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Nineteenth-century door knocker. The brass is tarnished, but I like the patina. This signals to guests that your house is full of objects chosen with care. There’s something delightfully Gothic about this piece, with its ruffled cuff and lifeless, ringed hand.
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Thirties bentwood chair. I don’t believe that this is Rohde – it’s unmarked – but it has great lines. It would look beautiful reupholstered in a black mohair that changes color with the light.
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Bel Geddes bedroom furniture. This set includes eight pieces, but I’d leave the bed and mirror behind. I suspect that it won’t sell because the reserve is too high. The chair and stool should be reupholstered, and the entire set powdercoat painted. That said, this could turn your bedroom (or guest room) into a showplace of Machine Age design.
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Mitchell Gold Leona headboard. This piece would add drama to your bedroom. The San Francisco seller is also offering a square leather ottoman at a fair price. The headboard looks comfortable and versatile.
-Molly S.
I am SO in love with the Bel Geddes bedroom set, color and all! I will check the bid in a few days to see if it is at all possible.
if anyone is keen on that lady's hand knocker
reproductions are available
I got one as a house warming present...
it IS lovely, in a demented victoriana way
Good luck, Lisa. It's a great set. The bed is full size, and the mirror would be hard to ship. You might want to get a quote from Plycon Van Lines or Craters and Freighters. You could also negotiate with shippers on uship.com.
This set was listed before, and it didn't sell, which is what makes me think that the reserve might be high. I think the seller doesn't realize what a challenging logistical problem this poses. It is steel, after all. I wish they had posted some shipping estimates.
I hope you figure out a way to get it. Let me know - mollysymmonds(at)mail(dot)com.
Regards,
Molly
Guido - "demented Victoriana" is so much better than my "delightfully Gothic."
is it just me or does that headboard look like a mattress which has been placed behind the bed for storage.
like the door knocker.
Hello,
Sorry to have to say this, but the bedroom set is not a Norman Bel Geddes design. This Simmons furniture is often confused with the lines he DID do for them.
Ronn Ives
Hi, Ron. I posted this to ATNY as well. I don't disagree with you; I'm a design enthusiast, not an expert. The listing says that this set is Bel Geddes, and I'm wondering how to tell Bel Geddes for Simmons and Simmons apart. I've seen these pieces on eBay and elsewhere many times before, and they're nearly always labeled "Bel Geddes." Please let everyone know what the distinguishing elements are. Thanks!
Molly
I know NOTHING about Bel Geddes or whatever, but I have seen pieces of this listed by another seller once for MUCH cheaper. He was asking $50 or something for the nightstand...he was selling the stuff separately.
Hi everyone. Ronn Ives here, back to clarify the Bel Geddes issue. First off, I'm not positive where THIS batch of Simmons is coming from, but about a year or so ago, I was offered an entire motel full (30+ rooms) of this exact furniture, in this condition, and I clarified to the seller THEN, that this is not Bel Geddes. Some months later, I was approached by another person who'd purchased all or some of that batch from the original seller, and I again clarified they did not have what they hoped. It appears to still be out there floating around. As for the REAL stuff: Many of the pieces have one rounded ("waterfall") end, and once sharp end. The pulls are similar but inset into the drawers, and surrounded by a deep dish plate of the same brushed stainless steel. Colors of regular and Bel Geddes Simmons lines are the same. Markings are also the same. I hope this helps. The pulls are the dead give-away difference.
Ronn again. One more thing: If you want to see a photo of a Bel Geddes piece (though not the best angle, and it is NOT in original paint), go to my site futuresantiques.com, click on "SHOP", and open my "NOW SOLD" gallery. Go to page 4. It's there.
I hope this helps a little more.
Hi, Ronn. Thanks for your clarification. Unfortunately, the issue is still not resolved for me. I think I need to get a reference book, because I've seen many pictures online of putative Bel Geddes designs that don't have the pulls you describe. The Brooklyn Museum has a Bel Geddes vanity with rectangular pulls - http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/research/luce/object/115139 - and this dealer - http://www.1stdibs.com/item.php?id=70414 - shows a piece with square knobs.
I did check out your site. Thanks for reading the column. I hope you'll continue commenting.
Molly,
The only other clue I can add for you to distinguish Bel Geddes from other Simmons OF THIS PERIOD, is that BG's drawer ends appear to wrap around the outside of the body, whereas the regular Simmons simple push into the body, like you see in the photos supplied on this blog. It is HIS EARLIER line for Simmons that is more geometric, and not like either of the sets we are currently discussing.
Ronn Ives