Voucher?

OTL - vouchers / gift tokens

Make me think of getting book tokens from my grandparents! In fact I have a total aversion to them as they are - in my eyes at least - the lazy option..... why else would I have created Off the List!

(I'm not this old but love the rising sun motif)

.... one has to move with the times.

So we've the task to design a suitable voucher.

House & Garden very kindly....

.... made mention of Off the List this January edition. I've always been a little weary of drawing the site to the attention of the antiques trade - that said they are a lazy bunch & only likely to look at the pretty pictures - as it has been our firm intention to under-price the pieces on offer. The reasons are twofold a) if a piece doesn't sell online we can generally cover costs by reselling at auction b) why should they be over-inflated like most of the stock on offer by dealers. Oops potential can of worms.

He was shortly after barked at by....

Ged Quinn' take on Stubbs' 'Water Spaniel'

Now I'm after the print by Stubbs

New Yorker never graced the walls but....

.....someone else did. Ali.

Off the List

2011, can I do this regularly. This is intended to be the year of the list:

• Increased traffic
• Therefore an essential need to grow the address book
• Better & more unusual stock
• Better awareness of what 'you' are after
• An intention to train buyers - show them the charms of an object - value or no value
• Add the bespoke items we've been working on as a separate page

More to come......I hope!

I've dropped the blogging ball!

Everything has rather got in the way with the onset of December - yes, yes it's nearly gone - Christmas sales, Christmas presents, preparations for impending three weeks of sun & rubble gazing in Southern India.   NON-STOP!

Also, the website has ratched up somewhat, with sales well up on the previous year - whether or not this is due to different stock or more efficiency having been injected by new partner.   Good news all round.

Perhaps the most exciting news is our latest acquisition:

Much to look forward to post the Indian extravaganza with a new hang in order.

Have a wonderful Christmas one and all. 

The utterly wonderful......

Syrie Dining Chair

Coco de Mer in polished bronze

The 'Stirrup' Light

Webb tasters

The 'Halo' light

Handles

I've been busy tearing off the bottom of the newly built and painted cabinets in the dining room - this is entirely due to my laziness; basically i have been avoiding bending down to pull open the cupboard doors carefully with my paws and resorting to using the tip off my shoes. Until today that is - issue resolved (& no, I have not overcome my legendary idleness - or terribly bad back). Today i took delivery of

The Helter Handle from Webb

The smaller version on the right but in antique bronze as per the door handle on the left. Nanz eat your heart out, this Scot has an ever growing range of door furniture and I covet the lot.

The originally named 'Link' turning handle

The super cool 'Blimp' - this shall be the final barrier before my Gabinetto Segreto.

Coveting this

The maquette for Guy the Gorilla at London Zoo (one of my namesakes)

Launching (quietly) this

What I've been up to

Image from The Peak of Chic

Wednesday for breakfast here.

Silence

Is not golden in this instance:

a)   I'm flat-out at Olympia (Erotica 09 starts at the weekend for some amusement) selling antiques - http://www.olympia-antiques.co.uk/ - super dull punters & exhibitors.

b)   Getting the new website into as many ears and mailboxes as possible - http://www.offthelist.co.uk/ - spread the word; we'll ship to the States too.

Sir Thomas Tresham’s Triangular Lodge

Was what leapt to mind on seeing the aforementioned stool - image care of Martin Sutton / Flickr.

The ultimate in Symbolist Architecture, was built in the late 16th century by Thomas Tresham in Rushton, Northamptonshire.   A devout Catholic who was imprisoned for his beliefs on his release he built this ode to the Holy Trinity.

I think the stool is very much in the 'Antiquarian' taste of the mid-nineteenth century. 

A 19th.C.Carved Oak Triangular Stool,Later Painted

Most irritating day - I failed to buy this against an estimate of 30 - 50 Pounds. Livid.

A) I woke up at 7.30 am on a Saturday morning.

B) The sale was slow and late starting.

C) I bid up to £400 and was the under-bidder

D) I should have gone with my gut and bid on

The problem is I have to pay for India for a month, a birthday present and a Birthday Party but I am still absolutely furious at not being the buyer.

To top it all off I know I shall see it again..................

I shall explain why I covet it so at a later / non-irritated date. Also when it isn't my birthday and have 14 people to stay.

Forgive the spleen venting.

It's my wife's B-day party this evening.......

......and the theme is London Gothic (forgive the editing)........my costume arrives any minute and I've not a clue what it might be!

Une plaisanterie

Jean-Leon Gerome (1850 - 1913)

Yours to bid on at Christies in a few weeks time - I spotted it on the cover of the catalogue this morning at South Ken and wasn't sure whether it leapt out because of the similarity of the dog to mine or because of the wonderful tile panels (see title of blog); anyway catalogue was bought and bank balance checked - NOPE!