Chair #315

GENOESE ARMCHAIR

—Designer unknown

This Late fifteenth-century Genoese armchair has some gorgeous detail work. It's from L'Antiquaire & the Connoisseur, New York. The folding "X" chair design is a riff on the classic Savonarola chair. See Chair #28, January 28 of this blog for more details.

Chair #314

VENETIAN GROTTO CRAB CHAIR

—Designer unknown

This is a nineteenth-century grotto chair crafted in the shape of the crab, and it's from the collection of Ariane Dandois in Paris. Man made grottos were all the rage back in the romantic era. Think of Mad King Ludwig and the grotto he had built at Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria—all part of his grand homage to Richard Wagner. The grotto was an artificial stalactite cavern, complete with a waterfall. He'd float around in a boat and crank the Wagner up to 11. This crab chair would be absolutely perfect in Ludwig's grotto. Ahh, lifestyles of those crazy rich an famous, eh?

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She Crab Soup

2 tablespoons butter, divided
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups half & half cream
4 teaspoons finely grated onion
3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and white pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground mace
1/4 teaspoon red (cayenne) pepper
1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest (rind)
1 1/2 pounds flaked blue crab (or dungeness crab) meat
1/4 cup crab roe or 2 crumbled hard cooked egg yolks
3 tablespoons dry sherry
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley leaves

In a large, heavy pot over low heat, melt butter; add flour and blend until smooth. Slowly add milk and half & half cream, stirring constantly with a whisk; cook until thickened. Add onion, Worcestershire sauce, salt, white pepper, mace, cayenne pepper, and lemon zest. Bring just to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low, add crabmeat and crab roe or crumbled hard-cooked egg yolks; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add sherry, stirring to mix. Let sit for 3 to 4 minutes before serving.To serve, pour the soup into individual heated soup bowls, dividing the crabmeat and roe equally into each bowl. Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.

Chair #313

SWALLOWTAIL CHAIR

—Designed by Brian Fireman

Brian Fireman is a furniture designer specializing in hand-crafted contemporary furniture. He has a formal education in both geology and architecture, plus a fascination with wood as an organic material, along with a killer passion for the creative process of designing and building. He is inspired by mid-20th century Danish masters such as Hans Wegner, Finn Juhl, and Sigurd Ressell.

Chair #312

PEACOCK CHAIR

—Designed by Dror Benshetrit

This chair sits proud as a peacock! New York based designer Dror Benshetrit has created the Peacock chair for Cappellini. It's created out of three sheets of felt and a minimal metal frame. The folds of the felt are woven tightly to form a structured yet incredibly comfortable lounge chair, with no weaving, sewing, or upholstery involved.

Chair #311

TALL CHERRY CHAIR

—Designed by James Schriber

Chair #310

DOWL CHAIR

—Designed by Paul Julius Martus

American designer Paul Martus creates furniture and products, but is probably best known for his unique metal works, such as the hand hammer and wrench.

Chair #309

BRONZE SEA GULL CHAIR

—Designed by Judy Kenskey McKie

Here is yet another brilliant chair by Judy Kenskey McKie. See Chair #298/October 25 and Chair #278/October 5 of this blog for more of her witty animal chair designs. This bronze sea gull is her largest bronze chair to date. It's instantly calming—as if those huge, upturned wings will wrap you up in comfort once you have a seat upon its back.

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When Judy Kensley Mckie sees a duck on a pond, she does not think, “Oh, how cute,” or “Look at it swim,” or even “That would taste delicious in an orange sauce.” Instead, the Cambridge, Mass., artist wonders whether it could support a glass tabletop. “Birds are good because they have a lot of parts. I used birds a lot in my earlier pieces,” she says, explaining that wings, beaks, and feathered tails adapt well to her furniture designs.

—From Robb Report.com