M-J's Beaux-Arts

M-J's Beaux-Arts

Wrought Iron Outdoor Furniture

Wrought iron furniture in the garden or on the patio is much more elegant than that white plastic stuff.

Elegant Rosenthal Platter

A home-made white cake glories in the purity of an elegantly simple platter by Rosenthal, a gift to me from my friend Larry Risko.
©M-J de Mesterton

1920s White McCoy Cachepot

This 1920s McCoy planter illustrates the sturdiness of the brand.
©M-J de Mesterton

Platter and Bowl

A Noritake antique bowl atop a California platter is an elegant serving presentation for crudites and dip.
©M-J de Mesterton, Elegant Decorating

Aspen Architect and Philanthropist Fritz Benedict

Aspen Architect and Philanthropist Fritz Benedict

Fredric "Fritz" Benedict was born in 1914 in Medford, Wisconsin. He received a master’s degree in Architecture from the University of Wisconsin before a three-year apprenticeship with Frank Lloyd Wright, a legendary architect. He joined the 10th Mountain Division during WWII and had his first glimpse of Aspen while training. He returned after the war where he was intricately involved with the Music Associates of Aspen (MAA), designing many of the buildings associated with the music school. In 1949 he married Fabi (Mina Loy's daughter Fabienne, whose sister Joella married Bauhaus artist and Aspen Institute architect Herbert Bayer), who was his lifetime love; they did not have any children, instead they sponsored many local children in skiing. Fritz designed many buildings around Aspen including the building where Wells Fargo bank is now situated, the replacement building for The Thompson Hardware Store on the corner of Galena and Cooper. He founded and built the 10th Mountain Hut and Trail System in 1980. He funded the dining hall for the music school housing as well as donated ten acres to Open Space to compensate for land used in music student housing on the Marolt property. He was involved in the founding of the Aspen Institute and Design Conference, was the first chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, implementing the first sign code banning billboards and neon signs in Aspen. He was inducted into the Aspen Hall of Fame in 1988 and honored with the Greg Mace award in 1987 "for epitomizing the spirit of Aspen community". Fritz Benedict passed away in 1995.

Stanford White, Architect

Today is the birthday of assassinated architect, Stanford White. Read about him at the following link:

Stanford White