Mr. Bluehaunt, of The Haunted Lamp blog, kindly gave Mr. Peacock a tip on this amazing eBay treasure—an elegant vintage peacock mobile. The silhouette of this lovely peacock mobile is very hypnotic.
This body and base of this unusual sculpture (7”h) is made of black painted metal. The kinetic “feathers” of this quirky peacock mobile are made up of steel wires, beaded with dazzling metallic pearls.
Mr. Bluehaunt, nor myself,have ever seen anything quite like this quirky peacock mobile. Unfortunately, Mr. Peacock is on a restrained eBay budget right now, and couldn’t splurge to outbid the fellow bidders. But I’m happy knowing that some other collector is probably thrilled with this rare purchase. Meanwhile, I’ll take pleasure in admiring these lovely images of this crazy bird mobile. The Viennese seller of this unusual item listed it's possible origin from the 50’s, however, Mr. Bluehaunt felt like it looked more late 60’s/early 70’s.
Mr. Peacock imagines this unusual bird mobile perched on the desk of gentleman peacock icon, John Steed. He would use it, no doubt, as whimsical toy to flirt with the always alluring Mrs. Emma Peel.
Mr. Bluehaunt has impeccable taste and a very discerning eye for unique and inspirational goodies. Be sure to stop by The Haunted Lamp and take a peek at what rare treasure he’s sharing right now. Have a great weekend and happy treasure hunting. ThanksMr. Bluehaunt!
Matt Fox, the shopkeeper of Fine and Dandy Shop, stocks a very thoughtful and reasonably priced collection of accessories that would appeal to any gentleman peacock. In addition to ties, hats and socks, Mr. Fox also has a great selection of money clips, tie bars, cuff links and pocket squares. The median price point for these dapper goodies is only about forty bucks.
Mister Peacock: How would you describe your own style? Matt Fox: New dandy...stealing components from dapper men of yesteryear, but put together in a modern, fresh way.
MP: What's your daily uniform? MF: Well-fitting suit, skinny tie, tie bar, bright/fun socks, wing tips. MP: How old were you when you realized you were a peacock? MF: From my earliest memory I remember always wanting to look good. I was known in high school as the kid who wore a tie each day.
Above: This very classic, but very current hat is on sale here for only $45.
MP: Who or what inspires you? MF: My grandfather and other fashionable men of his age. Style is very natural for these guys.
Above: A pocket square is a nice accoutrement for any modern peacock. Buy one here.
MP: What current trends in menswear to you adore? MF: Dandyism, of course. I love that bow ties, skinny ties, tie bars, etc. have gained popularity in the last several years.
MP: Abhor? MF:Mass-marketed, ill-fitting/oversized casual clothing. Oh, and Casual Friday. Fine and Dandy Shop has a great array of bow ties. Buy some here.
MP: What's your favorite item in your own wardrobe? MF: My bow tie collection. I have nearly 50. Some new, some vintage. Some are tiny and some are ridiculously big.
MP: Tote bag or satchel? MF: I'm currently carrying a soft, vintage, brown, leather brief case.
MP: Favorite menswear designer? MF: Currently intrigued by Antonio Azzuolo. Very dandy/nerdy/young. Very fresh.
Above: Antonio Azzuolo—Fall/Winter 08/09
MP: What is your dream wardrobe purchase? MF: Bespoke clothing in general. I love the idea of clothing made specifically for me.
Above: Every peacock needs a collection of scarves in their wardrobe. Buy wool or silk scarves here.
Add some peacock flair to your wardrobe today and stop by the Fine and Dandy Shop.For a daily dose of dandyism—be sure to check out the Fine and Dandy Shop blog.Mr. Fox also has some great photo albums of "new school dandies" over at his Facebook.Thanks Matt!
Glenn O'Brien, gentleman peacock extraordinaire, gives a quick demonstration (courtesy of GQ) on how he ties a bow tie. Mr. O'Brien is no stranger to bow ties (and I'm not talking about the clip on type either)—he's worn bow ties for years. You can read the musings from this style guy,and authority on men's fashion, over at Glenn O'Brien's Style.
Mr. Peacock has been pining over this quirky gray jacket from the spring 2009 collection of the clothing line, Obedient Sons & Daughters. It's covered in embroidery that looks like hippie graffiti. Sadly, Christina and Swaim Hutson, the creative duo behind Obedients Sons & Daughters, announced last week that Obedient Sons, LLC would be closing due to complications with the brand’s primary investor and their current minority ownership interest.
