HIGH POINT REVEAL: THE SELECTED WORKS OF TONY DUQUETTE FROM BAKER

Photo by Tim Street-Porter, from "Tony Duquette," Abrams, New York
The Drawing Room

Photo Courtesy of Hutton Wilkinson/The Tony Duquette Estate

Glamour! Fantasy! These words come to mind when describing The Selected Works of Tony Duquette Collection Baker revealed at High Point last week. Hutton Wilkinson, protege and collaborator of Duquette's for over 30 years, owns the Dawnridge estate in Los Angeles, where the original pieces reside. To see the interiors, pick up Tony Duquette by Hutton and Wendy Goodman if you do not already own it. Duquette is known for creating elaborate costumes, stage settings and decorative items, winning a Tony for the original Broadway production of Camelot. For his furnishings he re purposed found materials, elevating them by using unique finishing techniques. He lived to 85, and his designs were so in demand that catalogs from a Christie's auction in the 80's sold out immediately. Thank goodness a book was done recently on his life's work. Hutton was kind enough to invite me to a Dawnridge dinner party a few years back. Not something I will ever forget.

The reproductions by Baker faithfully capture the whimsy and wonder of the originals, using unique materials and special finishes. The archives provided inspiration for designs spanning from 1947-1972. The selected pieces are works of art. Baker is known for sourcing the best materials and as seen below, they let this artisans vision come alive.

THE BIG REVEAL:



Photos Courtesy of Baker
The Abalone Chandelier of painted steel and abalone shells, Circa 1952. Eight were produced and they have already sold out!!!


The Palmer Chair, Circa 1965


The Marsan Chair, Circa 1951



The Macao Garden Seat of lacquered wood, Circa 1960



The Organic Baroque Chair of wrought iron , Circa 1965



The Sunburst Torchere of cast bronze, Circa 1949


The Biomorphic Mirror of cast resin and gold leaf, Circa 1965



One of the signature pieces is the Biomorphic Console of cast resin and gold leaf, Circa 1965


Talk to the animals--- an homage to Dr. Doolittle?! The Ghost Snail Lamp of cast resin and pin shell veneer, Circa 1970


The Abalone Mosaic Cocktail Table of brass and abalone shell, Circa 1959



The Paris Snowflake Screen of 14 karat gold leaf or silver leaf (shown) and cast alluminum, Circa 1951

The Regency Pagoda Lamp of painted cast resin, Circa 1970

The Jeweled Votive Table Lamp of silver or 24 karat gold plated (shown) cast bronze, Circa 1972


The Arrow of The Sea Swordfish Snout Lamp Sculpture of Murano glass and cast bronze, Circa 1972
The Gold Toad Decorative Piece of 24 karat gold plated cast bronze, Circa 1970

The Insect Man Sculpture of painted steel, Circa 1947. A precursor to Burning Man perhaps?

Visit a Baker retailer or the Baker site to purchase these fantastical objets (going fast).