Smoking in the Salon

Dahling…sashay on into my salon and pull up a chair.  Cigarette?  No?  Well, hold on a minute while I light mine and then we’ll talk.  (Ok…imagine the sultry voice of Mae West here.  LOL!)

From the latter part of the 1800’s into the mid 1900’s, smoking was often considered to be glamorous and sophisticated.  Novels, and later, movies portraying the romantic and mysterious allure of smokers contributed to the huge demand for tobacciana items.   

One highly popular item around the turn of the century, especially in Europe, was the Parlor Smoking Set.  They were often made of majolica, porcelain or cast metal.  Smoking Sets can be found decorated with transfer scenes or handpainted florals.  The Set could consist of several pieces or one piece with various sections. 

This particular Smoking Set, made of porcelain and glazed a soft shade of green, was made sometime around 1900-1910 in Austria.  It’s decorated with handpainted pink flowers and gold trim .

There are three sections in the Smoking Set…one is used to hold matches…

The largest section is for the cigarettes…

And one section is for the spent matches.

On the back of the section for holding the matches are these handpainted letters – MOK.  Maybe the initials of the artist?  I have no idea.

Parlor Smoking Sets similar to mine can be difficult to find online…for the simple reason many people don’t realize exactly what they are. 

When I purchased this one, the seller had no idea what it was and had suggested perhaps it was made to use on the dining table to hold salt and pepper.  Hmmm, I suppose it could be used for that purpose if you really wanted to.

Thanks for dropping by my salon today!  I’m joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday and Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday.

DG

Vienna Art Plates

Vienna art plates were tin plates decorated with colorful lithographs that were primarily used for advertising.  They were manufactured under six different company names in the early 1900’s.  The most commonly found plates today were made by the H. D. Beach Co. of Coshocton, Ohio.

H. D. Beach began manufacturing the art plates around 1904 and applied for a patent which was granted on February 21, 1905.  Beach continued to produce the plates until about 1913.

Many of the plates featured lithographs reproduced from hand painted artwork found on Royal Vienna porcelain plates.  One commonly used theme were ladies, but there were also scenic lithographs used.

My small collection features scenic plates made by Beach.  Two of them have the patent dates of February 21, 1905 stamped on the back, but the other two have a “Patent Applied For” stamp which dates them to about 1904.

You can see photos of all the beautiful Vienna Art Plates and learn more about them here.

Thanks for dropping by!  I’m joining Paula at Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday.  I’m also joining Sherry at No Minimalist Here for Open House Party, Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday.

Dreamgoddess

 

Repost of Dining with the Snow Queen

It's been a bit hectic for me the past week and I haven't had much time to take photos for a new post...so I decided to repost one of my favorite table settings from last year.

Jagged icicles and glittering snow,

restless winds around us blow.

Stealth and quiet, we must not be seen

if we are to catch sight of the Snow Queen.

Utterly forbidden it is to see her face,

to trespass in her hallowed abiding place.

If caught, to eternal winter consigned

to be imprisoned until time out of mind.

Bitter chill and shards of ice,

for all that shall we pay the price?

Frost like a mirror, smooth as glass,

in truth we are at an impasse.

Oh please tell, do we dare to go on

or should we quickly have withdrawn?

Ominous shivers down us creep

as we anticipate what we shall reap.

She rides from out of the distance,

from a land of timeless existance.

White horses pull her crystal sleigh,

from her destination she does not sway.

Ermine trimmed cape blowing in the breeze,

who can say what her arctic gaze sees?

Sparkling snowflakes cling to her gown,

while below in the valley lies the sleeping town.

Ethereal and beautiful in her icy glory,

truly not a fairy tale or other story.

Shimmering crystal, etched with a snowflake,

a crown of ice …it’s her, no mistake.

Neither to the left nor to the right

does she look during her swift flight.

Not the tiniest sound do we make,

nor movement, our life not to forsake.

Then ever so slowly, she nears our hiding spot,

shock, anger and a glower we received not.

Instead a sublime smile, a wave and a wink,

then to our surprise, she was gone in a blink.

Amazing, no imprisonment or fuss,

what about all the stories told to us?

Imagine our shock and surprise to find

The Snow Queen was actually quite kind.

The Snow Queen graciously thanks you for visiting with her today and she hopes you’ll come back soon!

She’s joining in with Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for another Tablescape Thursday. She's also joining Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday. Last, but not least, she's joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday. Why don’t you join us too?

Dreamgoddess

Maidens and Nymphs – the Fantasy Art of Hans Zatzka

My absolute favorite artist is Hans Zatzka, born 8 March 1859 in Vienna, Austria.  I first discovered Zatzka’s art while browsing eBay many years ago.   He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and also painted under the names P. Ronsard, Zabateri, Joseph Bernard, Bernard Zatzka and Pierre de Ronsard. 

Although Zatzka made his living from painting religious themed frescos in churches and alter paintings, he is perhaps best known for his paintings of maidens, nymphs and cherubs.

A copy of Zatzka’s “In the Night Sky” hangs in my dining area.   Looks so ethereal!

Two vintage prints in ornate brass frames hang in my living room.

My newest acquisition featuring the artwork of Hans Zatzka is this antique vase trimmed with gold and marked Victoria Austria.  I spotted it in my favorite antique shop and quickly grabbed it before someone else bought it!

Here are other examples of Zatzka artwork showcasing gorgeous nymphs, maidens and cherubs.  Warning…stop here if you don’t like seeing partial nudity!!  Zatzka was obviously fond of painting semi nudes.  LOL! 

