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Meta
history
Year of the Monkey
Monday marks Chinese New Year with the Year of the Monkey, the ninth animal in the Chinese zodiac cycle. For centuries, people’s fascination with these simian creatures has been documented in both fine and decorative art, often depicting them dressed up and aping human behavior.…
Posted in art, auctions, furniture, gifts, history, interior design, Stationery
15 Comments
A Day at Château de Fontainebleau
Whereas many chateaux are associated primarily with a particular resident or royal, Chateau de Fontainebleau represents almost 1,000 years of French ruling dynasties. A Day at Château de Fontainebleau offers not only insights into the history, art and culture of France throughout the centuries, but also the lives of those who inhabited this magnificent French landmark.…
Posted in architecture, art, art history, books, design, history, interior design, travel
4 Comments
A Day at Château de Vaux le Vicomte
While no doubt familiar with the palatial splendor of Louis XIV’s Versailles, what you may not know is that the inspiration, and indeed the architect, decorator and garden designer, were taken (rather literally) from Nicolas Fouquet’s masterpiece, the Château de Vaux le Vicomte.…
Posted in architecture, art history, garden, history, interior design, travel
8 Comments
Because It’s All About the Story
Thank you dear readers for being patient as I prepare many wonderful features coming soon. This coming week will include my first house tour on the blog of a never published lovely home here on Nantucket. In the meantime, I’ll share with you an irresistibly charming piece I happened across from Hermès.…
Posted in design, fashion, hermes, history, interior design, learning
9 Comments
Pierre Frey Inspiring Interiors
Since 1935, Pierre Frey has been inspiring interiors around the world with their exquisite fabrics and wallpapers. Known for successfully weaving past with present, they are now in their third generation of celebrating French style and savoir faire. Dedicated to both keeping alive the legacy of centuries-old craftsmanship and manufacturing techniques as well as looking forward with innovative design and technology, this French luxury company has thrived on its own terms.…
Posted in books, design, history, interior design
8 Comments
Woman in Gold at the Neue Galerie
Yesterday’s opening of the film Woman in Gold brings to international attention the amazing story of Maria Altmann and her fight to reclaim five of her aunt’s Gustav Klimt paintings from the Austrian Government. While I have not yet seen the film, starring Helen Mirren as Ms.…
Posted in art, history, learning
14 Comments
Exotic Chic
There is so much theses days, in fashion and in our homes, reflecting a love for exotic chic. Even long before these far off places were easily accessible, westerners have been adopting styles as they envisioned life in these cultures. In Turquerie, a book from last year that I have been meaning to share, author Haydn Williams thoroughly explores this fascinating area of fine and decorative art that still influences us today.…
Posted in art, art history, books, furniture, history, interior design
8 Comments
Looking Back to Move Forward
Having just immersed ourselves in the dazzling world of Duke Fulco di Verdura, it was fortuitous to learn, via T magazine, that a new luxury edition of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s 1958 novel, “The Leopard” is being published. Including 32 photographs by Giovan Battista Poletto, below, from the set of Visconti’s 1963 film, looking back at the Sicilian setting for this novel offers insight into the early life of the master jeweler that so informed his work.…
Posted in art, fashion, film, history, interior design, travel
10 Comments
Behind the Scenes Video at Verdura at 75
2014 was a big year for Verdura and the iconic jewelry house celebrated in singular style with an unprecedented exhibit last fall. In a beautiful Daniel Romualdez designed space adjacent to their salon, The Power of Style, Verdura at 75, commemorated their landmark anniversary, noting 75 years since Fulco di Verdura opened the doors to his Fifth Avenue boutique.…
Posted in design, history, jewelry, Stylish Shopping
12 Comments
Winterthur Collection at Currey & Company
Although I was unable to attend High Point this market, one of my regular stops, that I was sorry to miss, is Currey & Company, who was debuting, among other introductions, new additions to their Winterthur Collection. While Currey now carries a wide range of furnishings, you may not know that they began, in 1988, as a company offering classic garden furniture from the Winterthur Museum and the Smithsonian. …
Posted in furniture, history, interior design
11 Comments
