1100 Queen Street East, Toronto
416.778.6555, Tues – Sat 11 – 6, Sun 11 – 5
Toronto-based globe-trotter and restaurateur Aristedes Pasparakis and his designer wife, Alexia von Beck, have taken the plunge into home decor with their latest endeavor, an exotic gift and furnishing shop on Toronto’s Queen Street East. Holy Cow! is a celebration of all things South Asian.
“It’s only colour,” pronounces the shop’s business card and the gallery-like setting (previously occupied by Eye Spy) delivers a riot of hues from bright, tropical shades to washed-out, antiqued pastels.
“Even in my cooking and especially in my food styling, colour is my predominant interest,” says the chef/retailer, known around the world simply as Aristedes. “Colour brings happiness!” he asserts.
Holy Cow’s offerings, while not necessarily museum quality, are nearly all authentically vintage and not run-of-the-mill tourist tchotchke. And the prices reflect the provenance. The carved temple dancer from Myanmar, above, is $1,850 and the Laotian Buddhas behind her are $450 – $650. Most of these treasures definitely fall into the splurge category but it’s also true that you won’t find pieces like them anywhere in Toronto, if in Canada.
True to its name, Holy Cow! sells a variety of “sacred cows” from the small, carved, temple offerings below ($75 – $115) to the monumental procession pieces above, each one marked with the symbolic hand of Krishna. Carved from solid teak, the large cows are impossibly heavy and expensive (price available on request). Although Hindus don’t worship cows, the beasts are revered as symbols of life and providers of milk and they may not be killed.
The sculptural horse heads above are in the $1,250 – $1,400 range and the red, Burmese offering vessel is $850. The shop’s windows are lined with fanciful, hand-painted garden ornaments ($95 – $165), below.
Vintage, framed images of Hindu deities (below, $120 -$195) hang above a stone-inlay table featuring a variety of marbles, lapis, malachite and other exotic stones; priced at $2,150 for 36″ and $2,750 for 42″, the tops are reversible with uniform marble undersides.
NOTE: Since these tables are obviously striking a chord with readers (see comments), here are two more shots showing a wider variety. The image, below right, shows a stunning piece with lots of bright green malachite, the carved musicians are $120 each.
September 14th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Love that table!
September 14th, 2009 at 9:06 am
I was going to say the same thing… wow.
September 14th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Make that three!! A real statement piece. Thanks again Chris for those amazing finds!
September 14th, 2009 at 10:09 am
I want that table, wonder if they have others like it.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Wow, I didn’t know the tables would be such a hit. Yes, Holy Cow! has several other designs on the floor and they’re all spectacular. I’ll post another pic for you when I get home tonight.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:18 am
This store looks incredible…nothing Ive ever seen before in Canada. Thanks so much for this amazing find, I LOVE those little cows, Im going down as soon as I can!
September 14th, 2009 at 11:56 am
I was there a couple of weeks ago and fell in love with those amazingly intricate tables. How great would they look in a Morocco-inspired garden setting with lots of colourful floor cushions and hanging lanterns?
September 14th, 2009 at 11:58 am
The cows, the tables and much more in this little shop. It really is about colour but the textures and history. Quite powerful.
September 14th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
very interesting pieces. Hmm.. gonna have to pay the store a visit. Am still waiting for the reopening of Eye Spy this month. I was told it’s near Carlaw and they will habe more floor space to sell more furniture.
September 14th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
i;m going there right now
September 14th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Hello there just getting home late, but have to comment on splurge pieces. I am a FIRM believer that you can decorate a room about one item. Lois of Hope my bank agrees
September 15th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Fantastic looking store! I have to admit I was a little bummed to hear Eye Spy was gone, but it seems its just moved? and this looks like a completely unique offering.
September 19th, 2009 at 12:49 am
The giant sumo wrestler poster on the wall behind the tables is definitely a focal point for a room. I’m not sure what kind of room, but something fun.
July 16th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Wow!! What great tables, I really must have one.