Escape

Well, you rather hope so anyway. This is one of several new items from French Cab, a purveyor of exquisite Art Deco pieces.

Gone to the dogs, (and cats)

Frenchcab Galleries continues to provide beautiful and exciting pieces of Art Deco sculpture, such as these two examples. Atop: pair of greyhound metal and marble bookends, circa 1930, each bookend is 6" x 3 x 4½, price EUR400, and lower a Rulas sculpture of a panther, black/green patinated metal, circa 1930, signed 28.5" x 6.5" x 10", price EUR 900.

Both the epitome of elegance and refinement.

Overcoming hurdles

An uneasy calm has been restored to the city, following military intervention last night and the surrender of the protesters' leaders. I don't suppose that will be the end of it for one minute, but it usually helps if there is a time for reflection, and I hope this provides it.

Coincidentally details of this this rare D. H. Chiparus sculpture of an athlete, in bronze patinated metal, circa 1920, 11" x 7" x 18.5" high, price EUR850, were sent to me by French Cab this morning, which I thought very apt.

A celebratory glass of something cold and fizzy to toast the truce is very much in order once the sun is over the yard arm. Or perhaps even a cocktail, but not of the Molotov variety, much in evidence these last few days.

The last resort

I don't need a holiday, and I'm not even entirely sure I want to go to the beach, but as this is the best season in Thailand for the islands, it seems silly to pass up the opportunity.

After the recent political problems which included the closure of the two main airports in Bangkok by protesters, tourism was forecast to be decimated. And as it represents about 6% of GDP, that's a serious issue.

Thus far the predictions of doom and gloom do not appear to have been borne out, in that a 50% decline in tourism has not taken place. If anything, it may be down 10-20%, (depending on who you believe, and perhaps these things are deliberately not being recorded with any degree of certainty).

But as commentators on these matters have pointed out, those who had booked for the peak Christmas and New Year holidays probably didn't alter their plans once the airports were reopened. But those who booked later, probably have by now, especially with a growing realisation of the deepness of the worldwide slump.

In a couple of weeks it will be Chinese New Year, and Thailand's island idylls will probably benefit from the influx of the many in the region who have yet another five day holiday. Thereafter things may indeed get a bit quieter.

As privacy and quietude are one of the greatest luxuries in life for me, that's when I might head off into the sunset, like this one.

(1930s metal plane on marble base, with inkwell from French Cab.)
(Six Senses Hideaway Yao Noi, Thailand.)

Oarsman and awesome

Rare sculpture of a man with oars by Demay and Fraisse. Excellent condition. circa 1930.Very high quality. Size is 18" EUR950

Hard to find D H Chiparus sculpture of a man. Wonderful bronze antique patina. Marble base. Circa 1930. Size is 16.5" x 10" x 4". EUR680

These are two sculptures for sale from one of my favourite stores, French Cab Gallery in Vichy: http://frenchcab.com/

Although I've often said that I'm not a huge fan of the Art Deco period, I am constantly drawn to the sculpture from that period, and I think these two pieces demonstrate that timeless quality.

Left & right

These Art Deco bookends from French Cab remind me of politics today, where polarisation seems to be the best way of describing how the future might be. In Thailand we're undergoing a similar experiment with this view, so Americans don't need to think they're having all the fun.

Some of these beauties started life as mascots (hood ornaments), (the pelicans and the kangaroos), whereas the playful kittens and the non-speaking toucans probably just never thought they'd get on, so beginning life as bookends was probably appropriate. Perhaps there's a lesson in that for all politicians; if they don't work together, they'll end up on the shelf.