Last week I mentioned my friend Julie's amazing antiques shop, Agape. Every time I go there I find some curiosity or unique bit of history. Yesterday I brought home three large bottles from Bordeaux. They're early 19th-century, made of the wavy glass that's so hard to find (in one piece) these days.
Like the 19th-century apothecary jar on the left, I'm planning to fill the bottles with ribbon, bits of old lace and threads. Maybe at Christmas they'll hold fragile ornaments - lots of decorating possibilities - the trick is not to break them! The small bottle is early 20th-century and I will use a crystal decanter top to cap it. By the way, I have a new rule about buying antiques and collectibles - for every item that comes home with me, another one has to leave. This is necessary, due to limited space in our apartment!
The dark tan piece of coral atop the Napoleon III wooden stand is from 1850. And until Julie told me I could wash coral with Javel (a French liquid bleach), I had no idea how to clean it. So that's a task for later today (if I can avoid getting the stand wet). As you can see, the coral purchased yesterday is naturally a bright white.
The large pink conch shell was a sentimental purchase: my late grandmother had a similar one that I admired as a child. No one seems to know what happened to hers, so I was delighted to find this gift from the sea. I also bought a very unusual item once used by the French military, which I'll photograph and explain once I get it home.
"Blogging Stars"
Deborah of Jane Poe - Nevermore has paid a great compliment to me and two other "Blogging Stars." Check out the wacky photo and her beautiful poem here. I'm honoured to be in such good company!
everything you bring home, everything you photograph and talk about and display is a feast. The idea of filling the bottles with lovely bits and bobs is a great idea...and of course love the sea shells.
I looked at the link and I think that is SO clever and so wonderful. The blogisphere has been a source of tremendous joy for me and has changed me in many ways. It's quite amazing.
Love and hugs,
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa(0ceandreamer) | 03 February 2007 at 01:04
Beautiful photography!
I love your jars full of textile pieces. It shows them off so well.
Posted by: niki | 02 February 2007 at 14:24
Love love the gifts from the sea and also the book by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
Such pretty things in your jar great idea!
You are a writer so you MUST pop by as I am having a *~gift from my HeArT give-a-way!~hugs
Posted by: naturegirl | 01 February 2007 at 15:30
Stunning. I love the ocean and seashells. (I even own a coffee table book about shells.) Have to run, but I spied your post below: Happy Belated Blogaversary!
Posted by: GeL | 01 February 2007 at 15:03
Those jars are fabulous !! Thanks for taking us along on your Paris excursions. I agree with your philosophy of 1 new piece in... 1 old piece out..I do it with my clothing also.
Posted by: diana | 01 February 2007 at 13:54
I've always coveted those old-timey apothecary jars and I love your plans on how to fill them.
Posted by: kristen | 01 February 2007 at 13:33
Divers in the Carribean bring Conches back up to the boat...and everyone eats them right there. The shells are a very bright colorful pink...but slowly fade in color. Coral is lovely too. Have some as souvenirs.
Posted by: Gemma | 01 February 2007 at 13:09
I love gifts from the Sea.
Fabulous treasure troves.
I love you my sweet friend.
Love Jeanne ^j^
Posted by: Jeanne | 01 February 2007 at 12:38
Thank you for giving me a great solution to our recent xmas dilemma. With two cats very fond of climbing the xmas tree we had to put the pretty baubles away and only hang some (ugly) plastic ones. But now I'm going to start collecting jars in time for next xmas, and this way I can do away with the tree altogether, which is great since it always breaks my heart anyway.
Wonderful shot of the blogging stars :)
Posted by: Waspgoddess | 01 February 2007 at 10:55
I collect shells and holy doodles i have
the SAME tablecloth!
hugs!
Posted by: sophie | 01 February 2007 at 08:50
my mom has several shells on sticks (not old, but new) and i just love them!
Posted by: kellyrae | 01 February 2007 at 07:28
I have a shell collection which is housed in a nice old wooden planter, painted pea green. In it is my grandmother's conch shell, along with a few others she owned. I treasure them.
I have a small glass bottle like the one on the left in your pic. I got it from a hospital lab back in the early 1960's. It sits on my kitchen table with baby aspirins in it.
Posted by: kenju | 01 February 2007 at 07:05
You've piqued my curiosity - what was it that left when you brought these home? I love things like buttons in jars, although my jars are not antique, just nicely shaped jars that once held instant coffee.
