My best find yet!

I love finding unique and fun pieces and when I saw this map/blueprint cabinet I had to try to get it. These things are so hard to find because they are so drool worthy- this was absolutely my best find yet!

I have always wanted one to store my children’s art. Over the years four children can create a lot of art work and sometimes it comes home on large pieces of paper that aren’t easy to file. The large format of the drawers is perfect to keep their masterpieces wrinkle free.

 

When I saw the online estate sale listing for this piece it had additional pictures of some of the contents. Then I knew I HAD to do what I cold to get it. Gorgeous vellum and mounted line drawings of shopping kiosks in Central Park. Blueprints and projects this man had worked on…. Lucky me- I won!

Little did I know HOW amazing the finds in here were…. when put together, the piece has a fairly large footprint. Taking out the drawers and dividing it in two, lowers the weight significantly and made moving it out SO much easier. As we were emptying the drawers and carrying things out, my husband handed me a file. “Here”, he said, “Elliott Gould, that’s somebody, it’s it?”

It was a file with the name Mrs. Elliott Gould and a New York address on the tab. In the file were the 1970 communications between the architect and various companies regarding the design of an apartment for his client, BARBARA STREISAND. Yes, THAT one.

The first file was fun… but oh the discoveries later. Opening those drawers was the best treat EVER!

I found articles about the architect and his work in NY, VA, and even Amsterdam. A numbered print from an Erté from the Grosvenor Gallery in London, detailed blueprints for two entire neighborhoods, and so much more.

Then my girlfriend came over to have a look and she flipped over the vintage embroidery set (no idea why I hadn’t done that yet) to find this on the back…

 

 

Squeal! Then I got serious about going through the cabinet. Another friend recognized the architecture and street names of the row house line drawings as Amsterdam. I found a whole other file of communication about Ms. Streisand’s home, clipped newspaper articles, and even the blueprints to the Arlington County Detention Center. Serious history here…

SO what are my plans? I’m really not quite sure. I have some friends who know more about these sorts of things and are willing to help me. I also have a lot of research to do myself. He was obviously very proud of these things to hold on to them all these years and I want to make sure whatever happens they go to places where they will continue to be respected and treasured as unique and incredible art.

 

I will probably keep the cityscapes of Amsterdam. Something about them completely appeals to me. I’ll frame them and put them somewhere. Maybe my husband’s office.

 

As for the cabinet? I plan to add a walnut top maybe stain it darker, and put it in my husband’s office under his “bike art”. It’s certainly better than the fairly useless table he has there now. He doesn’t really like that idea… but I am not sure he will really have a choice. Ahhh marriage….

 

XO!

~Scottie

P.S. I’d love to hear from you if you happen to know anything about the things in these photos or even ideas on where to find information. There is so much more in the cabinet, I just didn’t want to risk boring you with all of it. I love history and can’t wait to learn all I can about these finds!