even “discover” the next big thing! “The beauty of this field,” says Protat, “is that you can even discover fantastic work by superb artists whose names have not yet been rediscovered.” Keep in mind, however, that not all art is accurately represented in shops or online. If a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is. Berg recommends the book, The Art of Buying Art, by Alan Bamberger, for anyone thinking about buying art and looking to avoid the pitfalls of misrepresentation.
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Berg also praises Bamberger’s funny online series that analyzes, and exposes in the process, “the chuck holes in which the uninitiated art buyer could badly twist his ankle...or break his leg!” The full series of articles can be read here: www.artbusiness.com/collectors.html
Now back to your collection. Say you’ve found a few great, legitimate deals on both an American illustration as well as a signed print. Can you expect these to be in pristine condition? Ready to hang in a museum, or rather, your home? Not likely, says Berg. Collectors of American art should be prepared to be a bit more forgiving when dealing with wear or damage. He explains that “since American art has a much shorter collecting history - less than 150 years, for the most part - the tradition of caring for fine, delicate objects has not developed to the point it has with European or Asian art.” Rather than being stored lovingly on a palace wall in continental Europe for centuries, much American art “has traveled around the country with our restless, geographically always-on-themove population, and as a result it has often acquired minor to major condition flaws.” He often sees stacks of abused pieces at flea markets and estate sales piled together, acquiring scratches and damage.
Clarence Ellsworth - Western American Illustrator Drawing Original Gouache
Aileen Powers Stephens - California Art Plein Air Sesert Painting
Harold Von Schmidt - Riding Away - Illustration Oil Painting
Charles E. Hoover - Impressionist American Art Landscape Painting
Ok, fine. So a few scratches, smudges or tears may come with the territory when collecting American art. But what can you do if that water stain just doesn’t pass as part of the intended watercolor landscape? Berg advises that if a damaged painting goes to a restorer, make sure that the restorer is competent and recognized for his/her skill by the dealer/auction house community. Even damaged paintings can be irreparably more damaged using techniques that are irreversible if you’re not careful.
“A collection cannot and should not be a short-term investment,” reminds Protat. “You must want to live with your art for some time, to have a conversation with each piece, to get back to it once in a while and see how your response to it evolves and is enriched by your personal experience.” Let your collection bring you joy and enrich your home. Try not to get hung up on the imagined constraints of the art world - just get out there and start collecting! 35
Calendar of Events
ONGOING ONGOING
Hampton Designer Showhouse Through September 1, 2014 Southampton, NY View Website
ONGOING
2014 Coastal Living Showhouse Through September 30, 2014 Coronado Beach, CA View Website
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Re: Collection Museum of Art and Design Through December 7, 2014 New York, NY View Website
ONGOING
Wedding Dresses 1775-2014 Through March 15, 2015 Victoria and Albert Museum London, England View Website
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Aug
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American Cut Glass Convention Starts July 30, 2014 New Orleans, LA Visit Website
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Nantucket Antique and Design Show Starts July 30, 2014 Nantucket, MA Visit Website
Aug
Baltimore Summer Antiques Baltimore, MD View Website
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1-10
Holiday House Hamptons New York, NY Visit Website
Miami Home Design Show Through September 2, 2014 Miami, FL View Website
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Shop Owner Spotlight 38
By Courtney Sconza
Ruby Lane shop owner, Vicki Smith-Drysdale, loves the romance of the Victorian Era. After visiting her shop, Victoria’s Curio, we can see why!
When did you first fall in love with vintage glass and porcelain? I first fell in love with porcelain when I found my first piece of R.S. Prussia. Antique glass cake stands became a passion because I love to bake. What do you love most about vintage glass and porcelain? I love the quality and attention to detail in the glass and porcelain of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Each piece I see speaks of the elegance of that time. What is the most unusual item you’ve ever found? In our personal collection we have an engraving done on celluloid. It is a fabulously detailed scenic portrait done in the late 1800s.
Which item in your collection could you never part with? My great grandmother’s silver punch ladle engraved with her initial. What is one tip or piece of advice you would give to buyers of vintage glass, porcelain and pottery? Know who you are purchasing from! Start small and learn all you can about your favorite collecting category before spending a lot of money.
Satsuma Porcelain Peacock Plate Antique Porcelain Chocolate Pot Lilies Hand Enameled c. 1900
Antique Glass Cake Stand Plume by Adams & Co. c. 1874 Vintage Porcelain Tea Strainer Japan
What is your favorite/most inspiring time period for glass, porcelain and pottery? The Late Victorian time period is my favorite. It is romance personified even in everyday items that were used.
Antique Cranberry Glass Vases
What are 5 things in life that you couldn’t live without? Books, coffee, a dishwasher, chocolate and of course, my collecting bug. 39
Finis
For the Love of Shop stylish leather accessories for your home and closet from the shops of Ruby Lane.
Leather Rose Motif Clutch Purse
Leather on Brass Coin Holder Case
1970’s Yves Saint Laurent Black Felt Hat 40
Vintage Pewter Red Leather Belt
Swaine & Adeney Sterling Silver Leather Woven Walking Stick
Gerber Pixie Knife & Leather Sheath
Vintage Tiffany Leather Case With Sterling Clasp
Leather & Sterling Silver Framed Wallet 41