Every year the SAN FRANCISCO FALL ANTIQUE show arrives and I ALWAYS GO!.I zip across the BAY BRIDGE to get a LIFT from the SUBURBS.It truly is a well done show and ALWAYS has CELEBRITIES to meet!This year was no exception.The LOVELY PENELOPE BIANCHI from MONTECITO was even coming up for the opening SHINDIG and invited me to join her for a few LECTURES.How could I pass that up!
Penelope BIANCHI and me your CONTESSA on the RIGHT.
This is RUTH WILKINSON married to HUTTON WILKINSON who was a SPEAKER at one of the lectures.As he and FYLNN KUHNERT have written a new book on A LOVING MEMORY of ELSIE DE WOLFE.
The BOYS prepping for their CHAT on stage just three rows in front of me and Penelope.I should tell YOU Penelope knew HUTTON……..which makes perfect sense to me!In fact, we saw them the day before and I was introduced…………….Hutton gave me a HUG.That my dear READERS made MY DAY!
Many of you may not know who he is…………..BUT I DO as my SON gave me the TONY DUQUETTE book years ago for CHRISTMAS.Hutton Wilkinson was the protégée of Tony Duquette.He lives in his home………. WOODLAND.OH, how I would LOVE to see this home!
Fylnn on the other hand was an OPERA and Theatre SET DIRECTOR and has taught 19th and 20th century dramatic literature at Harvard College and Duke University.
This is CHARLOTTE……….our first day there we heard ANDREW PRINCE speak about the JEWELS from 1890 to 1929.He in fact made the jewelry worn in the mini series DOWNTON ABBEY!!!The jewels were on display for me to TOUCH!Well, I was not so RUDE as to TOUCH but I did snap a photo!
We also learned that the CARTIER BOYS(there were three)went out into the city (PARIS) for inspiration.Do you know what inspired them?IRON WORK………balustrades and balconies!!!Take a closer look next time your sitting next to a woman with a TIARA on……….well, just imagine you are and look at the old history books.Do you think we will see the day of elegance and tiaras at parties EVER again?My Friend LADY DI(the one in my town)not the PRINCESS said we need to start a REVOLUTION about dressing BETTER!
I was SO inspired from HIS talk the day before I chose to wear a few of mine the next day to CHANNEL the royals who adored their pearls!Did you know a PEARL at one time cost more then a diamond!?Next to me is Penelope Bianchi and behind us is HUTTONS WIFE………….RUTH.The keeper of the PENS!
DOWNTON JEWELS……………………….Do you recognize any or ALL of these bits?I have to admit I only saw ONE episode of this show as my DARLING ITALIAN cannot understand the accent!I know I know many of YOU cannot understand HIM when he chats………………after 30 years of living in the STATES he still has an accent too!
Hutton with my BOOKS……….YOU see they wrote two books in ONE covered box…………..THE WALK TO ELSIE’S is the first book which I have already read 200 pages, so far so GOOD!The second book is called THE WALK FROM ELSIE’s All the drawings were found in a portfolio amongst TONY Duquette’s items still in the house.No one had ever seen these drawings…….until now.The book is illustrated with Tony’s drawings from his visit to VILLA TRIANON at VERSAILLES.
To order the BOOKS GO HERE.
The autograph was MORE then just a signature………..a personal message from the two men who I had the good fortune to meet because of MADAME P and I had the notion to buy the book the day before the LECTURE so I wouldn’t have to stand in line!Let’s just say I got one of the last books available at the show and it seems AMAZON is SOLD out as well…………..MORE WILL BE AVAILABLE for purchase so go place your order on AMAZON if you are indeed intrigued from my photos and words here…………THE BOOK ISNOT CHEAP………..BEWARE.
I do believe I am a VERY HAPPY CONTESSA with all the scribbles that ADORN my BOOK!These books are numbered……….mine is number 628.So, don’t flinch at the price as it is WORTH every PENNY!The gorgeous drawings,the gold trimmed pages, the colorful covers…………..need I go on?(Note to MY SONS this is a KEEPER!!)
FYLNN and ME…………………….He is such a HAPPY MAN.You can see from this photo he is just beaming!They were both so excited to be sharing how they wrote the book and the tales that went with the words………..the PASSION swooped over me and I am caught up in it too.I came home that night and just sat in my big winged back chair in the kitchen and floated back thinking about all the tidbits I had learned and the beautiful people I had met.
