"Royal Furniture Co.", Empire Bookcase

Handsome, mahogany Empire bookcase with four adjustable shelves, key lock glass doors and ball feet with casters.  37"l.,  14"w.,  55"h.  American, c. 1890.  SOLD

Glass Coffee Table

In the style of Jansen, this rather sophisticated coffee table features saw horse legs of brushed nickel and polished brass.  54"l.,  24"w., 16"h.   mid 20th c. SOLD

Pair of Mahogany Bookcases

Handsome pair of mahogany, double sided bookcases.  One side has a rich mustard color painted interior and the other is mahogany.  These would be great as a room divider.  Each case is 35"l., 19"w., 29 1/2"h.  American, c. 1940's. SOLD

LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change @ Jools Holland

2nd favorite tune heard on the road last week.  It's a little Depeche Mode, a little Thomas Dolby, a little Roxy Music....and a lot good.

Mid-Century Credenza

Very sleek, clean lined, mid-century walnut credenza with chrome legs and hardware.  72"l., 18"w., 29"h.  American, c.1960.  SOLD

"American of Martinsville" Credenza

Here is another very interesting and beautifully designed piece by American of Martinsville.  The company did very short production runs of pieces and instead chose to come out with new designs very frequently.  The result is a wide variety of pieces that are more unique.  This credenza has 5 doors, two of which open to reveal drawers and the others which have shelves.  There is a long shallow drawer at the base of the piece.  74"l., 19 1/2"w., 30"h.  American, c.1960.  SOLD

Mid-Century Cabinet

Very sculptural, mid-century, two piece cabinet with top that can be lit and glass shelves.  75"h., 40"l., 18"w. c.1960 SOLD

M83 'Midnight City' Official video

Favorite new song heard on the road this week. 

What's New......

We have just returned from another great buying trip.  Once again, we were able to mix in some pleasure.  We had a beautiful fall weekend in NYC.  We celebrated  a 75th birthday on Saturday at the recently reopened Cafe des Artistes, and I was able to reconnect with some great old friends on Sunday night.

Over the next couple of weeks, here's what you can expect at Michael Thomas.......

• More new works by Britt Randle
• Great pieces of furniture and design......
• Drexel Furniture Co. Neo-classical dining table and chairs
• American of Martinsville credenzas
• Baker Furniture Co. sideboard
• Original Art Deco framed travel posters
• Rustic Railway Station desk from the Pennsylvania R.R.
• lots more......

John Fillion; Bronze Female Torso

Bronze female torso by John Fillion. John Fillion graduated from the Ontario College of Art in 1962. According to my contacts at Sotheby's and Heffel, this is the first time one of his sculptures has come up for sale. This piece was originally shown through the Dorothy Cameron Gallery on Avenue Road in 1968 and sold for $1,800.00.  John Fillion stopped producing art in the mid seventies, and during his career produced a relatively small body of work. His work was collected by a number of notable collectors including Oscar Peterson and Vlad Goetzelman. A large bronze reclining male torso of his sits in front of 95 St. Clair W. (near Avenue Rd.). SOLD

"Ward Kelvin" Jewelry

I met up with some old friends for dinner last night in New York.  One of them was my friend Ward, whom I first met while we were both working at Tiffany & Co. in New York in the early 1990's.  Since then, Ward has had a number of interesting design positions working for Ralph Lauren and David Yurman, amongst others.  In 2009, he debuted  his own collection at Bergdorf Goodman.  His "American Chinoise" collection is a truly beautiful and inspired collection of fine jewelry which has influences in early to mid 20th century American Chinoiserie design but with a take that is thoroughly fresh and contemporary.  To see more of his pieces, visit  http://wardkelvin.com/

"American of Martinsville" Chest of Drawers

American of Martinsville 6 drawer chest in bleached and cerused mahogany with fantastic, original copper drawer pulls.  American, c.1950 SOLD

Michael Krauss; "Sea and Sky #2"

New photography by Michael Krauss; Sea and Sky #2.  Framed, 50" l., 46" h.  Canadian, 2011  SOLD

"Century Furniture Company" Sideboard

Classic mahogany sideboard made by the Century Furniture Company.  54" l.,  22" w.,  35" h.  American, mid 20th c. SOLD

"Fancher Furniture Co." Cabinet

Custom-made Chinoiserie breakfront made by Fancher Furniture of New York.  It is ebonized and has hand-painted exterior decoration with a vibrant burnt orange interior.  The top portion of the cabinet is lit. 60"l., 80"h., 14"w.  American, c.1950's SOLD

The Letter "V"

Heavy metal letter "v"  21 "l., 15" h.  American, c. 1950 SOLD

"Syrocowood" Sconces

Made by the Syrocowood Company in Syracuse, N.Y., these great looking gilted and ebonized eagle wall sconces have a multitude of decorative uses.  Each sconce is 12" l., 5" w., 7 1/2" h.  American, c.1940's SOLD

Mumford & Sons - Home (NEW SONG HQ)

More music from the road. 

