"Ernestine of Salerno" Hand-painted Majolica Lamps

Rare pair of hand-painted Majolica lamps on iron hairpin bases.  These beautiful lamps were made by Ernestine of Salerno and are signed on the side and bottom of each lamp.  One lamp has large painted ferns in yellows, greys and black.  The other has leaping horses and buffalo in shades of yellow, grey, brown, purple and black.  The good news is that individual lamps by Ernestine generally retail in the thousand to several thousand dollar range so these are a great value.  Unfortunately, they both have a number of hairlines.  That said, they are sound, display nicely and they could be restored.  Shades not included.  Italian, c. 1950's SOLD

Fruitwood Cabinet

Handsome and very versatile fruitwood cabinet with carved doors and brass accents.  This piece would make a great bar and there is a nice amount of storage space and one adjustable shelf inside the cabinet.  40" l., 16" w.,  29" h.  American, c. mid 20th c.  SOLD

Pair of "Stiffel" Lamps

Impressive pair of Hollywood Regency style antiqued brass lamps by Stiffel.  These classic urn shaped lamps have ebonized accents and a rich, warm patinated finish.  Shades available separately.  35" h.  American, c. 1950's  $250.00 for the pair

Cerused Oak Credenza

Cool and sophisticated, this cerused oak credenza has three studded stainless doors with a patinated finish and tassel pulls.  The doors open to a long compartment with one stationary shelf.  This piece would be perfect for a flat screen television or stereo components.  48" l., 15" 1/2" w.,  22" h.  American, c. mid 20th c.  SOLD

We are quickly approaching our fifth anniversary and we are getting the celebration started a little early.  First of all, we would like to sincerely thank everyone who has helped to make the last five years a great experience.  Thank you to our wonderful clients, many of whom we are now grateful to call friends.  Thank you to all the exceptional artists with whom we have worked.  They have inspired and enriched our spaces and lives.  Special thanks to those family members, friends, neighbors, and all in the community that have supported, encouraged, guided, enlightened and entertained.  It has been a pleasure and privilege to share what we love.  We look forward to continuing to bring you a unique assortment of art, furniture and objects to inspire and invigorate your inner decorator and enhance your home.

During the month of August we will be doing lots to say thank you.  Please check out our blog regularly for updates.  To start the ball rolling...... we will be presenting a $500.00 Michael Thomas gift certificate to one of our clients.  Stop by the shop and drop off a business card or fill out an entry form between today and August 30th for a chance to win the August 31st draw.  

American Fancy Chairs

American Fancy was an aesthetic movement that swept The States in the early 19th c. characterized by exuberantly decorated furnishings.  Brightly painted, faux painted, highly patterned and highly imaginative pieces were the rage of the day.  These classic fancy chairs retain their original paint decoration and rush seats, and are quite sturdy and surprisingly comfortable.  American, c. 1830  SOLD

Hans Erni; "Le Banquet, Platon"

Hans Erni (1909-  ) is a 104 year old Swiss painter, print maker, designer and sculptor.  He was born in Lucerne, Switzerland, and in the late twenties moved to Paris to study at the Academie Julian.  In the early thirties, while still in Paris, he traveled in the circles of and was heavily influenced by Picasso, Braque and other contemporary artists living in La Ville Lumiere at the time.  Picasso's influence is quite apparent in Erni's work and has justly earned him the moniker of "The Swiss Picasso".  This wonderful pair of framed and signed prints by Erni are from a series of plates done for a 1941 printing of "Le Banquet".  "The Banquet" is a text by Plato of about 380 B.C. which is mainly a long series of speeches on the nature of love.  In this pair of erotic and beautifully and freely drawn etchings, the influence Picasso, as well as Matisse, had on Erni is evident.  The etchings were originally purchased at the Greenwich Gallery (renamed the Isaacs Gallery in 1960) in Toronto in the late fifties.  They both retain their original gallery labels.  Framed, 18" l., 14 1/2" w.  Swiss, 1941  SOLD

Pair of Sculptural Plaster Lamps

Sensational pair of  large (almost 3 ft. tall), sculptural, cast plaster table lamps.  These very chic lamps have lucite bases and retain their original lucite finials.  The original shades are included but need some restoration or replacement.  33" h., 22" l., 12" w.  American, c. 2nd half 20th c. $275.00 each  1 SOLD

Italian Inlaid Box

A very handsome Italian made box of rich inlaid walnut veneers with a key lock and ball feet.  13 1/2" l., 9 1/2" w.,  4 1/2" h. Italian, 1st half 20th c.  SOLD

Italian Ceramic Vase

Great size, shape and texture on this signed, Italian mid-century ceramic vase.  15 1/2" h., 6" diam.  Italian, c. 1960  SOLD

Set of Decanters and Tray

If you are looking for a really cool and unique addition to your bar or for a great wedding, engagement, birthday, etc. gift, we've got it.  This set of four pump decanters comes with the original lucite tray.  Each decanter is etched with a different liquor; vodka, bourbon, gin and scotch.  11" h., 17" l., 5" w.  American, c. 1970 SOLD

Pair of Eagle Bookends

Handsome pair of gilded and carved American Eagle bookends with lots of character.  7" h., 6" w. American, c. 1950's  SOLD

