mirror, mirror on the wall: LITTLE MUSE

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do you have a mirror that you are better in?
you know, a mirror that likes you better?

I do- there is a small one on my bedroom door, it's my favorite.
it never lets me down.
(it is a small one)

photograph by GEORGES DAMBIER 

Marie-Helene Arnaud,Cap d'Antibes, for Elle,10 juin 1957

Mirrors can make a room, in the right spot- with the right reflection- rather than face, here we need a beautiful scene. Make sure the mirror is showing your room off to its best.

French Second Empire Mirror (c. 1865 and 1880) and so named for the "French" elements in vogue during the era of the Second French Empire, sometimes called the Napoleon III style. This style originated in Paris during the late 19th century. (here)

I have a pair of these mirrors, I used them in a Showhouse along with the pair of  French mirrored sconces.


In the Showhouse setting, the mirror & sconce & winged Venus are reflected in the mirror for a double image.

today, I am launching litte MUSE.

It's an extension of my interior design business and my antique shop that was called MUSE. I hope it will become an extension of little augury too and I"ll share the current inspiration of little MUSE  whether mirrors, special pieces from my own collection I am ready to part with. It's another way of that reflects the spirit of little augury.

These were my thoughts about little augury as I began at the end of 2008-

"I also begin with an ending of sorts- a dear friend and sometimes mentor died on December 15th and I made a promise to keep just a bit of his wit and wisdom alive by sharing it whenever possible. Hopefully this Little Augury will do that and more. Surely it will evolve- follow along if you'd like to see just how."

after a year of writing Little Augury I wrote-
Thinking back on the friendship Sandy and I shared- I'm reminded of all the absolutely incredible gifts he gave me over the years. The endless conversations-The books we swapped. The films we critiqued. The coffee. Sandy walked my beloved dog Moses for 8 years almost every morning- rarely missing an outing. We worked together on projects- collaborating, pushing each others ideas to produce the desired results. The last time I saw Sandy he was cleaning out a storage unit full of unfinished projects, paint galore and books. I started looking through the books- Take whatever you want dear-I am pitching it all. Rather than cajoling him-I started the task. Sandy you won't be pitching these. Some of them are mine! We both laughed-not surprised at the "your pile and my pile" I had started. Just take them all- No more painting for me. Of course I protested then, but somehow I had the feeling he was right. I took some of his most cherished books on painting flowers, Chinese art, Chinese embroidery, Besler, Redoute, tapestries and so on. I had hoped he would ask for them at some point- when he was ready to start again. They are treasured. Tucked inside one of the books- an unopened bill, a grocery list-usually consisting of  "cigs, Scotch and milk." Some things one just can't live without.


To say the friendship was priceless is understatement. The most valuable thing was the friendship-but Sandy was a giver & he gave me some beautiful gifts. He gave everyone beautiful gifts. He gave little pieces of his life's collections. He was still collecting things-but he was letting things go. Whether it be for an occasion, a holiday, a birthday-whatever-mostly the presents came in brown paper bags, newspaper wrapped, dust filled- but always beautiful and with a story to match.

Sandy would bring these special gifts over in those brown paper bags, saying- I pulled this or that from under the bed or this just appeared in the storage unit-I'd forgotten all about it. This is much better here than at my house. 
I would ahhhhhh! Thank you- 
You can use it here. Always a place in mind.

 I hope little MUSE will be a way for me to bring something new- or old, and something very special into your home & that it will become a part of your own story. There is a unique friendship we share in these pages & it is hoped that tie will be reflected in the collection I've assembled at the moment. 

There will be pieces from my collections- antiques-pieces from MUSE, my interior design travels and special things I've yet to find. Right now its MIRRORS-with a few bits tossed in!

James Mont Vanity Mirror
USA
1950's
Mont mirror with all the stylized detailing of the Orient.
a hand-carved mirror by James Mont. in carved wood with a
rotating round mirror on standing base, faded yellow finish on stylized bamboo columns, 

a pagoda top with a Chinese red finial
at top here

I'll keep you posted.
There will be High & Low. The genuine article & "get the LOOK". I will be adding things often and continuing to update you here.




Little MUSE with 21 special things here