I just can’t help myself even if I don’t have much time to spare I always have to squeeze in a side trip. This is exactly what happened yesterday, I was in London for an appointment but had an hour and half that was a bit loose and free. So I took myself off to the Olympia International Fine Art & Antiques Fair (7-17th June). So glad I did, even if it was the briefest of visits. Whilst I didn’t see Mick Jagger this year (he was there last years) I did spot Jemima Khan née Goldsmith. She was eyeing up the same pair of panels that I was on Peter Petrou’sPetrou’s stand of the Circulatory & Nervous Systems.
Last year I eyed excitedly some Momento Mori plaques. Ok so both of these are slightly macabre but there is something appealing to me in the gothic sense. They so wouldn’t “go” in my own home (plus DH would have proverbial apoplexy) and I have yet to do a project where something like this would be appropriate but it just gets my blood so excited. Weird? Possibly. Would you have any of these in your home?
Also ever so slightly gothic was this wonderful eagle below by Belgian dealer Herwig Simons with arrows in its talons. (Excuse the quality of the photo’s they were taken on my iphone) It was huge and very beautiful.
On safer ground I also spied this lovely little grouping of small oil paintings. Completely taken with the arrangement and I was tempted by one or two of them. Then a pair of lovely scalloped backed chairs, could definitely see these working in many settings. I actually came home without buying anything – a real willpower victory.
I was also taken with both of these unusual objects; the wonderful Manuel Marin mobile at De Parma swaying in the circulating air and this fantastic table by furniture maker Huw Edward Jones – an aeronautical feast for the eyes.
Maybe the rain and general overcast nature of London yesterday put me in the gothic mood, but there were plenty of other goodies.
Mary I have to say I like the first pair, albeit it's slightly creepy but in a good way. Also love the chair and the mobile!
I love that first pair. I would totally have those lining my hallway. Perhaps not in the bedroom though.
The first two pieces are pretty incredible. Our early understanding of the nervous and circulatory system was pretty essential to modern medicine. I can imagine the first work on it being incredibly messy and confusing though!