I’m addicted to Leslie Hindman auction previews—such a great place to see astonishing objects and think about what kind of house I’d have to have to accommodate them. (Where would I put that six-foot-long French Calcutta marble bar?) And of course there’s the fun of bidding on something and actually getting it—woo hoo! So much more exciting than going to a furniture store. Hindman’s Marketplace auctions can be a jumble, with treasures and tchotchkes side by side, but the prices tend to be lower than at her Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts auctions, and some of my favorite purchases have come from them. Her next Marketplace auction takes place on Wednesday and Thursday this week; the preview started Sunday and runs through Tuesday. I had some pangs over these six wrought-iron garden chairs that I’d love to see go to a good home—unfortunately, it can’t be mine. A rusted table (missing its glass top) is part of the lot. The light-colored chairs need new upholstery but their weathered frames are sturdy, comfortable, and super graceful. Please buy them before I change my mind!
—Joanne Trestrail