Swede

Roundtop Texas Spring 2022 Antique Week at Marburger Farm, Blue Hills and Market Hill

Hello everyone.  I thought I would share photos of Antique Week at Roundtop's Spring 2022 event. I believe this is its 50th year.  It is a ten hour drive one way for us to attend but the thrill of seeing so many fabulous antiques is worth it.  Our Tuxedo tomcat, Ascot, did very well in the hotel again and the long car ride.  This is a town of 90 residents that swells to an estimated 75,000+ people during antique week. The event runs 11 miles along Highway 237 in tents and buildings consisting of 100 antique venues in cow and cotton fields. There are also venues in surrounding towns of Burton, Warrenton, Carmine and Winedale. We met two of the 90 residents of Roundtop.  Two women eating at our picnic table at Marburger Farm introduced themselves as original local residents and we saw Ed Gage owner of Crow in Ledbetter, one of the original founders, at his booth at Marburger.  Each year we notice more and more permanent new buildings constructed along the highway. I am wondering how long it will be until all the venues at Roundtop will be open year-round for shopping.  There are a few now that are full-year. We do not cover all the venues; just go back to our favorite ones.  There are too many to ever see them all.  I do appreciate the French vendors who bring containers all the way from France to do this show.  Our favorite venues are Marburger Farm that opens on a Tuesday, Excess II, Blue Hills, Market Hill and The Compound.

We also had a lovely conversation with the incredible Kay O'Toole, Houston antiques dealer, sitting at a picnic table at Marburger.  She was so gracious and friendly. I think of her as royalty of the antique world. She could not have been nicer. When I got home I got out the Spring 2019 issue of Milieu magazine to take another look at her home on pages 106-121. My ad for Swede Collection is on page 97, a few pages before. Be sure to take a look at this article.

Now for photos of what I found. This is just a small sampling.  There has to be several million items for sale. It is hard to take photos in the crowded tents.

Sunburst mirrors are still plentiful. 

This one from Art and Antique Hunter.

Antiquaire de France. 

This was in the new white building at The Compound.

Loved this green long table from Gina Bowhill at Blue Hills.

And this Swedish cabinet at Gina's.

My big love, architectural salvage.

At Blue Hills, this was the BIGGEST table I have ever seen. Mammoth.

I discovered the beautiful venue of Kristin Mullen Designs of Dallas at Blue Hills. Her shop was so beautiful. This cabinet and the following photos.

 

And now, below, more beautiful pieces from Antiquaire de France in a new building at Blue Hills.

 

Swedish corner cabinet. They always have a selection of framed herbariums.

So many dealers, so many beautiful pieces.  Here are some more that caught my eye. Sorry I don't know the dealers' names.

Very long French buffet. 

Love this Swedish cabinet.

This peach chest was beautiful.

I think this was Rick Ingenthron Antiques. They have an incredible selection of brown wood French antiques. They are at Blue Hills.

 

I purchased quite a few items from this dealer, Benton, Hayden & Associates: the Italian document boxes, some French china and French linens.  

 

This is Renouveau Antiques at Market Hill.  Serious eye candy.  If you go, don't miss this shop. Following photos also from there.

Absolutely loved this.

And, last, this is a grocery store display counter at Scoville Brown Cooperative at Market Hill.  I think it was 25 feet long.

I've always said you could furnish an entire home with items from Roundtop.  It's true. If you love items with character, history and beauty this is the place to find them. But don't hesitate. Most of the items I truly loved already had sold signs on them. 

And, now, just months to dream about going back to the October show.  Sigh.

Colleen

 

Roundtop Texas Antiques Week and Marburger Farm

I love going to Roundtop, Texas for the antiques show.  The fall show was moved to the end of October which was much cooler. I thought I would share some of my favorite things. I came back with about 200 photos so this is a small sampling.  Most of these have also been shown on my Instagram feed which is Swede Collection.  I was surprised to see since last year [April show was cancelled] how many new permanent buildings were along Highway 237.  Looked to me like it was moving towards being a year-round antiques market in the future.  Although the Roundtop show is open for a couple weeks in some venues before Marburger Farm opens, we time our trip to be there for Marburger's opening day.  That is our favorite place so we start there first and then go to other places such as Blue Hills, Market Hill, Red Barn, The Compound and Excess II.  Some of the new buildings I don't know what their name is.  We did take Ascot in the car -- 10 hour drive-- and he did incredibly well in the hotel.  We use a pet friendly hotel so we don't take him to the fields anymore.  I think Roundtop is the largest antique show in the US but it could be a toss up with Brimfield, MA. In a week you still cannot see every venue at Roundtop.  In all the years we have been going we have not seen a fraction of the fields and tents.  The Spring 2021 show is the end of March.  Sure hope Covid is over by then. 

 

The dealer was Art and Antique Hunter at Marburger Farm. 

Dealer is BellaVita by Crystal Nichols of Houston.

Dealer is The Side Door.

Dealer is Sheffield Antiques.

Rick bought me four of these white jugs.

Renouve Antiques at Market Hill. 

Absolutely loved this.  From Tres Bien Antiques. 

Tres Bien Antiques again. 

Renouve at Market Square. 

Dealer is Two Maisons at Marburger Farm Tent F.

Art and Antique Hunter at Marburger Farm. 

Tres Bien Antiques again at Marburger Farm, Tent F.

Art and Antique Hunter, Marburger Farm, Tent F.

Renouve Antiques at Market Hill. 

Bone inlaid chest by Adam Babicz Antiques in Tent F of Marburger Farms. 

There is so much eye candy.  I have a sweet tooth for this type of thing.

And this!  You certainly can fill a complete house with fabulous things.  Need a big fat wallet as well. 