This jacket has scribbled words and doodles embroidered on the front and back of the jacket such as:Love, love, love...Hang on one more second...Turn on, tune in.
The Obedient Sons jacket also has matching gray trousers, sans the embroidery. Mr. Peacock would probably nix the pants and end up wearing just the jacket with jeans. They also did a version of the same jacket and pants for their “daughter” collection.
Mr. Peacock loves the color palette of the embroidery against the neutral gray jacket—it reminds him of one of his vintage shirts (below).
My pal, Gregory, spotted this shirt for Mr. Peacock at a flea market years ago. It has since become one of my favorite shirts in my wardrobe. It looks like it was made in the early 1970’s. I like to think that someone lovingly made it for their dad (or husband or uncle) for Father’s Day...and you know Mr. Peacock appreciates nice embroidery.
The crudeness of the images makes the embroidery very charming—I especially like the folksy looking fisherman in the boat, wearing a floppy yellow hat.
The pheasant couple…
...and the quail—are just plain cute.
Christina and Swaim Hutson (shown above with their own little "obedient daughter") plan to exit the Obedient Sons & Daughter brand and launch a new label with sole ownership set to premier at their February 14, 2009 runway show in New York. Mr. Peacock looks forward to their new venture. You can still take a peek at Obedient Sons & Daughters here, or stop by their Shirt Shoppe here.
Every time Mr. Peacock walks to the park he passes an apartment that has dozens of stacked and hanging owls displayed in their window. This kooky display is made up of various macramé owls, owl lanterns, owl candle holders and owl figurines of every shape and size—creating a "curtain-of-owls" over the window. Some of the owls are hanging, while other are stacked on shelves made of wood planks resting on old coffee cans. All of the owls are strategically placed in the window with each of their faces looking out at people passing by on the sidewalk.
Mr. Peacock hasn't seen or noticed who lived at this apartment or who manages this massive collection of owls. So after years of admiring this menagerie, I finally decided to walk over and take a few photos to document its wacky artfulness. As I approached the apartment widow, I noticed a Bear standing at the gate of the building with a tote bag full of groceries—checking his mailbox. This gentleman peacock looked like he could also be a card carrying member of the Radical Fairies—dressed in his purple jacket, pink scarf and large owl-like glasses. It was a moment of pure serendipity.
I asked him, “Is this your owl collection?” Mr. Owl pensively responded, “Yes.” I replied, “How long have you been collecting owls and do mind if I take a few photos? “A very long time...yes, you can take pictures” he softly answered.
And before I could ask him anything else, Mr. Owl quickly slipped through the entry gate and into his apartment...
Some cultures believe that owls are good luck, while other cultures tend to think of them as evil omens. No matter where you stand on the subject, you can't deny that this unusual bird has become quite popular this past year or so as a decorative icon. Mr. Peacock once witnessed a real owl in action and was stunned by the quick accuracy of this amazing predator bird. It was fascinating to watch their sonar in action while hunting prey—but not a happy event to witness. Here’s a few owls that Mr. Peacock would like to add to the owl shrine:
This woodsy owl candle reminds me of a big pine cone with eyes. You can buy one here.
One of these iron owl doorstops would be cute too. Buy one here.
This vintage French owl lamp, made of resin...could add some spooky charm. More information here.
Mr. Peacock embroidered this pink owl on his mom’s wrangler jeans in 5th grade.
I have a vintage porcelain owl, that I already showed you with my underwater vase collection. I guess when I get tired of my owls, I can bequeath them to the owl shrine. The Gothic Rose usually has some interesting owl ephemera too.
When you collect things, it’s always a challenge to figure out the proper way to display and store your goodies, but still enjoy them. This wacky owl shrine might not be everyone's cup of tea...but I commend Mr. Owl's passion for putting his entire collection of owls right in the front window of his apartment for everyone to enjoy and talk about. How do you share and enjoy your collections?
Mr. Peacock wants to thank everyone for the wonderful heartfelt emails and comments regarding the passing of my grandmother. I appreciate it! She had a very long and fulfilling life—and I celebrate that.
Above image: Keeping with the owl theme...I like this Inuit representation of a stylized owl...available on note cards, along with other stylized Inuit owls. Click here for more info.
Above image: Mr. Peacock received this photo from a reader in Victoria BC.She took the photo from her nearby porch—while the owl perched in her acacia tree winked at her. Thanks Christine!
