Wednesday, February 16, 2011

She's Ready for Her Close-Up




I've been trying to create a Cedric Gibbons moment in my study. Nothing lavish, mind you. Not like that set above, but rather a small statement.




I wanted it to be something you might see in a Fred and Ginger movie.




Of course, it had to be black and white. After all, most of my favorite movies are black and white.




It needed to cast a dramatic shadow.




And have a touch of the Neoclassical.




Maybe something sculptural?




What, oh what, to do?




Thanks to lamp.work.room, I found it...I mean her. A 1930s Grecian bust lamp with black base. As soon as I saw it on their website, I knew that this was to be my study's MGM moment. I think Cedric would have liked it. Don't you?

Although currently there are not other bust lamps on their website,
lamp.work.room has some really fantastic antique, vintage, and contemporary lamps. I encourage you to check out their website. I'm anxious to buy another lamp from them, hopefully sooner rather than later.



(Image #1: Cedric Gibbons' set from "The Single Standard", 1929; #2 Fred and Ginger in "The Gay Divorcee", 1934; #3 "Bottoms Up", 1934; #6 Jean Harlow; #7 Kay Francis in "Girls About Town", 1931- images from Screen Deco: A Celebration of High Style in Hollywood (Architecture and Film, Vol. 3) by Howard Mandelbaum and Eric Myers. #4 Dolores Del Rio publicity shot. #5 "Cabiria", 1941; image from Designing Dreams: Modern Architecture in the Movies (Architecture and Film, 2) by Donald Albrecht.)

18 comments:

  1. There are a couple of these films I have not seen, but will add to my list, thank you. And what, no mention of the wallpaper?

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  2. TDC- Trixie gets its own post someday!

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  3. Anonymous8:33 AM

    Love your blog and love Cedric Gibbons. Have you seen the Myrna Loy Wm Powell movie "Double Wedding?" There is an amazing CG dining room table, etc in the movie. You'll see it near the beginning as Myrna is talking to her sister and her sister's boyfriend. Enjoy!

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  4. Anon- Never seen that movie before, but I must see it ASAP. Need to see that table. Hope it's on Netflix! Thank you!

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  5. Fabulous lamp! Do we get to see the rest of the room?

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  6. You are such a girl after my own heart! Love your new lamp and think that I will watch "The gay Divorcée" (for the jillionth time) tonight!

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  7. Beautiful!! Your found just the right answer.

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  8. Thanks everybody! "Swing Time" is on Turner Classics tonight...just in case anyone wants to see Fred & Ginger :)

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  9. I love the lamp and the clues leading up to the unveiling.

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  10. Waiting for my invite - have bought the dress!! x Colette

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  11. Always looking for interesting lamps-love the one you got..so went right over to lamp website to have a look-likey lots.
    Thanks xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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  12. Just smashing Jennifer. Trixie is the perfect foil.

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  13. Anonymous2:33 PM

    Glamour at its best!

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  14. I bought a copy of this bust several years ago. I'm thinking she is Diana. The face is really lovely whether or not she is wearing a hat! Glad she is lighting up your room.

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  15. Home Before Dark- I had wondered if she was Diana, so I bet you're right!

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  16. Thomas4:32 PM

    Immediately thought of Cecil Beaton's photos of Marlene Dietrich posed with a plaster bust- If only one could go about one's life with lighting like that!

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  17. Funny and wonderful post!
    Thanks!
    Jamie Herzlinger

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