DIGEST 130: Brother Trafficking Summer

It was apparently the same temperature and humidity in New York last week as it is in the Amazon. I like it. I’m drawn back to August on Swan Street on the North Shore of Staten Island, where I grew up. Our neighbor Daniel Davis had an above-ground pool, which was a rarity. He’d told us we were always welcome to use it, but we were fearful (he had rottweilers that he kept chained in the small cement-covered front yard—they were vicious and had bitten our father, but we were also just timid and overly polite). In elementary school, my brother Ari and I devised a plan, which we called Operation QT-Pi that involved pulverizing bricks to make a kind of blush and applying it to our younger, cuter brother Duane’s cheeks; we rehearsed him asking our neighbor in a kind of pseudo-baby performance if we could use the pool. This was kind of our first foray into human trafficking and, to our credit, it did work.

To get to the pool we had to walk through his house—a handsome 3-story from the 19th century, vinyl-clad, but immaculately clean, and decorated in what I now see as the the last vestiges of 19th century bourgeois parlor style: late 90s cherry cabinetry taking the place of walnut or mahogany, but dark, in the manner of a different century. It was also crisply air-conditioned, in stark contrast to my parents’ European/Hippie/Cheap commitment to non-air conditioning. The house was a source of such pride for him. It was taken from him in what were undoubtedly shady mortgage dealings after the 2008 crisis, but I hope he knows it lives on in my memory.

OK I saw a tiktok from this idiot that said that one of the keys to success is to not reminisce, so enough of that for today. I hope you’re all enjoying your summers. To my millennial readers: your vacation carousels have been looking really bad. They feel like latte art posts from 2008. I’m not sure what the solution is, but let’s think before we post. There is the disconcerting feeling of looking at sponcon that does not in fact have a sponsor. Love you all/let’s do better.

To the listings!

1. Victor Skrebenski Photograph

Skrebenski (1929-2020) is really known as a fashion photographer, but this is very good. From 1989. Menacing. Very Hardy Hill, no?

2. Erwin Kettemann, “Der Zugspitz”

Kettemann (1897-1971), German, picturesque painter. I like the big dark frame. Gives it a little edge.

3. Carlo Nason Floor Lamp

Not cheap, but it’s 53” which is kind of nuts. The Nason estate is going full reboot, so curious to see what will happen to the value of the originals. This is not coming back though, guaranteed.

4. Hugh Steers, Red Lamp (1990)

Steers (1962-1995), gay painter who died of AIDS. The brushwork on all the Steers paintings at this auction is on the cruder side for Steers. Which is ok, but notable. I like this one. From a big gay auction—check it out.

5. Garry Knox Bennett Lamp

GKB (1934-2022), American furniture master. I like this little assemblage. It’s a found hat mold and then a custom armature. From 2014.

6. Mahogany Table (1820)

Card table, from Philadelphia. It folds. Actually very apartment friendly. I see these going for cheap at auction and I think it’s because people don’t see the utility. But think about it! You don’t have to live in a granny parlor, but you could have this table that’s solid wood and not whatever dookie has been made in the last 60 years.

7. Pair Savonarola Chairs

This is about the tassels, obviously. Very good colors. This kind of metal frame needs a nice cushion and these have them. These would be very civilized as seating in a restaurant when you’re waiting for the bathroom, which is always an under-designed hospitality moment. People looking at iphones and trying to stay out of the way of waiters—grim!

8. Leather and Chrome Dinette Set

Starting bid is 70 on these, so putting this in here for someone.

9. Enzo Mari and Giancarlo Fossina Lamps

I cant tell if these are too chunky IRL, but they are nice. Artemide production. Could be quite handsome.

10. Big David Magazine Collection

Clearly the finest magazine of all time.

May the hammer fall ever in your favor!