Sunday, November 24, 2019

Artnotes: Handmade



Bosca   Blair Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas   20 x 30"    50 x 70cm   325.00

Fall Leaves and Crysanthemum  Laurie Fox Pessemier    Acrylic/paper   25 x 17"  63 x 41cm   175.00 (also available as print  90.00)

The Chest with Oranges     Laurie Fox Pessemier    Acrylic/paper   17 x 25"  41 x 63cm   175.00 (as a print, 90)

 Oak Leaves  Laurie Fox Pessemier    Acrylic/paper  25 x  17"  63 x 41cm   175.00 (print 90)



Blair tripped on the top step of six risers.    Why is that so funny?  Laughing, I did the same thing.  Maybe not as funny; clearly that top step was a half and inch taller. Then the fellow in the booth of the gated community had the last laugh.  “Villa 52 is to the right.”  

A woman with long ash blonde hair, greeted us as we pulled up in our car.  “This way,” she motioned and we entered her house.  It was a house straight out of La Dolca Vita.  One walked down a half dozen (even) steps to an enormous living room with a sweeping view.  There were two nine foot long sideboards in the room, and they didn’t seem oversized; there were three huge sofas, and at least six easy chairs.  The room was a mess, as she and her family were packing to leave.  They’d been there since the 1950s.

We went to see a small chest, Mughal (Indian) style, for Blair’s room in Stimigliano.  After two years we finally removed the hideous particle board/plastic cupboards and now he needed storage space.  This chest, which looked the size of a jewelry box in comparison to everything else, was perfect.  It practically leapt from the floor into my arms.   We negotiated a very small discount.   “Are you planning to live here a long time?” the woman asked.  “Will you keep the chest for yourselves?”  It was like we were buying a puppy, and it was clear she had the same fondness for the chest that I did.

She went on to tell us that she had the chest a long time; her husband was a parliamentary journalist.  They had other pieces from their travels – African chairs that were also interesting to us, but we’re on a budget.   She didn’t seem much older than me, and was strong enough to pick up an end of the heavy chest with Blair.  She relinquished it with an odd sadness.  We shook hands.

There is something about a handmade piece of furniture that evokes that special feeling.    I think of all the furniture we’ve had like that:  the “pasha” chairs in Paris, the decoupage headboard, the handmade olive wood table here in Stimigliano.  It is as though there is a magic in these pieces which was placed there by the hand of the maker.

As artists, Blair and I thrive on the experience we get from buying the item, as well as the beauty of the piece itself.  We’re getting ready for a trip to Southern France for Thanksgiving and look forward to the trip to and from and around, as much as the turkey itself.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!



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