Landstrom Desk arrives at Redeux

Summertime, and the Livin’ was Easy.

Well, summertime is certainly over at Redeux. The Redeux Furniture Spa is working overtime readying some of the nicest and most interesting pieces we have yet had.

Just arrived and ready are a mahogany Landstrom Furniture ,pre-1950, pedestal desk and a charming oak Mission style desk / writing table. We have been trying to keep up with the demand for interesting, quality pieces for your offices and homes and these two pieces are excellently made and beautiful to look at.

 Also new to the shop is a pine chest. Painted a mustard yellow, this is the "real deal". The piece appears to date from the late 1800's and the paint has plenty of age to it so is most likely original. It's a real beauty and is both functional and great as a display. Perfect for a guest room. 

A Victorian spindle rocking chair is also ready for you. This would be a nice addition to a bedroom or a quiet nook where you can read Jane Austin or Edith Wharton and easily imagine yourself back in that era. 

For another step back in time, a folk-painted vintage school chair with iron base will make a great conversation piece or very different occasional seating.

Our lighting selection includes several interesting items, including a 1950’s Eames style floor lamp in bright yellow. It’s on display now in our front window. We also have gotten in two art-deco table lamps.  The pictures of these will be posted on our web site ASAP.

Original paintings, signed prints, lithographs and vintage pottery are also now in. When it comes to art, The Redhead has spotted some rare finds.

Coming up this weekend is a wonderful John Wanamaker round, saber legged side table. This piece is very elegant and graceful. You'll be able to see this piece at Redeux even before it is photographed and the pictures posted.

All in all, Redeux is working at full steam to bring you the best authentic American vintage furniture and art.

Welcome back from vacation. Stop by soon!

Bill

Florence Griswold and the Twisted Sister

Knowing what we should do is very often just as important as knowing why we should do it.

 

A few weeks ago the Redhead and I, along with friends Joe and Mary Lou, made an excursion to the former, turn of the century, Connecticut Impressionistic art colony in Old Lyme – the Florence Griswold Museum.  Situated on the Lieutenant River, the museum consists mainly of a modern gallery building and the original mansion that served as the incubator for the Connecticut School of Impressionistic Art starting in 1900.

Art and beauty take many forms. The natural beauty of the Griswold riverfront property served as the inspiration for the beauty created by the many artists that took up residence there for a season – or longer. The mansion provided both inexpensive lodging and facilitated camaraderie for the artists. The hospitality shown by Florence Griswold to her guests was legendary and at some point each decided to return something to her – a piece of art, most often painted on the very walls and doors of the home. While touring the home one can view these paintings and stand in the rooms, largely furnished as they were in 1900, and imagine the conversations that those rooms once held.

History. The history of a time, a place and the people that made it surrounds you. In the dining room a piece of furniture caught my eye: a sideboard/server, made of mahogany. Nice enough, but what really caught my eye was what should not have been there. A large, black water mark, most likely caused by placing a water pitcher on the furniture and leaving it there for a while, was very prominent. And it’s been there for one hundred years. Who would have done such a thing to a beautiful piece of furniture? Was it the landscape artist Henry Ward Ranger? Or perhaps William Chadwick or Matilda Browne? Maybe it was Florence Griswold herself or one of her kitchen helpers.  No one now knows. But what fired my imagination was thinking of who it might have been and how it had happened. This imperfection, this mistake, told a story. And thankfully, I think, no one “fixed” it. Which brings me to The Twisted Sister.

This past Spring I found two sisters in an upstate Connecticut junk shop. One was rather tall, slender, dark complected and had borne her years with grace. The other was shorter, a bit stout and with a ruddy complexion. But, she had great legs. Two sisters. Close in age, but having very different looks.  The taller one required only short stay at the Redeux Spa. The other had had a life of some misfortune - certainly with a few hard knocks. Her legs, once elegant, were now all askew – twisted. Her top was stained with age and water spots. What to do, what to do? Setting  her straight was, of course, the first thing.  Giving her a new protective coat of varnish and some color highlights (I’m told girls really like these!) were also easy decisions. But what about the stains?  Some would sand her until not a trace remained of her blemishes.  This was probably the best way to make this sister new again. But, she isn’t new, I kept thinking. What to do?

