Masterpiece

When Love is at the base of something, it is a masterpiece.

– Steve Maraboli

When I was growing up and family friends came over, my sisters and I and the family friend’s kids were banished to the playroom.  We were expected to play nicely, quietly and with out any argument or disturbance to our parents, or their parents but for certain our parents.  We weren’t always successful, after all there were usually at least 5 of us, sometimes up to 7.  The playroom, where we gathered, was only separated from the living room by an accordion door.  The options were a card game like go fish, war, concentration or the usual board type games, Sorry, Parcheesie, Operation (but according to my Mother made too much noise) and Monopoly.  Friends stayed for long periods of time and one by one we would play the various games.  If someone kept winning then the others of us would whine, claim we were bored and want to start with a different game.  Each time I enthusiastically proposed we play the same game and typically it was passed over by a more popular group vote.  On the rare occasion, when my sibling’s and the other’s guard was down, they would agree to play my favorite of all times game, the Art Auction Game MASTERPIECE.

“In this game, players compete with other players to bid on potentially valuable paintings, and negotiate with other players to trade these works of art, build a portfolio, amass money, and win the game”  ( a direct quote from the game’s description).  I loved it! The board was beautiful – A portrait of Rembrandt’s Father, Harmen Gerritiz van Rijn, (who my cousin Peter claimed was just a picture of some old woman with a beard) was featured in the middle of the board.  The cards showcased  other masterpiece artworks and on the back of each card it informed you of the artist’s name, the year the painting was painted, the name of the artwork, who owned or was patron of the artwork and that it could be found hanging in The Art Institute of Chicago.

I loved this game so much that after we played I always neatly packed up the pieces and put it away in my bedroom closet.   Sometimes when I was on my own in my room I would bring the game out and test my memory of each painting’s name and the corresponding artist.

I guess it was after I had been away at college for 2 years when my Dad told me he was cleaning out closets and clutter and donated a bunch of stuff to the salvation army.  I didn’t pay too much attention until the next time I visited home and was devastated to learn that my beloved game was one of the items donated.

I decided I had to find a copy of the game.  I looked in toy stores, but unlike many of the other childhood board games it was no longer in production.  Apparently it had been originally manufactured in 1970 again in 1976 and then went out of print until 1996 and again went out of print after the 1996 series.  I looked for the game at garage sales, thrift shops, junk stores and places that sold vintage collectibles.  The 1996 version had a very different appearance but I never found that release despite the fact I was often in a toy store picking up items for my daughter, Emily, who was 5 years old at the time.  I had illusions of grandeur that she too would love the game as much as I had and we could play it together. I often described the game to shop owners and or others but no one seemed to have ever heard of it, not only did they have no recollection but they had no knowledge this Parker Brother’s game even existed.  So the years passed and Rembrandt’s portrait of his Father stuck with me as a part of my childhood lore.

Currently there is a Rembrandt van Rijn exhibit at the Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts.  Drs. Tobia & Morton Mower have generously offered their vast collection of selected Rembrandt van Rijn etchings to show at the University.  Alicia and I, in an impromptu fashion, decided to meet an hour before we needed to open shop to go see the display.  It was a wonderful, unexpected way to start the work day.  I have often said the best things are unexpected and you can find great things when you aren’t really looking for them. The exhibit will remain up until October 6th.  I highly recommend taking advantage of such a wonderful opportunity to see such a beautiful collection, so up close.

Not every work day affords me the opportunity to take in a museum exhibit.  Chances are if I am in town and out and about from the shop then I am searching for specific fabrics and or pieces for a client’ project.  There was this one particular job,  a child’s playroom I was creating for a client’s two daughters, that took me to a vintage store.  It was a co-op vintage and antique shop that rented booths out to different vendors.  I was looking for some solid wood children’s furniture pieces that had some charm.  The pieces I needed were little tables, chairs and bookcases that would be sturdy and that I could have sanded and painted.  I wanted pieces that the girls could use for themselves and their friends for activities such as drawing, having pretend tea party’s or playing games.

I remember that this particular shop was going to be the last one I stopped in before needing to call it a day.  I was a bit weary but the store actually had a couple of the type of pieces I was looking for. The pieces would need sanding and repainting but with a little work the table and four chairs would be a perfect fit. I would have cushions made from a great textile I had purchased on the faith that I would find the chairs and tomorrow I would look for the bookshelves. The woman who worked at the place helped me load up and she shared with me that if I was interested she also had a vintage chalk board and a painting easel that she could bring in the next day.  I told her I needed some shelving and if she had any book cases I would return.  She wasn’t too sure what she had. She knew she had quite a bit of kid’s type stuff in storage and she would see what she could bring up that might work for my project.

I had thought about not returning the next day as it was going to take a bit of effort to fit in another trip to her shop but I managed to work in the time to go see what she may have brought in that I might be able to use, I really needed to find bookcases. In hindsight I suppose I could have called to learn that she hadn’t really found anything that fit the shelving needs and would have not made the trip.  Since I was there and she had been nice enough to bring anything and everything kid like that she seemed to think I might be able to use I went ahead and looked through what she had brought.  The vintage chalk board and easel were too dilapidated and just as I was disappointedly about to leave I stopped in shock.  There amongst bins of used crayons and paints, other items and games once used as pass times for other children’s amusement was a Parker Brothers circa 1970 complete with box and all bits and pieces board game I had forgotten I was looking for.  A little more than 22 years and $22 later I had finally found my Masterpiece!

It isn’t to suggest that it will take 22+ years and that you should or need to look that long but the truth of the matter is that sometimes that one great piece, especially if you love it or it is something close to outstanding, can take awhile.  Sharing what you are looking for with shop owners can help your cause.  A good shop owner will try and help you find what you are looking for by either making suggestions of where else to shop and keeping their eye out.  Take my advise, if you do FIND what you are looking for, buy it and be happy that you found it!  If instead of what you are looking for you find something that you Love then be careful not to hesitate because when love is at the base of something…

Art of the Find (www.ArtoftheFind.com) is located between 6th & 7th ave in midtown Tallahassee.  We help client’s redecorate their spaces or FIND what they are looking for to enhance and complete their decorating projects .  Stop by and visit or give us a call for an appointment to see how we can help. Photography by Alicia Osborne Photography.