amy dufour

Grouse

2011-11-17T20:02:00.001-08:00

thomas eakins

grouse, 1872

oil on canvas

image here

Charles Lang Freer

2011-07-31T12:56:00.000-07:00

japanese satsuma ware

edo period, 18th century

decoration attributed to kano tangen

-collected by charles lang freer-

in his inventory notes, freer described the scenes depicted on these pots as 'whistlerian'

images from freer|sackler

adopt-a-pot

The Peacock Room Comes to America

clever

Loyal Subject

2011-07-03T22:43:00.000-07:00

gone but not forgotten feline

-positive image from glass negative-

image found on ebay

Still Life

2011-06-23T15:35:00.001-07:00

lucian freud

rabbit on a chair, 1944

pencil and crayon on paper

sold at christies sale no. 7977

-and-

jan mankes

stoel, 1913

woodcut

image one here

image two here

Cat Study

2011-03-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

jan mankes

twee poezen

image here

Daily Life

2010-12-14T15:08:00.000-08:00

walter richard sickert

a french kitchen and venetian passeggiata

images from sothebys

20th century british art sale december 15, 2010

Smitten with this Kitten

2010-11-23T12:17:00.000-08:00

pretty girl adoring kitten

late 19th century-i think

feels like france, a farm in dieppe, but it's a mystery

-is this kitty polydactyl-more of my imagination i think-

image found on ebay

Cat as Muse

2010-11-11T18:19:00.000-08:00

gwen john

-i love the sweet white ribbon-

davis and langdale

Degas Sketch

2010-09-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

love this degas sketch

photo from noortman

Haiku

2010-08-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

'the grebe

when it becomes lonely

dives into the water'-hino sojo

'the water fowl

lays its beak on its breast

and sleeps as it floats'-ginko

image via the guardian via the trustees of the british museum

anonymous

grebe on the water with irises, early 19th century

ink and colours on paper

-i love the writing in the upper right-

Dutch Rabbits

2010-08-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

my last post reminded me that jan mankes painted rabbits

from japanese bunnies to dutch bunnies

images here

Haiku and Netsuke

2010-08-12T01:24:00.000-07:00

'even the rabbit
droops one of her ears-
midsummer heat!'-akutagawa ryunosuke

-'in a new book from the british museum exploring the form's long tradition of focus on animals,
haiku from some of the greatest exponents-basho, buson and issa-sit alongside exquisite prints of the creatures they describe'-the guardian

image via the guardian via the trustees of the british museum

kawamura bunpo
rabbits (detail), circa 1807
from Handscroll of Japanese Subjects
ink and colours on paper

......rabbits, japanese...this reminds me......

edmund de waal's

the hare with amber eyes

a hidden inheritance

-centers around a collection of netsuke-

-scheduled to speak about his new book at the jewish museum in new york in september-

image here

Chawan-Japanese Edo Period, 17th Century

2010-08-05T23:00:00.000-07:00

another chawan

with tiny gold lacquer repair

just because i think they are so beautiful

sold at christie's

Baby Black Sheep or Goat

2010-08-05T22:53:00.000-07:00

young goat

handmade, i think, and love worn

-bought him in a moment of weakness-

...may live in my linen cabinet and be a nice surprise each time i need something inside...

images found on ebay

Chawan

2010-07-28T18:12:00.000-07:00

japanese

edo period

chawan

gold lacquer repair

-i love that care was taken to restore everyday items-

...enhancing their beauty and making them more desirable...

image from christie's

18th Century Italian Painting

2010-07-27T18:16:00.000-07:00

ubaldo gandolfi

a sleeping legionary

oil on paper laid down on card

9 x 13 inches

i'm not familiar with the artist but thought this image was striking

image from artnet

sold at christie's london

Dog Posing for Vuillard

2010-07-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

i love this antique photograph

doesn't the dog look like he belongs in a vuillard

i think he was in the corner of the room

while these people were playing checkers

...hoping they'd finish their silly game

and take him for a walk...

