2 Woodwork pieces from New York.

[frugal]

We have just come back from a holiday in New York. As expected we went out to museums and arts and crafts places, so I came back with a couple of photos and a lot of great ideas.

The first was a wonderful cabinet by Gustave Serrurier-Bovy in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art:

(Click on the photos to go to the Flikr page that has larger copies of the image).



I loved the curved elements and the custom made hinges in enamelled copper.

The second was a desk from an art shop that specialised in American artists called Anamerican Craftsman, there were loads of lovely glasswork and wooden boxes, but the thing that stood out the most was this desk:







Only $45,000 if you want to take it home. Apparently it took 18 months to make and contains at least 30 different kinds of wood.

Some of the Jewellery boxes were outstanding and I have come away with a whole load of ideas.

 

[Smudger]

That's an excellent reason for doing the lottery!
That must have been an inspirational experience.

 

[frugal]

That's an excellent reason for doing the lottery!
That must have been an inspirational experience.

The cabinet was astounding. Incredibly inspirational. SWMBO said: I like taht, you can make me one of those if you like Not sure it would work in a 17th Century weavers cottage

The American Craftsman has three shops in New York, we ended up in all of them over the four days we were there I managed to avoid spending $45,000 on the desk, but we did come away with the glass frog that is at the bottom of the glass page of their web site as well as one of the glass kaleidoscopes.

I felt that I could not take photos of the wooden boxes and smaller chests. Asking to take a photo of a desk way out of almost everyone's price range was one thing, but taking photos of smaller wooden pieces just seemed rude. Although I did borrow SWMBOs sketch book after we had left the store and sketched up all of the aspects I loved from one of the jewellery chests, so I can be inspired by rather than copying directly.

 

[Richard Findley]

Hi Frugal,

I went into that American Craftsman shop when I went to New York in October. Some nice stuff in there. Didn't go to the Met though. Worth a visit would you say?

Richard

 

[TheTiddles]

just me that thinks that cabinet is hideous then?

Aidan

 

[wizer]

just me that thinks that cabinet is hideous then?

Aidan

No I'm with you on that. Some of the pieces on the website are lovely. Would love to have seen the jewellery boxes.

But I'm a little upset with the OP for not admitting to tool acquisitions! :lol:

 

[Richard Findley]

I think its clever rather than pretty.... or functional for that matter but I guess it would look good in the right place :-k :-k :-k

Richard

 

[Eric The Viking]

I thought initially there was a strong Gaudi influence. Reading the Met's page on Serrurier-Bovy though it seems like it was the other way around - he probably had an influence on Gaudi!

I can't make up my own mind whether I like it or not, but looking at the larger picture, the craftsmanship is obvious. On the Met's page there's a 3/4 angle view, and to my mind it looks much nicer from that direction. It's very 3D front-to-back, and rather fun, which isn't apparent from square on.

We went in there (the Met) about two years ago when we visited. They have some stunning furniture, and some wonderful long case clocks too.

 

[TheTiddles]

On the Met's page there's a 3/4 angle view, and to my mind it looks much nicer from that direction. It's very 3D front-to-back, and rather fun, which isn't apparent from square on.

oh I see!


nope, still hate it

Aidan

 

[Smudger]

I think it's great. Lots of fun, nice form, imaginative. Sort of arts and crafts on acid.

 

[jimi43]

just me that thinks that cabinet is hideous then?

Aidan

No. I am with you on that Aidan.

I am sure it is incredibly well made and beyond that it does nothing for me...none of the art from that period does I am afraid.

I could spend weeks looking at Charles Rennie Mackintosh's work...which I guess was the turning point between Art Nouveau and Deco but that is when I sit up and take notice. I find I watch Poirot now for the scenery!!

Thanks for sharing though frugal. It's a taste thing.

Jim

 

[Eric The Viking]

nope, still hate it

T'was worth a try. I'm undecided.

Should we have a poll? :wink:

 

[mrfixit]

The cabinet reminds me of Bruce Talbert who used organic forms in his designs. I've restored quite a lot of art and craft and gothic revival furniture, but wouldn't want to live with it.

The desk looks a bit like a diorama of the city. Americans are very fond of dioramas.

 

[lurker]

just me that thinks that cabinet is hideous then?

Aidan

I like to think I can see something positive in every woodwork project but as you say, these are truely hideous

 

[chipchaser]

I think the desk is by Po Shun Leong. More of his work can be seen in a book called "Art Boxes" by (or with) tony Lydgate. I like a lot of his stuff but this desk not so much.

Can't warm to the cupboard thing although I admire the wormanship. Take the simplicity and honesty of Arts and Crafts and over elaborate till you make an uncomfortable thing!

Graham

 

[poshunl]

I think the desk is by Po Shun Leong. More of his work can be seen in a book called "Art Boxes" by (or with) tony Lydgate. I like a lot of his stuff but this desk not so much.



Can't warm to the cupboard thing although I admire the wormanship. Take the simplicity and honesty of Arts and Crafts and over elaborate till you make an uncomfortable thing!



Graham

 

[poshunl]

In response to Chipchaser's comment on a desk at American Craftsman Gallery, New York.

That desk is truly hideous. It's got lots of bits and pieces but no coherent design and meaning.

I used to show in that gallery but when I left, the owner found somebody to "fill" the spot.

Po Shun

 

[Eric The Viking]

Well!

Hi Po Shun, and a warm welcome!

Thanks, too, for putting us straight on the desk.

I got an alert when your reply popped up. I couldn't remember the thread it was so long ago, but I looked at the pictures of that desk/sideboard again and did wonder about how anyone might clean the thing!

If you have a web site (or a gallery web site) to link to, please put a link in your sig, or just post it up.

Once again, Welcome.

E.

PS: I recently got back from two weeks in LA. We did a lot of galleries (there are a LOT of galleries!), and admittedly hardly any furniture (I have to go where she tells me, in the main). There was an awful lot of really weird stuff though.

 

[jimi43]

WOW...it's taken five years but at least we've had our taste vindicated without the need for a poll.

Mr Tiddles...where is he now!?

Jimi