PURE IMAGINATION

PURE IMAGINATION

After some 25 years of auctioneering Andrew set up Pure Imagination Ltd in 2002. Initially buying glass and ceramics in Scandinavia the company started to buy Mid-Century furniture which we now source all over the UK as well as in Europe. Jonathan joined us in 2011 and added his experience in British pieces from the 60's and 70's. We now also have a full-time restorer and upholsterer working for us, so customers can choose their own colours and fabrics for sofas and chairs. We have a wealth of experience between us and are passionate about what we sell. Our interests are many, so when we see great pieces from other periods we add them to our stock. Our 4000 square foot warehouse is full of pieces in restored and unrestored condition, we also regularly sell to European and Far Eastern trade buyers .

PURE IMAGINATION

Our Latest Find: Vintage Soccer Table from Aeology at Relic

Vintage Soccer Table: from Aeology at Relic

An incredible piece is shown in the corresponding images, a French table-football game table crafted circa 1935-1940. The piece was found in the south-coast city of Marseilles and, considering its age, was found to be in good condition. The piece is a marvellous curiosity, evoking images of jovial young men drinking and sharing jokes whilst playing the game.

This piece is made predominantly from wood with a two-toned finish. That being said, it does feature some interesting details to be noted; the ‘players’ were crafted from iron and surprisingly, the entire game is still in perfect working condition; even the coin slot still works and regardless of that the system is very easily bypassed. The most notable detail though is one which immediately attracts intrigue and certainly would look unfamiliar to anyone who has played on such a table before; the table includes sloping corners made using chamfered wood, the purpose of which is to avoid the stagnation of play by continuously insuring that the ball rolls towards the central players should it find itself on the outskirts of the board. The reason this piece inspires such intrigue is resultant of a few collective features - the ones described here are obviously visual and provide the piece with a very eye-catching quality and an identity unparalleled. Subsequently, it is likely it would be very difficult to find another piece with the same character and personality this one possesses. However, as with most vintage artefacts, there are more, subtle, details which go unnoticed at an immediate observation. 

Of course, vintage means well aged but, especially with items such as this, it has the implication of housing stories and experiences. This specific piece was designed either briefly before the German invasion of France or during it and it has survived a brutal war in still working condition, despite virtually being in the thick of it. Additionally, the connotations of this board game, still widely played today, of exuberance and the casual passing of time, provide a humorous irony to the nature of the piece; it was created and played during a time of genuine hardship and it survived. 

This piece would make a fantastic addition to any collection, home or indeed any bar-type establishment as not only is it valuable as a vintage item, it is a piece which attracts attention for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, the very nature of the size and stature of the game - if it’s placed in a room it will likely be the first thing someone entering the room will notice. Secondly, the shock of finding out the age and subsequently pondering of who had played the game given its circumstance. Third, the intriguing design aesthetics of the piece are to be marvelled at and examined carefully by all viewers. 

A wonderful piece with a story to tell, this table is offered at a price of £4,475.00 GBP. This is a piece which boasts bountiful character and aesthetic appeal - anyone would be lucky to make this treasure their own.

For more details on this piece and to make an inquiry, visit:

http://interiorboutiques.com/en/vintage-soccer-game-table-from-france

For more from Malcolm at Aeology at Relic, visit his Interior Boutiques store at:
http://interiorboutiques.com/en/aeology-at-relic

For our full range of football tables from our dealers, visit:
http://interiorboutiques.com/Catalog/ShopByCategory/?q=football

For Interior Boutiques, visit:
http://interiorboutiques.com/Home/index

Final Call: Find as at the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair!

Interior Boutiques at the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair

We've been incredibly busy this week at this amazing fair and want to take this last opportunity to invite you down to see our gorgeous stand - with a selection of items from our selected dealers - and come to this stunning affair!

The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair is designed with the interior designer in mind, and aims to 'unite the antiques and interior design trades', thus bringing an amazing collection of antique dealers, collectors, art designers and decorators together to celebrate beauty in style and design. The fair's stands, created with the fundamental idea of 'room-set' fashion, gives each piece, each element, each style, a chance to shine and inspire you. Come and let us help you style your home, your business, your client's interiors by partaking in this year's brilliant fair.

We've brought over 20 dealer's items to our stand this year, aiming to showcase the finest in artworks, antiques, collectors items and midcentury furnishings - many of these items are featured on our site, http://interiorboutiques.com/en/ - have a look online, and if you'd like to enquire about any item specifically, we may have this item on our stand at the fair.

We'd also like to take this opportunity to showcase some of our dealers - they've worked hard to bring you their products to our site, and we've love if you had a look at their pages on our site:

http://interiorboutiques.com/en/arundel-eccentrics
Arundel Eccentrics: for stunningly quirky and characteristic decoupage furniture, which we love and have been featured in national and international interior magazines - you have to see them to believe them! Based in London.

http://interiorboutiques.com/en/d-a-binder
D & A Binder: For bespoke display cabinets of any shape, size and finish, found exclusively at D & A Binder. Also stocking beautiful retro & vintage furnishings, and based in London.

http://interiorboutiques.com/en/les-trois-gar%C3%A7ons
Les Trois Garçons: For the utmost in elegant, iconic and sophisticated design - no introduction is truly needed for this trio who have brought entertainment and elegance to the industry.

http://interiorboutiques.com/en/mark-goodger
Mark Goodger: Specializing in antique accessories and boxes, Mark Goodger brings antiques into the 21st century and has some of the most beautiful small Tea Caddies and Decanters in existence - have a look at his stock.