Enjoy,

Colleen Martin, Founder

Swede Collection

swedefurniture.com 

 

Swede Collection in Milieu Magazine Winter 2020 Issue

Just got the preview Winter 2020 issue of Milieu. Pam Pierce, the Editor-in-Chief of Milieu's home is on the cover showing her Swedish pieces. Particularly love her Rococo Swedish carved chair. Lovely article on her home inside. LOVE this issue. On the newsstands around December 1. So nice to see how many people love Swedish design and antiques. 

My ad is on page 157. The puppy in my ad is Milly. 

Colleen Martin

Founder, Swede Collection, LLC

Happy New Year From Swede Collection!!

I hope 2019 is an incredible year for you.

This is an angel on the wall of an antique shop in Sweden where I purchased it. 

Colleen 

Love The Details - Swedish Furniture

We got our one day of snow for the year yesterday so I am staying inside today.  Looking at all the details which I adore on antiques and furnishings in the house and admiring them this afternoon.  I really love antique hardware on Swedish pieces. 

Enjoy!  

Can't wait to plant my annuals in mid-April. 

Colleen

Tablescape: Grey and White

For those of you who have been following me for a long time, you know how much I disliked my brown wood Henredon dining table that I have had since 1983. It has been a love/hate relationship for a long time.  What I loved about it was that it was 45" wide and 134" long.  If you have shopped for dining tables lately, you know that makers have reduced the width to 40" or 42" and it is hard to find wide ones. Likewise, long ones over 108".  When tables are 40" wide using a runner is difficult as it doesn't leave enough room for chargers at the place settings and using placemats doesn't look good either. So I loved the size and that it had two pedestals so chairs slipped under the edges nicely -- having no apron skirt that chair arms slammed into.  It also had casters so I could roll it around.  It certainly didn't look Swedish. But that BROWN wood just sucked up light and not much in the way of china or linens went well with it.  It has been with me for 34 years almost part of the family.  I have threatened to paint it many times but just didn't have the courage to "ruin" it.  

So I was looking in the clearance section of a local furniture store one day last summer and found this table for $713 plus $75 delivery that was a HOT mess.  It had shipping damage on the leaves and top.  It would only sell to someone who wanted to fix it up.  And, it was BROWN, of course.  Doesn't anybody make a white table????

 

What I liked about it was that it was 46" wide, an inch wider than mine, but shorter at 116 inches.  But it would blend with Swedish decor if painted.  In my next house, I want a large kitchen where I can put a kitchen table in place of an island.  So I thought this would work if I could use wood filler in the holes and nicks and paint it.  They are still selling that style table for $2,000 + tax and delivery. I was happy with my bargain. 

You should have seen the delivery man's face when I wouldn't let him take it in the front door and told him to go around back and put it upside down on the patio.  I primed it and enameled it icy grey with a black pepper top.  I used it as a display table at the shop for a while then it went to storage.  Last week I had the movers put it in my dining room at the house and put the Henredon one in storage. 

I do love the light color.  Oval back chairs are Swede Collection in pale grey.

I decided to do a simple tablescape in grey and white before I have to do Thanksgiving decor. 

I bought a large oriental bowl on stand at the Stock Exchange charity consignment store in August and filled it with shells and coral.  Spray painted the brown stand with grey paint for $7.  

A couple years ago I found a graduated set of platters. This is the smallest one. Transferware made in England in 1849 according to the mark on the back side.  This one is called "morning".  Loved the ladies.  It is hard to find antique transferware in grey. 

I love to mix china, new, vintage and old.  This is a new Anna Weatherley charger, Richard Ginori Italian "Torino" pattern dinner plate, which I think is discontinued, and on top an antique French monogrammed plate.  I LOVE gold monogrammed china.  The grey/white runner is from Williams-Sonoma.  French opaline goblet and Simon-Pearce twist stem in "Stratton" pattern.  Ricci gold flatware.

When I find gold monogrammed china it is almost always in mint condition.  Always "saved for good company" and never used. 

This little man I absolutely LOVE who adopted us is dressed in his tuxedo ready for a formal dinner. 

Now that I have photoed the table it is time to set it with turkey plates.

All the best,

Colleen 

 

 

2Die4 Neutral Manor House in Sees France Photos by James Balston Photography

 

Eye candy that is 2Die4. If you have spent any time on Pinterest, you must have come across this photo.  I have come back to the photos of this home time and time again to dream about being in this room. I daydream about being at a flea market in Europe and finding a pair of these huge prickets. Wouldn't that be a dream come true? I probably would put them in my living room, however, not at the foot of my king bed, but they certainly make a huge design statement. The room would look so different without them. Wouldn't you like to know where they came from, a church, private chapel, or manor and what year they were made?  I am curious and always have so many questions.

Look at that ceiling -- the wide plank floors [replaced?] -- the mirrors -- the bed corona -- the linen and the plaster patch stains on the back wall. Those beams must be over 550 years old. Every surface and object is neutral in color. Who said neutral is boring? Think about what would magically happen if you put an orchid colored pillow on the bed, or a turquoise one or a bouquet of orchid Lilacs on the table or a painting on the wall with those colors. The room would become orchid or turquoise or any color you choose. Instantly changeable. Love neutral decor for that reason. I am fully in the process of switching my home to nearly all white. I can't stop looking at that photo.  In September it will be three years since James Balston went to Sees, France [West of Paris] to photograph this home for the London Times published on September 23, 2013. To me, this is timeless decor. This is not a dainty house so scale of furnishings is critical. Do you want to move in and never leave? I would probably change the nightstands, however, and add some of my console tables with the marble tops. And install my Swede Collection four poster crown bed instead of the corona, although in our master I currently have a corona but much smaller than this one. When I was doing my container in Sweden, I found a corona this big size but didn't purchase it as I didn't think I could sell it easily and didn't have the space for it.

And, have you seen this photo of the huge cupboard and just stared at it forever wondering what it would be like to see it in person? I have thought about what I would store in all those drawers. Is it Swedish Baroque?

Well, here it is.

