Monday, June 09, 2008

Keeping it in the family


While we were in Basel we dropped in to see the Basel Design Fair. It was held in an amazing domed building that looked like it had been a garage at some time in its life. Among the very cool and very expensive chairs, bookcases and lamps we saw Atelier Van-Lieshout’s Family Lamp. It immediately reminded us of the works from the Vigland Sculpture Park, home to the world’s most bizarre public sculpture. Nearby, his trilby hat resting on his lap, Brad Pitt was arranging for his people to talk with the gallerist’s people about shipping Family Lamp (from an edition of 10) home. Don’t know the sticker price, but a dining room table by the same Dutch designer would expect between $US20-30,000. We assume there was a discount.