Tania Sinel: PLASTER WARS

The famous Paris market – Maison & Objet - was held last week and Instagram became embroiled in a war of words rarely seen in the genteel world of interior design and social media.

Was it possible that two of the biggest, most respected names in interior design had actually stolen the work of a sculptor whose name is highly acclaimed?

As much as it pained a lot of those who viewed this war, the charges seemed hard to deny.

It all started over a chandelier made of a few pieces of plaster.

Plaster?

Settle in, get your coffee…I’ll wait.

The use of white plaster in interior design might seem to be trending these days, but it is a medium that has been used for centuries.

An original John Dickinson three legged table

One of the more iconic pieces of plaster in design is the Three Legged African Stool, designed by the late John Dickinson. Inspired by an actual three legged stool that he had found in a tourist shop – Dickinson made his stool out of chalky white plaster. To prevent staining, he added a touch of resin, and to stabilize the legs, he hid rebar inside the plaster.

Today, his table design is more popular than ever.

The late John Dickinson’s house with his four legged plaster table

Popular contemporary designers of the time, Michael Taylor and Angelo Donghia, were both known for using Dickinson’s designs. Donghia, in fact, was the man who introduced Dickinson to David Sutherland, whose company today manufactures Dickinson’s line of plaster furniture.

Angleo Donghia with Dickinson four legged table.

The shame is that there are very few original pieces by Dickinson left. His plaster furniture was extremely heavy, yet the plaster was fragile and the pieces often shattered. Such few original pieces remain today that many can rattle off the names of those lucky enough to own them – such as Liz O’Brien, Reed Krakoff and Jane Holzer.

Antique dealer Liz O’Brien owns a very rare original John Dickinson stool.

The Dickinson estate sold the rights to his designs and molds to Sutherland who reproduces his furniture and sculptures. Today, the plaster pieces are made of glass fiber reinforced concrete which Sutherland says are impervious to rain, freeze and thawing.

The same stool that Liz O’Brien owns, except today that stool is made by Sutherland.

While Dickinson’s designs are well know – to study plaster, you have to go back further in time – Plaster, or Plaster of Paris, has been used in sculpture since the classic days of Mesopotamia.

Plasterwork remains on the walls at Pompeii from 79 AD.

Through the ages, stucco and plaster were used in buildings and statues. Here are examples from the Chateau de Fontainebleau.

But in more modern times, artists used plaster to create designs for interiors in ways that were totally new and inspiring. One of the first of these pioneers was Serge Roche whose clients were Elsie de Wolfe, Syrie Maugham and Frances Elkins.

A plaster table from Serge Roche 1934.

Another pioneer in modern plaster art was Alberto Giacometti, along with his brother Diego. In the 1920s, Giacometti became known for sculpting in plaster casts in addition to the usual bronze or other metals. At the time, plaster had been used as a middle step to the ultimate sculpture. Instead, Giacometti made plaster the finished product.

Alberto Giacometti working on the famous plaster sculpture Walking Man II.

The Giacometti brothers designed plaster chandeliers, sconces, lamps and vases. Some were custom made for the great Jean-Michel Frank, some were designed for close friends. Besides Frank, the brothers also worked with Picasso and Matisse. Diego Giacometti was commissioned to create chandeliers and furniture for the Picasso Museum in Paris. Later, after Diego had died, one of those chandeliers was enlarged for the museum by another plaster artist - Philippe Anthonioz.

The gorgeous Pablo Picasso Museum in France with the original Diego Giacometti plaster chandelier, enlarged for the space by the sculptor/artist Philippe Anthonioz.

A close up of the Giacometti plaster chandelier with petal leaves.

Earlier last year, this chandelier by Alberto Giacometti sold in auction for a record price.

The plaster Alberto Giacometti chandelier sold for $2,491,013!!

Diego Giacometti was also in the art news last year. The dress designer Hubert Givenchy, a devotee of Alberto’s brother Diego, owned many pieces created for him by Diego. Last year Christie’s auctioned off the Givenchy Giacometti works.

One of Givenchy’s three Giacometti tables and chairs auctioned off by Christie’s. Such a gorgeous room, house!

Last year, the dress designer Tory Burch replaced her skirted table with this Diego Giacometti table – was it Givenchy’s, bought at the auction?

Regardless, Tory has another connection with the white plaster saga.

Her interior designer. Daniel Romualdez, often commissions pieces from the preeminent plaster sculptor of today – Stephen Antonson.

Here in Tory’s Southampton mansion’s dining room, there are two tables commissioned by Daniel Romualdez from plaster artist Stephen Antonson. The chairs came with the house, Weatherly, and were restored with a chalky paint. Her walls and curtains are by Iksel.

The artist, Antonson, took this photograph of Tory Burch’s table so that the base of the table can be more easily seen.

Who is Stephen Antonson?

Stephen Antonson is now the leader of innovative plaster design. He creates works of art for various companies, and also creates custom work for noted interior designers such as Miles Redd, Michael Smith and James Huniford, creating custom work. Smith even commissioned two tables by Antonson for the Obama White House! Antonson’s studio is small, located in trendy Brooklyn, New York.