Do you ever look at a fabulous photo and wonder about the backstory -- where is it -- who lives there?  I found the answer to those questions. The residence, the bedroom and the cupboard belong to the owners of Augustus Brandt Antiques in England, Paula and Stephen Parkinson, who spent 10 years restoring this 15th century property in Sees France. Can you imagine the cost to do that? But now restored, it can live another few hundred years. Love preserving things. Would also love to visit their antique shop. 

Preserving beauty is one of my missions in reproducing Swedish antiques. Imagine my delight to see that Paula and Stephen chose Swedish Rococo chairs for their breakfast room.  So similar to the ones I make. And, these are around my kitchen table at home as well. 

 

Side view of the chairs. See how versatile Swedish furniture is to mix in a French home. There is also a Swedish bench shown below -- look in the photos for it. And, note that HUGE mirror that reflects the outdoors.

View of the eight chairs around the table.

Here are Paula and Stephen in the kitchen. 

Thank you both for the joy of the eye candy you have given me. This house must give you pure joy daily.

Also note the close up view of the top rails of the Swedish kitchen chairs.  Look familiar? 

And the epauleps on the chair knees. 

Absolutely love these chairs.  They grow on you over time and you love them even more.

Here is my reproduction Swede Collection Rococo chair based on the original antique chairs that I purchased from Sweden:

I also make it without the arms like Paula's antique chairs. 

More photos of the bedroom. Notice there are no drapes on the windows. There is another Swedish chair by the radiator. 

See the oval commode with drawers on both sides -- if I remember correctly, Henredon made this style in the 1990's. I am not sure how old this one is but it looks English. 

View of the opposite end of the bedroom. Swedish bench in the window at left. Vitra's LaChaise is striking in contrast but very fun. It runs just over $11,000. Okay, I'll dream of finding one on clearance! Bathroom is behind the open doors in the paneling.

I do not know what year this came to production, but the original was done in 1948 by Charles and Ray Eames. 

Let's go on and see more of this house. 

Living/dining room. Love that big cupboard on the left. 

Love the floor.  Limestone perhaps. It would not surprise me to learn that all these floors were installed during the renovation as it is doubtful that floors from the 1400's would still be in good shape. I heard that the staircase was replaced. 

Have you ever lived in a home made of stone?  I have wondered if it has an odor of wet dampness. Some plasters hold moisture as well. 

Lots of lovely details. 

Another photo of the dining room. 

I would love to see the "before renovation" photos of this property.  I hope the Parkinsons write a book about this house. Do you think the left portion where the new kitchen and breakfast room are is a new addition to the old structure?

My Swede Collection furniture line would look fabulous in this house.  Wish I could use it for a photo shoot for my product catalog. 

So what do you think?  Love it?  Would you take on a renovation like this?

To see more of the property photos go to www.jamesbalstonphotography.com.  

Oh, be still my heart!

Colleen

Photos: James Balston, Colleen Martin

 

Tablescape: Valentine's Dinner in Shades of Red

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. 

Here is my table. So many shades of red and berrry:  Cranberry, raspberry, puce, aubergine, strawberry and ruby. In this tablescape for Valentine's Day, I pulled out of the cupboards a lot of red-ish plates and stemware.

I think I got the heart at Hobby Lobby as a Christmas ornament several years ago.

But first, here is my favorite definition of love:

When I Googled, it said the author was Simone Wood and the full quote is: "Love is an unconditional commitment to an imperfect person. To love somebody isn't just a strong feeling. It's a decision, a judgement, and a promise."  With love being so hard to define, I like this one.

I decided not to make fresh flower arrangements and just use items I had in the house like the white Orchids and seashell sculpture for the centerpiece. 

 Antique Swedish Rococo cabinet from 1780. Swede Collection oval-back chairs.

 
I used this white quilted boutis tablecloth because I like how the scallops touch the floor.

Here are the resources I used:

Haviland charger in Laque de Chine Aubergine gold. These are new not antique.

The appetizer plate for soft foods that don't scratch the painting on the plate. This porcelain cherub plate could be made by Nyon of Switzerland [1780-1860] from the fish symbol that is on the backside with no manufacturer's name.  I call these my Florence Vanderbilt plates - set of 12.

The dealer I purchased them from told me they belonged to a granddaughter of Florence Adele Vanderbilt Twombly [died 1952], who was one of nine children of William H. Vanderbilt. Apparently there was a large set of this china but by the time I found it only the dinner plates were left. According to the dealer, much of the set went to a man who collects Vanderbilt memorbilia. I did not buy them because of the V connection because I thought that was just sales talk, but checking into it further [I Googled and looked on Ancestry.com], I did find the last name of the seller [Burden of Connecticut] and it matched the family name on her family tree. That doesn't really mean the granddaughter got them from Florence. They could have come from another source or even the other side of her family. This is when I really wish antiques could talk and tell the story of their lives. A lot of times there is more fiction than facts to inflate an object's value. I know that I could never sell anything that I inherited from my Grandmother or GreatGM even if I was starving.

This is Florence Vanderbilt painted in 1896 by John Singer Sargent.  Do I really own her plates? Will never know.

 

Salad plate is signed RB Boston. This color when it was popular was called puce. Lovely plates with the swirls, gold flourishes and hand painted flowers.

Rim soup plate by Royal Worcester marked on the back 1885. Wonderful size at 10" across.

Hubby made his fish chowder of shrimp, clams, mahi-mahi and vegetables.

The dinner plates I think are vintage not antique.

Made by Royal York of Germany. This color is more ruby or cranberry. Flatware is Ricci of Italy in the Raffaello pattern. It is gold plated stainless steel. I love the fish-scale design.

These dessert plates are among my favorite china. Made by Spode Copeland and hand painted and signed by R. Wood.  I call this color ruby.

I am using three pieces of stemware.

In front, William Yeoward's "Pearl", on left a Pottery Barn goblet with ruby stem, pattern name unknown, and on right, Varga's raspberry "Imperial".

Napkin ring by Kim Seybert and Le Jacquard Francais napkin in Graphic Black Current.

