Monday 21 July 2008

Requisites for a Dragon Lady

Evidently the term , Dragon Lady , is now seen as de trop. What a shame. Personally, I cannot think of a better way to describe this type of woman. And I have known many, including my own mother.


Gale Sondergaard as Mrs. Hammond in The Letter.


For the walls, a Robert Crowder printed paper.


A near pair of Chinese hardwood tables, of octagonal form, with carved edges raised on a folding stands.


A Chinese side cabinet, c. 1900, having a pagoda shaped cornice over a single panelled door carved with figures, boats, a bridge, buildings and prunus foliage.


A carved padouk wood envelope games table, 20th Century.


A Chinese hardwood stand with a pierced apron.


A La Barge gilt-brass-framed eglomise looking glass, in the chinoiserie taste, the vertical plate broadly beveled throughout, the reverse with a printed paper La Barge label.


18th Century English Chippendale mahogany and beechwood camel back sofa.


A Ch'ien-Lung carved jade group, fourth quarter 18th century, depicting a female Foo dog with her young atop her back.


For the curtains and sofa, Lee Jofa's Portiere Weave


For the upholstered chairs, Lee Jofa's Chennai Weave


For the accent pieces and cushions, Lee Jofa's Holland Flamestich


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Now playing: Kitaro - Silk Road
via FoxyTunes

7 comments:

Mrs Saigon said...

I aspire to being a dragon lady when old ... possibly with a couple of evil cats.

An Aesthete's Lament said...

The only dragon-lady drawback is the damned nails. Even with quick-dry nail lacquer, those must be hell to maintain. Then again, they would encourage true indolence. Oh, Beulah, peel me a grape.

HOBAC said...

AL - that is one of the best lines ever uttered on the silver screen.

HOBAC said...

Edith - and the crazy servant. Must have a crazy servant.

katiedid said...

That Crowder paper...fantastic. I don't think there is anything here I don't love.

columnist said...

I'm tempted to say that these pieces of Chinese furniture are early C20th, and the card table does have distinct European styling in the claw feet. I should really know, having grown up seeing a lot of it in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong etc, which may also indicate it was for a European-influenced environment. Can anyone offer a definitive answer?

HOBAC said...

Columnist - you are absolutely spot on. And, more than likely made for the foreign market.