Objects of Desire: A Lifetime of Collecting

Objects of Desire is a personal celebration of the hunt for and the joy of living with favorite collections and things.

What is it in our homes that we truly value and why? What would you take when you leave in fear of fire? Our home is an expression of ourselves in many ways, largely through the objects we accumulate. For Maria Hummer-Tuttle, the objects she has collected over the years—from the priceless to the flea-market finds—are precious not only for their beauty, uniqueness, and craftsmanship, but also for their connection to the past and the future, for their resonance with one another.

In this exquisitely illustrated book, Hummer-Tuttle serves as our guide through three dwellings, focusing our attention on objects ranging from an ancient Chinese horse sculpture to a Louis XV clock painted with characters from an Aesop fable, from a small snail sculpture found in a venerable hardware store to a monumental safety pin sculpture by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, from 18th-century to 20th-century furniture. With a foreword by master ceramicist and acclaimed author Edmund de Waal and featuring two lavish gatefolds and metallic edge stain, Objects of Desire is a feast for the eyes and a cherished object in its own right.

Includes color photographs byMiguel Flores‑Vianna

Maria Hummer‑Tuttle practiced law in a distinguished law firm for more than 25 years. She was chair of the board of trustees of the J. Paul Getty Trust and serves on the board of a number of charitable and civic organizations. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She is the coauthor of Winfield House, written while her husband was American ambassador to the United Kingdom. She lives in Los Angeles. Edmund de Waal is a renowned artist of ceramic objects and a bestselling author. The award-winning The Hare with Amber Eyes, a tale of objects and their stories, was translated into more than 30 languages. It was followed by The White Road: Journey into an Obsession and Letters to Camondo. He lives in London. Miguel Flores‑Vianna is a celebrated photographer and writer whose work appears regularly in a variety of leading international publications. His books include Haute Bohemians and A Wandering Eye: Travels with My Phone. He lives in London.