Thanks for visiting to see my tablescape.

This week I will be linking to:

Tablescape Thursday: http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Colleen

Photos: Swede

Tablescape: White Christmas

Simple white holiday table. I wanted to use as much white as I could without introducing another color. A "White Christmas" theme. 

Using what I have around the house, four silver reindeer with white fur collars, an abalone tree standing in "ice" glass garland and two white Orchids in white planters that I got this summer at a charity consignment shop.

Silver reindeer from Target. 

For china for this table I chose white with gold trim and gold plated stainless steel flatware.  Thirty-two inch lapkins are from France with my husband's initials.  Flatware from Ricci of Italy in Raffaello pattern.

Antique rim soup is French Elite with monogramming done by William Lycett in Atlanta. 

Dinner plate is Admiral by Coalport. 

Anna Weatherley charger. 

Quilted boutis tablecloth from Macy's has scalloped edge. 

Stemware left to right: William Yeoward's "Pearl", Simon Pearce's "Stratton" and William Yeoward's "Gloria". 

Oval back chairs from Swede Collection. Oushak rug.

If you wanted to change this table up for another dinner the following day, it would be easy to add green plates and switch out the rim soups with an antique green fish plate.

I am linking this week to:

Wednesday: Wow Us Wednesdays: http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/

Thursday:  Tablescape Thursday: http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Friday: Show and Tell Friday: http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Colleen

Photos: Swede 

Holiday Decor with Grey and White

I switched the styling up in the family room on my Gustavian buffet for December's holiday decor. 

I moved my Swedish antique priest's box from the console on the other side of the room to sit on top of my enfilade buffet as the center focal point.  I love white interiors any time of year, but I think they look especially nice at Christmas time even if you don't have snow.

This is what it looks like close up.  I found this in Sweden on my May 2014 trip.  The color is a blue/grey so it fits in very nicely. Since it is in pretty good condition, it could have been in a private family in-home chapel rather than a church. Wish these items could talk as I would love to know more about it. A lot of very skilled hand carving went into making it.

After Christmas this display would look just fine after removing the green trees and gold angel candleholders. I haven't thought yet about what to put on here for Spring.

 

The wire brush trees have white on them.  The white planters that the orchids are in I found at a charity consignment store. Perfect for sliding a potted plant inside. Brush trees from Target.

In this angle view you can see my Swede Collection Gustavian oval-back chairs.  Buffet and mirror are Swede Collection also.

Rick helped me get the preserved boxwood wreath attached with a hook on top of the mirror.  Couldn't have done it without his help. I decided not to put a bow on it and just leave it natural. 

The two gold angel resin candlesticks I purchased around 2000 from Bombay company before they closed their stores. 

In this view you can see at the left the Swedish antique column cabinet in the hallway with gold sunburst decor on top which is from Wisteria catalog.

This is a close up view. I added the silver cross.

I am using the column cabinet for wine storage.  These cabinets are kinda rare in Sweden so I was very happy to find mine. 

I like how the different shades of grey all blend together. 

Got the garland on the stairs last Monday.  Late but it is on. 

Here is a close up of the shatterproof ornaments in turquoise, aqua, lime and silver. The garlands are on double, one on each side of the railing for a fuller look secured with zip ties to not damage the wood. I think I used 14 six-foot garlands but lost track, it could be a couple more.  Maybe I will count them when I store them in January.

Colleen

Photos: Swede

My Furniture at High Point October Market

Swede showed 13 pieces at High Point Market last week.  Eight chairs, two tea tables, a Gustavian buffet and two mirrors.  Here is a photo of one side of the booth.  The florescent lights were just horrible for taking any decent photos. 

Next time I will remember to take Dr. Scholl's shoe inserts or wear tennis shoes as my back and feet were on fire in pain. Eleven hours of standing on my feet about did me in. I could hardly walk.  It is all about getting your brand better known and learn what your customers want.  Based on many buyers wanting unfinished chair frames, I'm going to change my business model with a new product line before April market. 

Colleen 

Swede Collection Goes to October High Point Market

 

I am taking 13 newly finished pieces to October High Point market. My fabulous paint finish designer created some incredible paint finishes for these new pieces.  If you are attending market, please come see me at The Suites at Market Square, space 1-805. Top floor near the escalators. 

All of my pieces are designed to flow seamlessly in a room with Swedish antiques.  Next to each other, you can hardly tell the difference. 

A classic Gustavian buffet.  I'm in love with this piece.  Six legs and curved ends.  60" long, 39" high and 21" deep, four doors, two drawers and finished in pale grey with silver leaf on the top trim.  I am definitely keeping one of these for my house. It looks so great with some of my antique Swedish cabinets. 

I named this occasional chair Sabylund after Sabylund Manor, a beautiful home two hours from Stockholm built in 1787 and still occupied today by the same family.  Chairs almost identical to these are in the manor.  You can also see them in the Nov/Dec 2011 issue of Veranda magazine.  I have three favorite chairs and this is one of them. Hand carved in maple with 8-way hand-tied springs in the seat. 

This is a curvy Rococo chair. I brought back this newborn's ancestor from Sweden on my last trip and my guys hand carved it exactly in maple. I designed some brass fleur de lis braces for the back so it could be removable to switch out the back fabric when you want a change of design or color for an event or holiday without having to remove the front fabric.

Here is another reproduction of an antique chair I brought back from Sweden.  I made this one in two sizes, a dining room chair and an occasional living room chair.  Hand carved in maple with a pretty grey finish. Of course you can order any finish you want. It would look fun in our aqua finish. I love how the carving comes off the back and turns and swirls to form the arm. 

This floor mirror is 94" tall and 43.5" wide.  In textured creme and hand applied gold leaf.  All the details are hand carved including the moldings which were hand carved in place. Antiqued mirror glass.  This piece will look good 300 years from now. 

