Monday, November 22, 2010

A gentleman friend

This past weekend I stopped by Goodwood, one of my favorite shops here in my DC neighborhood, and fell in love with a certain gentleman that I brought home.
I had an unfortunate accident where a large framed watercolor in this very spot on my gallery wall fell off and shattered 3 weeks ago (in the middle of the night of course). It was fate. I was free to bring home the gentleman and as he's the only portrait I own, I feel I need to name him. Any ideas, would love to hear them?

43 comments:

Mark D. Ruffner said...

Hi, Stefan! First, I like the peek into you gallery - it makes me want to see a bit more. As to the gentleman, I believe his name was Grandon, and that he was actually related to you.

Mel said...

He seems aristocratic & stolid, so I considered Nigel, Geoffrey, & Roger, but then I thought he could also make a passable 007. So I keep coming back to James. But definitely not Jim.

Reggie Darling said...

A marvelous find, and I believe he is dressed for the hunt. I might suggest, perhaps, naming him Chauncey Pierrepont?

David Toms said...

He looks perfect against your wall! What a find. As to names?? he looks a bit like a Cedric

Nita Stacy said...

He's fabulous!

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

perfect, it was meant to be. he could be confused as a Nigel however MAXIM is what he answers to- pgt

pve design said...

What a fine gentleman. I know Mother would approve.
Enchante, Sir Charles Montague III.
pve

Karena said...

I am liking Reggie's Chauncey, or simply The Gent and then people can free associate! Love the portrait!

Xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

Anonymous said...

He looks like an old photo of the actor Gary Cooper-handsome, reserved, and mysterious.

Anonymous said...

Godfrey. Well healed and off on an adventure, pretending to be someone he is not to win the favor of a lady. He reminds me of the movie, one of my favorite "screwball" comedies, My Man Godfrey.

home before dark said...

I agree with anon that he looks like Gary Cooper, but I think I would call him Jay Gatsby...or Jock Whitney. He is perfect for your salon. Love those meant to be moments. Glass shattering in the night? SPOOKY!

Mark D. Ruffner said...

And his second name is Godley, Grandon Godley!

Hill House Ramblings said...

Oh, he's just marvelous! I have a feeling I would love all the pictures on your gallery wall...Hm, he looks like an Alistair to me or perhaps a William. Possibly an Edmund...or a Hugh.:)

H.H.

Kwana said...

I love him. So distinguished but a little jaunty and fun. Maybe Sir Charles Clarkston Chittenworth III

Blue said...

Would DADDY work?

ArchitectDesign™ said...

So many good suggestions here! I love Cedric....And Chauncey Pierrepont! I'll have to do some thinking on this.
Mark, my apartment was photographed 2 years ago for apartment therapy -i have a link on my sidebar. It has all changed somewhat of course as collections grow and change but it's still similar.

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Blue - we have a winner! DADDY! haha

Anonymous said...

My goodness he is handsome. I thought Gary Cooper at first glance. Fabulous find!
Can't add to the names above, they are all suitable.
xs

Holyoke Home said...

Why, that's Hamish VanAscot, of course!

Kerry Steele- Design du Monde said...

Grenville Waddington the III. That's actually a real person, a polo player and (at least back in the 90s) Captain of the Queen's Life Guard.

Richspen said...

Looks like the actor George Sanders.

Anonymous said...

How about Court Crowninshield IV, or Grand Duke Leopold IV of Bellefontaine and Bonbord.

Bob said...

Just came upon your blog for the first time. What a treat!

As for the gentleman -- definitely Nick. You see, he's all-American, so Nigel and Reggie don't quite cut it. But Nick -- ready for swanky cocktails or rugged adventure. Definitely a Nick.

Laura Casey Interiors said...

Looks like a perfect fit! Can't wait to hear what you name him...

Unknown said...

Enchanting story and I would not mind being introduced to him... His name could be
Sir Nelson Ashford? Retired Admiral?

Enjoy his company!

xx
V.

Anonymous said...

I name thee:
"Sir Llewellyn Fraser, KT, OBI"

KDM

Yuri-Alex Niso said...

I love monosyllabic consonant-rife Englishy names that sound like phlegmy coughs. Like Ralph, Garth and Heath.

Unknown said...

I vote for Archibald. He is so good looking in a very classy 40's sort of way.

Lisa Borgnes Giramonti said...

He's absolutely lovely. And such kind eyes.
I've always loved the oddness of English names that aren't pronounced anywhere near the way they are written.
My vote is for: St. John Cholmondely (pronounced "Sinjin Chumley").
xx

red ticking said...

love him... my first thought was herbert... do not ask me why... but james is quite nice as well...
he is a smashing addition... but then again i am a portrait lover of all sorts... xx

Reynolds Still said...

Incredible chalk drawing Mr. A.D. If I didn't know better, I'd say he looks like a Reynolds.

Best regards,
Reynolds

Slim Paley said...

Well, he's quite wonderful and dashing, whatever name he's bequeathed and I'm just enjoying all your reader's suggestions! My thinking cap is still on...

Acanthus and Acorn said...

My suggestion is Goodwin as an ode to the shop Goodwood where he formally resided!

Sorry about the "crash" but it has at least it has a happy outcome!!!

Unknown said...

You know at first I thought, Social Register. Or Black Jack Bouvier. But, then I realized it’s more likely Henry Pratt, farmer’s son, from Kansas, served in WWI, saw Verdun, got to like to the French wine (and possibly the French men) at the Deux Magots, where some Hollywood type discovers his profile and says ‘I’m gonna make you a star’. Next thing you know, Henry Pratt is now Robert Chancellor. With a little dash of Edith Head, and a lot of elocution, the matinee begins. And the portrait? Well, that was sketched by his then girlfriend , Vicki Lester (nee Esther Blodgett) who leaves him when she finds him in bed with Cole Porter.

Steve said...

I think the store set you up nicely, no need for a Mr. or any kind of title, just - Goodwood.

Anonymous said...

I'm taking the first four letters from your profession and your blog, and calling him Arch.

Anonymous said...

He looks like a Percy to me.

(As in, Percy Plushbottom -- or even Sir Percy Throttlebush, Bt.)

Dabbsie said...

The gentleman looks to me like a Monte--as in actor Robert Montgomery whom he very much resembles.(psst-Slim sent me)

quintessence said...

Love this dapper Gary Cooper look alike as well - so genteel - perfect for your classic sensibility!

Anonymous said...

He's fabulous---and he looks very familiar. A scan of society photos (particularly those form the equestrian set) from, say, 1930through 1960 might just find your gentleman at Belmont, Hialeah or Saratoga.

Must say that I find Percy, Chauncey, etc., a little too prissy. As Reggie says, this guy is dressed for foxhunting, not an afternoon of poetry.

Great find.

RB

helen tilston said...

I think he should be called
Kinvara of the Galways
I also love the suggestion of calling him Daddy

Helen Tilston

Cat+Fox said...

Jack?)) As Jack Lemon?))

DanSanDiego said...

Sir Oliver Lennox will do handsomely!