-wink-

photograph of dog-ebay

vuillard lithograph-nga

Girl with Dog

2010-07-19T18:43:00.000-07:00

circa 1890-1910

found on ebay

First Period Home

2010-07-19T18:24:00.000-07:00

pure

first period home

connecticut

images here

2010-07-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

images here

Oil Sketch

2010-06-15T13:23:00.001-07:00

sweet donkey sketch

oil on panel

john constable (english 1776-1837)

image via christies, sale 7863

Loved Items

2010-05-07T16:30:00.000-07:00

kirstie van noort's porcelain cabinets

for displaying

tiny treasures

Realist Paintings

2010-04-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

vincent giarrano

came across this artist's work in madison, connecticut

realist paintings, many new york (soho) and connecticut scenes

although i haven't posted them here i also love his thiebaud-esque paintings of candy and pastries

images via artnet-susan powell

Islamic and Indian Auction

2010-03-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

what a gorgeous sale

bonhams

islamic and indian art

safavid tinned-copper wine bowl, persia 17th century

Photographs-Corey Daniels

2010-03-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

corey daniels

photographs

from an exhibit at the
hagedorn foundation gallery in atlanta

Corey Daniels

2010-03-27T13:12:00.000-07:00

new york times article found here

-david and i were excited to come across this feature-

over the years, we've spent some summer weeks in prouts neck, maine

and

stopping in to see corey daniels in wells, maine had always been a high point of the trip

old and new

2010-03-24T17:17:00.000-07:00

love the twombly

but this mantel is so perfect it would look great with

blossom branches hung above

casting shadows

-for those of us who cannot afford the twombly-

mantel dealer found here

circa 1790-1810

johnston, new york

Period Wood Mantels

2010-03-22T16:13:00.000-07:00

early american wood mantels

berks county, pennsylvania

circa 1780

found here via enhabiten

so beautiful i can barely stand it

wish i were restoring an old stone farmhouse in pennsylvania

Sublime Interiors

2010-03-19T18:30:00.000-07:00

1.vilhelm hammershøi, danish 1864-1916

-i really like his tonal paintings-

2.photo from the historic brooklyn navy yard hospital -found here-

see exquisitely edited selection of interiors here-scroll to via the kingston lounge entry-

More Mien Wong

2010-03-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

love these palm sized intimates

fabric sewn on paper

mien wong

go here to see more of this project-experiment

check out the polka dot pair

Best Friends

2010-03-13T16:43:00.000-08:00

photo session-love session

found this on someone's tumblr just the other day

forgot to notate the source

thinking i should join tumblr-learn what it is-archive photos there-and find out the etiquette

Enthrall Confound

2010-03-11T21:52:00.001-08:00

titled after ann wood's ship at sea

sombre boite .ann wood. jan mankes

Pretty

2010-03-10T18:07:00.000-08:00

pretty photo found

the lovely blog

colline via tsktsk

this photo reminds me of gerhard richter's

betty

apologies to mr. richter but i prefer this photo

Mien Wong

2010-03-09T18:58:00.000-08:00

mien wong

beautiful works

the first photo is an etching which reminds me of eugene carriere or an ensor

i love mien's work

Vervoordt

2010-03-02T17:32:00.001-08:00

art + auction

zen and the art of axel vervoordt

nice to have a fontana bronze lying about

Dream Boats and Fairy Tales

2010-03-01T21:24:00.000-08:00

talented lauri faggioni

Merchant's House, London

2010-03-01T20:33:00.000-08:00

18th century merchant's house, london

found via enhabiten

thanks, i've been dreaming of this house all day

-period frames, handmade ceramics, asian art, delicate works on paper, the collection of antique silver spoons i've been imaging, and even a cy twombly or a brice marden hung over the blue fireplace-everything i love would look good here...dreams-

all images from location works-location library service

found via the lovely and amazing blog enhabiten

Spoons

2010-02-28T12:42:00.000-08:00

17th century spoons, england

christies

Mankes

2010-02-28T12:08:00.001-08:00

re-visiting a favorite

jan mankes, dutch 1889-1920

works on paper

Love Letter

2010-02-15T14:58:00.001-08:00

a sweet love letter

from moses soyer *written and illustrated on behalf of the family cat*

to his young son david

-perhaps his son was away at camp or school-

this letter was part of an exhibit entitled

a thousand kisses: love letters from the archives of american art

Hello David-

Having a good time?