This triangular shaped sunburst mirror is hand carved in maple.  No plastic here.  Then silver leaf and gold leaf was hand applied.  Mirror is antiqued glass.  41" wide at bottom and 39" tall.  Another classic piece. 

We made another size in this oval back dining arm chair.  This one is 26" wide at the seat so it is narrower to place on the sides of rectangular tables if you want arm chairs there instead of armless side chairs.  We also make this one in 28" width for host chairs or for larger round tables. We also just finished this armless side chair in 24" width to save space along the sides of a rectangular table.  All the oval-back chairs have eight-way hand-tied springs for comfort at long dinner parties.  This one, too, is hand carved. 

We made this Rococo dining chair in a smaller size, so now you can choose between a large or smaller chair.  We have the larger ones in our kitchen and just love them.  My husband is very comfortable in it. 

This occasional or tea table was remade in a textured finish created by my fabulous paint guy from Indiana.  

This one got a new texturized finish as well.  

We made a few small changes to this wave rim chair also. 

Here is the Gustavian occasional chair.  It was made wider and deeper than the dining chair.  All the detail you see here was carved by hand. 

I have a full line up of new pieces for the next April market.  Always exciting to make new products.  Lots of work go into making quality furniture so it will last for generations. Hope you like these. 

Colleen 

Photo credit:  Studio323

Tablescape: Grey Winter Dinner

 

This week's table is grey to match the weather.  Post Christmas and gloomy. 

I had the white quilted Boutis tablecloths on the table from last week so decided to pull out of the cupboards my old silver pieces and grey French Niderviller chargers and pair them with antique Wedgwood black and white scenic plates. 

This is Wedgwood's Corinthia pattern.  It came in other colors and I have purple as well. 

I haven't put my oyster shell cone trees away so added them to the centerpiece with the white orchid.

Toile pattern napkins are Williams Sonoma. Trying to keep it pretty simple. 

You can buy these trees at Wisteria online catalog. Stemware is William Yeoward's Flavia pattern on the left and Simon Pierce's Stratton pattern with the air twist stem on the right. 

Love the neutral coloration and the texture.  Runner is from Williams-Sonoma in a reversible grey and white pattern.

I got this large silver water pitcher with cupid finial at auction.  I keep it a bit tarnished so it will photo better.  Brightly polished silver is very hard to photo.  The date inscribed on it is 1871.  Just love it.

Before refrigeration, when you entered as a guest to someone's home from your hot and dusty long journey by horse and buggy, they offered you a glass of water in the foyer. Some were made on tilting stands. 

This silver teapot and salver tray were made in 1853 for the Tiffany family in New York [the one who started the store] and is appropriately marked on the bottom.  I purchased it from a New York dealer at auction.  I think I was the only bidder because it was a holiday weekend auction and everybody else was busy having fun.  This is one of my most cherished pieces. 

For flatware, I am using a combination of Gorham St. Cloud from the 1800's and a fork and spoon set in dinner size I purchased in Paris on my last trip at an outdoor antique show. Love the large size and weight of the pieces in your hand. 

Also using this antique Wedgwood brown and white transferware platter.

I enjoy using whites and greys with antique Swedish furniture. 

Color scheme goes with the grey frames on the white Swedish chairs I designed for Swede Collection. 

Another view of the shell wreath on the cabinet door. 

This week I am linking to the blog parties at:

Tablescape Thursday: http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Show and Tell Friday: http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Colleen [Summer]

Photos: Swede

Fall Decor: Using Blue and Green Gourds

 

My favorite fall gourds are the blue/green aqua ones. When they are in the store, I have to surrender that summer is really gone. Here is a vignette in my family room with my all-time favorite one the bumpy one in a hand-carved dough bowl from Sweden. I brought back four bowls in May circa 1860. The canvas I threw some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint on in Chateau Grey [actually green] and a metallic gold stencil. I did this over top of an old coral canvas I was tired of. Of course, the paint didn't stick very well, but it is just to go with the color of the gourds. The paler aqua gourds look so great with Swedish furniture. The colors just blend so well. I have those on another table. 

Are you an orange pumpkin decorator, or do you like the aqua green ones like I do? 

Colleen

Photo: Swede 

Swedish Antiques: Another Item From My Container Shipment

 

For those who wrote and asked to see more photos of what I purchased in Sweden in May, here is a column cabinet with wood marbelized base. It is 54" tall on a 24" square base. It is fluted all the way around. To make it round, it is made of narrow boards glued together that bend. I am considering having my guys build this for my furniture line. 

I have seen several square column cabinets, but this cabinet is round instead of square. The round ones are more difficult to find and run about nine grand when you can find one. I was very delighted to find this one and knew I could come home with it the moment I saw it. 

It was made in 1780 near Stockholm. Right now I have an accessory from Wisteria catalog on top, but as you know me, it will be changed all the time. I had a sculpture on it at first. In my hallway, I have this odd space that is perfect for it.  I could also move it by the staircase if I put another cabinet here. 

When I got it, I had no idea what I would store inside it, but when it arrived, I thought wine storage would be a good choice. Mr. Swede belongs to a wine club and cases of it appear on our doorstep wayyyyyy too often to keep up. I was able to fit 32 bottles in here by using stainless steel racks from Target.   Eight of these modular units fit perfectly even with the cavity being round.  Every time I need something unusual, Target is my first stop because no matter how odd the thing I am looking for, they always come through for me. 

Summer [Colleen Stratton Martin]

Photos: Swede

Swedish Antiques: My Container Arrived

 

Yesterday we unloaded the container of Swedish antiques I selected on my trip in May. Always fun to see what you picked out a couple months later. All came through fine except one broken table leg. 

I thought you might like to see a piece that I am keeping for me - at least for a while. I like the size of this cabinet and the reeded doors. It is a good place to keep my large coral pieces and design books. Made in 1850-60 by a cabinetmaker in the middle section of Sweden. If you are close to Memphis, TN, you can see many pieces from that container at La Maison Antiques on Poplar. I bought a lot of cabinets and secretaries. 

