Inspiration

On the Mediterranean in Arma di Taggia, Italy

Inspiration can come from anywhere--nature, music, literature, art. For those who create, the world is a fascinating and inspiring place, fraught with new possibilities and new potential. 

A view of the Tuscan countryside off the piazza at our villa, Rufena

The main house on the grounds at Rufena

As most of you know, I recently traveled to Italy for a party that my briar cutter Mimmo was throwing for his father Fillipo. It was great fun and I'll post photos and a rundown of things to my blog sometime later in the week. Before traveling to Taggia, though, we spent a week in Tuscany at a private villa owned by a friend. It's a 15th Century villa situated in the Chianti region and sits amidst acres and acres of pristine vineyards. Tiny villages dot the hillsides, and it is a region of rugged and pristine beauty like few places I've ever seen. The vistas from Rufena--as our villa has been called for at least a century--were simply remarkable. The air is perfumed by the sweet smell of lavender honeysuckle and rose bushes that look to be at last a hundred years old. It should come as no surprise then, that I was absolutely inspired . . . by one of the toilets!

Yes, it's true, the bathrooms had just been redone and one in particular incorporated very modern design elements into an otherwise classically Tuscan style. The bidet, specifically, had beautiful lines and I decided then and there to recreate it as a pipe. Is it a good idea to make known the humble sources of my inspiration for this piece? I don't rightly know, but I can only say I am very pleased with the way it turned out.  

This piece is SOLD for $595USD