August 30, 2012

Magic Mirror

Several months ago, The Peak of Chic had some images from and an interview with long-time designer and one-time Billy Baldwin collaborator, Edward Zajac.  In the piece, he described some of his favourite pieces, including an amazing mirror that was shortly to go up for auction at Bonhams. He describes the mirror as “trembling and twinkling” against the wall. I was charmed.

Peak of Chicvia

Fast forward to the auction when a friend bought two of the Zajac mirrors and brought them to my friend David at McLain-Wiesand to duplicate for sale though John Rosselli.

I immediately went over to David’s to check out the mirrors and loved them even more in person. We had many long conversations trying to suss out exactly how they were made – and they were all handmade by Mr. Zajac and his partner. Since David is way more clever than I, he was able to piece together each step in the process from figuring out how the little satellites were made and attached, to the way the mirrors were coloured, to the angles of the mirrored pieces around the edges, and so on.

David and his craftsmen/women finished the mirrors this week, and before they shipped them up to Rosselli, I went to the workrooms to take some pictures of the final product.The mirrors are delightful. They do tremble and twinkle in the light… especially when someone’s dancing with a statue in front of them.

Seriously, I had no question that David would be able to figure out how to make these mirrors and do an amazing job. I am pretty impressed that it only took him a few weeks work through all of the logistics and bring the project to completion.zajac mirror (24)That man’s gonna go places!

20 comments:

  1. Incredible workmanship. I can just imagine the price point. Thanks for the inspiration. xoxo Mary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can attest to the amount of work that went into figuring this out... and then assembling it.

      Delete
  2. Very clever. And your photography is excellent.

    ReplyDelete
  3. those are so charming! it must have been quite a fun exercise to figure how to replicate them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not sure that "fun" is the word David would use, but it is fun when it all comes together!

      Delete
  4. These are incredible + how blessed to have David! + thanks, meg. great photos. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ack - I just fell over from delight!

    Thanks so much for sharing the process and the talents of your brilliant friend.

    Happy long weekend, m'dear!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wonderful, and if he is passionate and clearly loves what he does, then, he has won the lottery! So talented. LOL I'm sure I am not the only one that noticed the way the mirror frames his face in the photo - nice work Meg!

    ReplyDelete
  7. That last image was done on purpose by someone on his staff. I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Amazing talent what a terrific friend to have. Adore that mirror!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

    ReplyDelete
  9. these are astonishing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. they are even better in person when you can see the movement.

      Delete

Thank you for reading and commenting on Pigtown*Design. I read each and every comment and try to reply if I have your e-mail address.