This is a photo of a hat shop in Maastricht, Netherlands named La Passionara, which seems to translate as: to explode or fly into a passion.  I assume a passion for hats.  I have walked by this shop many times exploring the town, and have always enjoyed the multitude of hats layered one on top of the other, in the shop window.  In a web search I came across a short video by the owner of the shop on google video, here it is… La Passionara.  Businesses like this one have a hard time surviving here.  I have a retail shop, I know.   However, in these small European towns, the individually owned shops seem to be doing fine.  I’m glad as what would late night strolls be without interesting shop windows to inspire and delight.  Click on photo to enlarge.

When I travel I am always on the lookout for interesting store display.  These images are of a clothing store in Maastricht called Men at Work.  It is located below ground level – so you enter the store and immediately step down a long flight of stairs, joined by a procession of manikins.   The store is blasting the usual euro-mix of contemporary music from speakers that are mixed in with the huge installation of stereo speakers covering one entire wall.

Looks like a mix of  actors from “Goldfinger” and “Day of the Dead” all with advertising signs.

Sorry about the quality of the image, but I did want to show a part of the huge fluorescent light sculpture that hangs over the procession of manikins at the clothing store.  Click on images to enlarge.

Sissy-Boy is my favorite department store in Holland.   I was recently staying in Maastricht on a European buying trip for shop merchandise, and they have a Sissy-Boy store there.  I had one afternoon to do some shopping, in part for ideas on store layout and design, as well as picking up gifts for family and a  new shirt and cap for me.  The store layout is very imaginative with whimsy and panache without being “trendy.”  The store in Maastricht is on a corner of one of the main shopping squares in the city.  Part of the building is 18thc and part of it is contemporary construction -  imaginative new construction.  I enjoy this store so much because not only can I learn from it but it also feels good to be inside it, with the mix of new, old and timeless.

These are images taken at dusk to show the window displays.  As you can see they use vintage industrial furniture for display and for sale.  They carry a wide variety of merchandise including clothing, garden furniture, housewares,and lighting.

This is the back of the store which is floor to ceiling glass walls.

Interesting window display.  I was lucky enough to be in the city during their big summer sale, all the stores had big sales going on.

Typical Mod window display.  This city is a little less than 500,000 population and yet the retail stores have a very high level of design work in their displays.

This is an image of the back of the building with an inner courtyard.  The second floor deck is to the right where they display the garden furniture and accessories.  The forged iron tie rod ends on the back of the building show the date of  1907.  The facade on the front of the building is much earlier.

The very cool ceiling of the inner courtyard.  It looks like umbrella supports from the ground.

The second floor deck showing some beach chairs with a zinc garden element.

I noticed several shoppers trying out the relaxing looking hammock.

Second floor leading out to the deck.  Hand sewn pillows and comforters, that don’t look like they are from china.

Contemporary clock faces, French refractory table, various chairs, all rather timeless, for new ..not so bad.

First floor housewares display with windows onto the main square.

Checkout on the first floor with exposed brick walls, industrial lighting and a few crystal chandeliers thrown in for sparkle.

So why show so many images of a department store in Holland on an antique shop’s blog?  Here’s why:  It’s cool, refreshing, inspiring, and different from what I have seen at home.  Most retail has become so packaged and watered down that it isn’t even fun to shop.  This is in part why I am in the antiques trade.  Most antique shops are unique interesting places.  Some more so than others.  However, to find a department store that stands out is very rare.   Sissy-Boy is that department store.  It always seems to be busy when I have been there and I can see why.  It’s a fun place to shop.  If you have to buy something new, you might as well enjoy doing it, in surroundings that took care and forethought to create.  Buy antiques, preferably mine, but if you have to buy something new and are visiting Holland, check out the nearest Sissy-Boy.

This large Meccano Robot was in a Gallery at Art Chicago in May.  It had been personally owned by the President of the toy company in the 1940s.  I would have purchased and proudly displayed him in my home if not for the upper six figure price tag.    See an example of  a large Meccano Robot on YouTube.  This one on YouTube is “Dancing” to music.  They both have great movement and personalities.

I had the privilege of visiting the Douglas Dawson Gallery in Chicago a few years ago and was completely blown away.  The Gallery is not to be missed if you are traveling anywhere near Chicago.  These images are from his booth at Art Chicago in May.  I couldn’t get over how successfully Douglas created an atmosphere of tranquility and calm out of a what would have been a traditional blank gallery space.  The use of industrial bases to display the artifacts is a refreshing change from the traditional white plinths.

The gallery has been in Chicago since 1982, and more recently moved to this location.   As you can see by the images the gallery specializes in ancient and historic non-Western art.

These Parson-like tables have been made out from reclaimed rusted iron.  They make for a great “stage” for the objects.

This African piece is life size….as in, as large as a real water buffalo…Big.

Great industrial base.  The artifacts aren’t so bad either.

I believe this is a form of ancient currency.  The sculptural qualities of this piece give it such a contemporary feel that it could be by Picasso or Calder.

The lighting in this image is a bit brighter than the gallery seemed to be.  The space had a very Zen-like, calming quality unlike many of Art Chicago’s galleries.

Mexican Kalima Dog and more currency.

Obviously the Gallery was an easy space to photograph.

Huge industrial table with large bronze Buddha.