Curiosity Shop #16

Masterpiece

The Curiosity Cabinet is very excited that Masterpiece opens tonight! Here's a little sneak peak from Apter Fredericks of just one fascinating object we'll be eyeing up at  London's best art, antiques and design fair. Our top five picks of the fair on Art Wednesday are to follow....

A Regency Gilt & Patinated Bronze & Cut Glass Spirit Cask Celebrating Nelson’s Victory at the Nile. Numerous pieces of furniture, silver and other forms of decorative art were made at this time to commemorate Nelson’s victory at the Battle of the Nile. This example bears the crocodile so closely linked with Nelson; his captains were referred to as the ‘Crocodile Club’, and along with the numerous nautical motifs, the armorial plates and the quality of this cask, it is tempting to believe it might have been made for the Crocodile Club or perhaps Horatio Nelson himself. 

Width 12 ¼” 3l cm Depth 10 ½” 27cm Height 11” 28cm

Dear Diary... Queen of Style

Contemporary gallerist and designer Muriel Grateau's pieces are as effortlessly chic as her personal style. Her minimalist tableware in vibrant colours are designed to complement and not compete with their surroundings - enabling interior decoration to become a simple pleasure. Just as the noir-clad gallerist can be paired with any artwork, these pared-back pieces could work with complex and varied setttings.

Muriel Grateau's style is as chic, smart and intelligent as her gallery and design concepts. The display in her gallery, which was newly refurbished in September last year, is a purist approach to minimalism: Grateau deletes absolutely everything that is not the focal point.

The new space has avant-garde materials to match: white mineral resin, powdered paint, white lacquered steel plate and LED lighting.

The pieces are innovative also. Working with a small French artisanal porcelain producer, the style queen herself has created a new porcelain technique. The plates are tinted with colour while they're being made, rather than being painted on after, which is entirely different to traditional porcelain decoration.

She also designs sculptural Art Deco jewellery, that when worn articulates the body like little pieces of living architecture. Very CC we thought!

Muriel Grateau gold enamelled brooch in glittered black & white stripes and set with diamonds.

Muriel Grateau rock crystal bangle with black sapphires and matching  rock crystal ring encircled with black diamonds.