Anthropologie-cal Finds

Alissa pointed out some cool things at Anthropologie, with the comment "Did this become popular when I wasn't looking?" (I suspect the answer is "yes" -- not straight steampunk, but a lot of the industrial antique style that we like definitely did.)

I'm not including plain product pics here, because the genius of Anthropologie is their really incredible stylists -- so let's see what we can learn from them.

Standing Magnifying Glass, Coral Sculpture, Penny Candy Jar (I'd use this by the kitchen sink to
hold sponges and stuff), Experimental Cylinder and Experimental Flask, backed by a decrepit plaster wall.


Mechanic Beacon Light, Redsmith Dining Chair (the only chair of this style I've seen with a copper finish!), and the Decker Console Table. The floors and brick wall here are incredible, and the dressmaker's dummy appears to be gazing out the window...

Galvanized Pedastal Table, Blacksmith Blossom Chair, topped with a cluster of the Mariner's Globe Pendants.

What do you think of Anthropologie's interpretation? And does the trendiness scare you off or please you?

Empire State Building's Mural

To continue on the mural theme, David sent me a link to an article about the restoration of the Empire State Building's lobby at ShelterPop. It's mostly about the ceiling mural, which depicts a 1920s spin on a celestial sky with sunbursts and stars that resemble the industrial gears, cogs and wheels of the Machine Age.


Why haven't I ever been to the Empire State Building?

Is That an Octopus in your Garage?

Decorative Painter Lynne Rutter created this mural of a steampunk aquarium

It's.. sort of unusual for me to paint a mural on a garage door , but actually that's a great place for a mural. My client is a friend, who shares my interest in Victoriana and curiosities... She's also a scuba diver, and wanted for a giant purple octopus. So I came up with a Jules Verne-inspired "aquarium" to house this giant creature!

You don't realize what an incredible job this was until you see the "before" picture:


I love how Lynn incorporated the building, the decorative corners, and the crossbars into her design.

See more details on Lynn's blog, The Ornamentalist.

The Creekmore's Dining Room

This is David Creekmore's dining room. The centerpiece is the Edison Chandelier from Pottery Barn.

David says of the light:
Installation was tricky, but fun. They don't supply you with a pattern for placing the the cords and lights. It takes some trial-and-effort work to make it look balanced, but not symmetrical. You might end up with a few holes in the ceiling that need to be patched.

There's lots more information in his blog post on the room, but this is the highlight to me:

In the end, we have a dramatic, attention-getting space that excites people when they enter the house. Every evening, when I pass by on my way to bed, the lights glow softly and I smile. It was definitely worth it.

Shouldn't your home make you smile?

Back in Black

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I'm trying to get it back together. In the meantime, here's a great round up of black rooms via Habitually Chic.

Devices & Contraptions Extraordinaire

Art Donovan is at it again -- no, not a new steampunk light, but another Steampunk Exhibit. This one is at Oxford, at the Museum of the History of Science, and is happening October 13th through February 21, 2010.

From the press release:
This exhibition marks the very first time that the new genre of Steampunk art is to be featured in a major museum. Located in the original Oxford Ashmolean building (the oldest museum building in the Western World), the MHS houses the most comprehensive collection of important, historic scientific objects in the academic world.

For this special museum exhibition, Mr. Donovan brings together the twelve most world-renown artists of the Steampunk genre-representing The United States, The United Kingdom, Japan, the Netherlands and Australia. These artists will be displaying never-before–seen sculptural art and inventions inspired by the evocative creations of the historic Victorian scientists and authors. Many works in this show were created exclusively for this special exhibition and it is arguably the most ambitious collection of Steampunk Art assembled in one venue.

The Museum Director, Dr. Jim Bennett states: “The Museum of the History of Science in Oxford is delighted to be hosting the Steampunk exhibition. We have many of the kinds of object that inspire the Steampunk artists and excite the Steampunk enthusiasts of today, so it is exciting to see characteristics and qualities of the original designs reformed into objects for living in the 21st century.”





What is is going to include? Many, many of the makers and creators of our quirky little world, from all around the world... it's a truly impressive list.

Stephane Halleux- Belgium

Tom Banwell- U.S.

Molly "Porkshanks" Friedrich- U.S.

Datamancer- U.S.

Doctor Grymm- U.S.

Daniel Proulx- Canada

Eric Freitas- U.S.

Haruo Suekichi- Japan

Herr Doktor- U.K.

Thomas D. Willeford- U.S.

Amanda Scrivener- U.K.

James Richardson Brown- U.K.

Jesse Newhouse- U.S.

Jos De Vink- Netherlands

Kris Kuksi- U.S.

Mad Uncle Cliff- Australia

Vianney Halter- Switzerland

Art Donovan- U.S.

So -- if you are in the vicinity, definitely go see it. If you aren't in the vicinity -- well, I'd try to get yourself there--you've got four months to make your travel arrangements.

Win it! Art was kind enough to send me the last two t-shirts from the first Steampunk Exhibit (sizes M & L). Tell me your favorite steampunk artist (part of the exhibit or not) and which one you'd prefer, and I'll randomly pick a winner for each size on Saturday morning.

New! Steampunk Home Image Stream

I've been playing with a new visual bookmarking tool called vi.sualize.us, and I think it's going to be a great complement to the more formal content here at The Steampunk Home.

When I run across a picture I think might appeal to Steampunk Home readers, I can simply add it to my vi.sualize.us stream with a tag of "steampunkhome." You can view the pictures by following this link, viewing the badge on the left at The Steampunk Home, or subscribing using this rss feed.

I won't promise everything will be straight up steampunk (whatever that is), but whatever I find worthwhile -- inspiring pictures with ideas you might, or might not, like to adopt. Some of those pictures may get reworked into full posts, but many won't.

Let me know what you think!