Up, Up, and Away

I'm really taken with those antique and vintage balloon back side chairs. I know that the term "balloon back" is used to describe a few different styles of wooden chairs with bulbous, or balloon, shaped backs, but the ones that I like are those with back splats that resemble balloons. The design of these chairs was originally inspired by the Montgolfier brothers and their invention, the hot air balloon. Their 1783 manned balloon flight captured the imagination of the French people. Balloon mania found its way into chairs, chandeliers, toiles, and even clocks.

Balloon back chairs have a certain novelty aspect to them, one which I find to be charming. The flip side, though, is that you shouldn't add other novelty pieces to the room or the result might be too flighty (!) The same goes for the use of the iconic Ballon de Gonesse toile, a print that is really a classic. I'm not a huge fan of toile, but if I were to use it, I would leave the room's other accents rather plain and maybe even a little masculine. I guess the bottom line is that in decorating, one balloon is better than a bunch.


Image at top: Look closely in the mirror's reflection and you'll see a table surrounded by balloon chairs. Design by Melvin Dwork.




Not only do you have balloon back chairs in this Mallory-Tillis room but a balloon chandelier as well. I probably wouldn't go this far with the balloon theme, but the room does look kind of cute.




A set of four French balloon back side chairs, c. 1950, from James Sansum Fine and Decorative Art. I think they're really quite elegant.




I don't think that these are technically balloon back chairs. However, I'm slipping this shot in here because it's a chance for us to discuss that little closet bar. I love that.



Le Ballon de Gonesse, a c. 1784 toile; from the collection of Musee de la Toile.




It may be difficult to see, but the headboard fabric as well as the wallpaper (or is it fabric?) on the side wall is a balloon themed toile.




A c. 1950 French balloon table lamp from David Duncan Antiques. It might be a little off-topic, but I think it's a fun piece.


Dwork photo from House & Garden, October 1967. Mallory-Tillis photo from House & Garden's Complete Guide to Interior Decoration, 6th Edition, 1960; closet bar photo from Les Reussites De La Decoration Francaise: 1950-1960; toile bedroom photo from The Finest Rooms in France.

Christopher Spitzmiller Seconds Sale

It's that time again...the Seconds Sale at Christopher Spitzmiller. This is the one time during the year that Chris sells those lamps with slight imperfections at over half off the retail price. This year, over 50 pairs of lamps are already assembled and are ready to be shipped immediately, while other lamps will be finished with the base of your choice (lead time for those is up to 8 weeks.) If you have questions about the specific shapes and colors that will be available through the sale, you can contact info@christopherspitzmiller.com ; emails will be responded to promptly.

I have purchased all kinds of Chris' lamps through this annual sale, and to me, they look just as good as my "perfect" Christopher Spitzmiller lamps. By the way, see the smaller purple pair of lamps in the foreground? Those are the Hadley lamps. I bought one a few years ago in the clear crackle finish and it's one of my very favorite lamps. Someone needs to scoop that lavender pair up!

She's Ready for Her Close-Up

I've been trying to create a Cedric Gibbons moment in my study. Nothing lavish, mind you. Not like that set above, but rather a small statement.




I wanted it to be something you might see in a Fred and Ginger movie.




Of course, it had to be black and white. After all, most of my favorite movies are black and white.




It needed to cast a dramatic shadow.




And have a touch of the Neoclassical.




Maybe something sculptural?




What, oh what, to do?




Thanks to lamp.work.room, I found it...I mean her. A 1930s Grecian bust lamp with black base. As soon as I saw it on their website, I knew that this was to be my study's MGM moment. I think Cedric would have liked it. Don't you?

Although currently there are not other bust lamps on their website, lamp.work.room has some really fantastic antique, vintage, and contemporary lamps. I encourage you to check out their website. I'm anxious to buy another lamp from them, hopefully sooner rather than later.

(Image #1: Cedric Gibbons' set from "The Single Standard", 1929; #2 Fred and Ginger in "The Gay Divorcee", 1934; #3 "Bottoms Up", 1934; #6 Jean Harlow; #7 Kay Francis in "Girls About Town", 1931- images from Screen Deco: A Celebration of High Style in Hollywood (Architecture and Film, Vol. 3) by Howard Mandelbaum and Eric Myers. #4 Dolores Del Rio publicity shot. #5 "Cabiria", 1941; image from Designing Dreams: Modern Architecture in the Movies (Architecture and Film, 2) by Donald Albrecht.)

A Great Opportunity!

Attention Christopher Spitzmiller fans! Chris is having a sale of seconds- lamps that have slight imperfections in the ceramic form. Prices are approximately 55% off list price. This is a great opportunity for you Spitzmiller fans to add to your collection... or, if you're like me, a great way to start your collection.

The sale runs next week, so get ready to make your decision. Call (212) 563-1144 for more information. And click on the image at top to read the details.