The Merchandise Mart: Artopolis & DreamHome (part one)

Chicago's Merchandise Mart is a behemoth of interior design spanning two blocks and 25 stories. It caters both to trade professionals and - yay for me! - the public. Today I went to check out Artopolis - an annual event combining an antiques fair and two art festivals (Art Chicago and Next - showcasing international contemporary and modern art and emerging artists respectively).

This is a post of two parts - check back tomorrow for highlights from the art shows and a tour of DreamHome, a long-term exhibit running until December 9th 2011 that showcases nine sumptuous rooms designed by Chicago's top interior designers to inspire your own home design.

The Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair

A number of designers had inspiring vignettes on display within the Antiques Fair. Here are some highlights:

{Love the pink and yellow combo in this space}
Designed by M. Grace Sielaff

Hoop back arm chairs - $2400/pr - Century Furniture

{Forgot to jot down the designer of this eclectic room - oops}

{As one observer commented, "That looks like an actual zebra's butt on that chair." Maybe it is?!} 

Designed by Kenneth Walter

{Luxe yet cozy}
Designed by Sarah Van Assche

{Check out the glass chandelier}
Chandelier by Kenneth Ludwig Home Furnishings

After that, it was on to the antique stalls. There were rather a lot of things I fell in love with - if only I had a (much) bigger wallet! 

Tibetan Trunk (leather on a wood core painted with snow lions with tall unisha)
Eastern Tibet, early 20th Century - $1650

{One of my favorite pieces of the day - I would love to find a home for this chest in our place}
Small Carved Altar Chest (black lacquer over elm wood)
Beijing, c. 1900 - $5500

Temple Flower on Stand (lacquer and glass fragments over teak)
Burma, early 1900s - $1200

Gallery wall prints: Hortus Indicus Malabaricus by Hendrik Adriaan van Rheede Tot Draakestein
East Indies, c. 1678-93 - $1500/each, $12850/set of 9

Turquoise vase and plate with fish (price and details unknown)

Box (price and details unknown)

{Something I could afford!}
Vintage embroidered mat - $35

Erik Hoglund Chandelier
Sweden, c. 1958 - $16500

{Love the gold-rimmed chargers on this ornate place setting}

{Citrus fruits as centerpieces - such a simple idea but so colorful and bold}
Table settings by Debi Lilly with event management company A Perfect Event

Flemish Oak Cupboard
Belgium, c. 1600 - $38000

Art Deco Settee (upper frame in ebonized wood with walnut base and ebonized feet)
Sweden, c. 1930 - $12000

{My absolute favorite booth at the fair - Lee's Antiques - LOVE these glam lamps}
Hollywood Style Table Lamps (white glass with melted coin motif in brass and nickel) - $2000/pair
Mirrored Chest (black lacquer frame with original crystal pulls) - 1930s - price unknown

{More from Lee's Antiques - www.leesantiques.net}
Yellow Table Lamps - $600/pair

{A close second for favorite stall - Old Plank Road - www.oldplank.com}
(Top left) Vintage Italian Carved and Gilded Sunburst Convex Mirror - $2980
(Bottom left) Vintage Italian Carved and Gilded Mirror - $990
(Right) Italian Sunburst Mirror - $3890

{More from Old Plank Road}
Vintage French Round Breakfast Table - $5980
Set of four chairs - price unknown

{I love the colour and detailing on this piece}
Low Cupboard (may have been used as a server and storage piece)
China, date unknown - $1500

Art Deco Day Bed
1930s - $3250

{The rich detailing on this wooden screen really caught my eye}
Chinese Screen (price and details unknown)

{If these had been cheaper, they would have been mine!}
Carved Boxes
China, date unknown - $800/pair

Finally, my personal pièce de résistance - a pair of Chinese kitchen cabinets converted into side tables. You know, I am looking for a pair of side tables. These would totally eat up my decorating budget for the next I-don't-know-how-long, and they might be a little small but oh my goodness I love them! And - get this! - they were $825 for the pair! Unless he meant like $825 thousand...that would be embarrassing. Maybe I'll go back tomorrow (tomorrow is the last day of the festival) and see if they'll make me a deal...