On a recent trip to Stockholm's historic Gamla Stan (Old Town), we wandered into a little antique shop in the town square, and though I hardly purchased anything during the visit (I was much too distracted by the charming architecture), I did adopt a very special piece of art that will happily remind me of my lovely Svenska-time, forever.
It's a costume sketch done in pencil and watercolors, c.1930s, with text in Swedish that translates to "Composition for pirate fantasy outfit", signed by the sweet, young artist in the bottom corner. It was love at first spot, and though I was determined not to buy anything that would prove difficult to carry home in my duffel, I couldn't whip out my 86 krona ($13) fast enough. It now hangs on the wall above my bed, yet my only wish is that I could find "Brita" and tell her just how much I adore her work.
Perhaps I've also just found the perfect Halloween costume.
That is an amazing find! It actually reminds me of costume designs I did for "The Threepenny Opera" in school; 1920s meets piratical fashion: http://ghostswaltz.blogspot.com/2011/09/pirate-week-costume-designs.html
Very cool.
Posted by: Danielle | October 19, 2011 at 04:07 PM
Such wonderful sketches! It seems that you and Brita are birds of a feather. Merci for sharing the link, and I'll be officially following your tweets from now on : )
Posted by: J.B. Taylor | October 19, 2011 at 04:15 PM
I will now forever call costumes "fantasy outfits." Great find!
Posted by: Nichole | October 19, 2011 at 05:28 PM
such an incredible find~ I love it! so perfect in every way~ x
Posted by: heather porcaro | October 31, 2011 at 01:04 PM
I had a similar moment in a little town in the mountains of southern California. Going though an "antiques" store (mostly garbage, and old garbage at that) when I suddenly spotted a hand-drawn 4-panel cartoon from the days of Prohibition showing a character striding down the street "The Gink" then signaling a waiter with "The Wink" to get "The Drink" and finally sleeping in a bathtub "The Sink". Cost me $20, dated 1929. Very cool!
Posted by: Janet | December 03, 2011 at 03:33 AM