THE GESTURE
FOR THE THINGS YOU DON’T FIND TWICE.
The Gesture is a revolving selection of vintage finds and considered pairings, chosen one piece at a time. Each has the character to feel personal and the appeal to be enjoyed long after the occasion. Everything is sold individually, and the selection changes whenever I find something worth adding.
MAKE SOMEONE FEEL GRAND.
For dinner with a little horsepower.
Six sculptural vintage horse knife rests meet six stag-handled Sheffield steak knives for a table setting with a distinctly sporting point of view.
The silver-metal knife rests take the form of galloping horses, their long silhouettes giving each place setting a little movement. They’re paired with six vintage SALM steak knives, handcrafted with polished stainless-steel Sheffield, England blades and genuine stag antler handles finished with nickel-silver bolsters and end caps.
Equal parts handsome and slightly unexpected, the set brings the sporting life to dinner without requiring anyone to own a horse.
Tea had its turn.
Vintage Jenaer glassware reimagined for the after-dinner pour, paired with proper cocktail cherries for Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, and whatever happens after dessert.
Made by Schott & Gen. Mainz, this mid-century Jenaer Glas service pairs heat-resistant glass with the clean, modern lines that made the German maker a design staple. Originally intended for tea, the six glasses and 11" copper serving tray make an unexpectedly good cocktail set for punches, batched drinks, or whatever you’re pouring next. The tray has a handful of tiny oxidation spots consistent with age, largely concealed beneath the glasses when the service is arranged. A smart second act for a beautifully designed set.
Some things are too pretty to put away.
A matching trio of antique Haviland & Co. Limoges oyster plates, because some courses are worth setting the table for.
Made in Limoges, France, c. 1893-1896 this matching set of three antique Haviland & Co. porcelain oyster plates features sculpted oyster wells, delicate floral decoration, and gilded detailing. Each plate measures 7.5" in diameter. Equal parts beautiful and wonderfully specific, they’re ready for oysters on the half shell, a celebratory first course, or a place on display between dinners.
The plates are in great antique condition, with minor wear to the gilded detailing.
A serious case for taking pictures less seriously.
A modern Polaroid Go camera and extra film tuck inside a mid-century West German Gossen case, pairing photographic precision with instant-camera fun.
This hard-shell Gossen camera case was made in West Germany in the early 1960s and measures 8.25" × 6.5" × 4.25". Its structured brown exterior and spring-loaded chrome latch once protected specialized photographic tools; now, it holds a modern Polaroid Go camera and extra instant film, ready for spontaneous pictures without the complicated setup. The contrast between the case’s mid-century seriousness and the camera’s easygoing appeal is what makes the gift. The camera, film, and vintage case arrive beautifully wrapped and ready to give.
The vintage case is exceptionally well preserved for its age, with original tag attached.
For the captain of cocktail hour.
A vintage crystal decanter and four matching snifters, each etched with a clipper ship, bring a little maritime history to the home bar.
Made in Romania for Toscany, this vintage Clipper-pattern service features a broad-based glass decanter with a round stopper and four matching stemmed brandy snifters. Each piece is decorated with a finely etched sailing ship, a nautical detail that feels equally at home in a coastal cottage or a well-appointed library. The decanter's low, wide base follows the traditional ship's decanter silhouette, while the rounded glasses are suited to brandy, cognac, whiskey, or an after-dinner pour. A particularly good gift for the captain who never leaves port. The five-piece set arrives beautifully wrapped and ready to give.
In excellent vintage condition, with no chips or cracks. Hand washing is recommended to preserve the glass and etched decoration.
Just one more chapter.
A signed 1984 work by American artist Conger Metcalf captures a young reader completely lost in a book, bare feet, furrowed brow and all.
Known especially for his expressive figurative work, Conger Metcalf (1914–1998) returned often to children, artists, and other figures absorbed in the business of everyday life. Little Reader, signed and dated 1984, depicts a young boy folded over an oversized book with the wonderfully serious concentration of someone who has no intention of being interrupted. Rendered in sanguine on gessoed paper, the artwork measures 15 × 11 inches and is presented in an ornate, custom linen-lined frame measuring 23 × 19 inches overall. A particularly good gift for the lifelong reader, the English major, or anyone whose nightstand has become structurally unsound. The framed artwork arrives beautifully wrapped and ready to give.
In very good vintage condition, with no visible damage to the artwork or its custom frame. The ornate frame retains the natural patina of its age, consistent with its 1984 presentation.
What, like it’s hard?
A set of eight 1940s Wedgwood plates decorated with scenes from Harvard College, for the graduate, the alum, or anyone who takes school spirit seriously enough to set the table with it.
Each crimson printed plate depicts a different view or building of the Harvard University campus, as seen in the 18th and 19th Centuries. At 10.5" in diameter, they work beautifully as dinner plates or displayed together as a collegiate collection. Equal parts school pride and proper china, the set is sure to spark an Ivy League debate.
One plate has a tiny chip on the reverse edge, not visible from the front.
Baby’s first heirloom.
Five handmade collector bunnies, individually dressed and ready to become the most charming residents of the nursery.
From the famous Sennebec Workshop in Maine, this family of five is beautifully detailed from their jointed limbs to their tiny patterned dresses, woolen coats, miniature accessories, and wooden buttons. The bunnies range from 4.5" to 7" tall. Their origin story makes them an especially lovely find for a baby shower, with enough character to stay well beyond the nursery years.
In pristine vintage condition. These bunnies are better suited for display than used as a teether.