valentine's day The Animals at the Faire

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Aubergine 18" high porcelain Dragon with forehead horn.

On my last visit to the Sacramento Antique Faire, I came across a number of interesting creatures. I had originally gone to find a table, and to hunt for additions for my various collections. Also, I do like to take pictures of the more unique finds I stumble upon for you all to see. This trip, I noticed a distinct trend to the photos as I was sorting through them for a post. Animals of various kinds stood out from the rest of the photos, and I began to think about finding homes for all of these strays.

I saw this porcelain dragon, which was quite large and fantastically colored. And I imagined that he would enjoy a home like this:

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House and Garden, June 2004, Photo by Francois Dishinger

Art dealer Gian Enzo Sperone might find a spot for him among the ceramic figures by Paolo Maione in his New York loft, above.

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I spied this two foot high plaster pug just hanging around. I think he would be right at home in Liz Lambert's bunkhouse outside of Marfa, Texas. The slate colored walls and salvaged billboard would provide the perfect setting for this comical pup:

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House and Garden, September 2006, Photo by Francois Halard

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The brown ceramic elephant standing about a foot high (top), and the vintage metal elephant penny bank both have a rustic natural quality that appealed to me.

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Elle Decor, Jan/Feb 2006, Photo by William Waldron

I don't think that designer T. Keller Donovan would mind too terribly if these pachyderms made themselves at home on his antique Irish pub table. I love the mix of natural textures and colors here, and the mix of objects.

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This sheepdog was one of my favorites. I like to think of him as a "faux-Jeff-Koons-puppy" (I posted about this puppy here). Maybe if I painted the nose and tongue white? No? Well anyway, this pup might still look cool in a house like this:

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Elle Decor, August/September 2003, Photo by Fernando Bengoechea

This very chic house is owned by taste makers Franco Mariotti and Alessandra Tabacchi Mariotti, owners of the very stylish modern and antique furnishing shop, FLAIR ( Florence, Milan, Capri and New York locations).

So tell me....do you all do this too? I mean, do you see something that catches your eye and immediately imagine the sort of place it should call home? It seems to be a little game I play, and perhaps it just comes with the territory of the creative world.