So am I

Very Truly Yours, Bright Eyes

Don't I resemble a miniature tiger

Love + Kisses

From Me,

Daddy + Mother

Are you Listening?

2010-02-10T21:30:00.000-08:00

love this photograph

i've titled it

聞いてるの

-according to an on-line translator-

found on ebay

-japan circa 1960-

Brice Marden

2010-02-10T11:54:00.000-08:00

a new favorite for me

brice marden

A Little Upset

2010-02-08T20:30:00.000-08:00

no one likes a grump i know

negative energy and all that

but this cranky folk art doll sure is cute

pocomedio

Donkey Sanctuary

2010-01-30T10:00:00.000-08:00

the donkey sanctuary of canada

southern ontario

provides

lifelong home

for

unwanted, neglected and abused donkeys, mules and hinnies

-mules and hinnies are hybrids having one donkey parent and one horse parent-

mule-donkey stallion and horse mare

hinny-horse stallion and donkey jennet

...and by the way if one was wondering please read...

Are donkeys as stubborn as they say?

No. Donkeys are not flight animals like horses are. When a donkey is faced with a strange situation its instinct is to stand still and to consider what is expected. If it is being asked to do something that is not in its interest to do, then the donkey will remain where it is. Some people call that stubbornness while others realize that it’s

just common sense.

-from the donkey sanctuary of canada website-

solo enjoying life at the donkey sanctuary
found via ill seen, ill said
thanks

Sweet Horace

2010-01-23T18:30:00.001-08:00

-horace the owl-

today

discovered

the lovely work

paola zakimi

and

fell in love

with

horace

very

first sight

-he will journey from argentina to new york

in a very small parcel-he is a diminutive 1.5 inches-

i intend to take him everywhere and consult with him on many matters

image from paola zakimi

found via the blog melissa loves

Romantic Ring

2010-01-23T13:32:00.000-08:00

this

romantic ring

designed

melissa joy manning

-using a dendritic agate-

reminds

caspar david friedrich

sepia photograph

-so still-

minerals whose impurities

compose

contemplative

landscapes

...

-amazing-

image one from melissa joy manning

-this ring can be found at katy beh-

image two from google images

Pretty Pod

2010-01-21T20:06:00.001-08:00

fabric flora

-so pretty-

from

ann wood

image from ann wood

Islamic Architecture

2010-01-18T10:24:00.001-08:00

the glory of the sultans

islamic architecture in india

yves porter, gerard degeorge

beautiful book

muslim architecture

in india

-spanning eight centuries-

-seems an interesting read for those more erudite than i

but

will enjoy flipping through and looking at the pretty pictures-

sigh

*wonder if the architect of the metropolitan opera house

(lincoln center)

had

seen

the asar mahal in bijapur*

image from barnes & noble

Little Bandits

2010-01-17T09:04:00.000-08:00

aren't they adorable

YES

these rascals, err, i mean raccoons

are

designed and handmade

brooklyn artist

sian keegan

who doesn't think raccoons are amazing

with their

natural 'mask' foretelling their banditry

-such cute occasional criminals-

images from sian keegan

Cy Twombly Book

2009-12-28T20:55:00.001-08:00

*my christmas present from david*

cy twombly: the natural world,

selected works, 2000-2007

art institute of chicago

a lovely hardcover featuring more than thirty works

-published in conjunction with an exhibition of the same title

organized and shown at the art institute of chicago from

may to september of 2009-

image from amazon

oh my goodness

exhibits currently on view at the art institute of chicago

that i wish i could see

include

james castle: a retrospective

-i am putting this catalogue on my list-

deft hands, discerning eyes: chinese and korean ceramics from the harry b. and bessie k. braude memorial collection

