Thursday, March 3, 2011

San Francisco Magazine: March 2011

Thank you SAN FRANCISCO Magazine for your support!

Here's the article in the MARCH edition.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Beauty in Violence

Last weekend, while househunting with my wife, I came across this very unusual marking in the sidewalk outside a home on the market.

At first I thought someone had imprinted a design into the pavement, but on closer look- the darkness was glass: molten glass.

I thought:  lighting strike?

And after a few seconds of tapping away on my iphone: YUP- that's what lightning striking pavement looks like.

A gorgeous fractal network of black fused silica in a light colored concrete substrate- beauty in nature, even if created by extreme violence.

We didn't put in an offer on the house.


Thursday, February 10, 2011

19th Century Flowers


in a time without internet...to study and appreciate the beauty & anatomy of plants was a bit more difficult.  The Germans did a great job with botanical studies in papier-mache, and the Blaschka's did an even more impressive job in glass....

PAPIER MACHE



GLASS


Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Mmmmmm...Pocket Tools

I cannot walk by a hardware store without popping in and finding something I want (mind you, not NEED, just WANT)....you never know when you'll need a widget or something!

In other world, I'm a tool junkie...

I invite you to the little known world of Mini Pocket Tools.

Pocket tools of any merit are typically hand made- one exception being the PIRAHNA .


But for those wanting a bit more of a personal touch and much better design, take a look at the following 2 makers:






Good Design

Good Design makes me happy.

Whatever it is, an object as decoration, or simply a functional object that happens to be good design- it doesn't even need to cost much, or cost anything for that matter.

Frankly, the best design comes from nature -but I won't get into a long discussion on biomimicry and the reasons nature chose a particular design over another- all is for function, but how can you not appreciate the design?......

Anyways, I ramble....tooling around Liveauctioneers, I came across a few things I would love to drop some $$$$ on, but probably won't- so have at it!
Antique Italian print
Penguin by Beniamino Bufano


Bird by Bufano


Tiffany & Co Tureen

and let's put them all on this for display....LOOOOOVE this table by Borsani (at auction at RAGO):

Thursday, January 13, 2011

5 Favorites on eBay right now!

Yes, of course I find things on eBay...no hidden secret!

Here are 5 of my favorite items currently at auction

1)  Item 320642397554 : 




MID-CENTURY VIDAL LARIN ERA MODERNIST NECKLACE PENDANT



2)  Item 160519793224 : Venini mask






3) 

180611604063 : 

RARE Abraham Palatnik Pal Lucite Op Art Sculpture Bird






4) 

260721614839: 

ARREDOLUCE 1950s 9 arms brass chandelier SIGNED







5) 

350409583895: Fulper matte GREEN vase