John Phifer Marrs - Interiors for Collectors

John Phifer Marrs

Interiors for Collectors

Photograph 2021 Michael Hunter.

Digital Edition 1.0

Text 2021 John Phifer Marrs

Photographic credits as noted throughout.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by anymeans whatsoever without written permission from the publisher, except briefportions quoted for purpose of review.

Published by

Gibbs Smith

P.O. Box 667

Layton, Utah 84041

1.800.835.4993 orders

www.gibbs-smith.com

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021930716

ISBN: 9781423656876 (ebook)

Photograph 2021 Michael Hunter.

Contents

Photograph 2021 Michael Hunter.

Introduction

A book about collectinghow did that come about? Well, like manyother designers who have been doing what they do for a really long time, I hadfriends who said, You really need to write a book! I would always pause and reply,I think the last thing the world needs is another coffee table book ondecorating!

I didnt worry about it too much, but one day, as I was looking throughphotos of homes I had worked on, I became aware of all the wonderful collectionsthat my clients had and how often I had organized, arranged, and displayed all thosevarious collections. It was a part of the interior design that I loved and somethingthat I felt I was good at doing. Some clients already had collections, but reallydidnt know itso I would gather up the various collectibles from around the houseand put them all together in a bookcase or organize them in a lovely piece offurniture or cabinet. Other clients collected passionately and I always had to finda spot for a new acquisition. Either way, I really enjoyed dealing with all thesedifferent collections and loved making them enjoyable for the client and attractivein their home. I didnt care so much what it was that they collected, or if Ipersonally liked it; it didnt matter to me. My goal was to display the collectionin the most attractive way in the context of a residence or home. I was amazed athow many collections I had worked my decorating magic on over the years. From smallcabinets filled with porcelains to a private library displaying thousands ofhistorical documents and artifacts, job after job showcased collections of wonderfulthings clients loved and enjoyed collecting. I was lucky enough to help them toarrange their collections to be lovely as well as loved in their homes. Hence, theidea for the book Interiors forCollectors.

A Short History of Collecting

Why do people collect? That behavior has always fascinated me. Ireally dont know why people collect or what possesses them to collect, or if theyeven give collecting any conscious thought. Sometimes, its just because they canand other times its because they are so drawn to thingsthe shape, the color, thehistory, the rarity that they cannot help but acquire more than just one. Sometimescollecting is kind of forced on them. Maybe they inherited a collection and felt thedesire to add to it or maybe someone gave them something collectible and it got themstarted collecting a particular thing. One lady I knew had a collection of turtles. They were made of marble, glass, semiprecious stones, and even resin. I asked herhow it started and she replied that someone gave her a turtle because she lived onTurtle Creek. Another friend of hers heard that she collected turtles and gave herseveral more and soon she had quite the collection. Later she told me, inconfidence, that she really didnt care for turtles, but it was too late to confess. This is the perfect example of the forced collector.

Im sure people have been collecting for as long as there was somethingto collect, or they finally had a break from looking for food and shelter. Iimagine, long ago, a caveman found an unusual rock or piece of wood that lookedinteresting to him and he brought it into his cave and set it on the ground. Later,he stumbled upon a similar one and brought it home and soon he had a collection. Hemight even have carved a small base for the new treasures or organized them all on ashelf in the cave.