sit-read.com

IT HAPPENED sit-read.com is FINALLY live. I know it's long overdue, thank you for all your patience. I'll leave the old version up for posterity's sake- but only for a few months. So grab all your ffffoooundjjjoouuunddtumblr pictures while you can. See you on the new site!

Get Over....

...to my Twitter account for a big end of the year sale!

Friday December 17th:

CLOSED FOR RENOVATION

I have not abandoned you, I promise. I'm busy buying up a storm (today: a beautiful Paul McCobb grass cloth credenza), refinishing (just wait till you see the Dux sofa that came in yesterday), and photographing like a mad man while Damien, Garrett and Justin put the finishing touches on  sit-read.com. The new site will launch in the dawn of 2011. New year, new site, TONS of new merchandise. Promise.

In the meantime here are two photos from the last few months. The first is of the TBW booth that Paul Schiek and I built at PS1 MoMA for the NY Art Book Fair, the second is the new sign that master sign painter Jonah Schulz hand painted for the Sit and Read / 6Descades gallery which is now open Fridays and Saturdays 11-6. See you in 2011! (Or at our Holiday party next Friday. Details to follow...)

 

New Unis Chair

RISOM UNIS CHAIR

This is a very special chair that has been over at Unis for a few weeks. The original was in pretty rough shape, so I had my seamstress make some strips out of leftover chino material from the Unis archive. I reweaved the chair and Part and Parcel captured the process in the stop motion video posted above. The chair is available for purchase at Unis (226 Elizabeth Street in Manhattan). Email me for more info!


I know I keep saying this, but the new site is on it's way. I'm saving lots of new inventory for the launch which is why postings have been light/nonexistent lately. I promise that come December Sit and Read will be back in full swing!

Sit and Read + TBW Books @ The NY Art Book Fair

 

If you make it down to the NY Art Book Fair this weekend, please stop by  TBW Books on the second floor. My good friend Paul Schiek  and I collaborated to design and build an interpretive recreation of the the TBW Studios in Oakland, California. I'm really happy with the way it came out! I'll post more photos after the fair is over. 

Other great things to see at the fair: Jason Polan, 6 Decades, John McWhinnie (will someone buy The Slits poster for me please?), and The Thing Quarterly.

Eames for Herman Miller Shell Chair

I just finished repairing this one last night. Base is nice and tight with all glides intact. You'll rarely see upholstery in such good condition. The vinyl is so soft, it almost feels like leather.

Enameled Mugs

Blue Wire Hamper/Basket

$150

26" tall, 25" diameter.

Alvar Aalto Stool

Perfectly worn black lacquered Aalto stool. Aprox 22" tall.

Cathrineholm of Norway

9 1/2" enameled bowl from the Lotus Collection. Shown atop the tulip table posted here.

Scoop Lounge Chair

A single piece of bent ply with a black upholstered (fixed) cushion and doweled legs. I love the simplicity of this design.

There is an interesting discussion about this chair posted on Mid Century Modernist. Check it out here. The only reliable information that I could gather was that this chair was produced in the late 50's by Carter Brothers, in the US. This chair is in excellent condition. More photos after the jump.

Holt Howard, 1962

SOLD (Amanda was quick on the draw!!)

Hand made ceramic mugs made in 1962 by Holt Howard. Shown atop the Tulip Table.

Conant Ball Chairs

Early century American craftsmanship meets Danish sensibility. A wonderfully sculptural chair manufactured in Vermont by Conant Ball. Solid maple. Could be a Russel Wright design, though I'm not certain on that.

Tulip Table

24" tall tulip side table in the manner of Eero Saarinen. Cast metal base, and laminate top, dinged and chipped to perfection. 

Goose Neck Desk Lamps

$110 each

Goose neck art deco desk lamps with cast iron bases.

Dux Sofa and Chair Set

A design nerd friend of mine swears this was designed by Greta Grossman, but I'm not 100% on that. Definitely manufactured by Dux.  This set is all about the details (see more photos after the jump, a weight to keep the head pillow in place!). The sofa elegantly folds out into the most comfortable sleeper sofa I've ever laid on. Available over at Strawser and Smith, or by appointment through me. Don't forget to click through for more photos.

Updates! Twitter Clearance Sale! My Desk!

found photos of handsome gentlemen from the 127 Sale, on my desktop.

There are some big things happening at Sit and Read.  A brand new website has been in the works for the last few months thanks to Part and Parcel. Severely Vintage has left the Brooklyn showroom for Western shores to open Artifacts 20th Century. I closed down the showroom last week for some much needed renovations and to make way for 6decades Books (more on that partnership forthcoming). Strawser & Smith will be featuring many more Sit and Read pieces in the near future for your shopping convenience.  The new Unis chairs are trickling out of the shop and into the window at Unis NoLita.

