John Dickinson: Primitive Elegance

<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="goog_1502565221"></span>There's a fine line between being amusing and being eccentric.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John Dickinson (1920 - 1982)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John Dickinson, the late San Francisco designer, was a disciplined perfectionist who described himself as a draftsman first, a decorator second. He reduced his designs to "line, proportion and shape" to create understated elegance, which he emphasized with a palette of "subdued colors." Despite his focus on logic, he valued wit. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I take what I do very seriously, " said Dickinson. "But I don't like design to be too serious. . . . I just like to have a little fun with the work I do." </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His sense of humor can be seen in his iconic 1970s three-legged painted plaster side table, which sold at </span><a href="http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/furniture-lighting/john-dickinson-a-three-legged-painted-plaster-side-5521333-details.aspx?pos=4&intObjectID=5521333&sid=&page=8" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christie's</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in 2011 for $30,000.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9iLW60z5qrWRErkYeaiCqOhfsAm-h7U14Je-ccAFPdITiq8IxamwaNvbtjOYAituZ3XL-CCim0VhBY7nlDrU4KcNxYDvDQGCV9Bj_jSZxKvudGz6JhGT81Aow-bKHFyjETXNDbxVYdQ/s1600/john_dickinson_a_three-legged_painted_plaster_side_table_1970s_d5521333h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9iLW60z5qrWRErkYeaiCqOhfsAm-h7U14Je-ccAFPdITiq8IxamwaNvbtjOYAituZ3XL-CCim0VhBY7nlDrU4KcNxYDvDQGCV9Bj_jSZxKvudGz6JhGT81Aow-bKHFyjETXNDbxVYdQ/s400/john_dickinson_a_three-legged_painted_plaster_side_table_1970s_d5521333h.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This piece calls to mind African art, the <i>Flintstones</i> cartoon and ancient Egyptian statues. Primitive, it is elegant in its simplicity.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>As much sculpture as furniture, Dickinson's work in plaster has the edginess of contemporary art. So it should come as no surprise that when he is rediscovered by a new generation of dealers, writers, auction house experts and curators, the first responders were collectors, not designers.</i></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quote from R. Louis Bofferding, antiques dealer </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bofferdingnewyork.com/">R. Louis Bofferding Decorative and Fine Art</a></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sutherlandfurniture.com/pdf/DickinsonBrochure.pdf">David Sutherland website</a></span></span></div></div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI3jCjNpA9t0xNRNmyoTSJXoyONeRtD-XWPumFxDBLEV2J5s9bkMMRNWnIb-X72FbnOKMwoqnmeCFR2-lf5LOevBAsALxoYz0gUrnc35X6QEXfVu42MvnoPmvvI2JpJMjX6Wh0K5pDOc/s1600/hbx-1210-nygren-hallway-curtains-28-de-84589153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI3jCjNpA9t0xNRNmyoTSJXoyONeRtD-XWPumFxDBLEV2J5s9bkMMRNWnIb-X72FbnOKMwoqnmeCFR2-lf5LOevBAsALxoYz0gUrnc35X6QEXfVu42MvnoPmvvI2JpJMjX6Wh0K5pDOc/s640/hbx-1210-nygren-hallway-curtains-28-de-84589153.jpg" width="500" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Designer <a href="http://www.smithhanes.com/">Smith Hanes</a> "turned a negative into a fresh, beautiful positive: he broke up the long hallway leading to the master suite by adding a row of ethereal white portieres. Bedside tables are vintage John Dickinson."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by Marie Nygren and <a href="http://www.smithhanes.com/">Smith Hanes</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interview by Mimi Read.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photographs by Amy Neunsinger.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The New Utopia"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/">House Beautiful</a> (December - January 2011).</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOR1dTngSIxwNwcE4WhKlSPCZvauiNddPlejSr7k-21RlxUu4yezjTU93c6d1hyWJnaU_OuzSykGwB9gpvAZobT88LzdcO_rWnjPdP6sqAsdrYBXduru_7zogOJxH_8kOQThqMYxT5Kdc/s1600/BlogJohnDickinsonEDDec2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOR1dTngSIxwNwcE4WhKlSPCZvauiNddPlejSr7k-21RlxUu4yezjTU93c6d1hyWJnaU_OuzSykGwB9gpvAZobT88LzdcO_rWnjPdP6sqAsdrYBXduru_7zogOJxH_8kOQThqMYxT5Kdc/s640/BlogJohnDickinsonEDDec2010.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"In the master bedroom, crystal drops by sculptor <a href="http://www.robwynne.net/">Rob Wynne</a> are mounted above a 1940s vanity and a Samuel Marx mirror; the plaster stool is by John Dickinson, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the curtains are of a Lee Jofa silk."