the sendai tansu

This is a story about learning to be a parent. It is also a story about furniture. Last week a friend introduced me to a local antiques dealer who happened to have a very large shop of beautiful pieces. He had several Meiji era tansu chests.  In trying to pick a piece, I have learned so much about tansu chests. Since we are in Northern Japan, we are near Sendai. Sendai  is a famous style of tansu. They're known for their heavy and intricate ironwork. source

I picked out a merchant's chest in this style. You can buy your own here if you're in the States. source

It was gorgeous, with original working locks, key and intricate metalwork. I'm told the blossoms are plum blossoms but in my mind they look a bit like lotus blooms. I had my husband and a friend transport it home; they were good sports because these things are not light. source

As I was cleaning it that night I noticed the antique ironwork had many sharp points, especially on the drawer-front corner pieces. I decided it had to go; it wasn't baby safe at all. So, so beautiful, but not baby-friendly. I went back with another Japanese friend and we picked out a possible replacement. I'll post pictures when it is in place. And in case you are interested, this is what a Sendai Tansu looks like in place in a traditional style home. Sorry I couldn't find a bigger image online. source

Lesson learned - this was my first furniture purchase since my daughter was born. I think the dealer thought I was a bit nuts when I went to pat down every single piece of furniture in his inventory... When I went back the dealer also asked, "what style does your husband like?" I told him the lightest since we have to walk up stairs to our apartment. Looking at another chest he told me, "No, your husband will not like this one. It is too heavy." source

More on how Sendai Tansu Chests are made:

Cypress Furniture

Sorry for such an absence. I was organizing my photos this afternoon and I found quite a bit that I wanted to share. While we were in Taipei, Taiwan last fall we visited a friend of a friend (follow that?) who collects cypress.

The horizontal trunk in the background is actually hollowed six feet in the center.

This piece was on a rotating podium - just beautiful! I am told the knots are from the tree weathering storms, housing nests and growing precariously on a cliff side. Often the ones that have the "easy life" in the forest are smooth while these knotted ones are cherished for their unique markings. 

 Sorry for the rough photos, I just had a point and shoot with me for the trip. The "sculpture" below was my favorite piece.
 

He had several stories of furniture, trunks, statues, etc. Often time he makes or preserves these pieces himself. Some are even made of trunks that are hundreds of years old, or so he tells me! The trees have all fallen naturally as such ancient forests are preserved by the government. He was telling me that Taiwan is very strict in their preservation. He has traveled to Japan frequently because the Japanese government is even more strict in their attempts to preserve virgin forest lands. His personal obsession has grown so much that Taiwan just awarded him "museum" status to preserve his collection so he can open it to the public.

photos by me, please credit if you borrow, thanks!

before-after

I never seem to post pictures of my own things. For the first time, here you go. Since we renters can't paint or remodel, we'll just have to take what we can fix. I have had two of these chairs forever. We used them as desk chairs for a partner's desk we used to have. Now they sit at individual small desks. They're not particularly remarkable antiques or anything, I found them at Source Perrier. I think they're now just Source Collection but I still use the old name. No matter, I love these old chairs.

They originally came with silk covered down cushions which quickly wore out and not to mention shed feathers like a chicken farm. So we found ourselves using just the cane which was not very sturdy and started to break down over time. I know the light isn't perfect sorry, I took it in the parking garage before loading them up...

I finally felt motivated when I saw this gorgeous Lee Jofa taupe linen velvet with a subtle stripe at a discount fabric store. At around $30/yd for the discontinued goods, I knew I wouldn't need much. I don't know if I could have done this myself since it needed a board cut to replace the cane... and honestly I know I probably spent more than some would on fabric even though I think it was a fabulous deal for that quality. I've been spoiled playing with fancy things at Mrs. Howard's lately. So this Lee Jofa was it. My local upholstery guy had them good as new in a week with even some fabric to spare, thanks Mike!

I am a tea drinker, and a clumsy one at that. Hopefully this neutral taupe will hide any Earl Grey.

cover up

The great value of looking at inspiration always seems to be in the details. For example, I was perusing online magazines and noticed luxuriant fabrics and furs draped over ottomans and tables. My favorite is this decadent drawing room of Château de Fleury. Kind of makes me wish I had picked up that bearskin I saw recently for an ottoman.

Source: elledecor.com via Ann on Pinterest

Or in Andrew Gn’s Paris Apartment. He rightly leaves no surface naked. Meow.

Source: elledecor.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: elledecor.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: elledecor.com via Ann on Pinterest

caldwell & co.