Val St. Lambert Vase

Very pretty vintage Val St. Lambert crystal vase with a teardrop design.  6" h., 6 1/2" diam.  Belgian, 2nd half 20th c.  SOLD

Port Hope Summer Sidewalk Sale (Remembrance of Things Past)

Michael Thomas c. 2008

Port Hope's annual Sidewalk Sale is taking place this weekend and we are opening up our vault.  Over the past few years as our style and assortment has evolved, we have retired some great pieces that we just didn't have a place for in the shop.  We are bringing them out(side) tomorrow and offering them at significant price reductions.  Included in the sale will be a fantastic selection of rugs, hand hooked pillows, stationery, trays, candles, art, baskets, a lime green Fatboy, and lots more.   The weather is supposed to break by tomorrow morning, so the sale will give you a good reason to turn off your air conditioners and come to Port Hope!

"Wolfgang Hoffman for Howell" Table

Designed by Wolfgang Hoffman for Howell, this classic Art Deco table has tubular chrome legs and a black laminate micarta top with chrome and black lacquer edge banding.  It would function well as a corner table, center table or a small kitchen table.  30" diam., 28 1/2" h.  American, c. 1930's  SOLD

Mid-Century Bench

Very cool and unique, well-constructed, wrought iron bench with upholstered seat.  The frame is wrought iron and the "slats" are composed of stacked wooden balls.  The seat cushion is newly upholstered in a charcoal grey wool fabric.  It would be a super addition to a hallway, foyer or at the end of a bed.  37" l., 17" w., 27" h.  American, c. 1960  SOLD

"Weller Co." Art Deco Boxing Poster

Large original Art Deco "stock" boxing poster depicting two fighters in the ring.  This great graphic piece is called a "stock" poster because it would have eventually been printed or stamped with the name of an event or a product in the white area.  The poster was printed by the Weller Company of Philadelphia and was printed using an offset printing method.  It is in excellent condition and is linen mounted.  Framed, 41" l., 30" w.  American, c. 1940's  SOLD

"John Van Koert for Drexel" Corner Table

Another great looking piece designed by John Van Koert for the Drexel Profile Collection.  This piece is a two-tiered corner table.  It has the same rounded edges and clean modern lines as other pieces from this well designed collection.  30" square, 24" h.  American c. 1956  SOLD

Gilded Mirror

Beveled glass mirror with gilded and ebonized wood frame with ornate floral garland and pine cone finial.  35" h., 22" w.  American, c. 2nd half 20th c.  SOLD

Art Deco Vanity/ Desk with Bench

This piece is a show stopper!  It functions well as either a vanity or desk and retains its original antiqued paint finish.  One long center drawer is flanked by three substantial drawers on either side.  The drawer pulls are silver leafed wood as is the scalloped base.  The top has its original inset mirrored glass.  This glamorous piece evokes images of a sophisticated and bygone era and by no means does it need to be restricted to the bedroom.  Show it off.  60" l., 21" w., 30" h.  Bench is 18" h.  American, c. 1940  SOLD

Pedestal

Very ornate painted and carved pedestal.  It looks great in its distressed state, but could be repainted to completely change the look and feel.  44" h., 15" diam.  American, c. 1950's  SOLD

Olexander Wlasenko; "The Parting"

This outstanding new work by Olexander was inspired by the 1961 French film "Lola".  Young Cecile is smitten with Frankie, an American sailor stationed in the port of Nantes.  On the day before Cecile's fourteenth birthday,  Frankie is summoned to leave Nantes.  This scene captures their final moments together.  Frankie departs in the company of fellow sailors while Cecile looks on as they leave.  This is their "au revoir" at the fairgrounds where they have spent the day.  Will they ever meet again?  Framed, 78" l., 42 1/2" h.  SOLD

Chinoiserie Secretary

Striking ebonized and hand painted Chinoiserie secretary.  The secretary has two glass center doors that open to a salmon colored painted interior with two adjustable wood shelves.  The two side doors each open and inside each compartment are two adjustable glass shelves.  The bottom portion of the secretary has a center drawer which opens to reveal a desk with a drop down writing surface and a compartment with cubby holes and a pull out drawer.  On either side are pull out drawers and below are four doors which open to shelved compartments.  48" w., 77" h., 18" w.  American, c. 1940's  SOLD

Joyce Wieland; "The Lovers, The Lovers #16"

Joyce Wieland (1931-1998) was a ground breaking artist and very important figure in Canadian Art History.  She was the first woman to show at the prestigious Isaacs Gallery in Toronto.  Her 1971 retrospective at the National Gallery was its first ever for a female artist.  Wieland was born in Toronto and lived and worked there until 1962 when she moved to New York with her husband, artist Michael Snow.  They were both very involved in the New York City art scene, particularly the underground film community.  She returned to Canada in 1970 where she worked into the nineties.  A self described "cultural activist", she is best known for celebrating Canadian national identity and bringing forward feminist issues within a very male dominated art world.
This pair of pencil on chalk drawings were first shown at the Isaacs Gallery in 1961.  There is another drawing from this series which was purchased by the National Gallery in 1970 and is in their permanent collection.  Framed, each drawing is 17" l., 13 1/2" w.  Canadian, c. 1961 SOLD