Easily said...

Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical. - Sophia Loren



White lie:
A white lie would cause only relatively minor discord if it were uncovered, and typically offers some benefit to the hearer. White lies are often used to avoid offense, such as complimenting something one finds unattractive. In this case, the lie is told to avoid the harmful realistic implications of the truth.



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Now playing: Grace Jones - Hollywood Liar
via FoxyTunes

The clouds are so low

Jean Dupas (1882-1964)
The History of Navigation Mural, 1934
Made for the SS Normandie
Verre eglomise panels manufactured by Charles Champigneulle






The Metropolitan Museum of Art










Jean Dupas (1882-1964) and Jean Dunand (1877-1942)
Chariot of Aurora, 1935
Gold leaf and lacquer on plaster




Carnegie Museum



Jean Théodore Dupas (1882-1964)




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Now playing: Rod McKuen - Jean
via FoxyTunes

So beautiful

Yet so impossibly out of sync with current fashion.



LOT NUMBER 1219


Rare Pair of German Mannerist Revival Sterling Silver and Shell Cameo Table Lamps, first quarter 20th century, by Ludwig Neresheimer & Co., Hanau, with London import marks of 1911-1912, sponsored by Neresheimer's British agent, Berthold Mueller, each with a lobed base and silver figural standard, one depicting "Diana and Her Hounds", the other "Neptune in His Hippocampi-Drawn Chariot", each fitted with a full conch shell, illuminated from the rear and cameo-cut with a scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses, respectively, "Diana Releasing the Calydonian Boar" and "The Seduction of Europa", h. 16", dia. 6-1/2".





LOT NUMBER 1194


Fine, Large and Rare Louis XIV Verdure Tapestry, fourth quarter 17th century, depicting "The Awakening of Eros", the borders of flowers, foliage and ripe pomegranates, with a peacock at the upper left corner and a dove at the right, the basal corners each with a seated attentive puppy, the palette in cobalt blue, ecru, ivory and green, the reverse properly backed with a later linen support, h. 105", w. 98".


New Orleans Auction Galleries, Inc.
October 10-11, 2009


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Now playing: Beck - The Golden Age
via FoxyTunes

Crisp autumn mornings

Naturally lead to thoughts of spring. For once I intend to get a head start, at least in the garden.



Daffodil Ice Follies
Daffodil Pheasant's Eye
Snowdrop S. Arnott
Musk hyacinth Muscari muscarimi






Camellia japonica Lavinia Maggi
Camellia hybrid Cornish Snow
Camellia japonica Charlotte de Rothschild
Camellia hiemalis Bonanza

And, a little wisdom from Dame Marjorie Maude Chardin -



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Now playing: Cat Stevens - Wild World
via FoxyTunes

From the sublime to the serious, via the ridiculous

The sublime -



Luis Barragan's Los Clubes (Mexico City, Mexico)


The ridiculous -



John Waters's Pink Flamingos (1972)



The serious -

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month via Mrs. Blandings.

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Now playing: Thelma Houston - Don't Leave Me This Way
via FoxyTunes

Busy, busy, busy

Placeholder until such a time that I'm not.

Something for the weekend

Mission: Impossible

Seasons one through three. Why? Those were the seasons that Barbara Bain appeared as top model and actress Cinnamon Carter. So flawlessly chic in that knowing way.














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Now playing: Richard Kiley - Little Bird, Little Bird
via FoxyTunes

Winter wonderland

Alexander McQueen Autumn/Winter 2009-10





And by the looks of it the coming Spring is going to be glorious. Glorious in an American abstract expressionist way, that is.















GQ.COM















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Now playing: Simple Minds - Love Song

via FoxyTunes

Clam diggers

Linguine with clams in a cream sauce, served with sauteed samphire.
Arrange linguine in the centre of the plate, place open clams around the outside interspersing with the samphire.




Zoffany's Samphire

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Now playing: Tony Bennett - The Shadow of Your Smile
via FoxyTunes

Chatelaine

Flora Sissy Goforth is our mystery chatelaine.

Played to the absolute hilt by Elizabeth Taylor in Tennessee Williams's film adaptation of his play The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore (1963) entitled Boom! (1968). Appearing along side Miss Taylor are Richard Burton, Noel Coward (pictured above in his role as the Witch of Capri), and Joanna Shimkus.

The ravishing sets were created by the very talented Richard MacDonald, who had also previously worked with the film's director Joseph Losey.




While not generally well received in its own time, perhaps Boom!'s time has finally come. Perhaps this time as an opera.



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Now playing: Killing Joke - Requiem
via FoxyTunes

Through the keyhole

Who lives in a house like this?

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Now playing: Chaka Demus & Pliers - Tease Me
via FoxyTunes

Something for the weekend

Suddenly, Last Summer (1959) the film based on the one-act play by Tennessee Williams.


Mrs. Venable - My son, Sebastian and I constructed our days. Each day we would carve each day like a piece of sculpture, leaving behind us a trail of days like a gallery of sculpture until suddenly, last summer.





The Motels - Suddenly, Last Summer

Bijoux

632. A Pair of 18k Gold and Jade Earrings with Diamonds and Pink Sapphires

Perfect for an autumn ensemble of olive tweed, aubergine wool and amethyst silk.





501. A Pair of Spanish Colonial 18k Gold and Pearl Earrings

A black column of wool or cashmere jersey would do nicely for these.





582. A Pair of 18k Diamond and Ruby Cufflinks

Far too louche for a man, but perfect for a woman in a man's Sulka silk dress shirt with a set of ruby dress studs.





415. An 18k Gold and Diamond Bamboo Design Bangle Bracelet

One would be nice, but three would be better.



Jewelry should always have a little oomph.



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Now playing: Queen - Bijou
via FoxyTunes