Superstitions

Do you hold any superstitions? I don't mean picking up pennies and avoiding black cats, this is a design blog after all! While going through some photos I took in the Metropolitan Museum of Art earlier this year, I noticed that these wall lights had the candle wicks left unburnt. I've always been taught that tapers should be charred before being left in a candlestick; not sure why, but I've always followed this rule. I know it comes from some unknown superstition but I can't seem to find what would happen if I didn't burn them! Do you follow this practice?
These rococo wall lights are manufactored by the Royal Porcelain Factory in Berlin in the 1760s.

Under the sea

Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. These gorgeous shells, on display at the Smithsonian Castle, are similar to intricate jewelry. They are part of the exhibit The Smithsonian Institution, America's Treasure Chest.I urge you all to visit the historic Smithsonian castle and check out the treasures of the institution! And just to accompany these gorgeous shells, a gorgeous voice singing about the fishes in the sea....Nina Simone, Feeling Good

Canaletto at NGA

Have weekend plans here in DC? Why not stop by the National Gallery of Art to see the current show entitled Venice: Canaletto and his rivals. Canaletto seems to be in the air here in DC, with numerous galleries and antique shops throughout Georgetown showcasing paintings in similar style. At the entrance to the exhibit is an original 19th century gondola that was purchased by the artist Thomas Moran and brought to his house on Long Island.The timing seems ideal as I'm currently obsessed with the Venetian fantasy that is Vizcaya. You'll find me at NGA on Saturday!

Photos taken with my camera phone a few weeks prior to help me to remember to visit the exhibit!

New York, New York

I'm back from a fun filled weekend spent in New York with the highlight being a visit to my favorite museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Admittedly, I'm not there for the art. I adore the period rooms and have seen them literally hundereds of times (but can never get enough).My favorite has always been the moody Venetian bedroom, seen in the top 2 photos.

The beauty is that there is something for everyone!

The details of these rooms are just amazing, no matter which period.The lighting is spectacular; Different details are highlighted, moods created and scenes come to life in dappled sunlight.You can get up close and personal with items from history, who can ask for more?Room after room -it's an entire day spent admiring the architecture and design of the past.After being indoors all day a quick trip through Central Park, seen below, and lunch in my favorite nearby restaurant, EAT cafe, completes the adventure!

The perfect Saturday in the city in my book!

Textile Museum

Located above the Museu de Arts Decoratives in the Palau Reial de Padralbes is the Barcelona Textile Museum.

Not where you would probably expect me to be spending time, but honestly, we had some time to kill! What a pleasant surprise I had in store.

The amazing collection traces the evolution of fashion: providing interesting 'how tos' such as how the 'new look' bust was created, seen above, and contrasting elements of different styles.

The patterns of these victorian skirts below were contrasted to a much later 20th century version.

And just how are those hoop skirts held high? Well, here's how! Seeing the clothing in person and relatively close up was much better than reading about them in a book or magazine.The workmanship and details on some of the pieces were amazing, especially loved this flapper look. Notice the white suit in the background, so Gatsby'esque!

Examples such as these mid 19th century Empire styled dresses were in such immaculate condition with such vivid colors you would have thought they were just sewn yesterday.Seeing this fairly recent dress compared with an Edwardian train was another example of a great pairing.And just how are those bustles kept up (throughout different periods)?The layout of this exhibit really is impeccable. I always say the right presentation can make the most mundane exhibit interesting (I recently saw a fascinating exhibit on parking garages at the NBM. Come on, I mean...they made parking structures interesting!).These bodices were in such beautiful colors.More amazing beading work.This is a whole lot of look, but in the right situation, pretty fabulous!Spain's own Balenciaga is of course represented. I loved all of his clothing they showed. Some more bizarre pairings showing yet again how things never change; they just come in and out of fashion, nothing is ever 'new'. These body conscious dresses below come from all different styles and time periods.Not everything is so beautiful, will these ever be back in style? That red men's polyester number really made my skin itch!Make sure to stop by this amazing museum, right on the metro line. You can't beat 3 museums in 1: Textile, Ceramics and decorative arts.