Congratulations on being recognised as a blogging star!
Tara responds:
Thanks, Catherine! I took 14 interestingly-shaped glass bottles to the recycle bin. They weren't old and I used them mostly for groupings of lots of flowers on the balcony when entertaining in the summer. As space is a factor, they had to go!
Posted by: Catherine | 01 February 2007 at 04:22
I love Debs post with all the blog stars! Very cute! Those are lovely apothecary jars; I like to collect colored glass, old, new, pitchers, plates, vases, you name it! I agree that something new, begets something purged! Another thing I query, do I love it? That will determine what I buy or keep! I want to be surrounded with only things I adore implicitly!
Hugs Sherrie
Posted by: giggles | 01 February 2007 at 03:48
how cute that post is with all of your faces. Very clever.
I love the glass, but I really love your table cloth. LOL. It remindes me of when I was little and the hippie throws we had over furnature. What are they called, again...?
:)
Posted by: Amber | 01 February 2007 at 02:57
The jars are lovely as is the coral. I can't wait to see how the bleaching comes out! Be careful with that wood though! That will be tough.
Posted by: Rosa | 01 February 2007 at 00:45
Tara,
I like the bottles.
We have a similar thought process in our shopping excursions. Ie. what is going to leave the house to make room for this new purchase? ;-)
rel
Posted by: rel | 31 January 2007 at 23:09
There is something so special about coral... just lovely!
Posted by: Regina Clare Jane | 31 January 2007 at 21:24
Great idea putting the coral on a hat stand! Thank you for sharing it with us!!
Posted by: tongue in cheek | 31 January 2007 at 20:39
Beautiful treasures you found ... I'm particularly fond of the sentimental conch shell as I can relate to things that remind me of my late grandmere.
On another note, I'm glad you enjoyed Blogging Stars ... we do make a fine looking group!! Cheers, peace and love, Deb
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 31 January 2007 at 20:17
the conch is my favorite, very lovely pics
Posted by: cathy | 31 January 2007 at 19:39
William Morris once said the objects people have in their homes should be either beautiful or useful, and in his home they were usually both. It takes courage of a certain kind to give something away when you acquire something else, but it keeps clutter away, William Morris close, and the energy flowing.
Posted by: runliarun | 31 January 2007 at 19:24
Do you know where your table cloth comes from? I do! Iran. I saw them make them (with stamps) in front of me in a Bazaar in Shiraz. Beautiful handwork, not done by machine. If you look carefully, you will see little 'mistakes' in the pattern; a sign that they're handmade.
Tara responds:
I bought the tablecloth in Seville, Spain in January, 2004. The label indicates it was made in India, although I've seen similar ones that were made in Iran.
Posted by: Sietske | 31 January 2007 at 18:45
I was reading this morning at my usual "House of Java", Pope Benedict's Encyclical on Love. There is much in there addressing the union of Eros/Agape love, "agape" being a state of unconditional love for everything. It was heavy reading but meaningful and I was happy to see your friend's store here using the word so appropriately. There is much to love in these picturs.
Posted by: annieelf | 31 January 2007 at 18:13
The jar knobs are beautiful, and I really like your tablecloth.
"Eau de javel" is the French word for bleach/chlorine, so I'm wondering if a bleach solution would work over here.
Posted by: Colette | 31 January 2007 at 17:52
I love the bottles! I also have a big pink shell like yours. I got it in Florida one year and it has a night light in it!
Posted by: poody | 31 January 2007 at 17:47
your site is always filled with wonderful eye candy for us; it is like you take us on your little journeys from home...
Posted by: AscenderRisesAbove | 31 January 2007 at 17:18
My grandpa had a sea shell similar to the one in your photo. Perhaps that was an "in" thing at one time. I loved the shell, but like you have no idea whatever became of it.
Posted by: ally bean | 31 January 2007 at 17:02
What a good way to use the old bottles. They are also beautiful just as they are.....
Posted by: Britt-Arnhild | 31 January 2007 at 15:34
Oh.. how pretty! I love seashells! They look s olovely on your table! ..I checked out blogging stars! That is so cool to become close friends via blogs! I have met some great gals, one of whom is coming to Charleston in September from Idaho! Blogging has opened up a whole new world for me! In every way! I love it! Peace and love!
Posted by: Pam Aries | 31 January 2007 at 14:24