This late 19th-century French piece features a needlework bunch of silk velvet parrot tulips. The background is composed of hundreds of tiny irridescent glass beads, each hand-sewn onto the canvas. The framed piece is so heavy, it's difficult to hang. Currently, it is leaning against the wall in a bedroom. The pleated silk moire fabric on the back of the frame is original to the piece. Click photo to view detail.
At the bookstore Friday, I bought a copy of Vintage Vavoom: Romantic Decorating with One-of-a-Kind Finds and Simply Country. While neither book tells me anything I haven't read before - or discovered for myself - the photos are gorgeous. Vintage Vavoom is produced by the editors of Romantic Homes magazine and features some tips from Elizabeth Maxson, formerly of the St. Louis-based store Elizabeth House, who writes the blog The Adventures of Elizabeth. Carolyn Westbrook as well as Alicia Paulson of Posie Gets Cozy also offer ideas.
Simply Country or Easy Cottage Style as it is known in the US - is by British stylist Liz Bauwens and writer Alexandra Campbell. Simon Brown photographed the decors, which depict a faded country grandeur. Nothing - including valuable antiques - is considered too precious and everything is used constantly.
I believe in this philosophy. At our house we live with and use our antiques daily - and that includes fragile crystal glasses and 200-year-old porcelain. What's the point of having lovely things, if not to use and appreciate it?
Years ago someone told me about a young woman who had died quite suddenly. Her husband found a beautiful silk charmeuse gown, wrapped carefully in tissue paper in a dresser drawer, that she had been saving for a special occasion. I found that story deeply upsetting, imagining the young woman's unfulfilled dreams.
I think it is up to us to make each day special. After all, who knows how long we have to enjoy our beautiful things? Someday these antiques that once belonged to others will be owned by someone else. So while they're in my possession, I'm making full use of them!
When I was 13, I took my first plane trip to Chicago, where I was met by Dr. Edward and Ann Pfau, friends of my parents. They lived in an elegant two-story home near Madison, Wisconsin. What most impressed me was at every meal their table was set with silver, including silver goblets, chargers and serving dishes. Each morning they drank their orange juice out of silver cups.
At 13, this seemed to me like unimaginable luxury. How did they find the time to polish all that silver? They explained to me that if you used something all the time, it didn't need quite so much care and polish. Years later Mrs. Pfau gave me an elegant set of silver grapefruit spoons. Although I do not eat grapefruit, those spoons are currently on display in a French stoneware mustard jar in our kitchen.
What about you? Do you keep all your precious things stored away in a cupboard? Or do you make some of them part of your daily routine and rituals?
What is your favourite antique or collectible that was passed down through your family or that you purchased for yourself at an antiques shop or flea market?
The gilt-edged porcelain cup and saucer that once belonged to a man named "Pierre," dates from 1830. The gold gilt decoration is fading, but there are no cracks or damage anywhere to be found. Even the cup handle remains intact.
Antique passementerie adorns pillows made of vintage fabrics, as well as faded mattress ticking (above right).
Couldn't agree more! I find it so sad when I see my own ceramic proudly displayed but never used, at friend's houses.
And antique table have quality to be used everyday. I'm happily using furniture from my grandparent's farm house, makes me feel part of a larger life cycle than my own.
Posted by: bibbi | 29 January 2008 at 09:10
I love this post! Definitely agree we need to use all of our beautiful treasures!
xo
Posted by: melissa @ the inspired room | 29 January 2008 at 05:57
I use most of my china and silver as much as I can. I have a set of silver demitasse spoons (I picked up in Brussels) I use everyday in my tea, I use a tea set (cup) from my friend's grandfather's estate in France every day, my grandmother's hand-made quilt is hanging over our bed . . . deary me, it is endless! I especially love a little tin mold sent to me from France that sits by my dish rack. I think of the special person who sent it to me every day when I glance at it. xoxo
Posted by: Rosa | 29 January 2008 at 04:45
Thank you for mentioning me and the Vintage Vavoom book - how so nice of you - and I am thrilled to see that there are many others out there with the belief of using their antiques....I am a firm believer that there is probably nothing I can do to an antique that hasn't already been done to it at least 100 times before. Especially antique tablecloths....I am sure that even in the 1800's, children spilled jam and milk on the cloth and even without the special chemicals and cleaners (and dry cleansers) of today, those stains were taken care of and the cloth was used over and over again.
Why in the world would we deprive ourselves of the pleasure of using a beautiful cloth in our daily lives - that is what they were meant to do! Thank you for letting me stress it again that including "beauty" into our daily lives, instead of just "special times" enhances our daily emotions to a level usually reserved for those moments in which we are celebrating...which is my point. We need to celebrate everyday in our own way. My way just happens to be with an very old ironstone tea cup filled with wonderful coffee. Thanks for sharing your blog with us!
Elizabeth
Posted by: Elizabeth | 29 January 2008 at 00:12
Beautiful pieces you have here. I have furniture pieces that were my grandmothers that I feel fortunate to have and her limoge china that we use.
The Paris sunset is stunning!
