One of the great joys of being an aesthete is that there’s always something new to see, always something new to experience, all of which are thrilling to your soul.
On my recent trip to the antiques fair in Parma, I had some free time go to Mantova (Mantua as it is called in English), which has one of the most exquisite palaces I’ve ever seen. The entire region of Emiglia-Romagna, not often thought of as a travel destination, is a treasure for those seeking art and architectural delights.
Recently, I contributed a piece to Halstead Property’s fantastic Tumblr Blog. We discussed unsung Italian design leaders, advice for buying and collecting vintage furniture, and trends in the modernism market.
What made you become a modernism dealer?
I started out as an Americana dealer in upstate New York. When I relocated
to NYC I became a modernism dealer. I fell in love with Italy. I learned Italian and specialized in Italian Design. The market for Italian Design was slow in developing. It was thought to be the poor stepsister to French Design. Then in 2005, a glass and oak table by Carlo Mollino sold at auction for almost 4,000,000 dollars. At the time, only the big names, Gio Ponti, Carlo Scarpa, Gino Sarfatti, and Ettore Sottsass were well known. As the market has developed our awareness of makers has sophisticated.
Read the entire article on the Halstead Property Tumblr.
It’s cold and damp in Milan. A colleague wants to introduce me to a new dealer.
I’m bundled up in hood and gloves, inside the new dealer’s basement storage, a warren of small spaces, and still freezing. Piles of furniture and lighting are hidden under plastic sheeting and stacked to the ceiling. It’s impossible to see anything. We wait politely and shiver, as the dealer opens each room to these ghostly unidentifiable piles. The dealer apologizes about how difficult it is to see his things. Yet he seems unwilling to unpack his inventory. It turns out to be is a total waste of time.
This is not exactly what many might think life is like for a dealer, filled with elegance and openings. Most dealers sleep on long flights sitting up and spend hours in cold dirty auction rooms hoping to buy something special that will make them a decent profit.
This winter I have been making healthy smoothies for breakfast..Bought myself a big present..a Vitamix. Big WOW! I hear the Nutribullet is a great alternative at a lower price. As I experiment with my new kitchen toy, I’ll share my discoveries. Today I made a terrific tasting smoothie.
Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year from all of us at Good Design.
The gallery will be closed December 24 – January 4. We will reopen Monday, January 5.
Have a safe and happy holiday.
