THE TRAGIC...WEDDING FAVOR...
The fact of proposing, today, this specific fireplace, brings to my mind what happened, some time ago when, on the occasion of a “wedding list” (it is a service that we happen, from time to time, to perform..) I had to sell a Boudin fireplace very similar to this one in marble quality..
On that occasion, as always happens in such cases, some of the guests (most, to be fair..) were curious, almost happy to have this unusual experience, while others, who could not hide their disappointment, felt (AND WERE..) forced into an unwanted expense and struggled in search of the least expensive “piece” among those on the list agreed upon with the newlyweds... A difficult search, since, as the least expensive things are also the most sought after, they are always the first “to go...”
But the bride and groom had also devilishly concocted the means to make those who wanted to pay little pay: The cumulative gift!!!
TEN SIGNATURES ON THE CARD ACCOMPANYING THE GIFT AND THE FIREPLACE IS SERVED....
I remember the very amusing (to me, at least...) chat I had with a gentleman who was part of the “RIOTTOSI” group, who, at one point, evidently wishing to vent, turned to his wife and blurted out. “ALL THE FAULT OF THAT PARTY FAVOR!!!”
Intrigued by that loudly expressed phrase, I took the ball and asked the gentleman what he meant by that phrase....
IT WAS AN OUTPOURING OF ANGRY OUTBURSTS, SUPPRESSED IMPOTENCE AND PARENTAL RESENTMENT....
“And yes, dear Mr. Maurice...do you know what these nubens do! They make a meticulous list of all possible victims, and it doesn't matter whether they are relatives forgotten for twenty years or friends from elementary school, we all end up in the cauldron.... Then they set off and go and personally deliver (so, you can't refuse it, how can you?!) to the condemned to the bounty the fateful wedding favor, which is not useful at all, they are all strictly Chinese-made acccidents that you don't even know where to put them... Porcelain, glass or vil metal bowls that we don't even need as ashtrays since we don't smoke....
And we, what are we to do! After receiving this INTIMIDATION THAT HAS THE TASTE OF A CARD OF EQUITALIA, even to thank, we must them.... No one who finds the courage to reject this favor of the..biiiip... biiiiip... And so today we are here with her, without even the chance to ask her for a discount, since everything is already planned and agreed upon by them.... Nice strength, I bet they were brilliant in negotiating the price with her, weren't they? They didn't have to pay it, did they!”
ALL THIS LITTLE STORY I HAVE TOLD YOU BECAUSE THE MANTEL I AM PRESENTING HERE, DESPITE BEING MADE OF A PRECIOUS MATERIAL (AS PRECIOUS AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CLASSIC CALACATTA ON THE MARKET IS), HAS A MORE THAN MODERATE COST, SO MUCH SO THAT THE EMBITTERED RELATIVE PROTAGONIST OF THE ABOVE SKIT COULD, BY PURCHASING THIS MANTEL IN A “CUMULATIVE PURCHASE,” HAVE MADE THE IMPRESSION OF THE MOST BRILLIANT MAN IN THE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO GIFTS!!!
THIS FIREPLACE WAS BORN AROUND THE MIDDLE OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY AND BORN IN THE CÔTE D'AZUR (NICE OR MARSEILLE, IN THOSE TWO CITIES HAD SCULPTURE WORKSHOPS THE MYTHICAL BOUDIN), WE ARE BEFORE A SCULPTURE WHOSE PRESERVATION IS DEFINABLE AS PERFECT.
P.S: AS I ALWAYS DO IN CASES SIMILAR TO THIS ONE, I PARTICULARLY WANT TO ADDRESS A PLEA TO THOSE INTERESTED IN THIS PURCHASE: KIND SIR, DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, IN YOUR EVALUATION, THE PRICE AT WHICH WE PROPOSE THIS OBJECT. IT DOES NOT MATTER THAT WITH THIS MONEY YOU COULD NOT HAVE A NEW ONE CARVED, IT ONLY MATTERS THAT WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO PAY PERHAPS LESS THAN FAIR AND THAT, AS ALWAYS, THIS COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGE IS TURNED OVER TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
NOBODY GIVES AWAY (AS MY FRIEND BENINI FROM MODENA SAYS), WE MAKE DO!