Yesterday, my maternal grandmother LaViolette passed away. Mr. Peacock was expecting that something would happen soon, because she was 98 years old and suffering from dementia, however, when it does happen it’s still a shock and jolt to your psyche. She had numerous brushes with death over the course of her long life—but she always faced her challenges with courage and optimism. She appreciated each day and wanted to always learn or try something new. This tough Aries woman was an incredible influence and a constant inspiration for Mr. Peacock.
Above left: My mother and I used to tease my grandmother, and tell her she looked like she was in drag when she was a schoolgirl. Above right: My mother and grandmother in the 1930's.
My grandmother's adult life wasn’t how she imagined it would be as a child—no white picket fence. She wanted her three children and all of her grandchildren (and great-grandchildren) to have a better life than her...and not make the same mistakes as she did. She self-depreciatingly called herself a “dumb country girl,” but was actually a very savvy and intelligent woman—who just happened to let her heart rule her life and not her intellect. LaViolette wasn’t a shy, quite flower though—she was a loud and stubborn lady that liked to have fun, eat good food and had a soft spot for any underdog or someone in trouble. She loved people and especially liked talking with people. “What is your first memory of your life?” was her favorite question she liked to ask, when she first met someone. My grandmother's first memory was, of course...getting in trouble as a toddler.
Above left: Mr. Peacock with his grandmother and younger sister, Samantha.
My grandmother invited me to come stay with her for a few months, years ago, after I had a painful break-up. We would frequently stay up all night talking and eating glazed donuts—which she loved. We had a special kinship and were frequently each others confidante—I could tell her anything without judgment and she also knew that she could talk to me about anything. Here’s some of LaViolette's favorite things:
Above: LaViolette, around 90 years old here, with her beloved Cairn Terrier, Teddie, standing in her backyard...with her blackberry bushes in the background.
She wore her hair in variations of a bob, for the last couple decades. She loved playing Bridge, bold dangling earrings and honky tonk music. Her favorite colors were red, black, and of course violet.
Above left: LaViolette, wearing a lavender colored vest in Rome, in the late 1960's—her favorite city in Europe. Above right: Standing in front of a fjord in Norway, in the 1970's.
She profaned that she hated traveling, however, deep down she really enjoyed traveling and adventure. She always, however, appreciated coming home.
LaViolette had an incredible green thumb and could practically make a rock bloom. She collected African Violets and always displayed her prized plants in full bloom...and was always on the lookout for a new or unusual variety.
Her favorite artist was Tamara de Lempicka.In 1974, the magazine, Auto-Journal, described the iconic Lempicka self-portrait (above left) as "a real image of an independent woman who asserts herself." Mr. Peacock would also describe his grandmother the same way... as the "real image of an independent woman who asserts herself."
Two of her favorite movies were MASH and Wings of Desire. I accompanied her 3 times to watch the latter film.
I will close now with a clip from a 1960 television show. It's a performance by Patsy Cline and introduced by Eddy Arnold—two my grandmother’s favorite performers. LaViolette was my grandmother, but she was also one of my closest friends and I will miss this lady with panache.
Mr. Bluehaunt, of The Haunted Lamp blog, kindly gave Mr. Peacock a tip on this amazing eBay treasure—an elegant vintage peacock mobile. The silhouette of this lovely peacock mobile is very hypnotic.
This body and base of this unusual sculpture (7”h) is made of black painted metal. The kinetic “feathers” of this quirky peacock mobile are made up of steel wires, beaded with dazzling metallic pearls.
Mr. Bluehaunt, nor myself, have ever seen anything quite like this quirky peacock mobile.
Unfortunately, Mr. Peacock is on a restrained eBay budget right now, and couldn’t splurge to outbid the fellow bidders. But I’m happy knowing that some other collector is probably thrilled with this rare purchase. Meanwhile, I’ll take pleasure in admiring these lovely images of this crazy bird mobile.
The Viennese seller of this unusual item listed it's possible origin from the 50’s, however, Mr. Bluehaunt felt like it looked more late 60’s/early 70’s.
Mr. Bluehaunt has impeccable taste and a very discerning eye for unique and inspirational goodies. Be sure to stop by The Haunted Lamp and take a peek at what rare treasure he’s sharing right now. Have a great weekend and happy treasure hunting. Thanks Mr. Bluehaunt!
