February Auction Highlights, London & Madrid
Still time to bid!
Each with caned seat and back with loose cushions upholstered in red and cream damask. Profoundly French. I’ve always loved sitting at dining tables where everyone gets an armchair. You can sink into your spot as if you never intend to move again. You can see them in detail here.
Coming up for sale in Madrid at Segre is this gorgeous waterside scene on a four panel screen. The starting price is three thousand euros. Not a lot for a piece that could completely transform and set the tone for a room. Hung flat on a wall like a painting, screens look divine.
I’ve been looking through screens lately because we came across an exceptional piece which happens to be on a background of my favourite blue. It’s reminiscent of Robert Crowder, but more dramatic. There’s more vibrancy and energy to it.
At the moment we’ve also got a Sottobosco. That’s a sub-genre of Dutch Golden Age paintings. Sotto meaning under and bosco meaning forest. van Schrieck was the master in this world and our example is closely related to his work. It’s been somewhat over-restored in the 19th century, when its frame was added, but is still a very interesting example of the movement. On the floor is a massive German Historismus silver tray. One of the largest of the kind I’ve ever seen. Almost 80cm wide!
In other news Rémy is doing well. All the reasons he was a shelter dog for so long have become clear. He’s a howler. A noise that’s a cross between a soprano giving birth and whale noises. He also bites. Not anyone randomly, but just me. Well, in the morning he adores me. In the afternoon he’s fine, but when the sun sets he decides he wants to bite me. Obviously, if he were eazy-peazy, he wouldn’t need us, would he? So we’re on a quest to help him through whatever experiences led to these complicated behaviours.
The sun is out in Mazamet, at last!
My Mazamet 
Such magnificent pieces of decorative art . . . and Rémy is the only one I could afford!
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I wouldn’t bet on that! He’s costing a whole lot!!!
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Ah, here’s the update I was looking for.
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Of bites? Two, so far
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Are they aggressive bites? Weird behaviour. You guys got a dog whisperer close by?
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Aggressive enough for purple marks the next day. But let’s be honest, I’ve never wanted or liked anything easy. The wonderful things take a very thoughtful game of chess.
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And that’s why I like you!
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😀
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> Not a lot for a piece that could completely transform and set the tone for a room.
Made me chuckle. I thought, “So could a blood splatter pattern.”
We have an old (18) deaf cat who howls when we go to bed. “Where are you guys?” she’s crying (we think).
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I think we can gather from your comment which one of us is chosen as a designer!
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When you say Rémy bites, does he draw blood or does he think he’s playing? If not playing, do you think he’s biting out of dominance or something else?
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We’re guessing dominance or jealousy. When he and I are alone, he’s fine. When Mike is around, he wants to keep us apart. He guards Mike like he’s some sort of treat. Outrageous!
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Maybe some herding instinct where he wants everyone where he wants them and he needs to nip that sheep that is out of line.
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That makes sense. He has this idea that if I stand up, I shouldn’t sit down again. Or if I go into a room, I should stay there. He blocks the door.
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My parents’ dog is like that. We don’t know what it’s about either but wonder if it’s some sort of herding. He’s mixed and has a bunch of breeds in him. He is also dominant. He ranks everyone as follows: my dad, everyone, my mom. When my dad was in hospital, I came to their house to help out and the dog decided he was not going to get off the bed to let my mom put sheets on it and instead was going to growl. Normally I’d pull the dog off the bed but if I tried that he would bite me and he can draw blood and cause you to get stitches. So I just yelled at him until he got off and then he grumbled the whole way into the living room. I’m probably lucky he didn’t get after me as some people would not be able to get away with even that. He only listens to my dad.
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Remy’s ranking system is odd in the sense that when Mike’s not around, he treats me like god… we’ll work around it!
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I adore the screens, especially the blue one. It wouldn’t work in my place – wrong colour tones – but it is simply beautiful.
Wondering about Rémy. When do you feed him? In the morning or at night? Could it be a blood sugar thing?
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He gets two meals a day. Both from me. And he’s all lovey, dovey before he gets them. Then after happy hour, he’s Damien!
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Rémy after dark!
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Hmm…definitely not low blood sugar then! Has the vet offered any insights coz this is /weird/.
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He’s only been here a month, so I think there’s a lot for him to work out in his mind. Imagine the confusion of going from a shelter enclosure to suddenly being offered sofas and beds?
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That’s true, but the connection to food is odd. Have you tried getting Mike to feed him? To see if he tries to bite Mike as well?
Oh…if he sees you as pack and himself as Alpha, then perhaps he’s biting to keep YOU from getting the food before he has a chance to eat it. Hmm…
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Things started out with Mike feeding him, so we changed over to see if that calms him down. No success yet.
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That /is/ weird. And it only happens /after/ he’s eaten????
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Agree re dining chairs, I never understood the armchairs just at the ends of a table. What’s that about I wonder, surely not an economic reason…
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Indeed! In fact, all armchairs around a round table creates a very nice sense of equality.
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I am looking for screens….but without success. I am thinking of asking a gallery I like if they could suggest a student to make one for me.
The first screen reminds me of the wall paintings in the last house in France..ruined by damp for the most part.
I took in an old lab years ago who was sweet and kind, but insisted on sleeping under a table in the kitchen and on waking would bite the first leg available…blue marks, not blood.
Sounds as if Remy is sorting out a hierarchy and perhaps something in your evening routine is puzzlinghim.
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The art student idea is fabulous. We did something similar a couple of times in Spain and it ends up being a fantastic experience. You give someone who’s starting out an opportunity and end up getting a great price too.
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Pink, I can submit my bid in KES 🙂
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Is that that imaginary Kenyan money you use?
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Yes, when we are not using cowrie shells
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The screen and silver tray are lovely. It must be hard to part with such treasures. Poor Remy, I hope you eventually sort out his biting. Poor you too, I should add. Never having had a dog, apart from looking after one for a few weeks, which doesn’t count, his behavious certainly sounds unusual. You are both experienced dog owners,and are certain to sort him out, hopefully before his bites become worse.
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I’m quite in love with the screen, but there’s nowhere to put it! And also, Mike says I’ve started to clutter the house again.
I’m sure Remy will be fine. About 10 days without a bite now so we’re going in the right direction 😀
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Dog wonderful..ours klunk…NIP when over happy. The screen is magnificent and I love that blue too…I need to put my studio photos on the blog as lots of blue there too. I found screen…needs the fabric repairing but its long, six panels and 2 metres in height.
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