Guide to Extremadura- Finca al-manzil and Beyond: SOME DIFFERENT LOOKS AT THE CORTIJO....WORK IN PROGRESS

Sunday, 19 July 2015

SOME DIFFERENT LOOKS AT THE CORTIJO....WORK IN PROGRESS

Two Mies van der Rohe chairs, the 1927 MR 20 design, cantilevered tubular steel with cane seats, these were made in Italy in the 60s and have just been restored.
Chair in corner is Victorian dentists' chair, it's extremely reclined for better access to the rotten molars, hate to think of what went on, it's a relic from my gap year antique stall at Eton market, a very long time ago but still have many things I couldn't bear to part with....some business woman!

Painting of the Porte de Gazelle in the Tunis medina, an old fondouk, it was my winter project, mixed media on board, inspired by a photograph taken on our Sicilian/Tunisian holiday.

It's sad that we will probably not visit Tunisia again, there were already signs of imminent chaos a year ago and since then several tragic events including the shootings in the Bardo museum, the Bardo was one of my main motives for visiting, I remember a wonderful peaceful afternoon immersed in the splendour - see my Tunisia post here
http://finca-al-manzil.blogspot.com.es/2014/06/tunisia-part-i-tunis-bardo-bizerte.html

Moroccan kilim from the Atlas, painting of the Majorelle gardens in Marrackech by me, William IV secretaire with many secret drawers and compartments, a delight of my childhood, Tibetan prayer scroll, 16th century carved wood Flemish madonna, blue and white Chinese bowls....books and more books.

Wooden fetish figure from Mali, Akuaba fertility dolls, Moroccan henna mixing bowls, a Berber parchment scroll, my homage to Tàpies, Fortuny Palucco lamp, a knock- off but the gold leaf is real.

Victorian chair covered in black suede. Grain measure and table found in old shed on finca.

Art Deco chest with roundy corners bought in junk shop, painted by me with added recycled bakelite and chrome handles.
Pictures are altered photos from the 1920s, a painting done by my aunt in 1958 and a naive bird painting from 1930s. Chrome dish is 1950s junk shop buy. Boring lamp, must dig out something better.

Doors found on rubbish dump, rug from Marrakech, chair bought in our local 2nd hand shop, painted to go with new upholstery, a heavy linen Ikat design.

The sculptural barbers' chair bought in Portugal, it had a seat once but we prefer it without. The ancient patina and metal reinforcements are original untouched by my faky paint effects. The adjustable headrest conceals a box for the barbers' tools.
Mud cloth hanging from Mali.

THE KITCHEN