Author: Michael Chappell

With my parents on the train homeward and the dishwasher laboring, I’ve a brief opportunity to review the day’s events. And I can happily say that Christmas Day was gloriously uneventful. The roast duck was everything it should be- moist and flavorful on the inside, with crispy skin without. The braised cabbage was about the tastiest I’ve ever had, and all of this preceded by my favorite starter, potted shrimps. Mind you, these might have been improved with brown shrimps from Morecombe Bay, but what we had was pretty damn fine, to quote a transplanted Yorkshireman- he knows who he is. All of this was served upon a George III period mahogany dining table, of course I had to work that in, with the iridescent timber of the table articulating perfectly with the silver cutlery and china service.

Frankly, getting out the serving pieces that hadn’t seen the light of day for a year, the Irish linen likewise hidden away, and employing them to add to the enjoyment of our yuletide feast was about as much fun as I’ve had in a long while. What happens, and maybe this is a side benefit of getting older, was that I could muse on the other times these items have been used, earlier Christmases, fabulous dinner parties that were events in themselves, and, as my silver and Irish linen are heirlooms, the enjoyment my grandparents and their friends got out of them. This may be overstating things, but I don’t think so, that objects, precious though inanimate, do become iconic in the possession of those who can feel their iconic properties.

And, of course, my own use adds to their spiritual energy. That’s by way of saying the more beloved objects are used, the more they are enjoyed. With all that, one of my wishes this holiday season is that next year sees the silver out of its canteen with much, much greater frequency, and the dining table functions not just as an adjunct of the dining room, but becomes as it should be the center of all-occasion conviviality.

Just in time for holiday gift giving, Chappell & McCullar is pleased to offer a selling exhibition of exquisite decorative boxes.  An excellent collection all dating from the late 18^th and early to mid 19^th centuries, and consisting of 60 Chinese export, Anglo-Indian, English tea caddies and Continental papier-mâché boxes, they’re perfect for the discerning collector, or as a special holiday treat for yourself.  This wonderful exhibition will run through December 24th only.  As always, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or comments.

Below please find a small selection of the boxes on offer.  Don’t forget to browse the rest of our site for other great gift giving ideas:  www.chappellmccullar.com

Phil Matier has confirmed in print today what had heretofore been unpleasant rumblings, that San Franciso’s magnificent Asian Art Museum is in deep financial trouble, in default with its major lender, and consulting with a bankruptcy lawyer. That it is unable to renew its operating line of credit, collateralized, it appears, with at least a portion of its permanent collections, the world faces not only the loss of a fine museum, but the prospective disbursal of extraordinary artwork to pay creditors.

That any public institution is having difficulty keeping its doors open, times being the way they are, is not a surprise, but that as valuable an institution as the Asian Art Museum is facing closure is never the less astonishing. Sadly ironic, too, given how hot and high profile particularly Chinese artwork is in collector’s circles. Last week, a Chinese collector paid nearly $70,000,000 for a particular small vase at a suburban auction house in west London.  This sale is not a one-off, with each passing week, it seems, logging record-setting prices.

Clearly, the self-interest of the collector trumps any notion of the greater good- the auction commission on just this one item would probably have totaled nearly $7,000,000- in itself a sizeable donation the Asian Art Museum would doubtless be ecstatic to receive. It would be a further and yet more cruel irony, however, should the museum be otherwise forced to capitalize on the hot market in Asian art by having to sell, as a stop gap, any part of its priceless collections.

Keith and I are diligent readers of shelter publications. Scotch that- we are diligent browsers, as we get so many complimentary subscriptions, we’d have a fulltime job reading them. So scan them we do, and that’s not such a bad thing, as a brief and rapid look better serves to make us aware of contemporary trends in a way that a narrow focus might not.

Lately what we find is a whole lot of what we used to see almost exclusively in World of Interiors –  otherwise ordinary spaces, filled with found objects artfully deployed. We used to refer to this- and yes, disparagingly- as garage sale chic. With my own objective to try to generate interest in better quality period material, and I’ll admit it, engender a sale and thus earn my daily crust, what were so often found items given pride of place seemed inimical to what we were trying to accomplish, and certainly at odds with our stock in trade.

After years of contemplative reflection, it’s finally occurred to me, though, that connoisseurship starts at a variety of different places. As I think about it, I’m not aware that anyone has, at least lately, found God amongst the Adamesque splendour of Osterley Park, but a fair number of people trudge with an almost religious fervor to the Alemany swap meet in San Francisco- and trudge home again possessed of something purchased solely because of its aesthetic appeal. Valuable? Possibly not much inherently, but if one makes an acquisition that has particular personal resonance, who’s to say what constitutes value?

Moreover, all of us who are inveterate collectors started somewhere. My own initial collecting passion, between the ages of 8 and 10, was for- wait for it- antique bottles. Mind you, some of them were exquisite- extraordinary colors, mainly the result of the interaction between sun and trace minerals in the glass. Now, though, I don’t have a one nor have I for, well, several decades. But enjoy them I did, and that’s the ultimate point, isn’t it? Well, perhaps not the ultimate, as enjoyment waxes and wanes, waning usually when replaced with another collecting if not passion than at least enthusiasm. But it is that sort of engagement that will ultimately yield a degree of connoisseurship. And who am I to say that a vintage electric toaster from the 1930’s has any less appeal or design integrity than a Linnell chair from the 1780’s.

With the holidays fast approaching, we still have an excellent selection of dining tables, sideboards and dining room chairs.  Take a look at our selection below and simply click on any image to be taken to the item’s detail page, where you will find high resolution images.

Any of our pieces can easily be shipped, both locally and across the country, within a matter of days to ensure every family member will have a place to sit and eat during the holiday celebrations.

Don’t forget to browse the rest of our website, www.chappellmccullar.com, to see all of our current inventory.  Of course, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.