Nouveau Vanity
Neo Egyptian accents (scarab beetle atop mirror) and insect-like legs accent this Art Nouveau vanity, green marble top, 4' wide

Decorative Arts ~ Design and fabrication of site specific artwork from the studio of Stephen Fitz-Gerald.

On Decorative Arts:
Decorative Arts generally refers to items that have a practical function but are made to be beautiful as well. Everyday objects, furniture, fixtures, tableware as well as personal items can come under this heading, in contrast to the fine arts, whose sole purpose is to please the eye.

Most of my 'site specific' pieces are designed thus; for a particular environment and an assigned function. I still believe that 'form follows function', so my efforts are to design and build an object which first of all works, but appears beautiful as well. The success of the piece is rated by the delicate balance between function and beauty.

In many ways these 'site specific' objects are a reaction to the plethora of manufactured goods which surround us every day. Reproducing something original generally diminishes it's singular vitality and dilutes the 'soul' of the object. So, these originally designed artful objects retain their one-of-a-kind character and often reflect the individual who commissioned them.

Please call 707-584-0182 for pricing information.

Click on a photograph to view a larger version.

All art & photographs © 1999, 2000 Stephen Fitz-Gerald.

 


French Provincial
Dining Set

Originally designed for the Garden Show 1995. Welded steel with rust patina


Arch Top Garden Door
Client wanted a door that looked 400 years old, and just washed up on the beach. Featured in Garden Design Magazine, April 1998.



Tea House Gate
1/4" acid-washed steel plate door with grass cutouts. Negative space allows morning sun shining through to project image of grass on the road
     

Lasercut Japanese Symbols Dining Table
Made for an architect - 1/4" steel plate cut-outs reused for design details in a gate

Calla Lily Gate
Calla cups in stainless, leaves and stalks in silicon bronze

Poseidon's Rest
Art Nouveau bed with central trident logo and chambered nautilus shells above, forged steel - queen size
     
 
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Celtic War Shield
A vision from a dream - welded steel, 39" diameter

Parsons Table
Houses in New England have a high narrow table in the entryway, usually with an umbrella stand. This one has a granite top and hexagonal legs

Fruit Bowl with French Provincial Base
Stainless steel bowl, 19" diameter, inside polished with flamecut pedestal base in steel with copper sulphate patima
     

French Provincial Gate
A Marin County gate to keep deer out, welded steel rust finish

Valley of the Moon Door Handle (Detail)
Valley of the Moon Winery, Sonoma
Handforged handle on door from tasting room to barrel vault

Valley of the Moon Vault Exterior Doors
Valley of the Moon Winery, Sonoma
Exterior view of barrel vault doors from parking lot
     
 
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Knot Design Office Set
Hand-forged 'knot' forms the theme for a modern office set

Two Leaf Chairs
Laser cut industrial steel scrap transformed into chairs

Mans Chair (studio view)
Where the magic happens
     

Nouveau Garden Enclosure
Free form Art Nouveau garden fence

Celtic Weave
three candle
tabletop candelabra

The perfect centerpiece for a die-hard romantic, steel

Industrial Conference Table
Lasercut industrial steel sheets rolled and reconfigured for table bases
     
 
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Perforated Dining Table
More industrial steel scrap sheets transformed


Gazebo
One of many steel gazebo designs, this one with rust patina to cover a wellhead

Courtyard Fountain
Centerpiece for a luxury apartment complex, stainless steel
     

Water Table
Reversible steel frame




Victorian Bridal Sconce
Removable central candle holder carried by bride to altar, grape leaves and grape clusters throughout, forged steel


Jetson Couch
Sort of Jules Verne meets George Jetson ~ you had to be there
     

Whale Gate - Courtyard Entrance
Street view of parapelegic gate to inner dourtyard

Whale Gate - Garage
Parking garage entrance, 17' gate slides on track

Whale Gate - Window Grates
View of security grates from parking garage to inner courtyard
     


Winery Entrance
Large sculpted grape leaves in sheet steel with welded stainless steel veins
     
 
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