Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!

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Desire to Inspire: Bamileke Stool

Due to the time difference, we usually start our day with our favorite blog from Australia, Desire to Inspire. Spotted this photo the other day of a bamileke stool used as an end table.

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Stock Update: Bamileke Beaded Chair

Delighted to post about the new Bamileke Beaded chair we just got in stock.
Click here for more photos.

Stock Update: Senufo Stool

Received a few more senufo stools in stock. Stop by the shop to take a look.

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Bamileke Stool Video

Video depicting a new style of Bamileke table. An updated and modern interpretation of the classic spider's nest motif.

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Metropolitan Home/Bamileke Tables

Interior designer, Joel Mozersky, used a bamileke table in Emily Robison's San Antonio loft in the November issue of Metropolitan Home, November 2009 issue.

A great story, and a beautiful home that balances the modern and industrial look. Not to mention an amazing bathroom.

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Merlot and Orange Bamileke Headdress: Stock Update

New for fall, bamileke headdresses in orange and merlot have arrived and are in the shop.

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Bamilke Stools/Tables: Stock Update

Just received a large shipment of bamileke tables (a.k.a. spider's nest tables) from Cameroon.

Several different sizes and they're available in black or brown.

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Kuba Cloth: Elle Decor October 2009

Interiors photographer, Simon Upton's London apartment is featured in the October 2009 issue of Elle Decor.

A home which reflects the itinerant nature of a globe trotting photographer. With an impressive collection of Kuba cloth skirts and the ceiling height to display them.

Bamileke Tables: Architectural Digest October 2009

Architectural Digest's October 2009 issue, "The Architecture Issue", features a Robert A.M. Stern designed house with interiors by Victoria Hagan that uses Bamileke tables in one of the rooms. Nice to see how well the tables work in such a formal house/context.

Binta Armchair by Philippe Bestenheider for Moroso

Swiss designer Philippe Bestenheider has created a fun and colorful chair re-purposing African fabric.

The chair’s form is based on African wood carvings and the upholstery is based on Senegalese patchwork fabrics.

From dezeen.

Beaded Bamileke Stool

New from Cameroon, a hand beaded leopard stool.

Orange and Red Bamileke Headdresses

Orange and red headdress are now in stock.

Bamileke Feather Headdresses

Just got a small shipment of Bamileke feather headdresses in from Cameroon. They've been featured as wall accents in magazines like Domino and Elle Decor.

Bamileke Tables

We've received a shipment of Bamileke tables from Cameroon. The larger ones work really well as coffee tables. And the smaller sizes are great as end tables or impromptu seating.

Mud Cloth at the Smithsonian Institution

This has been online since 2002, but I just found the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History feature on mud cloth. There's even an app to let you make your own virtual mud cloth.

Book Review: African Interiors by Taschen

This is not so much a book review, but rather a glowing endorsement. If you're at all interested in interior design, you'll get something from this book. Encompassing the entire continent of Africa, from the Maghrib to the Cape, African Interiors from Taschen is a window onto contemporary interiors in Africa.



Some of my favorite rooms are the homes in Tunsia, which are spare and bright with bleached white walls. I think the photo below is of designer Christian Louboutin's house.



There are also some great layouts that feature kuba and mud cloths. The photo below is a riot of kuba and mud cloth, a bit much, but the idea of upholstered mud cloth is a good one, and I like the floor cushions.



So if you haven't sold your coffee table for scrap wood during these tough economic times, and you're a fan of ethnic/african interior design this is a resource that is well worth $40. And if you're just a fan of great design, architecture and photography books, check out Taschen their books are always well produced.

Thanks to artpropelled for introducing me to this book.

Mud Cloths Now in Stock

I just received a shipment of some amazing hand made mud cloths from Mali. And although they're not kuba cloths, I thought I'd share the good news. There's a sample of some in the store, and I'll be adding stock throughout the week.

Apartment Therapy has a great floor cushion project featuring mud cloths. Get crafty!

Book Review: Textile Art of the Bakuba

Finding Irwin Hersey's essay on kuba cloths, piqued my interest and I found out that he literally wrote the book on kuba cloths.

The first 20 or so pages is a comprehensive survey of the history of kuba cloths, and the various tribes in and around the Congo that produce them. The balance of the book, about 160 pages catalogs a great collection of kubas. If you like your eye candy in a digital format, just do a Google image search or a Yahoo image search for kuba cloth. Overall a great coffee table and reference book.

QCC Art Gallery/Irwin Hersey Kuba Cloth Essay

One of the more thoughtful and insightful essays on kuba cloth, can be found at the QCC Art Gallery of the City University of New York, written by Irwin Hersey.

Kuba Cloth Featured at Remodelista.com

One of my favorite design/interior websites, Remodelista.com, recently wrote a small feature on kuba cloths with some great photos.

Recent Kuba Cloth Shipment

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/greybreaks






We've just received a new shipment of kuba cloths from the Congo/Zaire/DRC.

Stop by the shop to take a look at them if you're interested.


http://stores.shop.ebay.com/greybreaks

Thanks!