the catalog
the pieces produced by topher anton are generally one-offs whose styles and types vary wildly. the most common thread is that the primary components were rescued from curbs in new orleans.
Hurricane Lamp
By the time Ida blustered ashore on the 16th anniversary of Katrina, New Orleans had endured over a year of Covid and a record 5 named storms in the previous hurricane season. The second most damaging and intense storm ever to hit Louisiana unleashed mostly wind damage. Not to be outdone, water got the last laugh with the grim discovery that all 8 of the transmission lines that feed power to New Orleans had fallen into the Mississippi. Telephone poles leaned or gave way in record numbers. Estimates for the restoration of power jumped from days to weeks to months. As linemen from around the country restored and replaced downed lines around New Orleans, the fragments of felled poles, hardware and all, were left where they landed, with the rest of the debris. This section of pole and hardware were found as you see them here. The shear from where the pole snapped has been retained and gives the illusion that the lamp is hovering just above the base. A screw under one corner of the steel platform allows the lamp tilt to be adjusted (to account for leaning floors or furniture on which it rests). Corded standard lightbulb sockets with standard removable glass shades were added, as was an old junction box and light switch.
Bicycle Console Table
This bicycle ended its intended life as a rust covered Magenta and Teal frame peering out of the top of a dumpster. Restoration hopes were quickly abandoned due to holes in the frame. it was then mounted in its found condition as an object d’art, To add utility, a former bed side rail was sanded, stained and affixed to the handlebar socket and seat mounts, effectively establishing the bike as a beautiful, ornate table leg. The frame was then sprayed with an industrial gloss black. The entire piece has intentionally been secured using minimal mounting hardware to allow the bike’s aerodynamic stylings to be admired without distraction. Despite appearing barely attached to the base, it is deceptively stable.
The Ski Lift Chair
Originally, The excitement of discovering a black hanging egg chair on a curb was short lived. It was found covered with plastic “wicker” and unfortunately, a strand of said wicker was the only thing to which the seat was still attached. The wicker was removed, the seat was discarded and the egg bottom was cut off. A paint job commenced. Bed slats seated along the new beautifully curved bottom edge of the frame evoked a sense of winter vacation nostalgia that conjured this piece’s name.
the lath armchair
Upholstering is a dying craft. Absent the skills of a tailor, furniture maker and seamstress, most these days grab a stapler or some hot glue and a square of fabric. And it shows. This black armchair was covered in faux red velvet covering with nautical rope hot glued over the line of 10,000 staples. Ripped back to the bare wood and dipped in red. Since plaster and lath walls are another dying craft, it seemed appropriate to style the seat and back from lath that is seeing the light of day for the first time in a century.
pieces in the works
the day of the dead chandelier
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the headboard bench
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the five legged chair
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the slat spring bench
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the octopus shipwreck chandelier
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*topher anton hates spam (often disguised by the moniker “monthly newsletter”) and will send you only 3 emails a year: carefully constructed and thoughtfully informative announcements of product lines twice a year, and a randomly-timed surprise missive to maintain quirkiness.
topher anton has been intermittently producing art and decor for public art calls and private collections for over two decades. a sampling of pieces available for acquisition is presented here, alongside a few favorites currently held in private collections.