-describes many of the works as diminutive in scale-

elemental beauty: japanese shigaraki ceramics

Mady Dooijes

2009-12-28T19:53:00.001-08:00

textile designer

mady dooijes

crafts

clothing

using natural fabric and dyes

simple and beautiful

-i love this apron dress-

i imagine wearing it over jeans all spring, summer and fall

image from mady dooijes

also visit her lovely blog abundance

Iefke De Roos

2009-12-28T19:08:00.001-08:00

love

the handmade work

amsterdam designer

iefke de roos

her scrapbook pages

are works of art

as well

-love seeing the artistic process-

one day wish to own a piece from her clothing line

images from iefke de roos

found via abundance

Tab Cat

2009-12-28T16:18:00.000-08:00

i was 'experimenting'

with the digital camera

-pushing buttons without any understanding of what i'm doing-

i do like these photos of tab

thayer was nonplussed by the whole thing

thayer is thinking

'seriously, you are not posting about that cat!'

-the sweetest dog ever-

his only fault is being jealous to the point of embarrassment of the cat

and the 2% of the attention the cat commands

Tiny White Donkey

2009-12-24T15:33:00.000-08:00

this tiny thoughtful donkey

was

photographed

the talented

ann wood

*she describes him as not much bigger than a thumbnail*

image from ann wood

-if you ever stumble upon this-

i hope you don't mind my posting

i adore him

Historic Home

2009-12-20T22:42:00.000-08:00

diamond leaded casement window

i am in love

with

this house

*more later*

Eugene Carriere

2009-11-21T23:03:00.000-08:00

eugene carriere

french 1849-1906

tiny portrait of carriere's son leon

6 x 4 inches

oil on board

one of my favorite artists

Bespoke Lighting

2009-11-09T11:42:00.000-08:00

lighting

from

ochre

bespoke chandeliers

so dramatic and beautiful

a room wouldn't need much else

well maybe

a second-hand sofa, a chinese altar table and food and water bowls for the pets

but that's all

images from ochre

Belgian Interior

2009-11-08T18:40:00.000-08:00

austere

interior

from

belgian interior designer

karin draaijer

image from karin draaijer

found via remodelista

Good Dog

2009-11-02T21:21:00.001-08:00

sweet needle felted dog

artist

domenica more gordon

image from the work shop edinburgh

found via the blog ill seen ill said

Silver Stem Cup

2009-10-27T19:45:00.000-07:00

asian art in london

and

i am having fun going through some of the dealer catalogues

(at home in new york-sadly)

found another lovely chinese stem cup for my pretend collection

i love the miniature size

parcel-gilt silver stem cup

tang dynasty

3 1/8 inch diameter

formerly in the david berg collection, harvard university art museums

image from roger keverne

Iron Ox and Iron Pig

2009-10-26T20:57:00.000-07:00

these are great

who wouldn't want to collect ancient chinese animal figures

iron ox

tang dynasty

7 3/4 inches

formerly in the arthur m. sackler collections

iron pig

tang dynasty

10 inches

formerly in the arthur m. sackler collections

images from roger keverne

Iron Bats

2009-10-26T12:31:00.000-07:00

bats in flight

iron nail covers, kugikakushi

japan, circa 1800 or earlier

image from robert brandt

Dutch Flowers

2009-10-24T23:14:00.000-07:00

piet mondrian

i prefer the artist's early works on paper depicting flowers

to his later abstract geometric paintings

wonder if there has ever been a show of his flower drawings and watercolors

image from artnet

Characters

2009-10-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

gillian lee smith

mixed media artist

nottingham, uk

-marionettes, nature and poetry are among her many sources of inspiration-

i love her character dolls. each with a name and a story.