Wheat Sheaf Coffee Table

Made iconic by Coco Chanel (as seen in her Rue Cambon apartment above), the wheat sheaf table has remained a decorating classic.  This coffee or cocktail table is gilted and has a beautiful warm patina with a glass top in perfect condition.  18"h., 36"diameter.  Italian, c.1950  SOLD

Oak Chest of Drawers

Great proportions and details on this oak chest of drawers.  Geometric carving on the drawer fronts, wooden handles and escutcheons, give this otherwise country looking piece a nice modern feel.  41"l. 17"w. 34"h.  American, c.1900 SOLD

Making Room for Some Great New Pieces

There are a few pieces in the shop that we have enjoyed for a while now and will be offering to our blog followers at fantastic price reductions.  If you would like one of the items listed below, please call the shop at 905.885.4000.

"Lane Furniture Co." Coffee Table and Side Tables

Very "beachy" feeling to this very beautifully crafted set of tables with pale wood bases, marquetry style tops and metal decoration.  Designed by Lane Furniture Co.  coffee table 46"l.,  22"w., 15"h., side tables, each 29"l., 19"w.,  22"h.   American, c.1960  Coffee table SOLD Side tables SOLD pair

Bronze Chandelier

Very dramatic bronze 12 arm (18 candle) chandelieer with great patina.  26" h. x 34" w. early 20th c.  SOLD

"Hickory Chair Co." Chair

Timeless Hickory Chair Co. mahogany arm chair with original flame stitch upholstery.  American, mid 20th c.  SOLD

Maxwell - This Woman's Work (With lyrics)

I first heard Kate Bush's music in about 1979. It was on a local college radio station, WLVR, from Lehigh University. As a result, "The Kick Inside" was one of the first albums I ever bought. The original version by Kate of this song is incredible. This is a beautiful remake by Maxwell.

I just heard Kate is about to release her first new album in a very long time. Just another thing for which to be thankful today.

Happy Canucksgiving!

Just finished making a couple of my mom's famous apple custard pies and thought I would share the recipe.  It's my favorite pie of all time and it's pretty easy to make as well.  Have a very Happy Thanksgiving. 

Art Deco Lamp

Art Deco, bronze, Egyptian figure table lamp.   Newly rewired.  14"h., 6 1/2" base.  American, c.1930's  SOLD

Porcelain Trays

Hand-painted porcelain trays in a variety of colors and styles.  7 1/2"l., 6 1/2"w. New, $44.50 each

Glass Paperweights

Murano glass paperweights in a variety of beautiful colors and designs.  3 1/2 "diameter. New, SOLD

"Weiman Furniture Co." Tables

Beautifully detailed, excellent quality, pair of Neo-classical tables made by Weiman.  Tables are two tiered and have tooled leather tops, figured Honduran mahogany bordered in ribbon mahogany, lion's head decoration and shell feet in bronze.  25"l., 25"w., 28"h.  American, c.1940's SOLD for the pair.

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues Music Video

More music from the road.....I feel very fortunate to be able to be travelling around lots in search of great stuff.  While I'm on the road, I have my stable of places I visit and people I see.  I also have my stable of radio stations, mostly independent or college, from which I get exposed to some amazing new artists and songs.  This is one of the bands that is on my current playlist as a result of my trip this past week.

Lamps

Elegant form on this pair of solid metal lamps with original shades.  36'h.  American, c.1950's SOLD

"Drexel Furniture Co." Chest

Great geometric, modern styling on this Drexel Furniture Co. chest.  Chest has 3 divided drawers and 3 without dividers.  63 1/2" l., 18 1/2" w., 31" h.  American, mid 20th c. SOLD

"Dixie Furniture Co." Dining Table and Chairs

Beautiful faux bamboo dining table and cane-back chairs by Dixie Furniture Co.  Dining table has 2 leaves and there are 4 side chairs and 2 arm chairs.  New natural linen upholstery.  40" dimater (without leaves) 30"h., each leaf is 18".   American, mid 20th c.  SOLD

"Drexel Furniture Co." Credenza

Impressive, Drexel Furniture Company Credenza, with painted and gold leaf decoration.  The top portion of the cabinet is separate and removable.  86" l., 21"w., 38 1/2" h. American, mid 20th c. SOLD

"C. Jere" Ship

Curtis Jere design house, chrome ship sculpture.  47" h., 52"w. California, c.1970's SOLD

Ólöf Arnalds- Jonathan

I heard this song for the first time this morning while I was driving through the hills of Upstate New York. The fields seemed particularly green and lush for this time of year, but the leaves had already started changing. There was a misty rain, but I could see the sun poking through in the distance. It seemed kind of perfect.

Michael Thomas

We have had lots of requests over the last little while, by people who have happened upon the blog by chance, to see more interior shots of the shop.  Here are some photos that were taken for a Style at Home magazine shoot a couple of years ago.  While things have changed a lot since then, the photos give a good overview.  Going forward, in addition to posting pictures of art and furniture pieces, I will be posting more store shots as well.  Thanks for all the input!

"Hickory Chair Co." Chairs

Comfortable sophistication defines these handsome Hickory Chair Co., mahogany, faux bamboo chairs which have new fabric upholstery (a rich moss colored silk velvet) and fill.  American, mid 20th c. SOLD