Monday, July 26, 2010

My Peacock Room


One of my favorite rooms anywhere is the Peacock Room at the Sackler Gallery here in DC. On a recent thrift store trip, I spotted this amazing brass peacock screen. It was not priced, and I figured it would be quite expensive. When I inquired, I was told it was from an embassy, and they were asking $50. I could not pay and get it out of there fast enough. When I got it home it did not look like this. It was orange in color, probably having been in a hookah bar as opposed to an embassy. It was missing much of its hardware fastening all of it together. I took the entire thing apart, cleaned it, had a handy friend make new hardware for what was missing, reassembled and polished it. I have even found some wonderful bird claw and ball feet for the base that I have ordered. More pictures to come-this is a little preview. I almost threw it in the garbage a hundred times it was so frustrating restoring it, but I think it's quite beautiful.




38 comments:

  1. Wow on the find and your hard work! I have no doubt you will love it for years to come, it's a great piece.

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  2. hi beth,

    wow, this piece is amazing. it's so big too! i love it and cannot wait to see how you style it. and for $50!

    ~janet

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  3. It is just amazing what you can find in a thrift shop! Good find!

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  4. You did an amazing job cleaning it all up! Congrats on such an awesome find. Nothing tickles my heartstrings more than a steal found while thrifting!

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  5. Beth I love how you can see the beauty hidden away, and even though it was a big job, wow it is fabulous!

    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  6. That is a really wonderful find!...good for you for having the patience to finish restoring it! ~Terri

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  7. Lucky, lucky you! You always find the best things. Love what you've done with it. What a find.
    Hope you're having a wonderful summer,
    Catherine

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  8. To the great eye and the patience to bring it back to life, I salute you.

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  9. You deserve an "Oscar" for
    Queen of finds. That is teriffic.
    We would have had a Macy basement
    scene, if I saw it first. LOL

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  10. Sooo envious. That is absolutely gorgeous!

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  11. OMG!!! Unbelievable! This is so good looking but what a completely DAUNTING task that lay ahead of you when you brought that thing home. And so completely WORTH IT, once it was all said and done...and the ball and claw feet to come will be especially noteworthy...can't wait to see it once they arrive. This is really exquisite! Great job, Beth...you and that EAGLE EYE of yours!!!

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  12. This is going to be incredible Beth. Well worth the effort.

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  13. Hi Beth,
    I'm so glad you checked out the Treasure Shop. They are always getting cool things in there. I did a flip the day those screens came in. There were originally 2 of them each one priced at $100. I wanted them so bad, but just couldn't figure out what to do with them. Glad you found it.

    Julie

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  14. Acanthus and Acorn-It is a great piece-thanks.

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  15. Meg-We have some great thrift stores here.

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  16. Mary-Thrift store finds are great fun!

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  17. Karena-It certainly was hidden-glad you like it.

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  18. Catherine-I'm having a wonderful summer-great to hear from you.

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  19. Where the Style Things Are-They are out there.

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  20. Vickie-I even found wonderful antique feet on eBay that will be great.

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  21. It's gorgeous!

    Do you know where I can find something like this near Los Angeles?

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  22. Beth OMgosh this is truly amazing what a wonderful piece and your plans to add feet will be great. I think this is a forever piece a, classic. It pays to have your wonderful designers eye and vision, Congrats on a great find at a great price!!! Kathysue

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  23. Julie-Thanks so much for telling me about it.

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  24. R-Keep checking flea markets, thrift stores, and Craigslist-you never know.

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  25. You did a beautiful job with this! My mother had this same piece in the late '60's and loved it! I am not sure where it went or why we parted with it after she passed away. Now I'm kicking myself that I didn't keep it. Nice find! Enjoy it!

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