sylvia

"sylvia is easily spooked. in reality, her own wanderings and peeking around corners causes others to jump, which in turn increases her very own jangling nerves. a neverending circle if you will."-gillian lee smith

elita

"elita is a clumsy old thing. flat-footed and with no apparent sense of space she bounds from one calamity to the next. always being told to 'keep her dress clean' she cannot help but look slightly ruffled and crumpled whilst the expression on her face says "i didn't do it!" as another vase crashes from the table as she passes by."-gillian lee smith

images from gillian lee smith

found via the blog cathy cullis

Chillingworth

2009-10-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

ann wood

brooklyn, ny

ann works mostly with found and discarded materials

"there is a kind of affection and tenderness in the re-use and re-purposing of things that were once personal and perhaps treasured possessions."-ann wood

-her blog is a glimpse into both her creative process and the unique and enchanted world she crafts-

images from ann wood-thank you

Fiber Farming

2009-10-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

susan gibbs applied the concept of community supported agriculture to her fiber farm

more about the martha's vineyard fiber farm at a shepherd's tale

-the farm practices humane animal husbandry and

no animal is sold for meat-

image from juniper moon farm

i read that visitors are welcome

Sorrow

2009-10-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

rest in peace little fox

-david and thayer found a badly injured fox this morning-

the police were called and sadly the fox was shot to end its suffering

our neighbor buried the fox in a small wooded area of his property and david and i returned later to lay wildflowers at its resting site

image from the colby museum

john la farge

agathon to erosanthe (votive wreath), 1861

oil on canvas

the lunder collection

Pots and Paintings-Part III

2009-10-09T12:30:00.001-07:00

de waal installation and agnes martin painting

image one from edumnd de waal

image two from google images

Pots and Paintings-Part II

2009-10-08T20:25:00.000-07:00

de waal installation and piet mondrian painting

image one from edmund de waal

image two from google images

Pots and Paintings

2009-10-08T19:41:00.000-07:00

de waal describes his work as site-sensitive

his installations establish a dialogue with the architecture and space they occupy

although intended to be experienced in person, i cannot resist pondering the photographs of his work and the visual associations they reveal to me

de waal installation at chatsworth and painting by josef albers

image one from edmund de waal

image two from google images

Columns of Clay

2009-10-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

edmund de waal

and

terra cotta warriors, xi'an, china

-smitten with the work of de waal, i keep looking at the photos of his site specific installations and wanting to visually reference what they call to mind for me-

images one and three from edmund de waal

images two and four from google images

Art in Public Places

2009-10-04T18:01:00.000-07:00

james garvey

artist-blacksmith

central park lariat hand rail, forged steel

-located near the entrance of 97th and central park west-

commissioned by the central park conservancy and installed in 1995

-i love the way the rail references the branches and foliage-but that was probably the idea-

there are several works by garvey throughout nyc-a fun art trail project

also, the owner of sara said that one can wonder by garvey's forging studio which opens to the street on 128th and amsterdam

bbblurry images from me

-david and thayer came along for the walk through the park-

Graceful Creatures

2009-10-04T16:40:00.000-07:00

these graceful creatures are handmade by paulina in a small village in southern finland

they seem to exhibit such a quiet dignity

images from lemmikkiapina

-above links to etsy-search sellers lemmikkiapina-

Curating Ceramics

2009-10-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

edmund de waal

potter, writer and curator of site-specific installations

the v&a commissioned an installation by de waal in celebration of the opening of their new ceramics galleries

