While taking pictures of some of our recent finds it struck me that this post will be somewhat “arty” without me trying or really thinking about it until now.
It’s no secret that we love to hunt! NO, not with guns… however there were times I thought there might be a “shoot out” between collectors at some of the estate sales we go to… but usually we get in and out really quickly and have yet to get in any fights. (hey, it happens.. people are crazy! Besides, we prefer to find our stuff on the side of the road.)
I’m always amazed that we even find anything at all in this town… but we still do… and it’s always fun!
Moving on with the artsy fartsy finds… well start with this…
Yeah, yeah… what the hell is it? When my husband rolled up with this I said the same thing. I immediately thought it was really cool but what were we going to do with it?
Lets back up…. the wood piece was just a wood piece… there was no base and no stand.
Here’s what he showed up with.
It’s a really cool piece of wood that was shaped into this amazing sculptural piece. We were told it was the work of a local artist who unfortunately took his own life. (damn, how depressing…sorry). There are no markings on it, but it could be. We are familiar with his stuff and it definitely seems like it could be. Riche ended up rubbing a little tung oil on it just to protect it and it really started to come to life. All the darker parts really began to pop. I was totally drawn to it.
Of course he immediately got to work on drilling a hole in the bottom and constructing some sort of stand for it complete with little feet on the bottom. He cut the base from some scrap wood we had saved from tear out work and then bought a thin pipe, cut it and epoxied it into the stand. The piece just slides right on.
Artsy find number two was actually a book. Books are one of the things we are drawn to when on the hunt. We’ve found some great art books, old photography books, astronomy, anatomy, and other onomy, atomy and ographies. Say that five times fast!
This was an Andy Warhol book. A signed, first edition, Warhol book.
The Philosophy of Warhol. First Edition 1974. All of a sudden I’m craving Tomato soup.
I’ve seen these online and many sold on Ebay. Most of them are signed but only with the AW. This book seems to have both. Hummmm, that seems suspicious…. or maybe I’ve been watching too much Pawn Stars. I’m starting to get like Rick. I need to call in a handwriting expert. Damn, I don’t know any. I’ll have to just call it real and move on.
They’re actually not worth much..a few hundred dollars… but it’s fun to have it.
Next arty find was a really cool kinetic sculpture. This came from one of the sales that was advertised “mid-century modern”. Of course we know just about everyone in town that collects modern so it was most definitely a “reunion” and they all got to chat (for hours) about our recent finds. It was a hoot. Some of these people have collections that belong in museums. Amazing folks! There were some pieces of furniture but nothing we need. This, however, was just perfect for us!
The wires on it are really thin and it was hard to photograph. One more try…
you get the idea. I’m so in love with it!
So that was fun! Maybe we’re just drawn to the stuff, but it did feel as if the art finds were a-plenty lately.
The last thing is NOT necessarily a find.. but more of a Richie surprise. More like… surprise Stacey, look what I bought. Seems like I need to keep my eye on him… he’s really overworking that Pay Pal account. Sneaky, sneaky!
As you know, we have a wonderful collection of vintage Eames shells. Some with arms, some sides, and many different bases. If you don’t know much about these chairs you have many options when it comes to chair bases. There’s H-base, X-Base, Rocker Base, Eiffel Tower base, Wood base, and the Cats Cradle seen here. (there may even be more..) Richie has wanted one of the cats cradle for a long time and just quietly bought one. I came home today to find it in my hallway. I think I’ll quietly buy a Mercedes and leave it in the driveway. I wonder if he’d notice.
I have nothing against this base except that it’s SUPER LOW! … and I am SUPER HIGH! (laughing) He wanted it, so I’m happy. I just doubt that I’ll sit in it much… at least not unless there’s someone around to help me out of it. It think there’s a good reason they call it cats “cradle”… it a good size for cats or small children. Thanks for looking… ’til next time!
I have to say everything that those two geniuses, Charles & Ray Eames, designed is beautiful and as modern as ever. Love the chair.
Couldn’t agree more! I know you love them from some of your past posts and it really is amazing that the designs so long ago are still so modern, current, beautiful and sought after. That kind of design mind trips me OUT! There are certain designs/designers that had something others didn’t, saw something others couldn’t and I for one am SUPER proud to have some of them.
Thank you for this! Now if I could just get my house to rotate I’ll be all set! (laughing)
Love the wire sculpture.
Hey! Thanks so much for the visit. Oh, I’m so happy you do… it’s my favorite find in a long time. I’m drawn to it for so many reasons. It’s delicate and simple while being strong and complex. Oh goodness.. that may be over thinking it a bit. HA HA!
You know what I mean. Yeah, it’s cool, I agree! (LOL) Crazy that so many people passed it up and we walked straight to it. YAY!
Thank you!
okay, let me go down the litany: that wood sculpture is fab. almost looks like a russian dancer from a certain angle. i love what richie did with the display! next, WHAT A FIND. now i want tomato soup and a screening of “the misfits”! great book to add to your collection. and that THING! the kinetic piece is to die for. i LOVE it. so simple, but you can’t stop looking at it. feel like tossin’ that in with the bed for the terrarium, too ;) and lastly, you know how i feel about eames and that cats cradle is dope. it’s so unassuming in that corner, too. i’m a wimpy (almost) 5’5″, so might as well throw that in for me, too. richie won’t mind!!!!!!!!!!! :D
thanks for sharing your awesome new art. good eye!
You are too funny! I already have the bed boxed up and ready to ship, so I’ll go ahead and throw in that chair base too. I’m afraid that if I sit in it I might be stuck for a while. HA HA!