This piece is tall and narrow so it fits in the hallway. 

The small chair was also in this container.  Sunburst mirror is from Italy and the metal candlestand is from France. 

I'll show you more from the container as I have time to photo them.

Summer

Photos: Swede

Swede Collection Introduces New Swedish Rococo Chair

 

Swede Collection introduced four new chairs to the product line in February.  Included among those is this Swedish Rococo chair.

It is an exact copy of a 1790 antique brought back from Sweden.  The styling and details were incredible so the decision was made to reproduce it but in American proportions.  Because the time to hand make each one is extensive, a small number will be available to the wholesale trade the end of May.  

One of the factors Swede insists on is that chairs be comfortable for men to sit on for extended time at the dinner table.  We call these chairs "husband happy" or "man happy" chairs.  Surprisingly, the curved back splat on this chair is very comfortable.  It was made to be both a dining chair and desk chair to be paired with a Swedish secretary.

These are made by master carvers by hand with exacting carved detail on the knees, top back, seat rim, feet and bird's eye on the arm fronts. Even the front stretcher curves. They may appear fragile but are extremely sturdy. Every effort was also made to create a paint finish to represent age where the finish had rubbed off over time.  One of the men working on this chair said it was the "sexiest" chair because every inch of it curves in some way, in and out, convex, concave, undulating, etc.  I only see two places where there is a straight line.  It has curves on the seat rim where the back of your knees fit sitting in the chair.  The original designer was indeed a master.  I think he would be very proud that his design has come to life again.  These chairs are so well built that they are inheritable and will be on this earth at least 200 more years.

The Rococo style may not be everyone's preference but after being around this one, it truly captures your heart. Mr. Swede even likes it.

Summer

Photo: Swede 

Swedish Antiques and Painting from Paris Museum

 

One of my favorite blogs that I follow is Trudy's Looks Like White. Here is the link.  If you like white interiors, I highly recommend subscribing to it.

http://www.lookslikewhite.com/blog/2013/11/4/inspiration-in-white-swedish-style.html

In today's post she showed a home in Amsterdam with Swedish Gustavian antiques.  This photo just made me stop and gasp.

That Swedish secretary is 2Die4.  But what caught my eye is the poster on the wall.  I immediately recognized it as a painting in the Jacquemart-Andre museum in Paris.  I had seen it before in art books. It is such a famous classic and was so surprised when I walked into the J-A museum and immediately saw it. So cool to see the original in person.  I had no idea who owned the original painting.  Apparently these posters are from the museum gift shop.  But I have a better idea.  I think I will take the photo of the painting I took then and have it put on canvas and frame it.  Would look great like this with a Swedish antique table or desk or in a guest bedroom.

Here is what the original looks like -- a much larger view of it.

Portrait of Mathilde de Canisy, French, by Marquise d’Antin-Nattier, Paris.

How cool.

Summer

Photos: 1) Looks Like White and 2)  Swede.

Swedish Style: Antique Swedish Furniture

 

For those who are like me and suffer from Swedish furniture love [or serious disorder], I want to share this beautiful occasional chair.

This chair is in the style called Late Gustavian/Early Empire.

The little faces make it Empire.  I wish I had started collecting Swedish antiques when I first started decorating.  The issue was access not funds. Nobody I knew sold Swedish furniture and I have lived in some large cities. One thing the Internet has done is provide access to markets. Can we back up time thirty years with today's technology so I can go shopping?

Maybe I can convince you youngsters to develop your Swedish furniture addiction early.  What I love about these pieces are how elegant they are in style but are not overdone.  No shouting here. Incredible detail.

Makes my heart sing.

Summer

Photos: Swede 

Paris: Astier de Villatte

 

Astier de Villatte

I had heard so much about Astier de Villatte that I had to check it out while in Paris. I think there are two storefronts, and I found the one on St. Honore. My favorite product of theirs is the Alexandre line which has the little face on it.  HERE

173 Rue St Honore

and  63 Boulevard Messana

This is the front door, although I did not see their business sign.

This is their side window.  Not sure what the ceramic feet are all about.

There is an antique painting of a woman hanging on the wall to the right.

I missed recognizing those red demilune tables as being Swedish because they weren't white.  Interesting vessels on the table.

The door is open, I recognize the product line, let's go in.

So much eye candy. Not sure why they have the animal heads on the walls.

Somebody loves antique Swedish Rococo chairs as much as I do.

Back wall of products on display. The pieces are thin and light weight, not heavy like pottery.

These are their candle products. Most run $75. If you want the lid with the finial, it is another $80. With the dollar/euro difference, add 27% to the prices.

These products all look white but the glaze is more French gray from the undertones in the clay versus stark white. I loved the pedestal plates on the far right but they were out of my price range. I got one of the small plates.

On the far right are the compotes I liked [$195 to $272].  Also like the knobby pitchers on the top shelf [$380] and the small bowls with the faces on them on the middle shelf.

Lots of mugs and cups - items with handles.

I found two US online stores that sell this brand.  You can see the prices there.  Look at Suefisherking.com and mazehome.com.

On our next trip back, I'm sure I will be tempted to purchase more pieces.

Summer

Photos: Swede

Books: What do they say about you?

 

Well, if what you read says something about you, then I've got a one-track mind about Swedish decor and Swedish antiques.

Mr. Swede is building a new bookcase for all my design books in the master bedroom.  I've been begging for the bookcase for a long time.  Like two years!  He cut some boards last week. 

Summer

Photo: Swede

 

Tablescapes: Introducing My Virtual Dining Room

 

 

I decided to try something new for me in tablescaping -- the virtual tablescape.  Several reasons for this: 1) I want to introduce my readers to dinnerware that they may not know exists, ranging from the stunningly beautiful to the quirky  2) I cannot ever afford most of it to do an actual tablescape, and 3) I cannot do 52 weekly tablescapes each year at home for Tablescape Thursday.  So, on the weeks I don't do a real tablescape at home, I am going to try to do a virtual one.  Nice thing about virtual ones -- you can spend the king's money and pretend to be Queen Antoinette and pick anything your heart desires!   Since money is no object, let's just pick a beautiful home in Paris. Today's color theme is turquoise.

