A chocolate a day keeps the wolves at bay...

Having recently opened a new banking account after worries over the wobbling American economy, these little six inch-high banks caught my attention. Were that banking was as simple - and enjoyable! - as it used to be for children: drop in your coin, open the drawer, and presto magico - a "délicieuse friandise" is waiting for you. And forget all that stuff about sugar and cavities, according to **these** banks chocolate is "un aliment sain et fortifiant"... a healthy food, a tonic!


Coin operated chocolate bank, "La tirelire des enfants sages" (or, The Moneybox of Wise Children)
Germany, for the French market, circa 1910
€ 950





From www.hollandtoys.com

Heavy Mettle

Finally, a feline my boyfriend might appreciate: an early 13th-century brass aquamanile in the form of a courageous lion with a finely engraved main and decorative details. The handle of the vessel takes the form of a dragon (to ward off evil) and though its got a few later pieces added and some old repairs, its still expected to fetch 80,000—120,000 euros (about $112,000 to $168,000) at Sotheby's Amsterdam sale later this month. The aquamanile is North German, probably from Brunswick, and comes from the collection of Cologne-based banker and art collector Dr. Richard von Schnitzler


Aquamaniles were designed to hold water for hand-washing and were originally used in the church, though by the late 12the-century they were often found in houses of the nobility. Water is poured into a hinged opening at the lions back and then issues from the lion's mouth.


They can be found in museum collections around the world, but none can top the example purchased by Varya and Hans Cohn and given to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1992. Its the absolute finest example.



Northern Germany, Lower Saxony, Hildeshiem (?)
Aquamanile (Ewer), circa 1250
Metalwork, Brass (copper alloy)
10 1/2 x 11 7/8 x 3 7/8 in. (26.67 x 30.16 x 9.84 cm)
Gift of Varya and Hans Cohn (AC1992.152.100)

Small Companions

Janice Jordan's tiny, little needle-felted desktop doggies.

$44
4" high

www.freehand.com

With joy, Felix Doolittle

Felix Fu, a Hong Kong-born artist now living in Newton, Massachusetts, creates what might be some of the dearest stationary I've ever seen. Each design is a beautifully rendered watercolor, sometimes of a particular ornament, animal or detail, but what speak to me most, and most naturally, are ones that include elements of home.

A collection of bookplate designs include a tabletop with a whisky glass and cigar, a peacock on the terrace of a country house, a comfy chair and nearby cat. Their usefulness, never mind their wide array of images suited to every personality I know, makes them likely candidates for this year's stocking stuffers.











5 lables, 2 3/4 x 4 inches, $10.00
www.felixdoolittle.com

Winds of Change

Slowly its been coming over me... an ever increasing need for ocean, fresh air and trees. Maybe its the middle of a long summer in a gray city. Maybe its the way my office neighbor repeatedly slams her desk drawers shut, rattling our shared wall... and my nerves. Maybe its aging and feeling the need for a quiet, contemplative spot in which to review decisions made over the last ten years; a soft place to sit and make new plans, new lists.











www.paolalenti.it