Andrew Baseman on the "Make-Do's" and the Past Imperfect Blog
Miniature Chinese Kangxi teapot with metal and rattan handle, c.1720
This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Andrew Baseman. An avid collector, Baseman has built one of the premier collections of "make-do's". These unique antiques feature inventive repairs such as stapling, metal wrapping, and rattan weaving that were used to return them to functional service. He says of the process, "Unlike today where we discard anything chipped or cracked, broken household items were repaired at home or taken to a metalsmith to be brought back to life, often with whimsical results. " Baseman chronicles his collection on his blog Past Imperfect: The Art of Inventive Repair where he photographs and writes about the unique history of each object and their repairs.
In the interview we talk about the history of inventive repair, how context changes the value of an object, and the role decorative objects play in the entertainment world. This interview was taped in conjunction with ArtKamp at Project Art in Cummington, MA.
When not collecting antiques Andrew is an interior designer specializing in set decoration for television and movies. He is currently the set decorator for the TV show Gotham. In more than a few scenes he has staged ceramic pieces in the Wayne Manor, the home of Bruce Wayne the future Batman. Click here to see a clip of ceramics on the set of Gotham.
