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WILLIAM CULLUM

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greenwich village studio
new york city

When scrolling through the A. H. Davenport & Company archive (as I’m sure most everyone has) in search of inspiration I came across this drawing of a side chair and arm chair - I immediately recognized them, almost identical to a set I found at auction for a client on Long Island a year or so ago.
Davenport had a long relationship with H. H. Richardson and there is an obvious Richardsonian Romanesque influence on these chairs - I just didn’t realize how direct that influence was. They are now beautifully restored and upholstered with a cherry red leather. They are sprinkled throughout the house - both at the Stickley dining table, and also in the third floor art studio - the amazing column screens and circular opening to the Italianate cupola are new to the 1870s house and designed by @peterpennoyerarchitects

#richardsonianromanesque #romanesque #italianate #victorian #aestheticmovement

At last the perfect souvenir of the Alhambra - after visiting Granada two summers in a row and coming up short for the perfect memento, I came across this box with a favorite dealer and immediately had to have it. Made by Victor Barbizet (known for Palissy ware) this Alhambra Box, circa 1865, is a very rare piece and references the carved stucco decoration that covers much of the Nasrid Palaces.
When it arrived I scoured my photos from our visits thinking maybe I would find the actual decoration that inspired this - giving Victor a bit more credit than assuming the motifs were more of a 19th century gesture - and I found the direct reference in the Palacio de los Leones. There are many similar motifs, almost identical - but here you can see the same exact decoration in the gallery that overlooks the Patio de Lindaraja (above the arches).
Last, @jbrhodes00 and me in the Generalife Gardens above the palaces - one of those groups of cypress trees in the distance are those in the Patio de Lindaraja.
The perfect object that combines so many of my favorite things - majolica, the many revivals of the 19th century, and the Alhambra.

#majolica #alhambra #nasridpalace #victorian #palissy

Started off 2026 with a great friend - in an amazing house - for her (in)famous New Year’s Day party.
Pictured here, a favorite moment of our collaboration - where bisque porcelain meets an arch inspired by Olana surrounded by surreal pyramids, obelisks and stars.
Wait until you see the rest! ✨🐝✨

Divine Egypt at @metmuseum
An afternoon spent learning the gods and goddesses in all of their many incarnations, and feeling so small amongst these ancient treasures that have made it through thousands of years -
The monumental scarab was (obviously) the favorite, late Ptolemaic, found in Istanbul and taken to Scotland in the early 19th century
Followed by many cats (some wielding knives) falcons (some mummified) and lotus blossoms (every version, but specifically this one that I intend to have made to crown our bed).

✨🪲✨🐈‍⬛✨🦅✨🪷✨

#divineegypt #egypt #scarab #bast #bastet #papyrus #lotusblossom #falcon #horus #faience #ancientegypt #metmuseum #metropolitanmuseumofart

Our little Christmas cat playing amongst the many, many pieces of Edward Gorey X @hereticparfum wrapping paper @jbrhodes00 used to wrap my (super) special gifts ✨🦇✨🦇✨🦇✨

#edwardgorey #cats_of_instagram #cats #nyccats #christmas #christmaswrapping #bats #batsofinstagram

One of the first pieces at the entry to the Yale Art Gallery is this Babylonian lion from the Processional Way, so colorful and dynamic - the perfect way to be welcomed into the gallery of Ancient Art —
At the opposite end is this amazing piece of 12th century mosaic paving inlaid with porphyry - but what makes it so extraordinary is that the slab of marble was recycled from a 2nd century sarcophagus,
And to round it out, a detail from a capriccio by Panini in a neighboring gallery featuring a porphyry sarcophagus and a ruined column in the form of an exceptionally ..well formed.. man. And to make it even better, it was once owned by Thomas Hope.

#babylonian #yaleartgallery #ancientarchitecture #sarcophagus #mosaic #mosaicfloor #capriccio #ruins

Our favorite time of the year, when we haul a giant tree into our tiny apartment and collage it with a growing collection of our favorite ornaments.
The most important addition this year was a gift from @jbrhodes00 for my birthday - two 30’ garlands he hand strung !!! of precious stones in a million different patterns - sapphires, tanzanite, pyrite, rubies, garnets, the list goes on and on - and now that our tree has worn it, I have to figure out a way to wear it as well.
Other favorites this year,
A special silver ball made by @marble_paper_scissors for Leopold’s first Christmas 🐆
So many pansies from @patchnyc 🌸
A number of ornaments from the collection of Mario Buatta from @eerdmansnewyork ✨
A huge vintage ornament from @redchair_hudson
‘Nostalgic Crampus’ - could there be a better name - from @johnderiancompany 👹
One of two sequined love birds I bought at @chatsworthofficial while on Attingham 🦜
A new favorite bat from @johnderiancompany 🦇
& William the Hippo from @bethkatleman 💜🦛

#christmastree #holidaydecor #glassornaments #johnderian #patchnyc #egyptianrevival #jewels #gemstones #garland #nycchristmas

Nothing is better than finding the perfect object for the perfect client - the pieces you can’t exactly shop for, you just stumble upon.
Which is exactly what happened earlier this week at @covelanding when I saw this fantastic bowl brilliantly displayed on an Empire center table with silver knives radiating from it.
The bowl is Japanese and was used by a lacquer maker throughout the 19th century, and the layers of lacquer polished through in the early 20th century to give it this amazing surface.
Final image shows it in its new home - imperfectly lit - on a @namaysamay embroidered tablecloth I recently had made for the dining table

#lacquer #japaneselacquer #serendipity

One of my favorite birthday gifts from @jbrhodes00 - this one from about 10 years ago — and it’s hard to choose because he is the best gift giver ever — a set of cufflinks and studs he had made for me after sifting through many, many favrile beetles at @lilliannassau until he found the perfect group 🪲

The perfect Mia Goth wore a necklace from the @tiffanyandco archive made of these same glass beetles in @frankensteingdt - genius costume design by @katehawleycostume - a piece designed by Meta K. Overbeck under Louis Comfort Tiffany. Her sketch of the necklace is in the collection of the amazing @morsemuseum (definitely worth a visit)

✨🪲✨

#frankenstein #beetle #scarab #favrileglass #artglass #louiscomforttiffany

Reflecting back on my visit to @syonparkofficial earlier this fall and the magic of these mirrored rondels Robert Adam installed in the Long Gallery. Some convex, some concave - all must have been a source of constant entertainment for guests (and a huge source of inspiration for John Soane). The smokey patina on top of Adam’s frothy pale pink and turquoise is especially evocative.

#architecture #interiordesign #mirrormirror #robertadam #countryhousestyle

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greenwich village studio new york city

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greenwich village studio
new york city