a secret forest

it's sunday, more dancing swans.

I have a lot of favorite vintage dancing clips. I really think this one is my favorite favorite. I don't know too much about the origins of this, except that it's from 1930 and in Technicolor. If any of you know more about this clip, please email me, I'm so mesmerized by it. I posted this a little while back on my facebook page and thought I should add it to the blog because it's so beautiful. The costumes and the graceful ballerinas just kill me, they remind me of delicate be-feathered dancing pastries. If you haven't already seen this, I know you will enjoy it.

Have a Mad Men season four filled evening, friends!

flowers and candies and sweetmeats

 

I've seen these magnificent pieces on and off for years on my antique treasure huntings, and I've never had any idea what they were or what they were used for. Every time I would find one, I would get so lost in their beauty and try and figure out what they were and how I could add one of these blown glass wonders into my life. They must've served some sort of purpose right?

Turns out, these gorgeous blown glass wonders are called Epergnes or Espergnes. My original web searching with the spelling of "espergnes" mostly turned up everything "Espagne." I originally thought epergnes might've been used by very glamorous alchemists to distill flower essences or create some sort of magical elixirs involving small fairies (because the design is quite evocative of small Victorian fairies, right?). As the title of this post suggests, espergnes were to hold flowers, candies, and pastries and were quite popular during the Victorian era through the '20s and '30's. I love them to bits. You knew that though.

 

 

My favorite variety of epergne always ends up featuring a slim belled flower design. I've been finding most of them come in shades of pinks and cranberry (I can never have enough pink glass, so much so that I'm trying to force myself to buy other shades which has been proving difficult) as well as the occasional blue, violet, clear/milk, and that fabulous vaseline glass electric green.

The ruffles, swirls, and fluted lines are so over the top that you can't help but be transfixed by their ornate artistry. I hope you love looking at these as much as I do!

sans culottes!

 

 

Put on your rosettes et cockades aux trois couleurs, grab a pike, and go storm the Bastille! Happy Bastille Day everyone! You can read all about Bastille Day, here.
 

 

 

it's sunday, put on your fringed dress and shake it

Enjoy this incredible clip of Josephine Baker dancing in La Revue des Revues from 1927. This is such a fun clip, how could you not love her? I thought this would be a great clip to close out the weekend with. Watching Ms. Baker dance always puts me in a happy mood (and that dress!!!). To read all about the tremendous Josephine Baker, go here.

 

  

you light up my life

1930's beaded glass chandelier. I die.

 19th Century Russian brass, enamel, and crystal chandelier.

 
Antique French brass and blown glass chandelier. Age unknown (I suspect late 1800's/ early turn of the century).

Searching for the perfect antique chandelier for our dining room has been a lesson in torture. There are so so many dreamy chandeliers I've been finding (and very expensive at that, the lovely and amazing 30's hot air balloon one is listed online for...wait for it...$28,000!!). I've posted some beauties that I've found online.

!9th Century French bronze Empire style chandelier.

 
Antique chandelier, date unknown.

 Antique bronze and crystal chandelier.

Until now, I've never really paid any attention to hanging lighting in antique stores, but now I'm constantly eyeballing the rafters in search of one to take home.

 
Antique French Regency chandelier. 

 Don't you love these?

Louis XIV Sun King enamel, bronze, and crystal chandelier at the Getty. I die. Again.

It really is true, it's all in the lighting!

la fete

I cannot get enough of Beirut. I can't think of better music to make pastries to. I'm hoping one day when the patisserie is open, Beirut will waltz through the shop playing this song.  I hope you enjoy this video!

on the 4th, let's celebrate!

Happy 4th of July Friends! Hopefully you are out enjoying the sunshine with good friends and good food. Hip hip hooray for the long weekend!!