Project Description
Welcome to the overview section of the Lee Coleman Collection.
Rooms: Stairway and Landing
Rooms
The best way to get a sense of Lee’s collection is to visually understand the role the collection plays in his life. These scenes of various rooms provide insight in to the thoughtful presentation of Lee’s collection as well as the way in which the furniture he has made enhance the experience of his collection.
This doorway I made for an added little room I built from a corner of the attic behind it, formerly just a linen closet. If you like the design, thank Charles Greene once again, as it copies the screen doors from the mother-in-law bedroom of the Gamble House, leading to a sleeping porch. It is mostly Mahogany, Redwood, and Teak.
To the right of the door is an Assomptian Sash, a fine old one. These were made by finger weaving. Now a suburb of Montreal, Assomption would have been a small town at the time this was made, and the French Canadian women became famous for these sashes used in dances. Eventually, Indian tribes in French Canada began to make them, and those in the Red River area of Canada took them on as a special emblem of their culture.
A look from the hall, plus a Talish runner on the floor, NW Persia
Another look from the hall.
A small part of a wall book case constructed from century old redwood staves of a water tank and California walnut trim. Top to bottom- Japanes fan, two Inro Japanese containers to be used with Kimono, since they have no pockets. Also, a metal fish clothing ornament from Peru.
Closer look at above, plus the tobacco container and Japanese pipe with amazing holder. The little tobacco container is of Kiri wood with numerous exquisite inlaid carvings. One of my favorites.
The rest of this little Greene and Greene space, showing stairway inspired by those of the Gamble House, as well as side table with Chinese Hu (tablet) and Sioux Catlinite pipe with Japanese woodblock print on wall behind and two Japanese lacquered containers underneath, imbricated Puget Sound Indian basket on left and Pomo burden basket on right of stairs. Finally, Baluch rug on the floor.
A view of the Greene and Greene style table that is placed to the left of the stairs and door to the extra room I built. The ceremonial staff is from the Chimu, a Pre-Inca people of the north Coast of Peru. Green feathers are traded from the Amazon.
(All of the above) Typical Greene and Greene exposed finger joints. All this work was designed by Charles Greene but executed by the Hall Brothers of Pasadena. See any of the many books on the Greenes.
Another view of the stairway landing. Note Falcon’s ability to capture the light coming through the window.
A better view of the side table, Pomo burden basket on the right, two Japanese lacquered containers below, and on the table a Chinese ceremonial Hu to be used as a tablet by court officials, and a Sioux pipe of Catlinite, wood, porcupine quill, and animal hair. The basket to the left of the stair is one of my favorites, of cedar root coiled foundation, cedar bark and bear grass decoration.
Above on the left is a “hiyogi”, or fan, made of leaves of cedar wood. I haven’t found another one of similar design and size, and I think it is from the early 20th century, and perhaps from the Panama-Pacific Exhibition of 1915 in San Francisco. The Japanese have historically used a wide variety of fans for ceremonial and military purposes, sometimes to send signals over fairly large distances.
Beneath the fan is a 4’x 6′ Islamic prayer rug from the north Caucusus region. The pointed design at the top is always unrolled for prayer facing east to Mecca. This particular one is a beautiful example of this type of rug, larger than most. One of the favorites of my collection.
In the lower picture, straight ahead is a very different kind of textile, a Mexican Saltillo. The Spanish introduced the upright loom and in their tradition, men were the weavers. These textiles use extremely finely spun cotton foundations and equally finely spun wool. It is a flat weave and not a knotted piece. The Saltillo has a hypnotic effect because of the so called “eye dazzler” design.
Top picture-To the right a Ladik (Turkish) prayer rug. Above that is a shawl made by a Hopi bridegroom (Arizona) for his bride. To the far right is a child’s prayer rug, from the Beshir of central Asia . One of my favorite pieces.
Lower Picture- a beaded Bandolier Bag from the Plains Indians , beads traded from Europeans and hide of Bison. Below, on the small table, a ceramic portrait vessel from the Moche of Pre-Incan Peru.
