Carl Auboch

I was recently searching for some brass accessories when I was reminded of one of my favorite industrial designers, Carl Auboch. He was the second of five generations of Aubochs associated with the Werkstatte Auboch and one of the leaders of Austrian Modernism. He trained at the Bauhaus School and is best know for his work with brass. The family company is still in operation today producing many of his designs.

Polished brass and coiled cane bookends

  Glass pitcher with cognac leather brace and brass handle

Brass and wicker four piece coffee service, c. 1950

Leather safari chair

Brass key bottle opener

Black leather sling and brass magazine rack, c.1950

Dover Street Market New York + Prada

I'm looking forward to the opening of London's Dover Street Market in New York on December 21st. The retail concept started by Comme des Garcons founder Rei Kawakubo will be located in a 7 story Beaux Arts building in the Kips Bay area on Manhattan. Miuccia Prada has designed a line exclusively for the store called Prada Dover Street Market New York, featuring twists on classics from past collections. The store will also feature collections from Saint Laurent, Nike, Alexander Wang, Casely Hayford and Louis Vuitton. 160 Lexington Avenue, NYC.

Holiday 2013

Some of my favorite gifts this holiday season:

ERCOLONO JEWELRY BOX, Barneys New York

TED MUEHLING CANDLESTICKS, ER Butler

PONDICHERRY CANDLE, Cire Trudon

BROWN MALLEE BURL VESSEL, Gallery NF

MAZE CORRESPONDENCE CARDS, Dempsey and Carroll

SCALI SALVATORE SRLS, Barneys New York

HANDCRAFTED MIXERS, Jack Rudy

PEWTER COCKTAIL SHAKER, Gallery NF

ROSE TEA CART, Blackman Cruz

ASTIER DE VILLATTE NOTEBOOKS,  John Derian

LULU FROST STARDUST PENDANT, Dress Boston

GLOBE TROTTER LUGGAGE,  Globe Trotter

Ira Yeager

I am usually not drawn to bright fanciful artwork but I adore the playful portraits done by Napa Valley artist Ira Yeager that hang in the home of Alexis Swanson Traina.  He paints an eclectic array of subject matter ranging from Wappo Indians to Marie Antoinette's peasants to landscapes of the Napa Vineyards. Here are some examples of his work.

 Image from Lonny

Vineyard Study #10

Wine Vendor, 2006

Venice Gritti Palace + House of Waris

For the next year Jewellery designer Waris Ahluwalia will be displaying the 'House of Waris Rare' installation in the newly restored Gritti Palace Hotel in Venice.  The collection will feature handcrafted pieces that Waris collected from 40 independent artisans from more than 14 countries around the world. 

When asked about his philosophy on the exhibit he said, "it affirmed my belief that craftsmanship is not a thing of the past, or a fleeting trend of today, but a timeless practice that connects mankind with each other, with the earth, and with the great unknown."

Italian jeweler Delfina Delettrez's stone hand blacelet located in the Gritti Palaces' Explorer Library

Stefano Zanin for House of Waris mirrored rhinoceros sculpture

American artist Tim Rowan's sculptural tea bowls

Turkish designer Ribat Ozbek embroidered cushion

All photos from Wallpaper*

The Wes Anderson Collection

I am really excited about the new book The Wes Anderson Collection by Matt Zoller Seitz.  It provides the first in depth overview of Anderson's life, work and artistic vision. The images are interwoven with interviews from the renown director to capture the spirit of his unique sensibility. 

John Derian Furniture

John Derian has added another storefront to the two he already has on Second Street in NYC. Last week he opened John Derian Furniture to focus on upholstered pieces that he designed based on his travels. Most of the pieces are 17th, 18th and 19th-century European and American designs that have been tweaked.  

8 East Second Street, NYC

Images from NY Times