NEW INVENTORY quick peek!

San Francisco Magazine: March 2011

Thank you SAN FRANCISCO Magazine for your support!

Here's the article in the MARCH edition.

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.

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

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:

Peter Atwood

Joshua Rice

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):

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