Available as Lot 200 Important French Furniture, Sculptures, and Works of Art Auction until April 14th Sotheby’s Paris.

Available as Lot 230 in the Important French Furniture, Sculptures, and Works of Art Auction until April 14th Sotheby’s Paris.

This bergère has seen better days, in fact, you could say that it’s been thoroughly beat to hell.  Some people find that appealing, but I am not one of them.  This is appealing to me from a fixer-upper point of view, and probably a bargain in its current form.  I would have it restored immediately, though it would be very difficult to part with that fantastic upholstery pattern.  Still, the shape and form and very nice and I would certainly find another bold pattern to switch out with the existing fabric, which almost reminds me of the artwork you see in the tile work on many mosques.

Available as Lot 251 in the Hanham Court – Pastoral Idyll Auction until April 14th at Christie’s London – South Kensington.

These wrought-iron gates wouldn’t look right on just any fabulous mansion – you’d need a certain quirky demeanor in the owner and the property to pull it off, I would say.  I think what I enjoy most about these iron gates is how they have a three-dimensional quality, particularly in the center.  The iron teardrops, scrolls, leaves, and just overall sense of whimsy is so convincing.  You might even say this gate has a delicate feel to it!  Hardly something to search out in a gate, but a design feat nonetheless to create something so light and airy out of wrought iron.

Available as Lot 133 in the Hanham Court – Pastoral Idyll Auction until April 14th at Christie’s London –  South Kensington.

I’m not all that experienced with Asian art, historical or otherwise, but every now and then, there’s a piece you just can’t ignore.  While browsing through the exhibitions this past weekend at Sotheby’s New York Headquarters, this particular fan was a featured item and I must tell you, it is awe-inspiring.  It is difficult to tell from the picture because the detail on this item is so intricate and elaborate that you really must see it in person.  The workmanship is simply astounding – the white piece of this item is made of pierced ivory that has been meticulously carved into a woven pattern that looks like tiny threads of string.  It would be a difficult task with thread, let alone ivory, and then more layers of ivory and jade have been sculpted, painted, and attached to the piece for embellishment.  I can’t be certain, but I would be shocked if there is any person alive today that could produce this kind of work.

This is the real reason to go to exhibitions, to be surprised at the beauty out there you never knew existed.  I look through almost every auction catalog at the major houses and some of the more prominent auctions at the smaller houses, but I breezed right past this item while leafing through the first time.  It took an in-person experienced to be astonished.

Available until March 23rd (hurry!) as Lot 149 in the Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art Auction at Sotheby’s New York Headquarters