In 2006, I predicted the quick rise of snails as an interior design motif. I'm sure you remember it and the feeding frenzy that followed. Snail objets everywhere were snatched up with such abandon that it became almost impossible to find the obligatory snail figurine traditionally purchased as a wedding present by Okies. But, as quickly as the fad shot through the blogosphere, landed in the pages of the NYTimes and was featured in a story in the now defunct Metropolitan Home, the passion for snails vanished. Without a trail.
Still, many of us remain devotees of the classics and aren't swayed by the whims of design world. My collection of snails is très important, so I present them here for your viewing pleasure, including a couple of fairly recent additions.
This lovely Italian planter started it all. The largest and most elaborate of the snails, it is the queen of the collection. I realize I use the phrase 'queen of the collection' or 'queen of the household' fairly often, but I want to be clear these are literal, and not honorific, titles.
These little guys are Japanese and I would buy at least twenty more of them, given the opportunity. The glaze is amazing, earthy and very...intentional.
A very tiny white one, like several of the others it crawls around the china cabinet.
This extraordinary fellow is a snail AND a bank, meaning he straddles two collections. But, as he prefers, he lives with the other snails in the china cabinet.
Mom bought me this lovely green snail planter when we were thrifting on my birthday. It is really my favorite color of green. Plus a snail. Equals very nice birthday find. Thanks mom!
And a couple of non-thrifted snails...more proof of the snail phenomenon...
Still, many of us remain devotees of the classics and aren't swayed by the whims of design world. My collection of snails is très important, so I present them here for your viewing pleasure, including a couple of fairly recent additions.
This lovely Italian planter started it all. The largest and most elaborate of the snails, it is the queen of the collection. I realize I use the phrase 'queen of the collection' or 'queen of the household' fairly often, but I want to be clear these are literal, and not honorific, titles.
These little guys are Japanese and I would buy at least twenty more of them, given the opportunity. The glaze is amazing, earthy and very...intentional.
A very tiny white one, like several of the others it crawls around the china cabinet.
This extraordinary fellow is a snail AND a bank, meaning he straddles two collections. But, as he prefers, he lives with the other snails in the china cabinet.
Mom bought me this lovely green snail planter when we were thrifting on my birthday. It is really my favorite color of green. Plus a snail. Equals very nice birthday find. Thanks mom!
And a couple of non-thrifted snails...more proof of the snail phenomenon...
My new predictions for interiors? Simple:
1. Cat hair is the new throw pillow.
2. Asianalia. Like Asian-ish, but more about the tchotch.
3. Library book presses. You should have at lease three or four for a room to look complete.