 
Photos: Mr. Swede

This beautiful Paris door photo that my husband brought back for me is the perfect color for today's turquoise tablescape theme.  Let's put our dining table in this Parisian dining room. I have chosen one from Amy Howard Collection called the Manhattan Spider.

 
Photo credits: amyhowardcollection.com [top table] and [email protected]  of Laguna Beach, CA [console table below] Let's put the console table on a short wall with the Swedish mirror above it.

Dining table is mirrored [price unkown].  Beautiful turquoise and gold console table is $7,500. Luvvvvvvvvvvvv that console.

 
Photo credits: bjorkantikt.com [left] and massant.com [right].

Swedish 1820 mirror from bjorkantik in Atlanta is $2,450. That will look nice in our white room with turquoise accents. On the right, gold carved wood chairs by Massant. Surrounding the dining room table, let's place 12 of these Louis XVI beauties.  They are Massant's L16TF9 designed by Poirier Cabriolet in 1777 the original of which is currently in the Louvre.  These chairs are just 2die4. I have no idea what the price is, but way beyond my budget, I'm sure. Sigh!

 
Photo: massant.com. More swooning! A closer look at the chair. I love white upholstery with gold leaf frames and the running coin carving.

Now lets put in a chandelier or two and some sconces from julieneill.com. Since I like white, I am picking her Lizette models.  Don't know the price of these either.

Photo credits: julieneill.com.  Love the leaf fronds formed into a crown.  I love crowns as a symbol. The chandelier would look great in a Swedish dining room. [hint, hint Mr. Swede]

Since the dining table is mirrored, I think I want to put the chargers right down on the table without a tablecloth or placemats.   

 
Photo credits left to right: 1) limogesfrenchchina.com 2) albertopinto.com 3) kimseybert.com and 4) kimseybert.com.

French maker J. Seignolles chargers are $313 each in the Petrouchka Bleu pattern.  Have you seen these before?  2die4  Dinner plates by Alberto Pinto in the Mer Turquoise pattern at $220 each. I like how the gold centers of these dinner plates will pull up the gold on the edges of the charger.  Next, Kim Seybert tumbler in Bubble Teal at $60 and knobbed goblet in Bubble Teal at $130.  Here is a closer look at those fabulous Seignolles chargers.

 

These were love at first sight - brilliant turquiose and gold. As you may know, I don't like my china all from one pattern or one maker.  I like to mix up the patterns but keep things all in the same color theme.

 
Photo Credits: 1) Top left: linens from kimseybert.com and her cuff napkin ring below left at 4/$112. The dessert plate, top right, is by French maker Raynaud in the Jardins Celestes pattern at $78. Let's use Alberto Pinto's bread and butter plates in the Filet A Papillons butterfly pattern at $135.

 
Photo Credits:  Left: bernardaud.com; Right: raynaud.com.

For after dinner coffee, let's select another French maker, Bernardaud's Eden Turquoise cup and saucer at $230.  And let's use a salad plate from Raynaud in the Cristobal Turquoise pattern at $95.

Since we are in Paris, it is only fitting that we select French flatware. I will let you pick from my two choices.

 
Photo Credits: Left: Alain-Saint-Joanis.com.  Right: puiforcat.com

Turquoise or gold?   You may wish to stay with the turquoise theme with the color handled pattern from French maker Alain-Saint-Joanis's Tendances Seville pattern. Five pieces for one person runs $520.  Or on the right, Elysee vermeil from Puiforcat at $5,025 per place setting. This was the official service in the 1940's of the French Presidency for the Elysee palace.  Also available via neimanmarcus.com.

 
Photo credit: tacori.com

Before dinner, let's slip on this ring from Tacori's 18K925 Collection made as a doublet from quartz over green onyx with 18K gold and sterling "ringing" in at $1,150.

So there's my turquoise dinner in Paris. Did I forget anything other than food and flowers?  I used Picasa3 software to make the collages to double up the photos to save space.  If you know of a better way to do this, please email me.  I am a true novice at this. Doing the virtual tablescape certainly took more time to put together than a tablescape at home. 

Hope you have enjoyed shopping with me and spending alot of virtual money.

I am participating in Tablescape Thursday this week on the blog Between Naps on the Porch.

To see all the entries, after 9:00PM Eastern on Wednesday, go here:

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

All the best to you,

Summer

 

Getting the Look: Marburger Farm Continued

 

Continuing my prior post about antique shopping at Marburger Farm in Round Top, Texas.

 
 

I want to show you some of my favorite booths. I am going to just post the photo with no comments about each one so you can enjoy the details in your own way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For those of you who have never been to Marburger Farm, or attended the Round Top antique show [there are hundreds of venues], just at Marburger Farm alone, the brochure says there are 350 dealers on 43 acres.  There are old buildings which look like they were brought onto the site as well as HUGE white tents.  Four or five of the white tents are each the size of a football field. Below is a photo of one of the smaller tents. There are probably 3 of these.  There are also venues in Carmine and Warrenton. I don't think it is possible to see every vendor in the county in a week's visit.

 

Below are some of the old structures where vendors set up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we are traveling down the two-lane back roads to get to Round Top, we go through this one-lane arch.

 

If you love antiques, and have not been to this antique show, I hope you are able to attend soon.  They are held twice a year. Check out their website.

Summer

Photos: Swede  

Searching for Beautiful Things: Guess Where I Went Last Week

 

Here is a clue as to where I went last Wednesday.

 

Isn't she a beauty? Kinda skinny though.

 

My nice husband took these photos for me of the Longhorns. And, here's another clue.

