WISH LIST-Furniture  

The RISD Museum web page
for this Rhode Island desk and bookcase, attributed to maker John Goddard, dates it to 1835. Shouldn't that be 1735 ?
The alternating positive and negative shell carvings are intriguing -- and troubling, to me. What else could be more indicative of "tour-de-force" artisanship ? Anyway, I'd be curious to hear your take on this piece . . .

I've looked over a few Goddard-Townsend
pieces and, to me, the quality of craftsmanship and design are unparalelled in American furniture. I'd place them over Greene & Greene, Herter bros. or even Thomas Seymour and I'm certainly not alone in that assessment. I much prefer the Newport style to either the New York or Philadelphia interpretations of the Chippendale style of that period.
Neither of those dates seems correct. I'd guess closer to the Revolution.
That said, if that desk/bookcase landed in my lap, I'd have it on the block in a heartbeat. It would easily make $10M. So, you see, while I do admire some early American furniture, my motive is primarily mercenary.
if I were to wish for something to keep for myself, though, it would likely be something by Wharton Esherick or, maybe, George Nakashima.

This..........
please,

Zaha Hadid?
Nice

Mmmmmm.
certainly is Daniel.

short list
Ball,
The One chair like most Memphis-Milano chairs is not very comforatble and seems best suited for display. I think the Ettore Sottsass Carlton room divider is a wonderful and useful object.
The Droog Lucky Cat pinball machine by Tadaaki Narita is on my short list (as opposed to want list). This too is more art than function.

Nice guy
That's good to know but not many I've my chairs are comfortable....I'll get them someday but as for the divider...way out of my $ ball park.
Unfortunately not a lot of Memphis hit these shores, it's constant catch up
Now as for the Futuro there are a few of them 'floating' around. Like the one below but it had a cyclone beneath it's wings!

Memphis-Milano in your area
Ball,
Check with my friend John at Minima in New Zealand. I know him to be honest and fair.
http://minimadesign.com/gallery.asp?gallery=Memphis

Wharton Esherick
tktoo, thanks for mentioning Wharton Esherick. While I had heard the name before, I was not familiar at all with his work. I can see the appeal. Would be great to some day visit the museum now housed in his residence.

Thanks niceguy
I've just emailed him

Memphis-Milano in your area
Ball,
You are welcome. Let me know how it turns out for you.

Niceguy
....as I expected 29k for the numbered version Carlton divider and he's on to Sottsass's First chairs for me

Oooh . . .
Thanks, t and t. I'm an Esherick fan too -- and I've never seen that table. Is it in a collection, do you know ?

SDR
This is the link for where I came across the image. Not clear to me who has the table.
http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/volumes/v57/n10/esherick.html

This 2008 entry would seem...
This 2008 entry would seem to suggest that it is the University of Pennsylvania who owns the Eshterick table.
EDIT- Also this, so it seems clear they own it: http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/volumes/v57/n27/furniture.html
http://alexblim.blogspot.com/2008/11/wood-paper.html