billy childish - sunday painter part 1 of 3

Flea Market Tables

Houses:1

Objects of Interest/Part 3/The Paketa Watch

I bought the below watch at a flea market while holidaying in Rome a few years ago. It reminded me of something a mathematician would wear, which is probably what attracted me to it (I'm no good at maths but wish I was). The watch is actually older than me as the lower rotating date dial goes back to 1980. The only instruction I was given by the tall bearded Russian who sold it to me was not to get it wet. This strict instruction has since resulted in years of repetitive dreams of me swimming with the watch on and seeing all the numbers and hands washing away in the water. Paketa watches are made in Russia and date back to the Communist era (see tiny CCCP on bottom of dial). They are mostly automatic which is great as there's never any battery costs.

If you search these watches on the Internet you'll find some are called Paketa and some Raketa. The latter are made outside of Russia and are replicas of the original Paketas.

I have mixed feelings about posting this info as I haven't ever met another person interested in these watches until I show them mine. I'm sure they will become very sought after and prices will sky rocket (paketa translates to rocket by the way).

The house of Eli Cash - The Royal Tenenbaums

The paintings in the background are the brain child of a Mexican artist named Miguel Calderon and depict two varying psychotic scenes which made up a 1998 exhibition. He actually didn't paint these himself, but instead used a portrait painter to produce works based on photos he had taken as the original photos lacked realism.

Also note the taxidermy bull's head with lasso, nice touch.

Objects of Interest/Part 2/The letterboard

I was once lucky enough to be given a tour of the Garrick Club in London's Covent Garden. It's a members only establishment where one has to be recommended for membership by 2 other members. If any of the other members of the Garrick black ball you then your chances of joining are cancelled out. Richard the doorman gave me a tour of the premises one afternoon and showed me everything from the Gentleman's only cocktail bar to the basement kitchens, but what really caught my eye was the green felt letter board by the entrance. I asked if I could come back and photograph it and very kindly he agreed. Myself and my photographer friend Panos came back the next week and took this image, the letters are my own bought from Covent Garden's Monday antique market.
I like the idea of having one of these in my own home. Maybe in the hall way just below the giant moose's head which I would naturally use as an umbrella and scarf stand.
There's something quite sophisticated about filing away an unwanted water bill on this decadent piece of wall furniture.
Thanks again Richard and Panos.

Objects of Interest/Part 1/Typewriters...