Gift giving is the quintessential Holiday tradition and during these difficult times, it’s the perfect opportunity to offer loved ones something that is both meaningful and sparks joy. With this, Casa de Memoria will be holding Cuarto, a must-see online auction event on November 28, Saturday, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon featuring 180 curated Filipino and European masterpieces, objets d’art and decorative items for the home. These masterpieces will not only evoke happiness as Christmas gifts, but they can also serve as artistic accents for your home during intimate Holiday celebrations.
Casa de Memoria partners with leading interior designer Chat Fores, who shares some of her top auction picks, along with interesting design insights in giving art pieces as gifts or decorating your homes for the Holidays.
Decorative pieces. A room’s design can be elevated with at least one statement piece. Eye-catching pieces, like those at the Cuarto auction, can add some life and vitality to any space, making them great presents for your loved ones, especially now when their homes are their safe havens during community quarantines. For Fores, the Spanish earthenware vase by Domingo Punter [Lot 068], adorned with a phoenix, would look great in the dining room. The rich green color really pops, and she suggests topping it all off with a tropical arrangement. Another piece that appeals to her is the ornately decorated silver tobacco box [Lot 024], which, she says, can be dressed up with flowers or repurposed as a container for cookies and teabags – “The possibilities are endless!”
Picture-perfect lithographs. “It can add a visual feast on your wall,” Fores said. She shared that lithographs from the Cuarto auction, such as “The Old Man and the Sea” by Salvador Dali [Lot 061] and an untitled piece by Fernando Zóbel [Lot 059], are picture-perfect Holiday gifts and enthralling additions to any home. When hung against a printed or black and white wallpaper, these lithographs will complement your area for your next in-person or online celebration.
Elegant tableware. With the Holidays fast approaching, even intimate family gatherings can be unforgettable with an awe-inspiring tablescape. One of Fores’ favorites is the 20th century Czechoslovakian porcelain dinnerware [Lot 017]. With its black, white, and gray color palette, Fores says this set will match your existing tableware well. To further elevate your dining experience, she also recommends the silver-plated tureen, uniquely placed on a Spanish silver mirrored base [Lot 008], and the large octagonal Spanish silver centerpiece bowl [Lot 165].
Striking furniture. The right furniture can also be works of art and the Cuarto auction offers many of these for the home. Fores points out that the Napoleon III style radiogram with 1950s radio and “Philips” mono record player [Lot 108] would look gorgeous in anyone’s living space. She recommends giving it to a male loved one who enjoys collecting vinyl records. She adds that she would pair the table with the Napoleon III mirror [Lot 052].
“We would like to usher in the Holiday season and the new year with a hopeful outlook through our Cuarto auction. The pandemic is the best reason to celebrate a meaningful Christmas this year. Through our Cuarto auction, we hope to spark joy through unique pieces that are perfect tokens of appreciation for loved ones and for sprucing up our homes which serve as our sanctuary in these challenging times,” said Palacio de Memoria general manager Camille Lhuillier.
Explore more auction pieces at bit.ly/CasaDeMemoriaOnline. Part of the auction proceeds will be donated to the Santa Ana Hospital in Manila for the maintenance of an enhanced quarantine facility for medical frontliners and COVID-19 patients.
For more details, call (02) 8253-3994 or e-mail hello@casadememoria.com. You may also join the intimate auction preview until November 27 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Palacio de Memoria at 95 Roxas Blvd., Tambo, Parañaque. Strict safety protocols are in place at the venue. For more information, visit https://www.casadememoria.com/ or follow @thecasadememoria on Facebook and @casadememoria on Instagram.
You may also connect with Chat Fores on Instagram @chatforesdesignstudio.