CHAT IN A CHAIR: Nicholas Mesiano & Alistair Knight
Nicholas Mesiano and Alistair Knight are seasoned regulars on the vintage furniture scene in Australia. Their Melbourne-based gallery Nicholas & Alistair which retails original 20th century antiques and vintage furniture, decorative objects and applied arts is a regular haunt for us at Arent&Pyke. Over the years we have been captivated by the carefully-curated rare European objects sourced by the gentlemen on their frequent trips abroad.
Mesiano & Knight’s enviably balanced work/life routine of travelling, collecting, curating and reconditioning vintage goods from across the globe is nothing short of a dream. The pieces sourced are those of impeccable craft and extraordinary quality with a legacy like no other. It is a brave and passionate vision by the pair to bring such objects to the Australian market.
Their Chat choice of chair is a pair of very rare 1950s armchairs by Italian architect & industrial designer Gio Ponti for Cassina.
With the sharpest eye gleaned from their shared backgrounds in Interior Design and Fine Art, these enigmatic gentlemen are In/Out’s first ‘Pair in a Chair’.
We are proud to kick off a brand new year of Chat in a Chair and hope that you enjoy a year of wonderful Chats with us in 2014.
What is your favourite chair & why?
Tough question! So many amazing chairs have been produced and it is impossible to choose an absolute favourite… however, this pair of armchairs by Italian designer Gio Ponti are definitive 1950s, über stylish, and particularly rare.
Why not Alistair & Nicholas? Was there a coin toss involved?
No coin toss. Someone had to go first….
Very best country for sourcing vintage?
We specialize in European furniture and decorative arts, which means we spend a good part of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a great challenge for us to find the best pieces, and we cross many borders looking for them.
Proportion of finds you can’t part with?
While we would love to keep everything for ourselves, obviously this is impossible. We see our role as caretakers and curators, and genuinely get great pleasure in offering the best pieces to our clients.
Scissors, paper, or rock?
Paper.
Bowie or Buble?
Bowie – Groundbreaker.
Breakfast involves….?
Breakfast always starts with coffee. We’ve been collecting vintage coffee machines for years, and at the moment are really enjoying using our La Pavoni. It makes a killer espresso.
India or Indiana?
Italy!
Colour or monochrome?
Colour is an amazing thing. A powerful communicator, thought provoker, a mood changer … although monochrome can be those things also…. Can we say both?
Hunter S. Thompson or Thomas Hardy?
Hunter. Hardy transports you, but Hunter catapults you.
Credits:
Photography by: Ben Pyke
Videography by: Jill Schaeffer