Thanks to an afternoon with dear friends, in the company of the spirit of Florence Griswold and her artist house guests, the answer came. History is often told through the wear and tear on both people and things. How each bears its scars, blemishes and imperfections helps determine its true value.  I think Twisted Sister looks just beautiful.  Spend a few minutes with her and you’ll likely agree – and maybe invite her to your home.

Redeux has added to its vintage paintings collection with a charming still life of fruit and also a pair of small landscapes. One is reminiscent of the Griswold river estate. Also available is a vintage bird cage that would make a great plant holder, especially an ivy that would wind its way through the wire cage grill work. We have, too, some very handsome floor lamps each having touches of Bakelite and fancy metal work.

With the Fall season now approaching, the Redeux Spa is in high gear. Lots of goodies are queuing up for their turn in the Spa. Thanks to everyone who has stopped by during the summer. Your encouragement, appreciation for what Redeux does and your suggestions have been wonderful. Thank you! 

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Bill

Lone Star

Say,"Vintage furniture" and the usual image that comes to mind is either turn of the century to mid-century traditional or 1960’s retro. At least that’s what most Easterners might imagine. But what does Western vintage furniture look like? That’s right, Pardner, Western Vintage.

August Brandt immigrated to the United States from Germany and opened a furniture shop in Fort Worth, Texas around 1900. Using skills brought with him from Europe and later having his line of furniture standardized by his son and successor, Paul Brandt, the A. Brandt Ranch Oak furniture line was born. The furniture incorporates old-world craftsmanship like hand detailing (hewn and chiseled areas on each piece), doweled joints and American oak. I have never seen this type of furniture before and likely won’t again. Redeux is proud and delighted to have several pieces of this 1940-1950 era A. Brandt Western vintage Ranch Oak furniture in our shop. We have a large, office-sized desk with drawers, a corner cabinet, an end table and a very interesting three-piece sectional style couch.

These pieces will soon be given some minor Redeux Spa attention. To preview these pieces I suggest you do so soon. Once they have been given the Redeux Spa treatment these pieces might not stay around too long. So, “Giddy up, Pardner”!

Just about through with the spa treatment is the drop-leaf kitchen table and chair set that was pictured in our last blog. A sneak preview of the chair color is above. The table will be painted our “Redeux White” with an added surprise accent. This kitchen set has a great “cottage” look and feel to it.

Finally, the shop has a new layout. The counter area is up front and the furniture is now displayed in room-like settings. Also, by popular request, we have extended our week day hours until 6:00 P.M. and until 7:00 P.M. Thursday's. That will make it easier for some of you to stop by after work. So, stop by to see the changes and to say hello - or, “Howdy, Pardner”!

Hope to see you soon,

Bill

Art Deco Desk

Art deco, Cottage style painted furniture, turn of century oak, vintage prints, gilded mirrors – all have something in common. Each of these styles and periods of furniture were brought back to life at Redeux this week.

Desks are a very popular item at Redeux. Finding an interesting desk really is like a Pandora’s Box – you never know what you will find in it or where and how it will be used. Redeux customers must feel the same since desks never stay in the shop very long before they are taken to a new home. Will they be displayed as conversation pieces or used to pay bills, study for exams, accommodate computers or write letters to loved ones – using an ink-filled fountain pen? A Redeux desk, as does all our furniture, has seen it all. So what, I wonder, has our latest treasure seen? Being an Art Deco period piece it has probably seen its previous owners through part of the Great Depression, been there when our troops went off to fight in WWII and other conflicts and also may have been where a parent read the letters sent back home. It most likely had newspapers placed on it that contained the previous day’s news of the first man stepping onto the moon. This desk has seen a significant slice of American history and is a piece of that history itself.  An Art-Deco slant top desk, it has been impeccably cared for. It has been given a little treatment at the Redeux Spa and is now ready for a new home.

