Our "In the Drawer" series, takes you inside John Derian's studio drawers to uncover his 18th and 19th-century collection of books, ephemera, artifacts, and more.
As a life-long collector, John shares his favorite discoveries, offering the stories behind each unique item and how he has brought them back to life today.
In the drawer this month, we find a map of New York City from 1879, which John has transformed into decoupage trays, postcards, and a jigsaw puzzle.
The original is a bird’s-eye view of Manhattan, drawn by J.W. Williams for the Rogers, Peet & Co. department store. It predates the Brooklyn Bridge by four years, when Trinity Church was the tallest structure on the horizon. It was used as a promotional pocket map and traveler’s guide to attract customers to their retail stores.
Drawer No. 15 - Mixed Tones
Drawer No. 14 - Playing Cards
Drawer No. 13 - Expandable Empires
Drawer No. 12 - The Rabbit
Drawer No. 11 - Heart in Hand
Drawer No. 10 - Tarot Deck
Drawer No. 9 - The Holiday Tree
Drawer No. 8 - Albin's Birds
Drawer No. 7 - Ghost Stories
Drawer No. 6 - Seed Package Ephemera
Drawer No. 5 - Provincetown
Drawer No. 4 - Postcards
Drawer No. 3 - Father & Mother
Drawer No. 2 - Women's Work
Drawer No. 1 - Clovers
