The requested URL /cgi-bin/auctionview.cgi?lid=2862134 was not found on this server.Historic Indianapolis Blogger Is Having an Estate SaleNeed an armoire or a gown? Clear your schedule for the rest of the day: Historic Indianapolis creator (and Indianapolis Monthly contributor) Tiffany Benedict Browne is auctioning off a ton of furniture and clothing on the website Everything But the House, and you’ll want to hurry up and browse the 307 items because bidding ends Wednesday. Recently married, the power blogger is downsizing in preparation of moving out of her gorgeous Queen Anne home. As you’d expect, Browne’s taste runs vintage and antique. Right now, some of the items are sitting at incredibly low prices (this glamorous green halter dress is still waiting for a $1 opening bid). Here are some of our favorite finds, with the price at press time, among the treasure trove of fur wraps, costume jewelry, and Art Deco furniture. Art Deco mahogany wardrobe, $110Love the dramatic styling.
Photo courtesy Tiffany Benedict Browne The fan-shaped one alone is worth the money. Pair of vintage mod dresses, $43 The number on the left is perfectly Pucci-esque. Photo courtesy Tiffany Benedict BrowneTrio of vintage purses, $21 Photo courtesy Tiffany Benedict BrowneFour fur collars, $5What fun, for a few bucks. Photo courtesy Tiffany Benedict BrowneArt Deco chest, $50 Instant style in a bedroom or closet. Photo courtesy Tiffany Benedict BrowneBeatles poster, $22 This lithograph is a reproduction, but still a classic. Photo courtesy Tiffany Benedict BrowneCurtain rod holders, $6 Because every stylish room needs quirk. Photo courtesy Tiffany Benedict BrowneHowe fold-out table, $17 This beauty folds in two and has a handle, for carrying like a suitcase. Take it to Symphony on the Prairie. Photo courtesy Tiffany Benedict BrowneHortonville Rustics cheval mirror, $12 In case you didn’t inherit your great-aunt’s.
Photo courtesy Tiffany Benedict BrownePair of Steelcase chairs, $4 Entryway a little empty? Add these mid-mod classics. Photo courtesy Tiffany Benedict BrowneFrench Provincial display cabinet, $70 A steal for such a large piece that you’ll keep forever (or until you marry and downsize). Photo courtesy Tiffany Benedict BrowneWrought-iron bed frame, $6 The lovely details on this full-size frame make a perfect bed for a young girl’s room. You could always paint it. Photo courtesy Tiffany Benedict BrowneBuilding on more than a decade of experience, award winning Twenty Gauge is dedicated to the preservation and delicate art of steel furniture restoration. To this day, J.C.'s intuitive ability in reclaiming the hidden beauty within objects misrepresented or careworn, drives the company forward. J.C.'s love affair with the conservation of American vintage furniture began out of necessity. Searching for a desk that was both practical and interesting, J.C. uncovered a run down 1948 tanker desk at a flea market.
After stripping off many layers of beige paint, J.C. was taken aback by the raw steel gleaming underneath. This moment inspired him to start refurbishing other vintage steel finds. After making every mistake possible on his own furniture, J.C. perfected what is now the Twenty Gauge Process and launched his company, Twenty Gauge a year later. The process includes evaluation, thorough removal of corrosives, replacement of worn parts, industrial strength sandblasting, layers of powder coating and more. Each time consuming step is what guarantees that every Twenty Gauge piece will not only look fantastic, but will withstand the test of time. "In the beginning, I made the two big mistakes most people make when they try restoration, sanding by hand and using paint and lacquer for color and protection," says J.C. from his showroom at H.D. Buttercup in Culver City, California. "To be truly restored, a piece must have all the chemicals and rust removed from every part, seen or unseen, something that even tedious hand sanding can not do.
Just a trace of rust will corrode through any new layer of paint and may not be apparent for a few years. The only answer is professional, industrial strength sandblasting and an attention to detail to make it effective." He continues, "Another mistake I made in the old days was using paint. I tried all kinds of paints and applications, including epoxy enamels (used on automobiles), but over time they failed. Paint and epoxies will chip, fade, decay, and can deteriorate the steel we are trying to protect...and it is toxic! The only solution for amazing color and long term protection is low V.O.C. (volatile organic compounds) Powder Coat. Powder coating is not only beautiful and durable, it is non threatening to the enviroment." J.C. continues confidently, "People may find similar looking vintage steel furniture on the market that is less expensive, but I can bet, those manufacturers use short cuts and are doing a disservice to their products and to their customers." Winning the Home Magazine American Furniture Award in the "Preserving Tradition" category, was an original coffee table J.C. had constructed from a vintage architectural file cabinet.
Since then, Twenty Gauge has also become world renown for their inventive reconstruction and reassembly of both home and office vintage steel furniture. They now offer Custom Design Services and Custom Refinishing to meet the needs of clients with specific design requirements or those who want to realize their vision. J.C. welcomes and enjoys the imagination of his clients, and works personally with them, helping them create the furniture of their dreams. JC immigrated from France over two decades ago, has a passion for early to mid century design and is a world traveler. He has an eagle's eye for selecting timeless pieces on his adventures to flea markets, swap meets, estate sales and antique stores. His finds inspire and endure. In addition, he is the founder and owner of Style de Vie, a company devoted to finding and conserving vintage paper products. For those items that do not fall under the Twenty Gauge or Style de Vie umbrellas, J.C. also has a line of salvaged pieces, ranging from aluminum garden furniture to vintage apothecary bottles.