Katherine Hepburn

While going through some pictures I took, I came across this photo of Katherine Hepburn's portrait at the National Portrait gallery along with 4 of her oscars. I love that you can see how the Oscar has changed over the years since its' beginnings in 1927; larger as time has passed (much like our nation's cars and waist bands!). Stamps with Hepburn's image are currently available at the USPS HERE. I used them on my Christmas cards this year and have already had a lot of comments about them! I may have to stock up again.

Did you remember?

I love this poster from the National Museum of American History, a branch of the Smithsonians.

Produced during war time in the 1940s, home gardens have seen a resurgence in recent years, even at the White House! I can think of nothing better than opening up a can of pears in syrup right now in this snow but sadly, no garden here. Do you save your summer crops?

Stunning shells

Another fascinating pair of objects from the decorative arts museum were these Victorian era (what is the spanish era equivalent?) shell bouquets. While these are relatively common, I had never seen any so colorful or intricate before!

This one in particular was stunning - an entire garden with maiden under a canopy of shell flowers under a glass dome! Sadly the lighting in the museum needs an upgrade and the picture isn't as clear as I had hoped for. Maybe some summer craft ideas for at the beach?

A decorative screen

Located just outside of the city center, the Museu de Arts Decoratives in the Palau Reial de Padralbes (seen below) is definitely worth the quick subway ride. The museum focuses on the decorative arts and interior design from Barcelona throughout history. The palace also contains a ceramic and a clothing museum, but I'll bring those to you at another date.Probably my favorite object in the museum was this dramatic decorative screen by Francesc d'Assis Gali. Gali was an artist and educator who practiced in an art school he founded in 1906 until his death in 1965 which produced such pupils as Juan Miro and Josep Artigas.The screen dates to 1929, a very important year as it turns out (especially for Gali) as it is the year of the Barcelona Universal Exhibition (think Barcelona Pavilion) of which he was the Artistic Advisor.The fair not only put Gali on the map internationally, but also Barcelona which has such a rich history of design. I'll be sharing with you some of my favorite items in this museum over the next few weeks -would love to hear what you think of them!

Louis XIV

Typically, I'm not a fan of sculpture. I'll rush past sculpture in any museum to get to the paintings (or more likely, the furniture and decorative arts collection!). Nothing against the artform, but for me it always fades into the background.
However, this bronze bust of Louis XIV from 1700 done copying Bernini always stops me dead in my tracks at the National Gallery of Art. The Duveen brothers art dealers from London swear this bust was given by Louis XIV to his brother Phillipe for his Chateau Saint-Cloud where it sat until the chateau was destroyed in 1870, although there is no documentation. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

More treasures

While I further indulge myself in a much needed little blogger break (please excuse me!) let me share with you some more treasures from the musee des arts decoratifs at the Louvre in Paris.

I loved these items best for the contrast they provided to the stark black background. Very modern, don't you think? The sumptuous bed, the ornate clock and the beautiful painting all in a dark, dramatically lit room on the 18th century floor.

Like so many places, it's all about the lighting.

Choragic Monument of Lysicrates

What do Athens, Pittsburgh and Sydney all have in common? No, this is not a trick question! Each has a Choragic Monument of Lysicrates.The original monument was built near the Acropolis around 334 BC to commemorate the benefactor Lysicrate's sponsorship of dance. It was one of the first recorded uses of the correct Corinthian order for a monument; a style which would be copied for centuries to follow. Above is the original.I first became aware of the monument while back in college at drawing classes which were occasionally held at the Carnegie Museum of Art. The 'Hall of Architecture' , pictured above, was recently featured in a spread in the World of Interiors magazine (March 2010) with beautiful photographs by Simon Upton. The charcoal sketch at the top of the posting is one of the many I drew of the monument, my favorite in the room. I wish I had photographed all of my drawings better!

The design has been copied and modified over the years after being restored following the Greek war of Independence when it was badly damaged. Often it appears as a folly in a garden, at other times atop a dome and has even been stretched into a lighthouse in Portland, Maine.

Next time you see this classic design, you hopefully will remember its long history. Also make sure to check out the March 2010 issue of WOI for the charming article on the hall of architecture at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh!