Once in a while we middle-class folk find ourselves at the local Ikea shopping for an Expedit or a Ludde (who hasn't bought one of those at least once?). Before you know it you've also picked up a Sniglar and a Vandring Uggla, a Bojne and at least 3 packs of Trojka just because they've all got such great names. (In my house we go through Trojka's so fast you'd think we were master paper cutters). Soon enough you've got a car load of stuff you didn't really need. But damn it, Ikea's clever storage ideas (boxes to store your boxes? Yes please!) make you feel like your life will be perfect if you buy, buy, buy!
I spent a few hours last week at London's elite art and antiques fair, Masterpiece. As I strolled past the antique Ferraris, the luxury yacht, the vintage Cartier jewels and the priceless ceramic tortoise with a snail on it (huh?) I got the distinct feeling that I was at the rich man's Ikea. Stay with me here - I know it's ridiculous to compare a mass-produced flat-pack superstore with a highly curated one-of-a-kind art and thingamigig show. But at the end of the day it's all a bunch of stuff that nobody really needs but for some reason makes us feel good. When boredom strikes, the super-rich buy strange life-size ceramic figures (see below) and I buy a new Flokati. Whatever floats your boat I suppose.
Amongst the Rolls Royce and the Fred Leighton booths I did spy a few things that were genuinely cool and perhaps worth splurging on:
'Moon Rock' Table by Bethan Laura Wood. Made with laminate marquetry and coloured MDF.
Tools and Jewels - their plywood booth and jewels displayed on old hammers and screwdrivers was totally out of place amidst the Chanel suits. I liked it.
I wanted to ask how much these exquisite earrings were. But you know how the saying goes - if you have to ask, you can't afford.
Leather topped 'Bermondsey 'stools by Simon Hasan.
An incredible map.
Would look good on my wall.
My preferred method of transport, complete with two pairs of carrying handles - one for each child.
When the kids get tired of carrying me. Harley Davidson.
Ancient tray made of tiny beads
And then there's the stuff below that makes you go what the what?
My client actually bought a pair of these for twice my annual salary...
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