With the Pier Antique Show in New York City being discontinued this year the start of our “Freakin’, Tiquen'” season was delayed until the Memorial Day weekend and a visit to two flea markets. We wanted to try something new so it was off the exotic land of Brooklyn, New York and a visit to the Brooklyn Flea in the Fort Greene neighborhood. That was on the Saturday of the holiday weekend. The Friday before I made one of my research trips to the New York Public Library at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street. On my way to the library I passed by the American Radiator Building (now the Bryant Park Hotel) on West 40th Street. Designed in 1924 by John Howells and Raymond Hood, in a combination Gothic and Modern style, that I would call “proto-deco”. The building was made famous by a 1927 Georgia O’Keefe painting Radiator Building-Night New York.
The American Radiator Building (Bryant Park Hotel) .
The facade of the building is in black brick to represent coal, the gold decorations are representations of parts of a radiator.
Radiator Building-Night New York, by Georgia O’Keefe.
While waiting for the library to open, I snapped a photograph of 10 East 40th Street. In the 1930’s the building was known as the Chase Tower. Not Chase Bank, but the showroom for the Chase Copper and Brass Company’s specialty giftwares. The showroom was on the top floor of the building, in the space behind the arched windows.
The former Chase Tower at 10 East 40th Street, through an arch of the New York Public Library.
On Saturday Chris and I were meeting friends for what would be for our first visit to one of the Brooklyn Fleas, on this trip it was the Fort Greene Flea.
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- Chris outside the Fort Greene Flea.
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- Anthony enjoying the shade just outside of the Fort Greene Flea.
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- The Fort Greene Flea.
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- Some of the goodies at the Fort Greene Flea.
I wish we had driven to Brooklyn, as there were a couple of bigger items, a nice Deco console table with a blue glass top; also a reproduction copper panel molded from an original off the Boston Electric building.
Reproduction Art Deco copper panel.
While I only purchased a nice plaid, seersucker necktie from the 1920’s our friends bought a very, very nice reverse painted, Art Deco picture frame with the hand colored photo of Loretta Young that was in the frame when it sold back in the 1930’s.
Loretta Young photo in a Deco reverse painted frame.
After leaving the flea market and lunch we were off to the Brooklyn Museum to view some of the Art Deco treasures on display there.
The Brooklyn Museum
Silver Plated Art Deco.
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- Silver plated hand mirror by the Napier Company, circa 1928.
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- Napier Company silver plated flask, circa 1927.
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- Silver plated salt and pepper shakers. Designed by Elsa Tennhardt for the E. & J. Brass Company. Circa 1928
Architectural Art Deco
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- Jean Dupas glass panel from the S.S. Normandie, 1935.
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- Art Deco vent grill from the Loew’s Grand in Atlanta, Georgia.
Tubular Steel Furniture
Marcel Breuer tubular steel furniture. From top to bottom: Side Chair, Model B5 (1925); Armchair, Model B4 (1927); Table, Model B19 (1928)
Weil-Worgelt Study
(Originally at 575 Park Avenue, New York City)
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- Weil-Worgelt Study designed by L. Alavoine, 1928-1930.
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- Wood door.
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- Wall sconce.
The Golden Nugget Flea Market
Anthony at the Golden Nugget.
Sunday it was off to one of our favorite flea markets, the Golden Nugget, near Lambertville, New Jersey. We have always had good luck at the Golden Nugget and this weekend was no different.
One of the two Deco purchases was this set of six, chrome Chase tumblers. These are not common, Chris has only come across one of these before at $28.00 and it wasn’t in that great of condition. This set was $40.00 and the tumblers are in very nice shape. The simple design of the etched rings at the bottom give the tumblers a great streamline look.
Set of six Chase chrome tumblers.
The best find of the day was a Kodak Beau Brownie No. 2 in Black and Maroon. Designed by Walter Dorwin Teague, these Art Deco cameras were in production from 1930-1933. It is not in perfect shape, but it was only $15.00, so I was not going to pass it up.
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- Black and Maroon Beau Brownie No. 2
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- Walter Dorwin Teague designed Beau Brown No. 2, 1930-1933.
This was a great start to the new “Freakin’, Tiquen'” season. We can’t wait to see what other finds we will come across this summer.
Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’, Tiquen’ Guys)
For more about Walter Dorwin Teague check out this past Driving For Deco post:
Walter Dorwin Teague Treasures at the Dallas Museum of Art
The Radiator Building was my screen saver for two years. I couldn’t imagine the upkeep on that gold. Between the impressiveness of the building and the upkeep, I had to take pictures and just admire it.
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