Busts and bronzes we love

In the early 19th century plaster figure making and bronze sculpture were pretty much two separate enterprises. Italian artists sold inexpensive plaster figures as itinerant tradesmen, but as time went on, some of them became specialists in making molds for sculptures. Plaster figures were used to decorate both grand country homes and more ordinary homes. They […]

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In praise of the tureen

Perhaps to honor French military hero Marshal Turenne this distinctive dish came into use in the seventeenth century in  France. Most of the silver tureens of that era were melted down to finance King Louis’ wars and survived only in paintings. 500 years ago, most common meals in Europe we’re stews, chowders, broths or soups…and […]

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Furniture fun

What’s more fun than finding a great piece of furniture and incorporating into our home’s decor? An old-fashioned wood cook-stove, or a timeless dresser can be the piece that spurs a new look or theme to update the home’s look and feel.                   Perhaps a re-purposed item, […]

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What’s in the cupboard…

In antiquity, the “court cupboard” was one of the most important pieces of furniture in the house. Because there were no banks or stock exchanges, wealth was invested on gold and silver dishes, chargers, platters and cups and these were displayed on a cup-board. Later, enclosed cupboards with vented doors, called almeries or aumbries were used to store leftover […]

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St Patrick’s day celebration

After all the recent rains, everything is lush and green and Spring is in the air! We’ve just started Daylight Savings time again, springing forward to longer evenings…and we’re a couple days away from the annual celebration of St. Patrick’s day! In honor of this Irish/American tradition we grouped together some of our favorite “Irish” […]

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a whiter shade of pale

White, the color of purity… we go to great lengths to keep linens and towels as white as can be. White is also associated with trust, as in nurse uniforms and bandages… It is also a cool, crisp, elegant color, a la James Bond in a white tux. “She has skin like alabaster, or porcelain,” descriptive words used […]

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Costume jewelry, A signature look

Adorning ourselves with jewelry is as old as mankind, with every variety of style, method and material. In ancient times jewelry production was spread across all of Mesopotamia – from Assyria to the Babylonian cities of Nineveh, Ur and Sumer. Materials not common to the area; jasper, onyx, lapis lazuli, sardonyx, agate and silver, were imported […]

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Red is for “Le Mois d’Amour”

Red is traditionally the color of Love and Passion. Red can stimulate one’s appetite, which is why it’s often used in restaurants. In some Eastern cultures such as China red is the color for good luck. Although many Chinese brides now wear white, it is the traditional color for weddings. In Indian culture it symbolizes purity […]

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The history of irons

The early history of ironing is recorded in Chinese drawings dating back a thousand years. They filled pans with hot coals, while in Northern Europe people were using stones, glass or wood to smooth or press fabric. It was Western blacksmiths that began forging  flat irons during the Middle Ages, which were heated over fires or […]

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