Since Leslie and Leigh Keno became household names appraising antique furniture on the popular PBS series "Antiques Roadshow," you'd be forgiven for presuming that their own line of furniture, Keno Bros., would pay homage to Duncan Phyfe, Chippendale and the like.
Instead, the line they introduced at the International Furniture Markets last year is a stunningly beautiful collection of sleek, polished, modern profiles crafted by Theodore Alexander.
The Kenos, whose collection will appear in showrooms soon, have taken their extensive furniture expertise and applied it to their own pieces. The brothers also host "Collect This! With the Keno Brothers" on MSN. Leigh owns and operates Keno Auctions in New York, and Leslie is director of American furniture and decorative arts at Sotheby's auction house.
What is most important to the twin brothers is great proportion, form and design.
"The same factors in terms of quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail which apply to antiques are incorporated into our designs," said Leslie.
They care more about quality construction and good design than about ornament. And they both admire the S-shaped line -- "the line of beauty, as [painter William] Hogarth called it," Leslie said.
"It's all sculptural, really. We see these pieces as very sculptural," said Leigh.
The maple and hand-woven cane Slope chair, which appears to be carved from one piece, is a perfect example; the arms and legs form a continuous curve.
