A VISIT TO PETER'S HOUSE in Postcards 4

July 15, 2018, 2:04 p.m.
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Public

Peter in front of a wall sculpture.

We were invited up to Peter Knego’s home to see the latest installation. Abstract flat discs now surround a light fixture as they once did on the PACIFIC PRINCESS…the Love Boat. Thanks to Peter, they live again as do many other works of art, furniture, ceramics, silver, fittings, and all the small things that caught his eye. You can see them on his site “Midship Century.”

On his site we are told, “Midship Century was founded in 2005 by ocean liner historian and journalist Peter Knego as a logical outlet for the container loads of materials he salvaged from a long procession of celebrated vessels scrapped on the beach of Alang, India in recent years. Many, such as Sun Line’s STELLA SOLARIS, were fitted out with important designer furniture and valuable artwork, while others, such as the former Cunard Liner IVERNIA, were unchanged relics filled with mid-1950s and early 1960s fixtures and furnishings.”

Two chairs and a cocktail table from the SS UNITED STATES.

Two chairs from the AUGUSTUS the running mate to the ANDREA DORIA.

So much of the art work he salvaged is flat out stunning work. From the glorious, glowing mural in the living room to the rich images of Egypt in the dining room, one is swept away by the art and the work it took to salvage it all.

All the wonderful woods came from liner walls. All the lights too.

My favorite has always been this large pastel work on Melamine that now lives in Peter and his partner, Mike’s, downstairs half bath.

Detail of two panels by Enrico Paulucci.

Lunch was perfection. I kept thinking about how brave Peter was to climb the sides of these beached ships to find and save these bits of history for us all. He doesn’t do well with heights. No cruise company has shown interest in the art or sculpture from their past, but a crowd of us who love these old ships gathered to talk and eat. Thank you so much for the delightful meal with cake and cookies too.