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">London duplex.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://alexpapachristidis.com/">Alex Papachristidis</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Nancy Hass.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Simon Upton.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Master Class" produced by Anita Sarsidi.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elledecor.com/">Elle Decor</a> (December 2010 - January 2011)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffUTVYHNACe9vEOjTed2EDaZpu8tKacRhwqOjQOb8S4827qy1rm8s_PvU-k4tcOhfJDsxGZdLL-1y5s-ZwLFECQJNKiEHUW96CV-DBGvoYAQWGysotC8DwRcVOwVmJIPn7ptuvsJe7QM/s1600/BlogJohnDickinsonEDDec2010Jan2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffUTVYHNACe9vEOjTed2EDaZpu8tKacRhwqOjQOb8S4827qy1rm8s_PvU-k4tcOhfJDsxGZdLL-1y5s-ZwLFECQJNKiEHUW96CV-DBGvoYAQWGysotC8DwRcVOwVmJIPn7ptuvsJe7QM/s640/BlogJohnDickinsonEDDec2010Jan2011.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A chair by John Dickinson is covered in a Highland Court animal print, the mahogany commode is vintage, the painting is by Bernard Frize"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">London duplex.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://alexpapachristidis.com/">Alex Papachristidis</a>.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Nancy Hass.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Simon Upton.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Master Class" produced by Anita Sarsidi.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elledecor.com/">Elle Decor</a> (December 2010 - January 2011).</span></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSOu_lKxqd7LGbTbxdaRzT5aiwraiBNzIJ6LzWBwKYFYq18ytmAcKfDY6dubhzUNRWXoXmlEAMws8IZ3-Ak3gtMf4J3_pUUq3ZzwTuaTmn3dgrzwCySDMhf2FurDSm5aFJLs93uTyXUY/s1600/gwynn-griffith-ed0911-06%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSOu_lKxqd7LGbTbxdaRzT5aiwraiBNzIJ6LzWBwKYFYq18ytmAcKfDY6dubhzUNRWXoXmlEAMws8IZ3-Ak3gtMf4J3_pUUq3ZzwTuaTmn3dgrzwCySDMhf2FurDSm5aFJLs93uTyXUY/s640/gwynn-griffith-ed0911-06%255B2%255D.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The screened-in porch features a plaster side table by John Dickinson, pillows upholstered in African textiles and a stained concrete floor.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A circa-1883 factory converted by San Antonio designer Gwynn Griffith </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as her personal home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Rob Brinkley.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by William Waldron.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Texas Treasure" produced by Anita Sarsidi.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elledecor.com/">Elle Decor</a> (September 2011).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCH2_F8fmK-WkZedm-gp8KroYNQzI0hBvQF88WPbzXlF5CxhUTYACCzGtBtngxgjjiLrJDpC8LUZ3JVT_aimYcMCDydpusxA5PJlYNaqCOEpYONujxdRK-R_5VQcDDpz205a8MJKvrsSM/s1600/gwynn-griffith-ed0911-main%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCH2_F8fmK-WkZedm-gp8KroYNQzI0hBvQF88WPbzXlF5CxhUTYACCzGtBtngxgjjiLrJDpC8LUZ3JVT_aimYcMCDydpusxA5PJlYNaqCOEpYONujxdRK-R_5VQcDDpz205a8MJKvrsSM/s640/gwynn-griffith-ed0911-main%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The living room  . . . features a John Dickinson plaster table, a wicker tub chair covered with a shearling throw, a French chandelier, and a Spanish cabinet; the wall of artwork includes paintings by [homeowner and decorator Gwynn Griffith]"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A circa-1883 factory converted by San Antonio designer Gwynn Griffith </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as her personal home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Rob Brinkley.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by William Waldron.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Texas Treasure" produced by Anita Sarsidi.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elledecor.com/">Elle Decor</a> (September 2011).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuiJtx_QfgQ_0hIZN6UofaUX1JbJlzIeB8D8h5_6-i7GmWYZNByQZhfY5MxzkFqHECcROAKzQrQQKJ5r59zVaUBuMmIfsrrap4XpVWcDgak5HMJTOgdXbOvVNtohOznph3LmC3DBpOwI/s1600/item3.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.inez-van-lamsweerde-vinoodh-matadin-04-living-area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuiJtx_QfgQ_0hIZN6UofaUX1JbJlzIeB8D8h5_6-i7GmWYZNByQZhfY5MxzkFqHECcROAKzQrQQKJ5r59zVaUBuMmIfsrrap4XpVWcDgak5HMJTOgdXbOvVNtohOznph3LmC3DBpOwI/s640/item3.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.inez-van-lamsweerde-vinoodh-matadin-04-living-area.