“Fortune”

“Elfenreigen” – This is one of my favorites…nymphs dancing under the light of the full moon.

“Water Nymph”

“Symphony of Water Nymphs”

“Water Idyll”

“Pearls of the Sea” – this is another favorite of mine.

“The Arrival of Spring”

“Venus with Putti and Attendants”

 

Zatzka  continued to paint until he was in his 80’s and died on 17 December 1945.  His artwork is very collectible now and often commands high prices at auction. 

I’m joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.   Since some of his artwork does have hints of pink in them, I’m joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday.

Thanks for joining me today!  Hope the rest of your weekend is wonderful!

Dreamgoddess

More Cherub Love and Some Great News

First, for my fantastic news!  I finally got a job…well, it’s only part time and temporary, only for about 6 weeks, but it’s still a job!  Can you hear the choir singing “Hallelujah”???  After 2 years of being unemployed, ANYTHING is better than nothing!  

I had a wonderful weekend and can’t wait to share my finds with you!  My husband surprised me with a trip to Mobile and we hit up a few of my favorite antique shops Saturday. 

I added some bisque cherubs to my collection and can’t decide which is my favorite!  The first piece is marked Ucagco China, Made in Occupied Japan, which dates it to between 1946 and 1952. 

What a sweet little face he has!  

The cart is decorated with gold trim and soft pink roses.

 

This second piece had me stumped!  I couldn’t find any online information about it and wasn’t able to find another one similar to it. 

So, I turned to the fountain of all antiques knowledge…Richard from My Old Historic House. (If you’ve never visited Richard’s blog, RUN, don’t walk over to visit him!  Just be sure to bring a towel for all the drooling you’ll be doing when you see his gorgeous home!)

According to Richard, these types of pieces were made in several places, including France and America, but were most commonly made in Germany.  They can be found decorated with children or animals too, but the ones with cherubs are more popular.  This particular piece was probably made in the latter 1800’s to early 1900’s.  I thought perhaps it was a vase or planter, but Richard said it was more likely a vanity piece and could have held jewelry. 

Fortunately he also told me not to use it with water as it would bleed through the soft paste of the unglazed porcelain.  Thank you Richard for sharing all the info with me!  You’re the greatest!

Count ‘em…three sweet little cherubs and garlands of pink roses!  Love, love, love me some cherubs!!

At another antiques shop, I found this necklace.  It’s possibly just vintage glass beads…but I’m hoping it’s faceted rock crystal.  I need to take it to a jeweler to have it tested.  Unfortunately, my photo didn’t capture how it sparkles!

Then on Sunday, my husband and I went to the flea market for a couple of hours.  One of the vendors had some pieces that he had bought at an estate sale in an old Victorian home in Mississippi. 

This brass fern stand immediately caught my eye as I had been looking at one almost identical to it in an antique shop here where I live…except the one in the antique shop was, I kid you not, almost 7 times the price of the one at the flea market!

Here’s a close-up photo of it when I got it home.  It has some issues that I’m working on…tarnish and what looks like some corrosion (?), but so far, it’s beginning to clean up nicely.

The vendor at the flea market said the top is marble, but I wonder if it might not be alabaster instead.  I do know it needs a REALLY good cleaning!  I can’t wait to get it all restored!  I think it’s going in my living room next to the piano.

The most important question…what to put on it when I get finished???  I don’t have a green thumb, so an actual fern is out.  Maybe this calls for another shopping trip!

So this is how I spent my weekend and I hope yours was wonderful too!  Thanks for visiting me today and I hope you’ll come back soon.

I’m joining Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday, Sherry at No Minimalist Here for Open House Party Thursdays, and Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday.

Dreamgoddess

Cherubs and Roses

A new beginning is perhaps the best time to say…
It’s so nice to know you…
And here’s wishing our friendship
continues to grow in the days to come. – Author Unknown

Happy New Year to all my blogging friends!  Just for you, I found this wonderful old Tuck postcard this past week to wish you and your family much love and happiness in this New Year.

I hope everyone had a fantastic New Year’s holiday weekend!  My husband, two youngest daughters and I spent a quiet, but fun, time together on New Year’s Eve.  We had a nice dinner and then an evening of playing games while we waited to ring in the New Year.

Since “your” New Year’s postcard featured a cherub and roses, I thought I would continue that theme by showing some of the cherubs I have around my home.

My newest favorite was given to me by my mother.  The little cherubs have the sweetest expressions on their faces and the applied roses are so beautiful.  In researching the mark on the bottom, I found it was made by Sadek, which was founded in 1936 and is still in operation.  One website I read was not very nice in their comments about Sadek wares…doesn’t bother me, I love the bowl and think it’s absolutely gorgeous!

This little bisque cherub was an antique shop find last year.  The owner of the shop said she thought it was possibly made in Germany.

A pair of wall plaques made by Ucagco, probably in the 1950’s to 1960’s.

A pin tray with a transfer scene of a cherub and a butterfly and a half (one of the butterflies is missing part of his wings and body).

A cherub sitting on a shoe with more applied roses.

Almost hidden behind a vase is another one of my favorites…a Victorian figural epergne or centerpiece with a cherub. 

Last, but not least, is another favorite cherub that I found on eBay several years ago.  Actually, I think he might be Cupid with his bow and arrow, but that’s ok. 

Well, that’s it for this post.  I have a few more, but that’s for another day.  Thanks bunches for visiting with me today!  I hope you’ll come again soon.

I’ve joining Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday.  I’m also joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday.

 

Dreamgoddess