Antonson’s studio in Brooklyn

Antonson considers himself an artist – whose work happens to be functional. His designs are always first drawn on paper with a pencil, then a wood or clay prototype is produced. For stability, tables and chandeliers are made in either wood or steel, then several coats of plaster are applied over the base. This way – stability is not an issue. For smaller items like sconces – the piece is sculpted out of clay and then coated in plaster or cast.

For this octagonal shaped foyer, Miles Redd ordered a custom chandelier from Stephen Antonson.

And more plaster pieces in the dining room in the same house, ordered from Stephen Antonson.

These two chandeliers commissioned by Miles Redd from Stephen Antonson, seemed to have been inspired by this Giacometti lantern, below, made for Hubert Givenchy:

The Giacometti lantern.

Here is another Antonson plaster chandelier, The Alexander, with plaster sconces.

For another foyer in Houston, Miles Redd had this plaster lantern made by Stephen Antonson.

The Hilary Chandelier – this modern plaster chandelier looks nice against the farmhouse elements.

Alessandra Branca used this plaster chandelier made by Stephen Antonson.

Here a beautiful eclectic setting for a Stephen Antonson plaster chandelier.

Madeline Stuart juxtaposed vintage leather chairs with a modern lamp designed by Antonson.

And here – a fabulous William McLure painting sits under Antonson’s Angele chandelier – the subject of this blog.

And to this, we come to the issue at hand.

Miles Redd is a frequent customer of Stephen Antonson’s, as you can see by how many times he commissioned his work. Recently, Redd developed a new line for Ballard Designs, based on his own designs through the years:

Here is some of the new Miles Redd collection for Ballard Designs. Notice the two white urns and the shell console.

Was this console, made for Miles by Larrea Studio, the inspiration for the Ballard Designs one? Even the columns and urns were recreated for Ballard.

These aren’t copies, but inspirations.

And this shell sconce was designed by Miles Redd for Ballard.

Inspired no doubt by Serge Roche’s shell sconces.

And more from Ballard Designs: The chandelier really got my notice – and others too. According to Ballard Designs, Miles was inspired by Alberto Giacometti when designing his Geometric Chandelier. The description says the finish is “chalky white” – but it’s just white painted iron, not plaster, though the word “chalky” is meant to apply it.

It’s a good look for a fraction of the cost that the real one would cost, if it were even available. It’s much cheaper than what an inspired chandelier by Stephen Antonson would cost.

For the money – it’s a nice inspiration.

“Inspiration” is the word.

If the artist is no longer living, is being inspired by his work a completely different issue than than copying a living and working artist’s work?

Was Miles Redd actually inspired by his collaborator, Stephen Antonson who created this fixture?

OR…..

Was Stephen Antonson inspired by Diego Giacometti who then inspired Miles Redd for Ballard Designs?

For instance, this chandelier, is an homage to Diego Giacometti, made in England by Cox & Co.

In designing this room, Jeffrey Bilhuber used this Giacometti inspired chandelier.

And here is an original Alberto Giacometti going on auction for the first time, cast in bronze.

That shadow!!!

There is nothing new in the universe.

Once, we, The Skirted Roundtable, interviewed the extremely talented Miles Redd, and he confessed there were only a very few things he felt he had designed himself – without any inspiration. There were just a few things he could honestly claim as his own. Listen to the interview HERE.

The famous zebra doors – one of the original ideas Miles claims. (He’s funny! I can think of a few more original things he’s done besides this door!)

The point is – there is nothing original in the world, but it’s another thing to outright copy someone’s work, especially if fare alive and designing right now.

Take the work of Nicholas Haslam:

Nicholas Haslam has been very well respected during his long career as an interior designer. Here in his own apartment, you can see his version of yet another Giacometti inspired chandelier that Haslam said was actually made from pipes and plaster. Haslam has long been a lover of plaster in design.

Here in this famous apartment, Haslam conjured up Dorothy Draper for inspiration.

Plaster swirls and this vase, which reminds one of the Miles Redd Ballard Designs urn inspired by Serge or Dorothy or Alberto?

Haslam’s love of white plaster isn’t new. In this project, finished long ago, the plaster lamps are an homage to Draper and the lantern to Giacometti.

As they say, nothing is new in the universe.

Last week, at the Maison & Objet show in Paris, Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam debuted a new line of wicker and chintz and plaster.

The Moschino/Haslam booth was an instant hit. Beautiful and fresh – who wouldn’t want this room? Wicker beds mixed with deep green walls and spring inspired chintz, mixed with bright white plaster elements – this was a popular booth in the show.

If it looks familiar – nothing is new in the universe.

The bed and fabric is their own, although one can’t help but think of Serena & Lily’s wicker bed and F. Schumacher’s own Hollyhock fabric.

This Fabric: Aurora on Nivelles Oyster- Sepia

The wicker bed that Serena & Lily made famous.

F. Schumacher – one of their trendiest revivals, Pyne Hollyhock. It’s definitely a different chintz, but at first glance – I thought it was the Pyne.

