Objects of Lust: Everything Michael Bruno Owns

Another highlight of yesterday's SF20 show was the keynote address by 1stdibs founder and president Michael Bruno.

If you're not familiar with the site, Bruno jokingly describes it as "eBay for rich people." Looking for an absolutely mindblowing assortment of pedigreed, pristine antiques and pieces of vintage modern design culled from top dealers in the U.S. and France -- and have, say, $12,000, budgeted for a writing desk or armchair? Then report to 1stdibs posthaste. The rest of us will simply have to content ourselves with surfing and drooling.

Anyway, the address was billed as "how you can do the planet a favor by buying vintage," but it was really just Bruno talking about how the idea for 1stdibs germinated. Basically, he was an unemployed expat living in Paris and decided, somewhat randomly, to "put the Paris flea market on the internet." The idea met with almost immediate success, and today 1stdibs is a powerhouse in the design world, with top designers regularly sourcing items there.

I had no complaints about the talk being somewhat different than advertised. It was thoroughly entertaining, and the blue-blooded and well-connected Bruno charmed the pants off everyone in the room. (By the way, taken together, the pants and shoes in that room probably cost more than the down payment on our house.)

The best part, though, was the slideshow of images from Bruno's incredibly chic homes on Paris's Left Bank and in Sagaponack, New York. I'm not ashamed to admit it: I had lust in my heart.

First, the Paris apartment:

Bruno says he furnished the place almost entirely with pieces from the Paris flea market -- and that at first, he was 1stdibs best -- and only -- customer.


Now, the Hamptons "farmhouse":


Oh, and here's Bruno's former home in San Francisco:

A charmed life, indeed.

(All photos except the bad, blurry one at top by Tim Street-Porter, Sally Bruno, and Mary Nichols. Some image scans borrowed from this post by my blogging buddy, 1stdibs profilee and Sacramento interior designer Katiedid, aka Katie Denham.)

Mark Your Calendar: 20th Century Art and Design Show

From Thursday, September 11, through Sunday, September 14, the San Francisco 20th Century Art and Design Show & Sale will be taking place at Fort Mason Center's Herbst Pavilion.

The event features "50 premier national and international exhibitors presenting decorative and fine arts from all design movements of the 20th century."

In other words, it's the good stuff -- and at nosebleed prices. I seriously doubt there will be any bargains, but it still sounds like a fun way to ooh and aah over absolutely beautiful pieces and to educate yourself about 20th century modern design.

The event's keynote speaker is 1stdibs founder and president Michael Bruno, who will kick off the exhibition's first day with a Thursday morning lecture on buying vintage.

Show hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $20, and lectures are $10. Click here for more info.

P.S. Show pics and impressions here.