Quintessentially San Francisco

Featured as "Quintessentially San Francisco".

Antiques dealer Conor Fennessy (801 Columbus Ave.) offers antiques from many periods to harmonize with decorative and fine arts. Museum-standard pieces are presented alongside compelling objects of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Pop or Post Modern taste, resulting in an exciting collection where objects are carefully selected and presented for their magical, timeless and universal appeal.

Dublin-born Fennessy extends his cosmopolitan style and taste to every aspect of his antiques and interior design business. A complimentary initial design consultation is given to Quintessentially members, along with trade concessions. E-mail askqusa@quintessentially.com to learn more.

Castle Howard Revisited

Has it really been that long? 1981 was the year of the sumptuous production, "Brideshead Revisited". Evelyn Waugh's bittersweet tale of the lush, decadent lives of Pre World War I, told around the setting of Castle Howard.
This Granada Television production was really responsible for a revival of interest in English "Country House" taste. Subsequent Museum "English Country House" exhibits fed a population eager for the trappings of "Stately Homes".
The "Castle Howard" sale, dubbed "Alloysius" after a famous teddy bear, of October 1991 provided a rarefied look into the back rooms, complete with frayed silk tiebacks, and the other accumulations of a house well kept.
The cataloge now a collector's item, still provides inspiration in it's details.

Recently Mentioned in San Francisco Magazine

Conor Fennessy’s eclectic taste runs the gamut from museum-quality antique furniture to modern folk art of uncertain provenance—but his cool San Francisco–related items are the most intriguing. A recent visit turned up a marvelous floor lamp that, according to Fennessy and film stills, decorated Lauren Bacall’s Telegraph Hill apartment in the 1947 classic Dark Passage; while a copy of an 1892 social register revealed the names and addresses of post–gold rush bluebloods, including the Flood, Crocker, Huntington, and Hopkins families. 801 Columbus Ave., 415-673-0277, conorfennessy.com

Best of San Francisco

Conor Fennessy Antiques & Design was recently awarded "Best of the Bay" by San Francisco Magazine:

"Best Places to Find Rare Objects d'Art"

Robert Altman at Conor Fennessy

Robert Altman, the photographer, was in North Beach signing copies of his new book, "The Sixties".
He wandered into my shop, and I recognized him from "the old days".
We are now collaborating on a new size edition of some of his iconic images from the "high" period of San Francisco music:

Winterland, New Year's, 1969/1970 and
Grace Slick, The Family Dog, San Francisco, 1969

We are happy to present this new editiom to a new audience on 1stdibs.com
Hope you like.

Signed copies of Robert Altman's "The Sixties" available at Conor Fennessy $39.95

The First Day of Sum of the Bits

Sum of the Bits is the title of my blog which I see as an opportunity to express my musings as I am searching for new inspirations and discoveries. I have a shop in North Beach, San Francisco dealing in antiques and 20th century design.