In order to have a fresh start for the fall I will be hosting a Twitter Clearance Sale over the next few weeks. Items that are posted to the blog will be put on sale via my Twitter page only. That means you have to subscribe in order to get the deals. Most mark downs will be 50% or more. Just make sure to mention the sale when you email me, because these prices will not be listed on the blog!  I'll be listing items that haven't even made it to the blog yet, and maybe even give away an Eames shell chair or two- so don't sleep!

Stay tuned for more official announcements about all the exciting things going down over here...

Green Wire Milk Bottle Crate

$45

A perfect bike basket.

made by "L"

 

 

a small planter, or perhaps an ashtray. Handmade and glazed by "L". from 127.  click below to see the beautiful signature.

Brass Coat Hooks

SOLD (Drew and Elisabeth, quick on the draw!)

A set of nice antique 2 headed brass coat hooks. Don't these look like whale tails?

Did any of my readers buy one of these chairs from me/Strawser & Smith at Brimfield last week? If so, please get in touch...

Hand Painted Ottoman

$250 
(show with a Shaker chair, which is sold)

This is a rather odd piece that I picked up n the 127 Sale. It's a hand painted (and from what I can tell) homemade ottoman. The aged brown paints almost give the fabric a leather like quality. Very unique. Another photo is posted after the jump.

measurements: aprox 18" tall 

Lead Glass Beveled Edged Mirror framed in Walnut

Heavy lead glass mirror (circa 1920s) with beveled edges framed in walnut.

measurements: 25" x 32" 


 

Black Iron Shelving Brackets

$45

Nice and simple hand welded shelving brackets, slightly rusted.
measurements: 12"x12"

Hand Stitched Cubist Patchwork Quilt

$550

A beautiful hand stitched cubist inspired quilt.  Measures 63" x 80". A 127 find. More photos after the jump.

Hand Blown Glasses

A set of three handblown glasses. Artist unknown.

Army of Umanoff Slat Chairs

Lots o' Umanoff from 127 Sale and beyond.  the set of four swivel chairs are early production with wrought iron frames. The desk chair is slightly later, with a lighter stain, and the bar stools, are a bit later with tubular steel frames. All seats made from oak.  Get slat happy.

Small Danish Credenza

Perfect apartment sized credenza.  Pull out writing surface,  skeleton locks, and a finished back.  Made in Denmark. Teak. 32" wide  24" tall 14" deep.

Mismatched Chair Set

1 Umanoff (oak and iron), 1 Shaker (walnut), 1Tapiovara (teak). I think they are perfect together. I hope you do too.

Ceramic Bowl Set

$115

Spoils of the 127 Sale. These bowls were from three completely different cities. Each is handmade by an unknown artist, but they go together quite nicely. The largest bowl measures 10" diameter.

The Perfect Club Chair

A chair that only time could create. Fat Alex told me that he pulled it out of an old house in France and shipped it over to the United States where it stayed in his shop through a full renovation and paint job. Needless to say, this chair is worn. In some places down to the bone. But sit in it and try to not take a nap. Go ahead, try! Shown with a century old postage stamp quilt that I found on the 127 Sale. More photos after the jump.

Waste Paper Basket

$140

A nice little metal waste paper basket. 18" tall. May have some provenance that I'm unaware of, any ideas?  Hudson Bay coat hanging in the background. That'll be up soon.

Jens Risom for Knoll Settee

SOLD

Just an exquisite and compact piece. White leather, oak frame.

Compact Walnut Dresser

This piece is all about the crescent brass pulls. They really are amazing. It's also a nice compact size, perfect for an extra dresser, or someone with a well edited wardrobe. 24" wide x 44" tall by 15" deep.

Set of 6 Thonet Dining chairs

These chairs are not for the faint of heart. Well patinaed wood, and some spot repairs give these chairs an amazing almost industrial character. The construction is solid too. No soft backs or shaky legs here. Just good solid chairs.

Arthur Umanoff Stool

SOLD

A rather rare Umanoff piece. I've never seen one before. 18" wide 12" deep, 12" high.

Maple Shaker Desk

Single drawer, uber simple Shaker design. Could be used as an entry table as well. Wood has a significant amount of patina, construction is rock solid. Nice compact dimensions : 19"deep x38" wide x 30"tall.

Tripod Floor Lamp

SOLD

Possible Paul McCobb design. Wrought iron construction. New shade.

Teak Table Lamp

Solid hunk of teak turned and carved to simple perfection.. Made in Denmark. Brand new shade.