It recently came to my attention that the Phillips Collection's Bonsai Sculptures were featured in The New York Times. The High Point-based manufacturer's products first caught my attention at the HD Boutique show in Miami Beach a few years ago (it was their Seat Belt chairs, which I recently noticed in the Showtime House video that I've embedded below--the Californication room no less!) that stood out. I like the spirit of this new collection of sculptures, which Mark Phillips, the CEO and president of the company explained to me: "End of life doesn’t mean end of beauty. By judiciously pruning and bleaching and mounting, we are able to preserve nature’s majesty." The sculptures retail for between $200 and $2,000, and range in size from 18 inches tall to five feet. The vase sells for $987. "All stages of the bonsai are beautiful," remarks Phillips. "Even its’ swansong is magnificent, and we have found a way to rescue this mettle." 

How they came upon the bonsai is the most fascinating part of the story to me. "We found these beautiful forms in an irrigation ditch in the north of Thailand," Phillips says. "These colossal bonsai, locally referred to as a Siamese rough bush, had no use after life except as kindling. I saw a shape that I didn’t want to see go up in flames. We have a lot of experience with roots of long-ago fallen trees. After a little collaboration and a lot of trial and error we came upon a solution that preserved and enhanced." The sculptures are not for outdoor use and, as Joyce Wadler cleverly notes in her Times article, they're perfect for someone whose green thumb, um, isn't so green! "Voila! a beautiful life spirited plant that thrives on neglect" exclaims Phillips. "That's my kind of maintenance!" In all seriousness, he adds, "The Siamese rough bush is blessed with a rugged beauty that refuses to die. Our goal was to pay it forward."

I'm psyched that I'll be attending the press preview and opening party of the Showtime House at Cassa Hotel and Residences in a little over a week. The uber-talented duo Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke (see their blog Demystifying Design here) are bringing the Weeds space to vivacious life and Brizo faucets will be in da house! Of course, I'll report back afterwards with all of the delicious details (or before if I can get anyone to talk: do you think some type of torture is in order to get the scoop?)!