Many of you that have stopped into the shop the past few weeks have noticed the chest of drawers up front that was being worked on. Some suggested staining it, some suggested giving it a new look with paint. Well, it now has what I believe to be the best of both approaches – a very pleasing creamy white body with a walnut stained top and knobs. It has a very classic beach/country look. Made by Hathaway in the 1930’s -1940’s, this 6 drawer chest measures 43x24 so it will be the perfect addition to almost any room.

Just in is a very different china cabinet/cupboard. Having doors that are solid wood, this piece might just as easily be used in a living room, family room or country kitchen in addition to its usual place in a dining room. It has interesting carvings and turnings.

Our mirror selection keeps getting more and more interesting. We have added several gilded mirrors in various sizes in oval and rectangle shapes. The Redhead claims to have read that if a person gazes into an old mirror they will actually look younger. I’m not sure of that, but these mirrors will make everybody and any room look great!

Paper weights and prints. 

 

We’ve found several vintage glass weights that are especially beautiful.  They’ll make great additions to your desk or table tops. The vintage prints we have just added to our collection include lovely florals and wood blocks.

Undergoing the Redeux Treatment is a drop leaf kitchen table and four chairs. It seems to date from the 1920’s -1930’s. The set will be painted. If interested there is still time to request a color. Right now, shades of green, blue, yellow and a red are being considered.

Many folks coming into the shop remark on our furniture pricing. They find it fairly priced and refreshingly affordable. A check of the internet, as an example, shows chests very similar to our painted Hathaway ranging in price from $500.00 to over $1,100 (a painted “vintage” retailer in Maine). The Hathaway piece is available much more affordably. Our policy at Redeux is to offer only authentic, American-made vintage furniture at the very best prices possible. Our love of American vintage furniture and our joy in restoring these pieces allows us to do business the Redeux way.

Hope to see you again soon,

Bill

Prodigal Son

Birmingham, Connecticut. As a life-long resident of this state and history buff, this town remained a mystery to me. But, there it was, stenciled on the back of a Victorian-era oak bookcase:” From Geo. C. Bedient – Birmingham, Conn.”

After lots of research and inquiries, it was discovered that a Birmingham, Conn. really exists. Or, rather, did exist. Birmingham occupied the land now known as Derby, Conn. The name change likely occurred sometime in the last half of the 1800’s.  Birmingham was the area that attracted many tradesmen after they had served their apprenticeships in the bustling port city of Bridgeport. Saddle makers, weavers,  blacksmiths and cabinet makers flocked to Derby due to its offering plentiful power due to its position on the river and because it was still a gateway to the Western Territories of a young and growing United states. George C. Bedient may have been a Bridgeport trained cabinet maker or may have come directly from England, as many folks had done. We don’t yet know. What we do know is that he and his company also had a shop located in Ridgefield, Conn. That building burned down in the late 1800’s. We also know that he built some very nice and sturdy furniture. One of his pieces, an oak bookcase with a typical Victorian top-rail, is now ready at Redeux. Come say hello to George. He's back home and his makeover is now complete.

After a long dry spell, we again have a china cabinet. Actually, two of them, with one now ready in the shop. There is also a matching server/sideboard. These pieces, dating from the 1930’s, can be bought together or singly.

We also have a lovely painted vanity that could serve just as nicely as a desk. It's an off-white with green and pink accents. Very, chi-chi.

Speaking of desks, a full-sized spinet type desk is now available. It appears made of walnut with Empire style legs and moldings. Some of you may remember the ladies writing desk from last year. This is very similar, but larger and a bit older. It is very striking.

Our collection of vintage mirrors and vintage paintings and prints continues to grow. We have also added several other interesting items to our offerings. These include a tall, wrought iron plant/candle stand painted white, a garden sundial, and a child’s Nichols & Stone rocking chair. Lots of other goodies, too, and even more are undergoing treatment at the Redeux Spa.

And, on a completely different note:
Calling all readers and book lovers. We’re starting a book club that will meet once a month. Maybe include an informal supper at the meetings, too. All types of interesting books will be considered. You won’t need a PhD. to join, just a love for reading and an interest in sharing. For more info call me or the Redhead at the shop 203-522-5588.

Looking forward to seeing you again, soon,

Bill