Last month A.J. Brewington, proprietor of Brewington Art & Interiors, celebrated her 26th year in business. She was in a philosophic frame of mind the day I visited her shop at 4814 Washington Avenue. (As a matter of fact, I visit her shop most days as she occupies a second floor space in the Pierce Arrow Building, a property that Jim and I own.)
To explain her rather gutsy decision to move her shop from a smaller street-level space on McPherson to a second floor 2500 s.f. loft space with no street presence she said, "I try not to be complacent but am constantly redefining what my business is. It's always evolving and changing. One wants to be at a point in your life where you can be influenced and inspired. Since I've moved (in December, 2010), I've never enjoyed my business more." A.J. considers her current space to be a big-city-sophisticated approach to retail in St. Louis. She feels she is her business, it doesn't matter where she is. Her long-time clients, creative people with imagination, follow her wherever she goes.
What you won't see in this post is a photograph of A.J., who is surprisingly camera-shy given her larger-than-life personality. The quote on her website pretty much sums up why there is never a dull moment when you stop by Brewington's for a visit.
"Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather skid in sideways shouting 'What a ride!' "
Her first store in the St. Louis area was in Webster Groves where she was a member of a co-op consisting of 12 antique dealers. From there she moved to a space on Rosebury in Clayton where she sold traditional antiques. Her second store in the DeMun District, Geronimo's Cadillac, specialized in Mid-Century Modern. She moved to McPherson in the 90s, where her shop carried an eclectic mix of both antique and Mid-Century pieces.
The vintage bronze swans in the photo (above) have been sold since I took the photo. A 1950's Italian plant stand (left), $375, holds a mercury glass gazing ball, $65. The contemporary 4-panel screen at the rear is covered with maps, $300, and the vase on the stand (right) is $475. The three antique wooden columns in front of the window were originally used as props at Dillards, $1500. Sitting on the window ledge (and barely visible) is a pair of French-style folk art roosters, $75 each.
Selling art has become a large part of A.J.'s business in recent years. She currently represents three artists, internationally-known Edward Boccia (whose painting is shown in the photo above), Jim Pegg, and French artist Claude Rene Krutchmar. Boccia is Professor Emeritus at Washington University's School of Fine Art where he retired from teaching painting in 1986. A.J. told me that the late Morton May, the philanthropic chairman of the May Department Stores, was a huge Boccia collector who donated a large part of his collection to SLU. Word is that SLU is going to exhibit their collection of Boccia's paintings in 2013.
Other items in the photo are contemporary mercury glass lamps with silk shades, $350, 8 vintage waterford grapefruits bowls on the tray, $585, and a silver mercury glass gazing ball, which can be used as decoration in the garden, $38.
On the showroom floor is a contemporary Ligne Roset sectional that includes two sofas and an ottoman that came from a local estate, $2500. The handsome silk patchwork pillows on the sofa are $60 for the pair.
Around the store there are gifts galore in many price ranges from crystal candlesticks, $32 (not shown), to the silver pieces right. I have been noticing all the new babies in the neighborhood, which is why these two sterling silver porringers (right) caught my eye, $95 and $45. The sterling silver bowl (top) is $125, and the antique sterling silver serving spoon is $95.
Love the contented smile on the little bronze dog at rest (left) by a Santa Fe artist, $400.
Brewington's Art & interiors, 4814 Washington, Suite 230, Tues. through Sat. 10:30 to 6 p.m., (314) 361-5373.