Posted by: stephanie | 28 January 2008 at 16:55
I try to use my antique items everyday. I have some things that getted tucked away and forgotten, or saved for a special occassion. Thanks for sharing some of your things with us :)
Posted by: My Melange | 28 January 2008 at 14:07
We were raised in Madison. I do agree that saving for a special occasion that may never come is not the best way to live.
Rose
xo
Posted by: Rose Dewy Knickers | 28 January 2008 at 13:46
What a fantastic idea, making everyday special, save nothing! I love the idea of drinking oj out of a silver cup.
I do drink my tea out of a bone china cup, it indeed tastes better.
I make more effort to "dress up" these days, I used to stare at dresses and skirts in my closet until they went out of fashion. Now I make an effort to don a dress for the hell of it.
xo
Gillian
Posted by: Gillian @ Indigo Blue | 28 January 2008 at 05:19
You know, you are so right about this, about using all the beautiful things we have, and enjoying them. I'm notorious for saving things for just the right moment. But who knows how many moments we have left? Why not make the most of them, by adding some pleasure and beauty to our lives?
Thanks for reminding me :)
Posted by: Becca | 28 January 2008 at 05:00
Lovely items.
Beautiful sunset.
Great window shopping.
Not enough time to dream about it all.
Posted by: karen cole | 28 January 2008 at 04:25
several years ago, my siblings and i had the task of moving our mother from her home of 40 years. while we were sorting through cupboards, we came across a beautiful collection of tea cups. i commented that i had no idea my mother even liked tea cups, let alone collected them. she had kept them stored "safely" in the back of a cupboard. i am now the proud owner of that collection and they are seen daily in my powder room. i had a special shelf built around the top of the high ceiling & they sit beneath a lovely golden ceiling for all to see. while we do not sip tea from them, they are clearly enjoyed rather than hiding behind a closed door.
Posted by: lucy | 28 January 2008 at 02:02
I quite agree with you - things are there to be used and I loathe the idea that dinner at home alone or with a loved one isn't a deserving occasion for using pretty things. Sadly, most of our pretty things are in storage in Dublin!
Posted by: Passementerie | 27 January 2008 at 23:21
a beautiful petit point piece tara and the antique cup is just gorgeous, still in tact!! i don't believe it is used that often though or perhaps handled very carefully to survive!!
we share a similar post today, appreciating and enjoying the treasures in our homes ;))
Posted by: marita | 27 January 2008 at 22:38
Definitely live with and use antiques and often wear vintage things too, jewelry and clothes. Always have. But I don't use fancy china or porcelain every single day, mainly because I like the solidity and plainness of everyday earthenware too.
Posted by: fleur | 27 January 2008 at 20:47
I have an 1896 typerwriter, it does not work but it is proudly displayed. If I knew someone who could fix it, then I would use it. I just have never found anyone who knew anything about my old girl. I have an old sword (I collect them,used to be a fencer)that belonged to someone named George, engraved on the hilt. I handle it every day. George would be proud.
I love your cup, it is beautiful and I picture this very distinguished gentleman drinking from it as well.
Posted by: Yoli | 27 January 2008 at 20:17
Tara, I could spend hours just gazing at photographs in books and magazines -- design, colour, composition -- even if I know what the text is about, I still delight in the visual of beautiful objects!
Posted by: Cherie | 27 January 2008 at 20:16
One of the reasons I love to look at your blog, (as well as Corey's) is to see the special things.
I do have the Maxfield print from my dad! I love that. And also a frame that I will have to show you so you can tell me what you think it is. It is brass, and looks Art Nu, but I need a new mirror put in it. I do love it though. And my lady! The frame and the lady are a lot alike, actually. ;) Really, my dad just has a bunch of antiques hiding under the dust in his house, that he says he is "keeping for me." A lot of artwork (I have told you), a lot of American Indian art. I am always worried about it all getting ruined or ripped off or bruned up in a fire. (You would have to see his house to understand. oy) I would be SO SAD. And I have my grandpa's desk. I love that.
I want to start bringing special things into my own life, and home. And yes, I agree, to use today! Enjoy today! (This is part of whatmakes me sad about my dad's things).
ox :)
Posted by: amber | 27 January 2008 at 18:49
Yes, use your special treasures every day. They are meant to be used and enjoyed, not tucked in a cabinet and just looked at.
Posted by: martina | 27 January 2008 at 18:42
Oh yes! I use everything. I always have. I got for old and antique because I often prefer them to new stuff!
The cup is a real treasure!
Posted by: Colette | 27 January 2008 at 18:04
Hi Tara,
It's hard to believe that this first piece is hand beaded!! Amazing! Can you imagine how long that took?
Like you, I vote YES for celebrating with the beautiful objects you own. Life is short, if you break a champagne flute, it's ok!!
The one thing that has consistently been displayed because it makes me happy, is a little Norwegian box in the shape of a fish. It was given to me by my relatives when I was born. It is a sacred object.
Posted by: rochambeau | 27 January 2008 at 16:45
oh... love all this old beautiful treasures. And newer have enough of it. Some came from my family, some from my father-in-law, some simply came from flea-markets and found second chance to be loved again in my home…
Posted by: Lenka | 27 January 2008 at 16:35