The shell sconces are definitely not new – especially now with the Miles Redd shell sconce for Ballard Designs. Target will have one by next summer, no doubt. But, the inspiration for the shells comes from people no longer living – like Draper and others.

Moschino/Haslam had a wall of different shells. Shells come from nature, no one can claim they designed them but God!

But, it wasn’t until this photograph landed on Instagram that all hell broke loose:

Here in this photograph – a new wicker day bed is shown that looks original, as opposed to their Serena & Lily version. The end tables, also look original. The room is beautiful, no doubt. But, notice the chandelier.

Does it look familiar? This chandelier was made for the Maison Objet show to be sold by Moschino for Haslam.

The Moschino/Haslam chandelier is an exact copy of Stephen Antonson’s Earle chandelier. An exact copy down to the hanging ball and ring connectors. How does this happen?

How did Stephen Antonson’s chandelier end up at Paolo Moschino/Nicholas Haslam’s booth?

As soon as this photograph was seen on Instagram, people started commenting. At first, most comments were very favorable. Of course! The booth is beautiful.

But others noticed the chandelier was the same exact one that Stephen Antonson makes.

At first, Paola Moschino thanked everyone for their kind comments.

Everything was nice and VERY complimentary – until this bombshell comment was dropped into the Instagram Comment Section:

It was from Stephen Antonson himself:

He asked:

PAULO WHY DID YOU COPY MY CHANDELIER!!!!!!???!!!

Paolo Moschino ignored Stephen Antonson’s question even though he had personally thanked all who had left the complimentary comments.

After Stephan Antonson’s comment was ignored, the floodgates opened.

At least 20 more negative comments came in – it was all rather painful to read.

Comments that said Moschino/Haslam had stolen the chandelier.

STEPHEN ANTONSON’S WIFE THEN LEFT THIS COMMENT:

brooklyninteriors@paolomoschino I have been married to @stephencantonson for 16 years and every single one of them has been spent devoted to building his design practice. I bet you can’t imagine that. Spending YEARS to build something. Fueled by passion over profit. That would require integrity. Something you, sir, so clearly lack.

WAR BREAKS OUT ON INSTAGRAM

IT DIDN’T STOP, THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS KEPT COMING:

I screencapped all the comments to write this story, but honestly, I just can’t show them here. I have long admired Nicholas Haslam and to watch this happen in real time is extremely depressing.

People, understand, I have NEVER seen anything like this negative commentary on Interior Design Instagrams. This kind of commentary is usually reserved for the Kardashians.

Those who commented on @paolomoschino Instagram were genuinely angry that Stephen Antonson’s chandelier was copied without mention of the designer, nor any payment.

What could the explanation for this be?

Some time ago, did Moschino/Haslam commission the chandelier from Stephen Antonson and then decide they could make it themselves for a fraction of the cost?

Once they manufactured the chandelier themselves, they could sell it for a large profit.

That is theft. No doubt.

Did they perhaps forget it was a commission piece?

Did they just see the chandelier and decide to copy it exactly?

The Moschino/Haslam version.

Stephen Antonson’s version.

No one knows for sure. But be sure these comments were painful to read. Nicholas Haslam is highly respected and extremely talented. The entire affair is baffling.

Another comment had this theory, perhaps it’s the answer to the mystery?

“So you offer to work with another designer, then take back the offer and steal their design instead? You should be ashamed of yourself, you are profiting off, and claiming someone else’s work as your own. Shame on you.”

This comment is one of the more nice ones!

Not surprising, but all the negative comments seem to have been removed from the Moschino/Haslam Instagram. I have no idea if Moschino or Haslam ever reached out to Antonson, but as of a few days ago, they hadn’t.

This chandelier is not the only very close adaption by Moschino/Haslam. These lamps made out of Giacometti sculptures are famous sculptures. These show two women, there is a male to the pair.

And here is the Moschino/Haslam lamp - the female one. I can’t see much difference at all. But, Giacometti is no longer living. This lamp doesn’t take away from his pocketbook.

Stephen Antonson took this story to his own Instagram – he seems like such a nice man, and others who know him confirm this, saying he and his wife a great couple. His initial comment to Moschino/Haslam withstanding – his tone throughout this ordeal has been calm but questioning.

Antonson showed this other chandelier:

Another example – the top fixture is by Philippe Anthonioz, a living artist. The fixture below is by Paul Ferrante – a major lighting company.

The artist who designed, Philippe Anthonioz, is living and working.

How is this legal?

Alberta Giacometti designed this plaster chandelier in 1954. Looking at this – it is obvious this was an inspiration to Stephen Antonson when he designed his piece:

There is no doubt that Antonson was inspired by Giacometti when he designed this chandelier. Without Giacometti, I doubt this fixture would exist today. It is inspired, though, by an artist no longer living or working.

And from that inspiration, came this from Stephen Antonson.

And somehow, the exact chandelier ended up for sale at the Moschino/Haslam booth a week ago.

Stephen Antonson is an artist. He makes chandeliers inspired by Giacometti because that is what his clients wants. But, left to his own interests – he sculpts objects that are entirely his own, like this one above.

Once, his wife had him make her a necklace out of these plaster bubbles.

To see more: HERE

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