Glamor and Glass: Unique Art Deco Cabinet

Glass becomes glamorous in this fantastic Art Deco Mirrored Cabinet, circa 1940. A perfect complement to any room as a side table or a small bar, this rare piece of French craftsmanship makes a bold statement with its striking lines in beveled detail. Art Deco is beauty in simplicity, with high sophistication behind the style’s strong geometric designs. The rich history of Art Deco reaches back to the 1930’s  and 1940's where pieces like this would have graced the homes of Hollywood’s brightest stars such as, Rita Hayworth, Vivien Leigh, and Lana Turner.

With a top drawer and a drop down front, this is definitely an interesting piece worthy of conversation. All parts of this piece are original and it is in wonderful condition. It is currently sitting pretty in our gallery, ready to be picked and talked about.

Ref QQ120

Christian Dior Follows French Classic Lines of Haute Couture Collection Spring/Summer 2012

from Dior Haute Couture 2012

 

Elegance must be the right combination of distinction, naturalness, care and simplicity (Christian Dior).  The House of Dior, a huge player in French artistry, fashion, and history, releases its looks for the Spring/Summer 2012 Haute Couture show. The ensembles are a far cry from last year’s  avant-garde show. This year’s designs focused more on bringing back the history of Dior, channeling Dior’s classic “wasp-waist” silhouette, with a twist of modern French style.

looks from Dior Haute Couture 2011

Despite the tumultuous times the House of Dior has faced in recent years: losing its figure head, and going through 4 creative directors, including Yves Saint-Laurent and John Galliano, the House of Dior continues to cultivate the tradition of the already rich history it has created. This year’s Haute Couture show features a return to the classic Dior ideal of elegance, opulence, beautiful fabrics, flowing skirts, and a great aesthetic, featuring sheer looks in hand-embroidered organza.

 

from Dior Haute Couture 2012

Through the Art Deco period of the late 40’s and much of the 50’s, Christian Dior stood atop the ranks of fashion. He put French couture back on the map with his “New Look” and the opulent silhouette he created.

Dior's post-WWII "New Look" 1947

 

Dior emerged as a fashion house towards the end of WWII. Before establishing himself as his own label, Christian Dior made his living dressing Nazi wives and the wives of French collaborators. War consumed most of Europe, and the continent was under the rule of rationing. Rationing influenced the fashion of the time as fabric was in short supply and in high demand. Women adapted by wearing shorter skirts and outfits with simpler silhouettes.  The tone of fashion was utility and simplicity until the change brought about by Dior. Dior spearheaded the movement of fashion towards beauty by the incredible amounts of fabric used to create his looks, and the extravagant final ensembles he produced.

  

Dior at work on the "New Look"

Dior Haute Salon, 1957

 

In contrast to the attitude of rationing and shortage, Dior proposed a richer look where fabric was in abundance and the woman who wore it would exude a sense of elegance and grace unattainable by the mainstream fashion of the time.  Dior created a new wave of femininity defined by fine-looking fabrics and longer skirts reminiscent of a time before the ravages of war had eaten away at the beauty in France and the rest of Europe.

The ups and downs of last year have made the House of Dior a dark horse in the fashion world, but this year the historic French fashion house looks to be re-instating its position in fashion as not just an iconic name, but as a force to be reckoned with.

Visit our website to browse our inventory for pieces from the period that inspired this collection.

 

Manhattan Armory Show Starts March 8th

New York City's most important annual modern art event of the year, The Armory Show, starts Thursday March 8th - on Piers 92 & 94 in Manhattan.  so if you happen to be in New York this week, this is one show you won't want to miss!

The Armory Show is made up of two main components - The Armory Show-Contemporary (on Pier 94) which features 120 international exhibitors of contemporary works representing 30 countries, and The Armory Show-Modern (on Pier 92) which is dedicated to international art dealers specializing in historically significant Modern art, with over 71 exhibitors representing nine countries.

The Armory Show-Contemporary 2011 with works by Yayoi Kusama and Chuck Close.

The Armory Show-Contemporary features a global roster of elite galleries such as Lisson Gallery (London), Sean Kelly (New York), Victoria Miro (London), Nathalie Obadia (Paris), and Massimo de Carlo (Milan), just to name a few. The Armory Show-Modern welcomes James Goodman Gallery (New York), Simon Capstick-Dale Fine Art (New York), Marlborough Gallery (New York),  and Michael Rosenfeld Gallery (New York), among others.

Tom Otterness Mama Bear from Armory Show Modern 2011.

Additional features of The Armory Show 2012 include the work of commissioned artist Theaster Gates who will be featured at Kavi Gupta (Chicago); the eclectic and engaging Open Forum talk series curated by Amanda Parmer of the Whitney Independent Studies Program; the inaugural edition of Armory Film; an acclaimed VIP program (where VIP ticket holders can walk the floors and talk to dealers for an hour daily before the doors open to the public) and a lively opening night party benefiting The Museum of Modern Art.

Installation by Theaster Gates at Kavi Gupta Gallery, Chicago.

The Armory Show 2012

Pier 92-94

New York, NY 

March 8-11, 2012