Wood Prototype of Airplane Engine

Does it have valves? Compression? Are the spark plugs threaded in? Was it a true functional prototype to test some aspect of performance or is it (more likely) a teacher's model?

Aluminum British [?] Officer's Furniture

yeah, "some" scratches. I'd call that hammered aluminum, but still:

Lot 451
Officer's Armoire and Bed
Aluminum
England, first half 20th century
Rectangular form armoire with cut corners and single door, interior fitted with a clothing pole, Bakelite handle; rectangular head and footboard with bed rails; some scratches and dents; ht. 71 3/4, 36 1/2, wd. 39 1/8, 57 1/4, armoire dp. 18, rail spacing 52 1/4 in.
Estimate $1,200-1,800
Sold for $3,437

"Officer's Armoire and Bed"? Officer of what awesome aluminum army? [via skinner auctions]

Sign Painter Movie

As an aficionado of hand lettering, I am extremely interested in Faythe's new sign painter documentary. Having known a number of sign painters, they are categorically an interesting bunch and should make for an interesting documentary.

John Downer with his sandwich board Halloween costume, which, is pretty cool and all, but look at that $15 a hour sign behind him. My goodness.

Whew. That is serious work.

Doc Guthrie's class at LA Trade Tech makes me feel better about the world.

Follow the movie's progress

Support the film and order a shirt here

Support Your Local Sign Painter

As an aficionado of hand lettering, I am extremely interested in Faythe's new sign painter documentary. Having known a number of sign painters, they are categorically an interesting bunch and should make for an interesting documentary.

John Downer with his sandwich board Halloween costume, which, is pretty cool and all, but look at that $15 a hour sign behind him. My goodness.

Whew. That is serious work.

Doc Guthrie's class at LA Trade Tech makes me feel better about the world.

Follow the movie's progress

Support the film and order a shirt here

Gary Graham Dress

Gary Graham

Alec Baldwin Kicked Off Plane; Carrying J. Spade

I believe that Alec Baldwin and I carry the same bag. Beyond that, other coincidences? Maybe.

From Spade

House for Hermès

 

I am so pleased with this collaboration that I welled up. Seriously, I am so proud of our boys from Delaware.

Mickey Drexler noted in his New Yorker profile, Hermès was the only brand that he could think of that delivered on the luxury promise. Hermès is one of my favorite brands even though I don't own a single item from their storied line. And crazypants House is a perfect fit. Who else would Hermès Japan pick to work with?

Interestingly, lots of current House collaborations seem to be Japan based. To risk a cultural stereotype, I truly believe that the Japanese have a handle on understanding the core value of products and brands.

Often, companies embarrass themselves when they do a retro take and miss the point. It ends up being a pastiche and points out in Technicolor that they never understood the value in the first place. It is a risk they probably don't understand. They could have done an original bad design and the only harm would have been bad design. Not a crime as there is plenty of bad design. I'm guilty of bad design.

But, to mess with a classic and get it wrong, that harms their company and throws mud on the original. Sure, that Saarinen chair is perfect and untouchable in a pure world, but you can only see so many knock-offs without influencing the original.

Hermès has the daunting job of redefining their own classics. They have over a hundred and fifty years of superlative taste and exquisite craftsmanship. And when the Japanese store needs the best, they get the best. That's why I am so proud of my brothers at House. 

"...when we make and sell something in Japan, it has to be REAL, or else the buyer isn't truly satisfied." -- James Jebbia, founder Supreme

House for Hermès

A-Frame Doll House

A perfect gift for the cool kids on your Christmas list: a miniature mountain lodge you can build yourself! From Sunset Magazine, December 1961.

Both sides of the roof open out flat on the floor, and fold up for easy storage.

Built of 1/4" plywood, and pine molding, with a sheet of heavy clear plastic for the windows. The roof is painted with one thin coat of brick-red paint, and the shingles are simply drawn in with soft pencil and a T-square. So easy!

Gingerbread Geodesic Dome

LA design firm Scout Regalia has whipped up a sweet diversion for those of us who like to play with our food. This spin on the traditional gingerbread house is built using a pre-cut template. If Hansel and Gretel had a planetarium, this would be it.

Scout Regalia's Gingerbread Geodesic Dome

President Eisenhower's Partio Kitchen/BBQ Cart

As if the General Electric Partio wasn't awesome enough for having a portable stove, oven, rotisserie, and charcoal BBQ grill, all in one convenient cart; this one comes from the Palm Springs home of President Eisenhower, who called it "the most fantastic thing you ever saw."

Lot 351: General Electric "Partio Kitchen/BBQ" Cart, est. $5,000-7,000 [lamodern.com]
The Cottage the Eisenhowers Called Home [palmspringslife.com]
more shots of another Partio, NOS, sold [1stdibs.com]