Posts Tagged antiques

Put The Whole World On Your Desk

Aug 22nd, 2010 Posted in shopping | no comment »

So this past week was my husband’s birthday, I tell you what, I had run into a real situation. I couldn’t think of any good ideas and I wanted it to be special. My husband’s a really technical guy. It is all in relation to computer systems and gadgets that I will neither remember nor comprehend. And furthermore, if he truly needs it, he just buys it himself. I make an effort not to think about the amount of cash that goes towards this.

Then, I was downstairs seeking to make any kind of headway in tidying his office, when I realized that the solution had been staring me in the face. To elaborate on this, let me explain his office first. My husband’s office is the shadowy, dank pit of all that is unholy. You can find piles of newspaper everywhere, stacks of instruction manuals, file folders, paperclips, spirals, you name the office supply and it is scattered in there somewhere. And am I allowed to touch any of the documents or books? Oh, no! All of it is where it is for a reason, he would misplace hours of work and so on and so forth Therefore I dust them lightly and sanitize around them, delicately throwing away any litter that obviously does not have notes on it (he writes on napkins and other stuff regularly).

But all this, I’m sure I can cope with. So it looks like a dude works here, okay. At the least, my cleaning abilities cannot be held accountable for that! But the space is 100% undecorated; unless you include the fantastic leather bound encyclopedias here and there, the mini skeleton on his desk, and north american map poster on the south wall. Now, I am mostly certain, knowing my husband, that the inspiration behind the sculpture attached to the desk as well as poster attached to the wall, is that he desired to appear cultured. Of course, we could have enough money better than that crummy poster, except he would in no way spend the time making it happen.

So, plainly a gift to him is also a present to me! I searched high and low before I knew exactly what I wanted. To my astonishment, I got the thought of getting him a globe. I by no means would have dreamed that this would be right answer, but the harder I thought about it, I realized a Replogle Globe will be wonderful way to give his administrative center some greatly needed style and charm. Spontaneously adding a historical world globe to his office could manifest that “old school” look that you could observe in an old library in England or something. I found delightful antique world globes, as well as desktop globes, and also floor standing globes from Replogle, which I believe look astonishingly tasteful (Definitely 1000s of times better than that darn map poster on the wall!).

I ended up choosing an old world desktop globe and slipped it on his muddled desk while he was at a baseball game. What a surprise, ha! It was fairly tricky getting all his textbooks and manuscripts back exactly as they were, but we seemed to handle it okay.And boy, did he love “his” gift! (I sure do!)

Lilian McDonald is a product review specialist at BuyChoice.com. A company specializing in home decor such as desktop world globes, and other high end products like Hunter Fan brand products.

The Many Uses of Classic Slipper Chairs

Dec 21st, 2009 Posted in style | no comment »

A slipper chair is intended to be used as a decorative piece. It’s a chair that is low-slung that has a high back & offers additional seating for a room. It is a robust chair that creates a strong impression no matter which space it’s put in.

The slipper chair is very distinguishable from other chairs. It’s characterized by a very clean design, & is typically built extremely low.

It has no arms, simply the back in addition to the seat, both of which are basically shaped like rectangles. In a few chairs the back can be laid back for further comfort.

As a result of they are very low, a good deal of individuals keep them beside the entrance to their house to lean on when they are putting on their shoes or taking them off.

It is also relatively commonplace to find them in a dressing space for the same reason.

You’ll notice slipper chairs at most furniture stores. They are a typical style thus you ought to be in a position to come across a nice variety of sizes, shapes & materials.

If you’re aiming for a custom built slipper chair you can rather frequently order them directly from the retailer via a furniture store. Trendy furniture companies architect the slipper chair according to your preferences regarding color, style, material and so forth.

A ton of interior decorators endorse the slipper chair since they’re capable of being utilized in a wide range of themes.

This sort of chair includes a clean classic look thus it’s flexible for all decorating needs, & many professional designers use them as the focal point of some rooms. You’ll place some pillows on it for an extra touch.

They’re sometimes upholstered, thus they can be utilized in nearly every type of decor. They’re also available in leather or fake leather. Some firms manufacture slipcovers made for slipper chairs, so if you become tired of one style you can change to a different style.

To learn more about the black leather chair, visit this author’s blog.

categories: antiques,chairs,furniture,hobbies,product reviews,shopping,ecommerce,education,home improvement,style,interior design,advice,home accessories,free

Antique Silver – Shimmering Artifacts For Your Collection

Jul 28th, 2009 Posted in jewelry | no comment »

Antique silver forms many sought after items especially for those who have a fascination for rare artifacts. Antiques are available in a variety of forms and shapes including furniture, books, toys, glass and many other brilliant collectibles but probably the most popular amongst all is antique silver. It includes silver coins, jewelry like rings ,earrings and watches, silver-ware and much more.

The most common source of Antique Silver has to be the royal and noble families of yesteryears. Silverware was a staple in these families and today, exquisite silver articles such as plates, bowls, cutlery etc can be found for sale. Most of these showcase wonderful craftsmanship and are generally stamped with the family crest. Even though with the advent of electroplating technology silverware has become accessible to the common man today, such examples of old silver are still valued for their exclusivity.