 

Texas Bluebonnets. I couldn't figure out why there were so few wildflowers on this visit, our second time to visit in the spring.  Locals said it was because this winter there wasn't much rain.  Indian Paintbrush was just starting to bloom.

 

This cute little flower below was very plentiful, though.  I don't know the name of it but I think it is an Evening Primrose.

 

It was a last minute decision to go to Round Top, Texas for the semi-annual antique show. We barely found a hotel room in College Station.

I want to show you vendors' booths at The Red Barn, The Arbor and Marburger Farm that I found visually appealing.  I am not giving the vendor's name or prices on items. This is just a visual tour and an overview of decor style that intrigued me.

 

French demijohns are still popular. There are fakes among them with new wine labels. Most were only used to transfer juice from the grapes not wine after it was made. I saw a lot of glass domes as well.

 

 

 

Shown above are four that I purchased. They range in age from the 1920's to the 1960's.  My husband likes the green ones and I like the aqua ones.

 

Here is what they look like in my family room after cleaning them up.  The big green one is very large so it sits on the floor.

 

Everything light and white is still in. I saw a lot of old brown wooden antiques repainted with white or creme paint.

 

 Cast stone in light coloration.

 

Bed coronas and anything crown shape is very popular. I've always like this symbol.

 

The spiritual look was also prevalent. Lots of church alter sticks, religious statues, alter and podium architectural pieces and sconces.

 

Madonnas of all kinds.

 

Angels of all sorts.

 

 

 

Any architectural piece out of a church sells.

 

Someone could write an entire book just on photos of these items found at Marburger Farm.

 

Sunburst mirrors were still plentiful.

 

The Belgian linen look was still strong.

 

 

And, of course, you could purchase yards and yards of linen to upholster your own items.

 

 

I saw a lot of brown wood furniture pieces painted white or creme. The Shabby Chic look seems to still be continuing in polularity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For tonight I will leave you with this unusual booth display.

 

I took over 300 photos and will show more tomorrow. I have selected some of my favorite booths and will show those.

All the best,

Summer

Photos: Swede [exception: Longhorns taken by my husband] 

French Collectibles In-house Antique Sale in Memphis

 

 

 

Joni Webb, on her blog Cote de Texas, mentioned that New Orleans antiques dealer and stager Mignon Favrot Topping was doing an in-house antique sale in Memphis, TN this week.  The information is at the very bottom of Joni's post on February 22 where the main story is on Jackye Lanham. Last year, Joni did a post on Mignon's in-house sale staged in Houston on June 25, 2009. To read it go here.  The home used for the June 2009 sale was very large.

The Memphis one is a very small 1940's English cottage style 3b/3b home in a very established older section of Memphis called Belle Meade. It appears that Mignon's business plan is to host these sales in vacant homes that are for sale.  Unique idea, I admit.

To see the house when it was listed for sale, go here.

Here are some photos of the French Collectibles Memphis sale.

 

4143 Gwynne Road in Memphis

 

 Stone, brick and metal entry.

 

French Collectible's sign hanging from the huge old tree.

 

The front door opens directly into the living room. Here we have a Swedish bench in front of the window holding silk pillows, an acrylic coffee table, silver metal and glass-top end tables, contemporary art over the fireplace, a black French occasional table, faded Oushak rug, leather folding screen, French chairs, and in the wall niches painted black, some small artworks.

 

Near the front door, an inlaid chair and a large walnut French chest. Notice the rugs.

 

 

 On the left you can see a painted corner cabinet that is nice. In the foreground is a Swedish daybed in melon silk.

 

 

 

On a short wall, there is a mirror on top of a Swedish chest and a wooden box for a statue. Of course, you could put a lot of wonderful objects in this cabinet.

 

 

Here is a close up of the small double door tabernacle.

In the hallway on the left there is a small wooden chest, a black painted wooden art piece and a candlestick.

 

Below is a bedroom with twin beds.

 

Modern tables at the ends of the metal beds.  Cute chest in the middle.

 

I think this was actually the master bedroom as the other two bedrooms were smaller.  

 

A closer look at the chest.

 

And a leather screen.

 

And antique framed wallpaper panels.

 

 The third small bedroom had a coffee table, bench and chest.

 

 

Here is a French vanity with inlay, probably walnut.  

 

A pair of pretty white chairs.

 

 The third small bedroom had a French trumeau.

The dining room was my favorite.

 

The relief panels of putti above the Italian console were wonderful.

 

The opposite wall in the dining room. Trumeau above the pine cabinet.

 

More views of the dining room. The carpet was made in patchwork squares.

 

 

 

Here you can see the candlesticks are not gilded on the backside. This is the way they were made at the time because gold was precious in cost and when placed on the alter, nobody saw the backside anyway.  

 

 

 

This kitchen table had two benches.

 

The kitchen banquette area displayed these bamboo-style chairs and a bamboo trimmed wall cabinet shown on the right.

The upstairs family room was a sales display area for smaller rugs.

 

I have intentionally not given prices on this post.

Mignon's sale runs through Saturday, February 26th.

Hope you enjoyed seeing the photos.

All the best,

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Today's Holiday Decorating Photo

 

 

While shopping a few weeks ago, I found some very unusual beaded pick ornaments at Dillard's.  They had them coming out the top of an artificial Christmas tree.  They are about 24 inches long.  Here I have placed 10 of them in a clear glass vase as I didn't want to put them on my tree.  They were so unusual I couldn't pass them by and hope to find a better way to use them next year.  The branches are encrusted with glitter.  I like the clear glass beads coming off the branches. If you have an idea on how they could be used, please email me.

 

I am currently using them with three sizes of silver mercury glass trees which I also found at Dillard's.

 

 

You can also see the medium and small mercury glass trees on page 105 of this month's November/December issue of Veranda magazine in a room designed by Lisa Luby Ryan. I love that home she designed because it is Swedish and shows some great Swedish antique pieces.

 

Photo by Erica George Dines.

All the best,

Summer

Photos: Swede first (3)