Lifestyle
4 February 2013 2:58 | 5 comments | Posted by

Lifestyle Spotlight On New York Design Store Creel & Gow

Creel & Gow. Photo: Style Intel

I first heard of Creel & Gow from my friend Fiona Kotur. Soon after telling me about the store I began seeing photos of it in magazines like Elle Decor and Architectural Digest. I had forgotten about it until I chanced upon the store while on a stroll on the Upper East Side. If you didn’t know the address of Creel & Gow, you would most likely miss it. Lucky for me, I always make it a point to walk 70th street from Park Avenue to Lexington because it is one of the best streets on the UES lined with glorious townhouses. Tucked into one of these houses towards Lexington is Creel & Gow (131 East 70th Street). It is owned by Christoper Gow and Jamie Creel. Coincidentally, Gow’s apartment near Grand Central Station (and near me) is featured in the March 2013 issue of Elle Decor.

Walking into Creel & Gow is like stepping into one giant cabinet of curiosities. There are various taxidermy creatures from as little as bugs and butterflies to pelicans, from stunning peacocks to wild zebras and even a lion. There are many corals of all shapes and varieties. There are deconstructed crustacea like lobsters and crabs in glass domes. Precious boxes and bowls made of malachite and lapis lazuli. Obelisks and sphere made of crystals and stones. Shells mixed with silver. And various other special objets. The taxidermy animals I have read are sourced from zoos after the animals have died.

Creel & Gow is a mix of chic pieces and a few that might not be to the liking of the weak of heart. I see myself purchasing a few items if my budget allowed including that zebra head.

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Creel & Gow. Photo: Style Intel

A taxidermy zebra head at Creel & Gow. Photo: Style Intel

Taxidermy butterflies and a deconstructed lobster at Creel & Gow. Photo: Style Intel

Creel & Gow. Photo: Style Intel

Taxidermy lion at Creel & Gow. Photo: Style Intel

Lapis lazuli boxes and blue coral. Creel & Gow. Photo: Style Intel

Malachite bowls and boxes. Creel & Gow. Photo: Style Intel

Creel & Gow. Photo: Style Intel

 

 

 

What do you think?

  1. John Astor | March 1st, 2013 at 3:32 pm #

    What an amazing store. I went yesterday and spent an hour. Staff could not be nicer and helpful. Purchased a pair of ceramic candle sticks from South African company called Ardmore. Anybody that is visiting NY…This is a MUST!!!

    • Style Intel | March 6th, 2013 at 11:33 pm #

      It’s really incredible. A cabinet of curiosities in a large scale.

  2. Alicia | February 8th, 2013 at 10:09 am #

    What a fantastic find Blue! How long have they been in business. So sorry to have missed it on my last trip. Hopefully next time.

    • Style Intel | February 8th, 2013 at 2:46 pm #

      I think a couple of years.

  3. Betsy Busch-Le Ne' | February 4th, 2013 at 2:23 pm #

    Thumbs up for the minerals and objects made from non-living things. The taxidermy is something of a turn-off. Despite the disavowal that the specimens were taken from zoos after the death of the animals it begs the question of why an animal has to live out its life in captivity only to spend eternity…or until it’s no longer considered the “objet” of the moment…displayed in a one-percenter’s cunningly-decorated abode. A very telling statement of contemporary values, if ever there was one!