Danish Rosewood Double Bed: From 20th Century Marks

Danish Rosewood Double Bed: From 20th Century Marks

Presented here is a beautiful piece crafted circa 1970 in Denmark; a double bed made in a modern style, in unexpectedly good condition. Though not an antique, this piece is not one to be looked over and certainly brings to the table its own redeeming characteristics in spite of this. In fact, it not being an antique is quite frankly the only unflattering detail one could likely conjure up about the thing.

 

Every piece bears with it reasons as to why it should certainly not be overlooked - undoubtedly this is especially important with regards to items which do not carry the title of antiques as they must boast bountiful character, utility and all-round aesthetic appeal; this double bed meets all of these criteria. With regards to character, this piece demonstrates plenty and is provided primarily by two notable characteristics; the material with which it was crafted and the shape in which it was made.
This double bed was crafted from rosewood, a wood which is famous for its resilience to wear and difficulty to work, though experienced craftsmen can utilize it to provide long lasting and choice items such as various pieces of high quality furniture as well as musical instruments; this provides a sense of ruggedness and dependability with regards to the nature of the bed frame itself. 

Additionally rosewood has quite an allure in terms of its deep reddish grain, exemplified well by the piece in question. The straight lines and right angles incorporated into the design are features which reflect a similar sentiment but are also notably characteristic of vintage, minimalist Scandinavian furniture, widely popular during the latter part of the 20th century and renowned for quality and modern design aesthetics. This bed frame is certainly utilitarian, the aforementioned straight lines make it an easy to fit item, as it will sit well against any straight walls large enough to accommodate its size; as well as this the piece features two build in bedside cabinets, these can house anything the owner desires both inside and atop them. 

Another useful feature one might disregard at first glance, would be the fact that underneath each of the cabinets is a space which will generally be high enough to provide uninhibited access to most electrical sockets. Finally, with regards to aesthetic appeal, there truly isn’t much to be said so much as to just instruct any buyer to take the time to observe the piece properly; the design is simply magnificent, the minimalist ideas with which the piece was made are prevalent and effective, turning this bed frame into something many would consider art. 

The well known quality and visual appeal of vintage Scandinavian furniture such as this bed frame are the main cause for its £1,850.00 price tag. It isn’t likely to break for a very long time, it’s an extremely handsome piece of furniture and it was crafted in a period where items like it and crafted in the same region were very popular and with good reason. This piece, subsequently, would make a fantastic addition to any home or collection. 

            

To enquire or for more details on this item, click here:
http://interiorboutiques.com/en/danish-rosewood-double-bed

For more items from 20th Century Marks:
http://interiorboutiques.com/en/20th-century-markscouk

For more bedroom furniture on Interior Boutiques, click here now:
http://interiorboutiques.com/Catalog/ShopByCategory/?q=bed

American Vintage Sideboard: from Les Trois Garçons

American Vintage Sideboard: from Les Trois Garçons

Shown here, an intricately and skilfully crafted American Vintage sideboard; this specific piece was designed by Lane USA circa 1960.

This piece can be used in the place of a drawer as well as perhaps having more of a showcasing role in its owner’s home. This is due to the fact that it has 9 drawers which open at the front; these could store anything from clothes, to shoes or could even be, with some slight modification, converted into some type of extravagant and lavish wine rack. Effective showcasing can be achieved, simply by taking advantage of the lacquered finish on the top of the sideboard; onlookers will be enticed by the exquisite design features which adorn the front of sideboard itself only to find even more gorgeous items featured.
This piece is made from oak and therefore bears with it some advantages. For example, oak is a very durable wood and so will last longer and stand up to more rigorous usage than some other pieces of furniture crafted from softer woods, such as cedar or pine. Oak is a traditional type of wood often found in antique pieces of furniture and so will offer a great rustic look and make an excellent and eye-catching addition to any room with this such aesthetic. The wood also takes very well to lacquer; the top of the sideboard has been subject to such treatment and so expresses the sheer charm of the wood’s grain.  

The wood aside; the piece itself has many advantages to offer, mainly the frontal decor. On the forward facing side of the sideboard, we can observe a truly marvellous design; in a sense, it exemplifies the characteristics of the wood from which it was crafted, for example, the rigidity presented by the straight lines, express the sturdy quality of the oak. However, the variation of the line lengths, the breaks provided via the incorporation of a few differing shapes, and just the fact that it is such a stunning piece of wood work, reflect the wood’s natural allure.

To conclude, this piece is offered at a price of £4,800.00, due to its breathtaking design, the well maintained condition of this antique and the quality of the oak used. It would find itself a welcome and flattering addition to any collector’s home in any range of purposes.

To find more pieces from Les Trois Garçons on Interior Boutiques, click here:
http://interiorboutiques.com/en/les-trois-gar%C3%A7ons

For more stunning sideboards on Interior Boutiques, click here:
http://interiorboutiques.com/Catalog/ShopByCategory/?q=sideboard

For Interior Boutiques:
http://interiorboutiques.com/en/