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The circa-1970 faux-bois plaster table is by John Dickinson."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Mayer Rus.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Simon Watson.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin's Manhattan Apartment" </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Produced by Michael Reynolds.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/">Architectural Digest</a> (October 2011).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPeA2DYZOZvHK6p_U47weWeh9GrD6wkwMYwnkqaoMqi5YHnKtf5Mfmn-JiTbD1ig9bp6CujJo81au6eA3IKXa94P-DQi8GOr0szIkN07-VWvbicDH4tYrIz_xwFmmFl1V2GnGduaha8U/s1600/item4.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.daniel-romualdez-los-angeles-home-05-living-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPeA2DYZOZvHK6p_U47weWeh9GrD6wkwMYwnkqaoMqi5YHnKtf5Mfmn-JiTbD1ig9bp6CujJo81au6eA3IKXa94P-DQi8GOr0szIkN07-VWvbicDH4tYrIz_xwFmmFl1V2GnGduaha8U/s640/item4.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.daniel-romualdez-los-angeles-home-05-living-room.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"John Dickinson lamps flank a geological specimen atop an Aldo Tura console."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beverly Hills home of architect and designer Daniel Romualdez.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Peter Haldeman.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Roger Davies.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Styled by Robert Rufino.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Breaking Away" produced by Carolina Irving.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/">Architectural Digest</a> (January 2012).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsVel83BdfrLsbE3gKeZh-KqwsNOfbP0oxX1EwZfdcb6vrUnpADDgEzubDYWgFXFiL4MAhCpIn_liQrkgr6lsMr7l8T_ATJGT-e9Enoh_ImzdoVFmpe_K6IttvlEF1yQT0hcTLLbckFA/s1600/Steven-Volpe-ed0911-03-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsVel83BdfrLsbE3gKeZh-KqwsNOfbP0oxX1EwZfdcb6vrUnpADDgEzubDYWgFXFiL4MAhCpIn_liQrkgr6lsMr7l8T_ATJGT-e9Enoh_ImzdoVFmpe_K6IttvlEF1yQT0hcTLLbckFA/s640/Steven-Volpe-ed0911-03-lgn.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A Piero Fornasetti cabinet in the living area with a Diego Giacometti sculpture and a prehistoric stone object; the galvanized tin console is by John Dickinson."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">San Francisco apartment of designer <a href="http://www.stevenvolpe.com/">Steven Volpe</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Ingrid Abramovitch.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by William Abranowicz.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Rare Form" produced by Anita Sarsidi.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elledecor.com/">Elle Decor</a> (September 2011).</span></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sutherlandfurniture.com/pdf/DickinsonBrochure.pdf">David Sutherland</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> sells pieces that are cast from John Dickinson's original works and molds. These pieces are made of glass fiber reinforced concrete and can be used indoors or out. Buyers looking for original John Dickinson items can purchase from </span><a href="http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_search.php?i_creator=John+Dickinson" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1st Dibs</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, which currently is offering plaster pieces and a pair of custom "Etruscan" chairs somewhat similar to the gold chair pictured above in the apartment designed by Alex Papachristidis. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dickinson's work has influenced numerous other designers including <a href="http://odada.net/">Orlando Diaz-Azcuy</a>, who recounts his relationship with him in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Designers-Inspiration-Behind-Great-Interiors/dp/0071421602">Designers on Designers</a> by Susan Gray, which is the source for some of the quotes in this piece. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Elegance is self-assurance in one sense and nothing is as easily spotted as false elegance. Elegance requires leisure and thought and the ability to carry it out. </i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>A modest small thing can be elegant.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John Dickinson, 1971</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />

John Dickinson: Primitive Elegance

There's a fine line between being amusing and being eccentric. John Dickinson (1920 - 1982) John Dickinson, the late San Francisco desig...