Thanks for your excitement over our silly finds. As someone who finds unique and wonderful things you certainly know how addicting and fun it can be. Can’t wait to get the terrarium! :-)
post haste! :D
You guys always find the best stuff! And I can’t get over what a difference having that wood sculpture on the new base makes. Very cool!
Thanks Danielle! I didn’t know what to think about that thing when he brought it home and the more I sat there staring at it the more I LOVED IT! Of course it completely changes the look to have it on a stand so it’s a keeper, for sure.
It fits with our crazy house. And the crazy people in it!
Stacey, being an art dealer, you know I’m loving this! Great taste by two great hunters.
That’s right.. you ARE an art dealer AND an expert renovator! So many hats… all my favorite ones too. Thanks for looking Curt.. we enjoy the hunt and making it ours. I appreciate you sharing it with me.
Let me know how that works out with the Mercedes. Lol!
If I’ve found a string of “must haves,” by the third or fourth thing, I feel a little ridiculous telling Paul. Like, yes, I DID just say that one thing was the ULTIMATE thing. But now, look!! So is this!
Maybe I’ll try Richie’s approach… Plus, assuming it was smallish and I chose its home wisely, it’s possible Paul wouldn’t even notice.
A woman after my own heart! I have pulled off the “sneak it in and act like it’s been there forever” thing MANY times. Maybe he was trying to pull a “Stacey” on me. HA!
He was pretty sneaky about it… I walked in yesterday and was like … “uhhh, when did you get that?” He just gave me that blank look and said “oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you”. Then I check my pay pal and he’s been buying LOTS of things. I’m now seriously considering the new car.. I’ll let you know if I pull it off. (LOL)
I seriously love how all the finds always fit into the natural flow of your space! You’ve got great taste in being able to blends and know when they’re not going to work.
That is SO NICE! Thank you. It’s trial and error and believe me, we screw it up all the time. There’s a constant rotation — things go in and out all the time. The great thing is that we pretty much have the same taste so even if I’m not with him he knows what will “ring my bell” and buys it. It’s been a life-long hobby and we have lots of fun doing it. Just like your desk.. some things we get don’t stay very long. Now… I’m ready for some cake!!
I love anything wood/free form, so the sculpture is really great. Of course everything else is super cool too. I love anything Andy Warhol, so that book is amazing. Just all around good stuff!
Thanks Kim! That wood sculpture thing is crazy and it got even cooler once Richie rubbed that tung oil on it. All the dark layers began showing off and created real depth. Then he goes and puts it on the stand and blew me away. I never imagined it would look so nice. I’m happy with it.
That book was interesting… no way we were going to leave it there.
Glad you stopped by. I love your comments!!!
Loving the wood sculpture! I can’t believe you found that on the side of the road! I’m not good with art so its nice to see how you’ve been able to accomplish some art in your home.
HA HA! Well, I didn’t actually find THAT on the side of the road… but we have and do find plenty of stuff on the street. This was actually at a little thrift shop and needed a good home. We are slightly obsessed with original art and have collected for years. I don’t have LOTS of it.. but I do LOVE every piece I have. They all have a story and each piece means something to us.
Thank you for looking! I’d say your new headboard is definitely a “work of art”!
Every one of your finds is fantastic. I especially love the kinetic sculpture. I have an Eames chair with a rocker base, and it’s extremely low too. In fact, my grandsons consider it exclusively theirs.
That’s so great! Of course it’s their chair… it’s the perfect height. Honestly some of them are entirely too low … but the look so darn cool. I believe this will be a single child base… no brothers or sisters will be coming. :-)
Thanks for checking out my finds… it’s fun to share.
you are just too funny (that remark about the mercedes…)! All lovely new additions to your gorgeous home.
Thanks Diane! I’m so glad to have you here. It’s fun to find that little $5.00 item that makes you so happy and excited! It never gets old. Honestly I can’t get away with much… I’m married to someone who doesn’t miss a thing or maybe just pretends not to notice. He’s very tuned in. DANG!!!!! :-)
Wow, you made out alright! I think the first wooden sculpture piece is really cool. It’s so weird and shiny – almost slug-like I think, in an interesting kind of way! Also, pretty neat to score a signed Andy Warhol book!
Thanks for the comment! So nice of you to even look at our craziness. Ha Ha! I love it… it does look rather slug-ish. This is one of those pieces that kind of causes a wrinkle on the forehead and between the eyes… you’re not really sure if you like it or not, but you think you do.
That book was a weird thing. You just have to wonder who had it and how did they get it with his signature. It’s fun to imagine the story.
Thanks again for the visit!
Wow, beautiful stuff – you certainly have a good eye and seem to know how to show up at the right places at the right times! That yellow-n-wire sculpture is divine.
Do I detect (from the rug) that the uber-cool chair is now in your bedroom? I have a theory about bedroom chairs: no one EVER sits in them. They’re just holding pens for clothes we’re too lazy to hang up…or maybe that’s just me? If it’s not in your bedroom, then I think its the perfect place for a low-slung chair. :)
Man, I’m impressed!!! It seems YOU are the one with “the good eye”!
Yes, that chair is sitting in the master bedroom. I have to giggle at you catching that because I just placed it there to take a picture.
You are so right – I NEVER sit in chairs in the bedroom… but apparently they do double as a great closet and a dresser. I’m going to try like crazy to NOT have that temptation in this room but it’s inevitable. The chair with clothes I’m too lazy to hang will no doubt become part of our decor.
You crack me up with your real life TRUTHS! I’m not fooling anyone.. that room will be a mess. Ha Ha!
I love the chair! as I a tall person myself I can see your point… but -not everything has to be practical…