After seeing Edward F. Caldwell & Co. fixtures in a few places, I was interested in the man behind the firm. Originally Mr. Caldwell was a a portrait painter from Waterville, New York. He transitioned to working for Archer & Pancoast Manufacturing Company, makers of gaslight fixtures and eventually electric lights. While working for Archer & Pancoast, Caldwell was a part of significant commissions for the architectural firm McKim, Mead & White. These included the New York State Building at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition (Chicago), The Metropolitan Club (New York City) and the Boston Public Library. Under the encouragement of Stanford White, Mr. Caldwell launched his firm with Victor F. von Lossberg in 1894. ref, ref

Amazing samples of his work from the Smithsonian.

Images from Smithsonian

porcelain furnishings

After seeing a similar piece at Whitehall in the Colonial Bedroom, I wanted to learn more about these porcelain tables. I came across this piece, very similar to the side table in question, on 1stDibs. It is a KPM Porcelain Writing Bureau from Germany. They date it from the 19th Century. Apparently it is crafted of porcelain pieces and ebonized wood.

I found other images without provenance or description unfortunately, mostly from auction catalogs past. The first one of Royal Sèvres Manufacture with ebonized wood, ormolu, inset porcelain plates and medallions. The second said only said that it was French. image

This one had the description of having been created by Capodiamonte.

Other bizarre pieces by KPM? How about a porcelain pistol?

In summation, never have I felt like such a Hercule Poirot of antiques yet still coming up short!

gush I have a crush - juliette récamier

Rumor has it that the récamier is named like the Birkin bag. This furnishing was supposedly influenced by a woman named, Madame Juliette Recamier. It seemed she popularized the image of a languid beauty lounging on her favorite, namesake, style of sofa.

From this reading, she sounds like quite the character. She, "walked like a goddess on the clouds and her voice thrilled the senses’. She dressed in a cloud of diaphanous white mousseline, never wore diamonds only pearls, and appealed to romantic sensibility, wearing crowns of real pansies and cornflowers on her head and posies on her gown. Juliette was married at 15 to the wealthy banker Jacques Recamier...

"Juliette insisted on having flowers everywhere, even on the stairs, and would greet invited guests with a charming smile and invite them to see her famous bedroom. The bed itself was raised on a dais, and declared the most beautiful in Paris, against its background of mirrored walls, draped as it was in a froth of transparent gauze, a white vapor falling from the ceiling, surrounded by vases and candelabra, and an artificial rose tree."

Oh to be a muse. Rough gig.


Want to see the namesake in action? Now technically speaking, as I recall, a chaise is the genus and the récamier the species. Not to be confused with the duchesse brisée, or méridienne. And don't mistake it with a lit bateau, goodness; that's not for the living room... Confused yet? Quick recap, the duchesse brisée is a chaise broken into two with a footstool and a seat. The méridienne is asymmetrical with a higher side to rest your head and downward sloping place to put your feet. Ah, old school La-Z-Boy, yes! And lastly, the récamier looks just like the lit bateau with two sides that are generally even. But for eye-candy sake, let's just look at them all. ref


Image and excerpt from Culture Concept. Other images from Wikipedia, Chateau of Coppet: Mme Récamier's bedroom, Lessing Photo Archive, Candace Bushnell/Alex Papachristidis for Elle Decor,Encyclopédies sur 'Academic', Architect Design at Vizcaya (btw loved this room in person too!), This is Glamorous

Source: Uploaded by user via Ann on Pinterest

Source: horsecountrychic.blogspot.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: elementsofstyleblog.com via Ann on Pinterest

unpainted inspiration - petite palace

In researching some of the properties in the Royal Collection, I stumbled upon a sweet little gem. In 1932 Princess Elizabeth of York, now Queen Elizabeth II, was given this playhouse by the people of Wales. They placed it in the gardens of the Royal Lodge. It was replete with all the amenities including electricity, a gas stove and full plumbing. I can't imagine a sweeter sixth birthday present! The cottage was built by Welsh craftsmen, with Welsh-style furnishings, and named "Y Bwthyn Bach" or "The Little House", which is printed at the front door. And notice, the walls are white.

Source: architecturaldigest.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: architecturaldigest.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: architecturaldigest.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: architecturaldigest.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: architecturaldigest.com via Ann on Pinterest

high - low

So a couple weeks ago I posted about Safavieh at Target. Remember? Well I found a very similar piece in the new Pottery Barn Catalog that arrived over the weekend. Here is their new Tudor chair, starting at around nine hundred.


And compare that to the Colin chair by Safavieh retailing on Target's website for just around half in a similar color.