Setting Sail: The Seymour / Brant Reconciliation and Figurehead Sale



I first posted this piece in April 2008 and again, in May 2009, when 
Stephanie Seymour and her husband announced their divorce.  I've added new material at the beginning to reflect the most recent news of their reconciliation and sale of one copy of Stephanie's "figurehead."

There's been news that Stephanie Seymour and her estranged husband Peter Brant have reconciled.  But part of Seymour will continue to venture out into the world: the artist's proof of a sculpture commissioned by her husband and executed by Maurizio Cattelan is for sale.
If the Seymour/Brant break-up and reconciliation was messy, ditto for the figurehead.  Dealer Philippe Segalot noted that the sculpture arrived with its hair in knots.



I remember that Ms. Seymour herself styled the hair on her own figurehead; this time celebrity hairstylist Frederic Fekkai (who famously did not cut my hair in 1992) took the honors.



I hope that this "trophy wife" finds a good home, one where she can remain, comfortably.


Stephanie Seymour, as a figurehead



*  *  * 

Growing up on the sea, I’ve always been sympathetic to the siren’s call. I love tall ships, with their multi-level sails, and, especially, I’m mad for figureheads.

I prefer antique figureheads, naturally, because there’s something romantic about wind-blown, ocean-sprayed figureheads who are in various genteel stages of beautiful decay.

After salt water has splashed and splashed, the drapes of this figurehead’s garment have become more etched, more poetic.

This figurehead is a wonderful discovery—she’s Jenny Lind, the Swedish nightingale, and you can read more about her here. But aside from her historical significance, she’s special because she reminds me of Madame Gres—known for her gorgeous draping and braiding, as here.

And Madame knew a thing or two about feathers, which are stunning but not practical for a figurehead; soggy feathers don’t wear well.

About five years ago there was a mild stir in the art/fashion world about a contemporary figurehead: do you remember when Maurizio Cattelan sculpted a bust (or figurehead) of Stephanie Seymour to be mounted on the wall in her home?

On one hand, Seymour became the literal embodiment of Peter Brant’s “trophy wife,” in a gallery with his other hunting trophies, but I like to think her of a figurehead, pointing the way as her home and family sail their course. The sculpture/figurehead below (which is to be mounted on a wall), is by Maurizio Cattelan.

It looks "harder" than the real person, who could, to continue the nautical metaphor, be aptly described as a siren. . .