the installation, which opened september 18, 2009, is entitled signs & wonders

-carlo-please go see this for me-

below are images from the artist's website, i could spend hours here looking

images from edmund de waal

-found via the blog particules-

-thank you! i am so excited to know about this artist-

Ceramic Works of Art

2009-10-04T09:52:00.000-07:00

nathalie derouet

ceramicist

this last group reminds me of a morandi

images from nathalie derouet

-found via the lovely blog bientot demain-

Works of Art in Silver

2009-10-03T20:02:00.000-07:00

miranda meilleur

silversmith

below are examples of her exquisite work

silver bowl and silver plant on acid etched steel

pierced silver bowl and pierced reformed ladel

images from miranda meilleur

-found via the lovely blog wooow-

William Nicholson

2009-09-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

British 1872-1949

-the paul kasmin gallery exhibited nicholson's paintings in 2006-

images from artnet

Handmade Blooms

2009-09-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

beyond beautiful blooms from emersonmade

hand dyed-cut-stitched

to wear-adorn the dinner table-to gift-pin to your dog or cats collar..while supervised of course

-a blog to follow-

escape to the world of emersonmade and the charming animals that live there both real and petal filled

sigh

images from emersonmade

Spanish Smocks

2009-09-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

i love these sweet embroidered smock-like tops by barcelona designer anna fabo

would be fun to wear with fingerless arm warmers

images from anna fabo's etsy store

Beautiful Backdrop and Cups

2009-09-26T18:40:00.000-07:00

thought these painted incised walls were incredibly beautiful

images from celine hwang's blog wooow

i believe her lovely cups are for sale on etsy (search wooowykceline)

maybe this is a room in her studio in taipei

Handmade Rag Dolls

2009-09-26T18:27:00.000-07:00

jess brown design

handmade rag dolls

dolls are dyed in persian black teas

made using mostly recycled and antique fabrics and findings

so stylish

Handmade Dolls and Clothing

2009-09-26T17:45:00.000-07:00

sveta dresher of pip-squeak chapeau etc.

brooklyn, ny

made by hand from 100% natural yarns and fabrics

i love this doll...i want to dress like this doll

...and have warm shoulders this winter...

happily, pip-squeak chapeau makes clothing for grown-ups

images from pip-squeak chapeau etc.

A Blog to Follow

2009-09-26T15:15:00.000-07:00

my milk toof by inhae

follow the adventures of lardee and ickle

i came upon this blog shortly after reading kafka's blumfeld, an elderly bachelor

-ironically the first and only book by kafka i've ever read-

(available at artbook.com)

these sweet and polite little teeth seem more welcome than blumfeld's two plastic bouncing balls

image from my milk toof

Charming Bundles

2009-09-26T14:31:00.001-07:00

french paperback books bound in string with dried flowers

french brass band music cards

images from appley hoare antiques

found this london antique store via sams notebook

Seaweed from Sea of Japan

2009-09-15T22:12:00.000-07:00

121 seaweed samples mounted on card stock

likely collected by member of matthew galbraith perry expedition to japan 1852 to 1854

image from freemans

Handmade Pillows

2009-09-15T19:54:00.000-07:00

for resting

image above from enhabiten

images below from kirsten hecktermann

Chinese Art, Silver Stem Cups

2009-09-13T20:37:00.000-07:00

image from christies

silver stem cup

tang dynasty

2 1/4 inch diameter

image from roger keverne

silver stem cup

tang dynasty

Mascot Animal Pets at Be Sweet

2009-09-06T15:17:00.000-07:00

images from besweetproducts

adorable needle felted pets made from wool with merino details

made in cape town as part of a jobs creation program

*also available in nyc at ochre*

Gwen John (British 1876-1939)

2009-09-03T20:11:00.000-07:00

images from christies

20th Century British Art sale at Christie's, South Kensington

pencil and watercolor on card

6 x 4 3/4 inches

Tamar Mogendorff

2009-09-01T23:06:00.001-07:00

Tamar Mogendorff

Jan Mankes

2009-08-31T18:54:00.000-07:00

image from mankes.nl

Goldfinch on a Branch, 1910

*thanks mady for helping me discover this artist*

Ochre

2009-08-30T21:57:00.000-07:00

images from ochre
daniel smith porcelain