Bench Prototype Design originally for the Louvre Museum

We are always getting items in that have fascinating stories behind them.  Sometimes we feel like Antique Detectives.  You pick up an interesting piece and then you do research to find the history behind that piece.  Recently we purchased a bench by Jean-Michel Wilmotte.  Lewis had seen that people such as Holly Hunt were promoting Jean-Michel Wilmottes pieces.  When he found this piece he was quick to purchase it.

It turned out that this bench was a prototype bench, designed by Jean-Michel Willmotte  for the Richelieu Wing of The Louvre Museum, Paris France.  It is on display in our large front window along side our 7 1/2 foot tall silvered plaster nude by Fernard Guigner, originally designed for Henri Bendel in New York City during the 1930's and 1940's.

 Another piece with a history behind it is a huge 4 feet across Venini Chandelier that came out of the world trade center in Boston. 

In fact we have three other Murano Glass chandeliers hanging in the same window.

Over the bench we hung Our James Yoko oil painting circa 1960's abstraction.  I blogged a while ago about Yoko.  We have enjoyed having two of his paintings in our shop.  Lewis worked at one time in the art world in New York City and really does a fabulous job on our windows.  Oh course he does a great job of finding wonderful items for our store too!