Bunny Williams and Brian Mc Carthy did a very interesting talk about SISTER PARISH and ALBERT HADLEY.Both of these designers started off working for these GIANTS in the DESIGN industry.Evidently,Albert loved to measure EVERYTHING.Mrs. Parish was more like me just walked in and said that goes here and this goes there…………..SHE WAS A FORCE!Do you know she ran away from BOARDING SCHOOL by calling a chauffeured limousine.ALBERT on the other hand would pick up furniture on the side of the road for his own use!Which I use to do all the time too!These TWO DYNAMO DECORATORS have a new book out as well…………..I did not get their book or autographs as the traffic was looming in my head and it was time to get back to the old RANCH HOUSE and fix supper for the ITALIAN.
I will purchase the BOOK as the stories were W O N D E R F U L about Mrs. Parish and her side kick Mister HADLEY.HERE.
The painting that was purchased by a RELATIVE of mine!English and SO GORGEOUS………………just think I get to visit this painting!
Wish I owned these CREATURES………………..maybe I should make a MOOD BOARD like ELLIE did over on the blog HAVE SOME DECORUM!!Her mood board WORKED as she is all packed up and headed to PROVENCE!
A Print by………….. ?I have already forgotten maybe one of YOU know?I took this snap as my friend said,”YOUR NEXT PHOTO SESSION IN PARIS!!!?”
Oh, CARLA COULSON…………do you have a few minutes for me and my HAT this coming YEAR?!!
Here WE have HUTTON WILKINSON and me YOUR DIVINE CONTESSA surrounded by STEVEN STOLEMAN.Steven was a DESIGNER who I found out made long TAFFETTA skirts with POCKETS in the right places.My friend Penelope owned TEN she said!!I am SORRY to say I missed out on these skirts and other delightful designs.Do you think I could find on EBAY?Meanwhile he is racing around the country doing BOOK SIGNINGS as well for his cookbook CONFESSIONS of a SERIAL ENTERTAINER.I follow him on INSTAGRAM and told him that I would be at the show and to be PREPARED as I might introduce myself!!!!Which I did………………thus the PHOTO!!
He has another book OUT about the showcase Houses at KIP’S BAY.
Plus,he has done a stint at the company called SCALAMANDRE!!!
A VERY TALENTED MAN I would say.
This is part of an ITALIAN cupboard we saw and all these BITS were added years later according to the Proprietress.The bits are made of PAPER MAICHE!I do not remember the price of the antique cupboard but it was STUNNING……………..
Here we have my lunch for both days!It was so pretty and SO good I had it two days in a row!I loved how they made a flower out of the Butter Lettuce.
MY BOOKS SIGNED BY THE AUTHORS……………………………
Well,I looked up and saw this LADY……….she sat in front of me!My mouth hopefully was closed when we made eye contact!This is one of SAN FRANCISCO social Butterflies……………..THE REAL ANN GETTY.
Velvet chair for sale in the FRENCH PANELED ROOM………………………
This booth always has a PANELED room.This exhibit is done by STEINITZ GALLERY.I would assume they come from PARIS.It always makes me a bit sad to see that a room in a beautiful chateau has been dismantled.However, someone WHO GET’s IT will BUY it and give it a GOOD home.
This is what I would have bought had I had an extra……….$20,000.00 dollars.I am GUESSING at the price as it had been SOLD by the time I arrived and the RED round sticker covered the numbers!He was EXQUISITE………….I could see HIM with a BIG BOLD CROWN on TOP for the HOLIDAYS.What do you think Master Decor guy ERIC?I did find out he was going to live in the NAPA VALLEY……….not far from me.I would HOUSE him INSIDE not OUTSIDE as was his planned destination.
A ROYAL DAME Named CHARLOTTE……………again I was CHANNELING her and others shown in the lecture the day before when I showed up in my version.Ran into this lovely lady who resembled me and SOMEONE said take a photo!
Look to the side as did CHARLOTTE…………………..but my pearls were grabbing my BOOB so we did a re-take!
BETTER…………….YES?
Did YOU enjoy that TOUR?I do hope SO and hope you will find yourself clicking away on AMAZON to order a book or four!
I have ordered all the other WILKINSON books as somehow the BOOK MORE IS MORE slipped by me!
Then there is the jewelry book Here.
Those of YOU who know me know that I haven’t STOPPED SHOPPING YET!
NO wall NO table shall go un~adorned in MY ABODE!
Hope you enjoyed my RAMBLINGS.
I certainly had a GRAND time…………THANK YOU PENELOPE!
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