VISIONS OF BEAUTY (INSPIRED BY FALL) / DAY 3 -- PIERO FORNASETTI

plateimagecourtesyhellotradecom




Peeps,


Sometimes, not being decisive, costs one much more than money.  I had always wanted a Piero Fornasetti plate, and discovering a collection of six at one of my favorite antique shops (The Scarlet Fox in Old Towne, Alexandria) should have been a celebration in itself.   Sadly, when faced with the object(s) of my long-held desire, I hem'd and haw'd; they were reasonably priced, I could afford to get them there and then, space was not an issue since they could be creatively hung anywhere.  Yet I did not act, but instead promised to come back the following week.  Of course, they were gone by then; snapped up by some decisive design-addict or smart decorator who realized that a bird (or plate) in hand, is worth much more than thumbing through auction catalogues, or trolling the wasteland known as Ebay/Fleabay.  


Truth be told, I have seen the Fornasetti plates offered on Ebay, however I prefer to purchase an object which I can clearly see and touch.  I also enjoy the chit-chat with the shop proprietor regarding his wares and vision, as well as enjoying the mood of each individual establishment.  Shopping online does not allow this, and the few purchases I have made still seem somehow flat and unfulfilling.  Much more pleasing is the experience of purchasing from the African lady down at the Courthouse Flea Market on Saturdays who smiles benignly at my apparent lust for anything (and everything) Maasai.  


Fornasetti's creations remain high of my list of wanted objects, and if I ever receive any monies back from lowered taxes, dealers between here and Chelsea and the 26th street Flea Market should trot out their choicest bits.


Please enjoy today's visual treat, and thanks for being a dedicated blog reader.


Sincerely,
Shane


PS:  Design tip from me:  Bold colors in the bedroom does not keep one from sleeping peacefully at night; indecision (or regret) does that singlehandedly....


Comments

Nomad Ink said…
La Sebastiana—one of my favorite houses—is Pablo Neruda's house in Valparaiso Chile. In addition to being an eccentric collector of art and objects, he also had some tactics that helped him to acquire the objects of his desire.

Listening intently to the audio guide, I learned that whenever he entered into a space (with objects for sale/or not), he said the secret was to always look very tired, and show very little interest. When he would leave the store, the object would usually leave with him, after paying of course. His understanding of being a collector, was more about the desire of the new object owner, than the price or context.
Shane, maybe you could review La Sebastiana for us one day?

There is a great satisfaction, when one sees an object, and makes a resolute decision at that instant, that they will be owners of this new object. This is the way that taste is born, and we create our sense of style, one object at a time.
October 4, 2011 at 1:53 PM
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