November 13, 2008

Here are a few pictures of Modernicus' new diggs. The drywall (yes, drywall! NO MORE NASTY PEGBOARD!) has been finished with joint compound and sanded for priming in these pictures. We even have the new interior windows in as well.

If you look closely you can see that we have so much furniture that it's overflowing into the new space. Please help us out by taking some of these lovelies home! Many mid century and Danish modern dining tables, dining chairs, and cabinets are at the shop. So, are you ready for Thanksgiving? Enough seating for the whole family?

-Rob

November 4, 2008

The build out of Modernicus' new space gently creeps into week four (maybe five) with the end finally in sight! The slow and meticulous work includes electrical planning and re-arrangement, re-routing of ventilation, and punching holes in brick to let some sunlight in.

I honestly didn't think it would take this long but when working in an old building, you never know what obstacles await. Mt. Vernon Antique Center ne Thieves Market ne old Truck Garage ne Lumber Yard first came into existence in 1946. Since then, each subsequent owner has added on in their own special way giving the building its character it has today. Removing some of that "character" is time consuming.

So, the electrical issues have been wrangled and safely adjusted for our space. The new diamond wire security windows (translation: expensive) let plenty of sunlight in to illuminate the modern. This week we'll be finishing the drywall and putting in the carpeting.

To say that I'm delighted that we are very close would be an understatement.

-Rob

PS- We have some incredible pieces in house right now.

PPS- PLEASE VOTE!

October 13, 2008

Many of you have come in during construction of our new space and have seen the ongoing build-out...thanks for your support! We love showing off our future gallery as well as items in our current space and have had inquires to that effect. Several people have asked if we are still open during construction. To that we answer a resounding YES! And for those of you that can make it in, you are in for a treat as we have not been able to update the site with all the new pieces in stock.

Again, we are open 7 days a week:

M-F 10AM - 5PM

Sat. 10AM - 6PM

Sun. 12PM-5PM

The new gallery is going to be superb...a place to come in and relax, learn, and enjoy modernism. See you soon.

-Rob

October 6, 2008

After a busy weekend of demolition and construction, the build-out of Modernicus' new gallery space is taking shape. We've ripped out tons of old nasty pegboard and 2 x 4s while recycling the useful parts for incorporation into the new design. With the help of the extremely knowledgeable and talented Z Construction we were able to properly frame walls and incorporate interior window displays to highlight future vintage furnishings. This is a voluminous killer space that we are incredibly happy to have. The new gallery will showcase and highlight fun & fine vintage design artifacts and furnishings from the 50s to the present.

PS - If you don't see me in the showroom, check in back as I might be renovating!

-Rob

October 1, 2008

Dear loyal modernist enthusiast, you may have noticed a lack of new items & updates on our website. Normally, we update the page 4-5 times per week and have new items coming in daily. Well, the parade of items coming in hasn't stopped so that means we are pretty backed up with tons of stuff!

Fortunately, we've had our hands full with renovations of our new and much larger 2,000 sq ft. contiguous space at Mt. Vernon Antique Mall (the mall is over 17,000 sq ft.). Make sure to check out our blog for photographs of the progress, before & after pictures, and the end result which we are eagerly anticipating!

(The fun begins this week...make sure to keep an eye out!)

-Rob

September 26, 2008

Greta Magnusson Grossman (1906–1999), an under-recognized architect and designer in the Southern California design movement of the 1950s – ‘60s, will be the subject of an upcoming exhibition at The Drawing Center. The Swedish-born Grossman was the first woman to receive a prize for furniture design from the Swedish Society of Industrial Design and was the recipient of the Museum of Modern Art’s “Good Design” award in 1950 and 1952. Her houses, interiors, and the objects she designed influenced a number of her better-known contemporaries, including Charles and Ray Eames, Richard Neutra, John Lautner, Irving Gill, and Pierre Koenig, yet she remains a relatively unknown figure today. Her pioneering contributions as an industrial designer, architect, and developer make her an extremely interesting figure in the field of design.

Exhibition: October 17 - November 6, 2008

Opening Reception: October 16, 6-8pm

Gallery Talk: Tuesday, October 21, 6:30pm.

September 25, 2008

Holding true to form, this Wednesday's auction proved to be chock full of spectacularly filthy and funky merchandise. We photographed objects of note that deserve special attention:

Isamu Noguchi (Faux-guchi) cyclone table in pine & high-gloss black lacquered dowels. Compare this fine specimen to the real deal.

We meticulously narrowed down the selection of art to THE most heinous. This vetting process was tough as the field was literally littered with contestants. So, here we proudly present our winner, "Lady in Repose" by unknown artist. This original masterpiece shows influences of both Mattisse and elements of Picasso while begging the viewer to take a closer look. Upon our inspection, we were faced with the question....Why?

Further down we encountered a fine pair of death chairs.

