My Art Deco Library Project

[tonyb]

If smoking weren’t so effing hazardous to one’s health, I’d suggest a floor standing ashtray or two.
I’m rarely seeing antique/vintage ashtrays in my visits to the places a person might think he’d find them. Maybe they just take up valuable floor space and don’t sell? Some were quite stylish and might lend themselves to other uses — a candy dish, say.

 

[Mister Cairo]

Another addition, inline with Tony's ideas of vintage pieces, a little touch but these are what will complete a room and make it functional.

A 1940s American waste paper basket, Mission-style, deco adjacent quarter-sawn oak.

 

[Mister Cairo]

Also posted in the your most precious art deco item thread, a real treasure, a 1930 signed by the artist (J. Brault) sculpture of a panther.

 

[Mister Cairo]

I got this mid-century very deco looking bar, 1950s Italian, but on receiving it, while liking it as a piece, feels inadequate as my library bar. As I had been looking for a stand of sorts for my custom MG car radio console, this will do! Will act as antiquarian book storage as well.

 

[Mister Cairo]

Other views, Darcy investigating...

 

[Mister Cairo]

Original 1930s light fixture, from the same Toronto dealer from which I bought the desk lamp.

Original shades, re-wired.

 

[Mister Cairo]

Like the sconces, on a dimmer switch so the mood can change!

 

[tonyb]

^^^^^^
Most excellent! Among the changes we’ve made to our generic suburban rambler over the decade-plus we’ve been here is to replace almost all the builder-grade ceiling fixtures with far superior vintage pieces.
Put the money, and the effort, where it shows. If we have to live with it every day, it’s money well spent.

 

[Mister Cairo]

As discussed, I have moved that cabinet (formerly my "bar") and am using it to store newer first editions (20th century and later) and to base my "wireless".

More to follow on that item...

 

[Mister Cairo]

 

[Mister Cairo]

So, my "wireless".

Long story. My dad came to Canada from England in 1947. Married, two boys, wife leaves him and HE kept the boys (!!! That is rare today!). Treats himself to a 1957 MG.

1963 sells the MG but keeps the radio, to "one day" build a cabinet for it to use. Marries my mum in 1964, I arrive 1967, sister in '69.

I grow up with this radio in a box that "one day" will be put in a cabinet and made to work again.

Dad dies in 2008 aged 87. I have the box.

2025, right, look for a radio guy. Find a radio guy nearby, take it in.

"1957 MG car radio, MADE IN ENGLAND, looking to have it working and converted crom 12 volt battery to 110 volt wall socket. I will be putting it in an art deco cabinet for my library".

Radio man: "A car themed cabinet would work, I do wood work as well, let me have a go"?

"Roger that".

See the "grill", "headlamps", "bumper", "Cadillac badge", side "fenders" and "hood".

Not seen here the front "tires" on the sides (speakers).

 

[Mister Cairo]

 

[Mister Cairo]

The radio waa converted to local hydro, needed only a few new tubes and such, has its original power transformer in place, and he added a blue tooth adapter. It does receive AM and of course short wave, but our reception is rubbish.

I have 1920s, 30s and 40s playlists on Spotify and use my phone.

Kind of wish the hook up was hidden (he wanted to surprise me with the design) but a small issue.

The car cabinet was built using old stereo woodwork and some antique furniture parts at hand.

 

[Mister Cairo]

The photo montage is 15 deco inspired 5 by 7 frames each with a family photo, going from the 1920s to each of the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, up to 1962.

 

[Mister Cairo]

My dad in the sailor suit, grandmother Harriet and her dad, my great grandfather Michael Rosario, mid 1920s in Baghdad. Rosario is Portuguese but the family was east Indian from Goa, the colony. Converted to Roman Catholic and adopted a Portuguese name, de Rosario. Michael dropped the de as his initials were MAD - Michael Anthony de Rosario! GG grandad, Anthony, married an Irish woman, Ruth Flanagan, thus starting the anglo-Indian (for lack of better term) line on my dad's side.

 

[Mister Cairo]

Does it get more classic than this? My dad Patrick on the right with a dapper chum, name lost to history.

Check out the Empire Flying Boats advert in the background!

1930s, given my dad's appearance, I'd say '35 or '36.