Sunday, October 30, 2011

Mahogany Chippendale Serpentine Chest with Ball-in-Claw Feet + Mirror

As followers and ambassadors of Gotcha Modern! know, we believe that great design transcends time.  So, while we tend to gravitate toward mid-century pieces, we're not shy about offering tasty examples of design from any period.  So it is with this lovely chest of drawers.

In period American furniture, proportion separates the good from the truly great pieces.  The best craftsmen had an innate sense of how the proportion of a piece impacted its perception and enhanced or detracted from its beauty.

One of the first things you notice about this chest is its stunning proportions.  Chippendale chests often of very short feet that make the chest appear too squaty, but the taller feet on this example elevates the piece and provides it with an assertive prominence that both commands attention is extremely pleasing aesthetically.

But the proportion is just one in a long line of attributes that set this piece apart.  Beautiful carving on the ball-and-claw legs moves into camfered fronts (again, not often seen on Chippendale pieces) that culminate at the top with a graceful floral design.  The original brass pulls adorn three graduated drawers, each of which slide works smoothly and offers significant storage capacity (more than you think!).  Resting on top of the chest is a thick sheet of protective glass, which is original to the piece.  Finally, the highly-carved mirror provides a beautiful finishing touch.

The chest features highly figured mahogany veneers, and has a warm and rich (and original!) finish.  The chest is very well made - heavy and substantial.  This is a piece of furniture you will have for a very long time.

The piece's somewhat compact size is extremely versatile - use it as a buffet (great storage), as a bureau in a living room or den or, of course, as chest in a bedroom.

The owner purchased the chest at auction in Chicago approximately 15 years ago.

Very good vintage condition. 

Chest:  45" long, 22" wide, 36" tall
Mirror: 39" tall, 24" wide

SOLD.  Thanks, Chris @ Libertyville!
Gotcha Modern! is happy to offer complimentary delivery of the chest within a 10 mile radius of Park Ridge.










Sunday, October 16, 2011

Selig Mid Century Lounge Chair - The Eames Alternative

You love the design of this lounge chair, and you know the Charles Eames example for Herman Miller will set you back $3-4K.  While your love for great mid century design runs deep, it doesn't run a few thousand dollars deep for one of these chairs.  Well, voila!  Don't despair, Gotcha Modern! has a solution.

Selig - a noted and well-regarded company that produced and distributed great mid-century furniture back in the day, some it designed by top Danish designers - realized that Mr. Eames had a pretty good thing going with his lounge chair for Herman Miller.  So, they joined the party and designed their own version.  And although not on the same level as Mr. Eame's chair, it is still pretty darn good....and looks fabulous, too.

Presenting the Selig "Eames-alike" lounge chair and ottoman.  Bent plywood frame with steel supports and base.  An adjustable recline mechanism on the underside of the chair allows you to adjust the chair to your preference.  The original upholstery is a black pleather.

Excellent overall vintage condition.  There are some nicks here and there on the plywood backing, and the upholstery is starting to pull away from one side of the seat (should probably be reinforced - I'll let the new owner make that decision).  The upholstery on the ottoman has a couple of scratches, but no tears.

Chair:  32" wide, 38" high, 32" deep.  Ottoman:  21" long, 17" wide, 15" high.

The Selig tag remains on the underside of the chair.

Best of all, this chair is comfortable with a capital "C!"  Sit in it once, and you won't want to get up.  Honest.

SOLD.  Thanks, Barb @ Chicago!







Laurel Flying Saucer Floor Lamp

Laurel made great modern lamps, and this example is one of their best floor lamp designs.  Affectionately referred to as the flying saucer lamp, it features an ajdustable neck, which allows you to position the lamp in most any desired direction.

Made of black-painted steel, this is a solid and well-made lamp - and it's in excellent condition.  The plastic diffisuer on these lamps are often missing or cracked - the diffuser on this lamp is, well, pristine!

Signed Laurel.

Make a statement with a top-notch example of mid century American lighting.

SOLD.  Thanks, Steve @ Chicago!