Lastly, we found this poor monstrosity in untouched original condition. Frozen in time from some grandmother's living room...all that was missing was the clear plastic. This enormous command center of a sofa was far to fine to step foot in our pedestrian white van so we left it.

More next week I'm sure....TBC

September 14, 2008

Fun times at Georgetown today! The second installment of the weekly event provided plenty of curiosities and gems for everyone. We picked up some fine vintage Danish pieces from Illums Bollighus (pronounced Illooms Bollyhoos). Illums was (and perhaps still is) the greatest showcase of Scandinavian decor, home-furnishings, and decor in the world. Everything from pieces by Hans Wegner to ceramics by Bjorn Winblad were available and on display in this exciting shopping experience. Today, Illums Bolighus operates with the same refinement and interest in everything Scandinavian. We found a sweet little modern copper and brass watering can, Danish silver candleholder by Chris Christiansen, and a hot pair of wooden bookends. Check our household section for these items soon.

Back to Georgetown....Check out the pics below for a taste of the what the flea market has to offer. Interesting people and interesting stuff! :-)

September 12, 2008

Starting September 13, the Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects sponsors and hosts our annual Architecture Week which is full of events, competitions, lectures, and interviews.

A favorite event of the week is "CANstruction Build Out" where architects and engineers complete giant structures using nothing but canned good in a six-hour marathon session. The structures are exhibited for two weeks before being dismantled and donated to the Capital Area Food Bank. The public can vote by bringing in canned food and donating it for their favorite structure.

Runs September 13-20. Easy online Registration required.

[CANstruction photo courtesy of Washington Architectural Foundation]

September 12, 2008

Every week we are going to try to post photos of the crazy things we see each and every Wednesday. This week was no exception. Get ready for more Wacky Wednesdays to come with lots more photos!

Yes, you read the second photo correctly.

Photos courtesy of DK. Thanks hommie!

September 9, 2008

After looking around the shop and realizing we have WAY to much cool decorative smalls, house wares, and collectibles we've decided to FINALLY update the website with pictures of them. Check out one of our favorites; the Fornasetti style totem thingy. Hand painted in Italy with a face and astrological symbols, this curiosity really stands out. The top is drilled as it looks like it was once a lamp.

Another favorite is our hand carved African totem statue...very cool horned face atop a spool like body. A masculine piece through and through.

Now that I think about it...maybe we have a totem fetish here at Modernicus?

Anywho, check out the cool additions under "Housewares" for more. More on the way as well.

-Rob

September 7, 2008

The much anticipated re-opening of the Georgetown Flea Market is finally here after two years in its temporary location in Arlington. Dealers and buyers flocked to the recently refurbished parking lot at Hardy Middle School on the corner of 35th & Wisconsin Avenue.

Shopping starts early and lasts throughout the afternoon. Everything from antiques to vintage mid-century treasures can be found. On our visit we found a nice Grete Jalk coffee table, two Herman Miller LaFonda arm chairs, some neat modernist seating, and lots of decorative objects to include Dansk teak, art glass, and some fabulous mid-century works of art.

September 4, 2008

After two full weeks of absolute non stop buying, we have TONS of new Danish teak furniture at the shop that is waiting to be photographed for the website. Dining tables, over 75 dining chairs, and lots of cabinets are in! Help us out by dropping in and taking some of it off of our loving hands!

Some of these new additions include Mogensen cabinets we just picked up from all the way in Clayton, NY. What a great (and long) drive it was to see the countryside of upstate New York and eventually the "Thousand Islands" area. Perfect weather coupled with lots of small towns along the way made the drive worth it. There isn't much modern to speak of...but you might get lucky and enjoy what you see anyway.

On a local note, several busy estate sales chock full of very nice mid century furnishings this past week brought out everyone and their mother. I think this mid-century stuff might be catching on...but don't tell anyone!

I find these events to be great social interactions and view them as a way to make new friends. Chatting about recent finds and a favorite collection is a great way to start a relationship while waiting to get inside and buy as much as you can get your hands on!

Modernicus Inaugu-Blog!

August 25, 2008

Welcome to our inaugural blog entry to Modernicus' online blog journal. We'd like to use this much celebrated medium to update everyone on local events, rants and raves, and of course cool vintage furnishings we find in our travels! Each week, look for updates about goings ons in the Washington DC metro area.

OK.....To celebrate, we'd like to begin our Inaugu-blog with the latest edition to our family; our new sign! JOY!

We FINALLY have a sign outside notifying the world of our shop at Mt. Vernon Antique Center. It has been a long time coming (too long) and we thank everyone for their patience in trying to find us. You'd think that after two years we would have done this by now! And, at $4.00 per gallon, no one wants to drive around all day looking for us.

With the help of friends at Z Contruction, Home Depot, R&D Stamp and Sign, and a little sweat, we managed a double sided 4' x 8' sign. It weighs in at around 125 lbs and is constructed of PVC, timber, and steel.

In the coming months, look for a larger sign on the front of the building! Double Joy!

Click Above