Read more »

In the Billiard Room

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was growing up, I used to play the murder mystery board game <em>Clue</em>. My family had an old 1950s version of the game that looked like this copy I found on eBay.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotRb9z9_fIbA6pdtzQwO7RzJoNUrUm5_p-OibJgTWqi-MyorNiObdppEBl3R3Igp9TjLgTZ0jm-pKsJ7klaCcGA0GEGXxaPC-wN7_ihxafIyngNtea8Ji2Qpblq6blxnql-DxqNGZw4U/s1600/il_570xN.312277284%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotRb9z9_fIbA6pdtzQwO7RzJoNUrUm5_p-OibJgTWqi-MyorNiObdppEBl3R3Igp9TjLgTZ0jm-pKsJ7klaCcGA0GEGXxaPC-wN7_ihxafIyngNtea8Ji2Qpblq6blxnql-DxqNGZw4U/s400/il_570xN.312277284%5B1%5D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The game is set in a large country home. Players must determine the room in which the murder was committed (library, kitchen, conservatory, etc.), the weapon that was used (rope, lead pipe, revolver, etc.), and the character (Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum, Mrs. Peacock, etc.) who committed the crime. <em>Clue</em> is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie novels, which I read in abundance when I was younger. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the rooms in the <em>Clue</em> manor is the billiard room. I imagined this space to be dark with wood-paneled walls, leather furniture, the smell of a pipe. The perfect place for mystery. Like the billiard room in <span id="goog_150440206"></span><a href="http://www.wrothampark.com/" target="_blank">Wrotham Park<span id="goog_150440207"></span></a>, the English manor where some scenes from the movie <em>Gosford Park</em> were filmed. The billiard rooms I have seen recently in decorating magazines are not exactly like the one I envisioned long ago. Some are rather beachy and most are full of light. Take a look . . . <em> </em></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaI9SYd7izAnDVVb4SNDDSJFJosjyKsFsxIzpRoxHglWXgvbfKmZ-lwRFmgXq2vCzN6OpdyyebsFztbhCgJx-uP-RtXPH_RvWFhahP1PXCHv-X4V4kwXxx7DN2G9kn0yt5TXGv9VcPydE/s1600/15-craftsmanship-familyroom-1107_xlg%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaI9SYd7izAnDVVb4SNDDSJFJosjyKsFsxIzpRoxHglWXgvbfKmZ-lwRFmgXq2vCzN6OpdyyebsFztbhCgJx-uP-RtXPH_RvWFhahP1PXCHv-X4V4kwXxx7DN2G9kn0yt5TXGv9VcPydE/s640/15-craftsmanship-familyroom-1107_xlg%5B1%5D.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A new house in Bedford, New York. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by Jeffrey Bilhuber.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Don Freeman.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">House Beautiful.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cwmTU8mOj99fsexEm6rW6fboT-BFTYPLUG3390Pus-nQPqebpIMgvq-ZrbJbDoL6Pb0Lildm8AafGLT1CvSi3HVQQfluPTLzjJEQCpg-7XGVLLJ0mBzvFyDm855RkcNkxYx8TGGgB74/s1600/BlogBilliardRoomADSept2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cwmTU8mOj99fsexEm6rW6fboT-BFTYPLUG3390Pus-nQPqebpIMgvq-ZrbJbDoL6Pb0Lildm8AafGLT1CvSi3HVQQfluPTLzjJEQCpg-7XGVLLJ0mBzvFyDm855RkcNkxYx8TGGgB74/s640/BlogBilliardRoomADSept2011.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Calabasas, California vacation home of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The pool room's alder-wood billiard table with nail-head detailing  was designed by Lance and fabricated by Blatt Billiards."</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architect: Stephen Samuelson.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Roger Davies.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architectural Digest (September 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSISJGJdxop-nj4P4ux6dMrLT7S9LGYsq5AZi3Vhi-LrajvefIQR70AlKRtK_yuiAcglAQ2n9jNvXdmLQd1KIYIut7wrUR5JTMJkAdjDAej8gLQb-55lcZfpFGx1QAiqXRe96UITQdfA/s1600/courteney-extra-wm-04-lgn%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSISJGJdxop-nj4P4ux6dMrLT7S9LGYsq5AZi3Vhi-LrajvefIQR70AlKRtK_yuiAcglAQ2n9jNvXdmLQd1KIYIut7wrUR5JTMJkAdjDAej8gLQb-55lcZfpFGx1QAiqXRe96UITQdfA/s640/courteney-extra-wm-04-lgn%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Custom made pool table in home of actress Courteney Cox.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Flagstone floor. Painting by Arsen Roje.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Chairs from Blackman Cruz.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">Light fixture by Hivemindesign.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elle Decor.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ8UltNIqtEC1Cdkx4FG-m-AXcPXIOTeoVZNBCwJQ0KTsHMNM4JpYry6H3wyrFh3q_uLk7o_RuAyJjKNxmIP6_oZdf48xlzSb0_YFLurOPygSpSVUhEKy9Iw8RWFgO6B431nrBmlixpU/s1600/item3.rendition.slideshowHorizontal.steven-volpe-lewis-butler-04-lounge%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ8UltNIqtEC1Cdkx4FG-m-AXcPXIOTeoVZNBCwJQ0KTsHMNM4JpYry6H3wyrFh3q_uLk7o_RuAyJjKNxmIP6_oZdf48xlzSb0_YFLurOPygSpSVUhEKy9Iw8RWFgO6B431nrBmlixpU/s640/item3.rendition.slideshowHorizontal.steven-volpe-lewis-butler-04-lounge%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A restored circa-1915 pool table from Blatt Billiards.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, a pair of 1940s French chairs by Marc du Plantier, a black marble mantel by Axel Vervoordt and twin '50s floor lamps by Gino Sarfatti.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by Steven Volpe.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Renovations by architect Lewis Butler, Butler Armsden Architects.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Pieter Estersohn.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architectural Digest (November 2011).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIfMlP-cvscoz2eVPOYpV1bCUjxw4H0tKVQ19V5OMpLUk5eKlpWHX7lWy_EjgtF4vYQ4NJf-ISLmOEKGTtO6teDYiESzwL13BTDZIRYD86mcwNk0zVzbOmD076PDGnLeuUvBDJAvaznM/s1600/item3.rendition.slideshowWideHorizontal.frank-greenwald-03-family-room%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIfMlP-cvscoz2eVPOYpV1bCUjxw4H0tKVQ19V5OMpLUk5eKlpWHX7lWy_EjgtF4vYQ4NJf-ISLmOEKGTtO6teDYiESzwL13BTDZIRYD86mcwNk0zVzbOmD076PDGnLeuUvBDJAvaznM/s640/item3.rendition.slideshowWideHorizontal.frank-greenwald-03-family-room%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hamptons home of architect Frank Greenwald.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by Mary Foley and Michael Cox</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Scott Frances.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architectural Digest (July 2012).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakD2WR5X5X934otExUnlocLZZYmoSOWGl13QbElCyNtLYHjOG-OUOana65uBgNBfv8OEz9kZWxGd-oRjIXRW9f9-HBss3n5ySWC0cXnJCI-Z4n-0TsWEDiUHhAwUa8E_0hOW5eGgXZjA/s1600/item5.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.leroy-street-studio-hamptons-house-10%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakD2WR5X5X934otExUnlocLZZYmoSOWGl13QbElCyNtLYHjOG-OUOana65uBgNBfv8OEz9kZWxGd-oRjIXRW9f9-HBss3n5ySWC0cXnJCI-Z4n-0TsWEDiUHhAwUa8E_0hOW5eGgXZjA/s640/item5.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.leroy-street-studio-hamptons-house-10%5B1%5D.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pendant lights by Tom Dixon.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hamptons home created by <a href="http://www.leroystreetstudio.com/" target="_blank">Leroy Street Studio</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.kennethalpert.com/" target="_blank">Kenneth Alpert of KA Design Group</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Adrian Wilson.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architectural Digest (June 2012).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuxG2eAzywnHk4oCWYNV0I1vOIy5PF__Oq_HzSyowrrS6IrqkMNRVak7LuzBZ6rTHNo9_lUWzdDpZNr95V_AjHoMUSZpwHVCx5JY6P0nhMajsmKFrEhpuUcuvlqfpY8drqjsIWAeeF3g/s1600/item08.rendition.slideshowVertical.08_martyn-lawrence-bullard-vacation-home-mexico%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuxG2eAzywnHk4oCWYNV0I1vOIy5PF__Oq_HzSyowrrS6IrqkMNRVak7LuzBZ6rTHNo9_lUWzdDpZNr95V_AjHoMUSZpwHVCx5JY6P0nhMajsmKFrEhpuUcuvlqfpY8drqjsIWAeeF3g/s640/item08.rendition.slideshowVertical.08_martyn-lawrence-bullard-vacation-home-mexico%5B1%5D.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A custom-made light by Reborn Antiques hangs from a thatched ceiling in a Punta Mita, Mexico beach home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by Martyn Lawrence Bullard.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Tim Street-Porter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Architectural Digest (August 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShdQrSwUiu3Wi94MfNRI_xce3Gz5KhNwhzQxTeM3kSkXhcZBbTWMCmAfGkmyVrAzza3mnv4B1DOAFxHhW52jmc5DByhq__bF7Fv8t-v_OHOctrlN_lbRCs7Yy0Y2fYHLqrQ324GFHphE/s1600/item08.rendition.slideshowVertical.couturier-08-billiard-room%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShdQrSwUiu3Wi94MfNRI_xce3Gz5KhNwhzQxTeM3kSkXhcZBbTWMCmAfGkmyVrAzza3mnv4B1DOAFxHhW52jmc5DByhq__bF7Fv8t-v_OHOctrlN_lbRCs7Yy0Y2fYHLqrQ324GFHphE/s640/item08.rendition.slideshowVertical.couturier-08-billiard-room%5B1%5D.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marshcourt, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a country house 75 miles southwest of London.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The billiard room's Zaha Hadid sofa for Sawaya & Moroni and pair of vintage Italian armchairs complement a reproduction by Lutyens Furniture & Lighting of the original billiard-table light."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Architect: Edwin Lutyens.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by Robert Couturier.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"My natural tendency would be to look at Lutyens's books and think you have to have Elizabethan or neo-Gothic furniture here. But then it would become very boring. We soon realized that contemporary furniture would jolt the house to life."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Tim Beddow.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architectural Digest (September 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wbKUY0LpwPNPuuqLuNd3FwUHSEKFkStSzFbm06nZraTkl5WvKe0XiRoVD9oXPix4RBBAGH2oqWHJNyrznjK-Jr2z4dnK1U2vlnaQtBfXagyZvod0LMgI_GHZ2H5MlUacZkUBQtiGakE/s1600/item01.rendition.slideshowHorizontal.couturier-01-marshcourt-exterior-facade%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wbKUY0LpwPNPuuqLuNd3FwUHSEKFkStSzFbm06nZraTkl5WvKe0XiRoVD9oXPix4RBBAGH2oqWHJNyrznjK-Jr2z4dnK1U2vlnaQtBfXagyZvod0LMgI_GHZ2H5MlUacZkUBQtiGakE/s640/item01.rendition.slideshowHorizontal.couturier-01-marshcourt-exterior-facade%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">External view of Marshcourt (pictured above).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Built in England in the early 1900s.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Architect: Edwin Lutyens.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OdJS5GNeeJe7ay81NmOyKYldeUccy-HUSqPxs5Oj-dyOR0A1w3eIYGSVlV2dmXS7mSXsoZaC4WqN9wsosRo_oWoERDtRReIFyXG6cKjqTOImxls-JiNXJtGoiSXjOJFLBmGUILQp7_E/s1600/p_101451410%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OdJS5GNeeJe7ay81NmOyKYldeUccy-HUSqPxs5Oj-dyOR0A1w3eIYGSVlV2dmXS7mSXsoZaC4WqN9wsosRo_oWoERDtRReIFyXG6cKjqTOImxls-JiNXJtGoiSXjOJFLBmGUILQp7_E/s640/p_101451410%5B1%5D.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The classic burgundy of a pool table's felt is the inspiration for this billiard room. Fiery reds appear in the grasscloth wall covering, Kilim-covered George Smith club chairs, and the geometric folding screen. The round mirror above the mantel takes its 'cue' from the billiard balls."</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Traditional Home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hUKjugsTCh0ZrWlVaz9kimD0_mOk6aj4OXbDnN99yFvVw_8erL3T8VEh1TsycrTnovlUzfPHptIWZGnYH7BbzYFVQEF-2tr1TQ2Sq3PNJHvjZG9ZxVUuLbAo3owPFID_Mbg5nfOWg0w/s1600/ss_101945403%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hUKjugsTCh0ZrWlVaz9kimD0_mOk6aj4OXbDnN99yFvVw_8erL3T8VEh1TsycrTnovlUzfPHptIWZGnYH7BbzYFVQEF-2tr1TQ2Sq3PNJHvjZG9ZxVUuLbAo3owPFID_Mbg5nfOWg0w/s640/ss_101945403%5B1%5D.jpg" width="592" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bel Air, California home of actress Sela Ward.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">The map behind the bar picks up the colors of the billiard balls.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Traditional Home.</span></div>

In the Billiard Room

When I was growing up, I used to play the murder mystery board game Clue . My family had an old 1950s version of the game that looked like t...

Read more »