Antique silver items are relatively commonplace in the antique market. However, it is important to possess some idea of the style and patterns of the available ones. There are hundreds of distinct style and patterns present in the market. To make a selection amongst them is really difficult. Moreover, authentication of a genuine silver piece is very important. You should make sure to look for the ‘hallmark’ that can provide you the information regarding the designer and the origin.

The introduction of electroplating technology has made it possible for even average households to include silver crockery in their collection. So when you search for a piece of antique silver, it is likely that you are looking for sterling silver tableware or a silver flatware. The former is a bit difficult to find and it usually bears the name of its manufacturer and the place where it was made.

There are quite a few testing methods to test for genuine Antique Silver. One of them is an acid test which your jeweler can perform on request and with the payment of a fee. An important tip to remember while handling silver is not to use a touchstone. Instead, you can take the silverware in your hand, scratch a small portion on the underside and apply a bit of Nitric Acid. If the spot turns grey, it is sterling silver. If it turns black it is coin silver. A green color indicates electroplated items.

Antique silver boasts of certain characteristic traits. Their antiquity is what matters and raises its value in the market. If you are a collector, you would be proud to own such a beautiful piece as well as reap the dividends of such an asset. It can be of much use to you, especially at the time of inflation or devaluation.

Amongst antique silver, jewelry and silverware are extremely popular, especially amongst women. It can add a different charm to your appearance when worn as an ornament. Silver bracelets, especially ’silver charm bracelets’ are available in a diverse sizes, colors, and designs and is a popular accessory amongst women.

You can come across antique silver while dealing with old coins. Collection of coins is a popular hobby but the one that features such antique pieces definitely gives the owner a high. Chinese antique coins, Roman antique coins and American antique coins form a part of this list of valuables.

Just acquiring an antique silver piece for your collection is not sufficient. You need to take adequate care of them. Preserve them in a different place as they are vulnerable to corrosion, scratches and dents. It is necessary that you clean antique silver with a soft cloth to ensure prolonged use.

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Life With the Antique Clawfoot Bath Tub

Jul 22nd, 2009 Posted in hobbies | no comment »

The antique clawfoot bath tub we cherish so much today was first used during the reign of Queen Victoria. Eventually these tubs fell out of use as new lighter weight materials came into existence. Now virtually all bathtubs are mass produced out of plastic. However, many designers and homeowners appreciate the value of an authentic antique clawfoot bath tub. Even those with no concern for the historical significance of these tubs prefer to use them simply because of their sturdy build and aesthetic qualities.

In the Beginning

All the way back in the days of Rome bathing was a common occurrence. However, it wasn’t like that everywhere. The difficulties posed by interior plumbing made bathing an uncommon activity in most places. Furthermore there was a lack of understanding of the benefits of hygiene for much of our history. In the nineteenth century this all changed with the invention of cast iron piping.

The Kohler company made some of the first cast iron tubs in the late eighteen hundreds. Bathing was still unfamiliar for most people but it soon caught on. The cast iron tubs proved to be easy to keep clean and also extremely durable. It didn’t take long for people to realize the many health benefits of keeping clean. The spread of disease and sickness could be reduced substantially.

Soon spare rooms were converted to serve as bathrooms. Eventually, in the early twentieth century new homes were built with bathrooms included so that everyone could enjoy the benefits of indoor plumbing.

Antique Tubs Today

The antique clawfoot bath tub rivals modern tubs. It’s cast iron construction is extremely durable and the enamel coating allows it to be easily cleaned. The American version generally includes faucet fixtures while the English version does not.

It easy to tell a cast iron tub from a more modern tub. Most modern tubs are made of plastic and don’t conduct heat as easily. The antique clawfoot bath tub feels much cooler and hard. It is also extremely heavy by comparison. Clawfoot bath tubs generally have either a flat rim or one that is rolled over the edge. The ends of the tub are often of different shapes.

The antique clawfoot bath tub comes in different variants. The sipper tub is very common. These design has one raised end making it more comfortable to sit in. The double slipper tub has raised ends on both sides allowing one to comfortable sit at either end of the bathtub.

If you are looking for your own antique clawfoot bath tub then you can probably find one online. Because of there immense weight the shipping charges will likely be high. However, the value added to your home will certainly make these charges worthwhile.

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What Makes Antique Picture Frames Better?

Jul 19th, 2009 Posted in family | no comment »

Some people look down on mass produced products, but mass production is not necessarily a bad thing. It allows us to buy the products we want at affordable prices. And it makes sure those products are generally available when and where we need them. But some things are just better hand made, and that’s why antiques actually seem to be gaining in popularity.

This definitely applies to antique picture frames. These frames will show off your favorite pictures or artwork in a way that a store bought frame simply cannot. They will not only protect those cherished possessions, but draw attention to them.

Sure a standard store bought frame can still make your pictures look great. But put that same photo in an antique frame and you can almost feel the difference. Don’t try to explain it because you probably can’t. But you will notice it just the same.

Think about this. You have a very old photograph of your great grandmother as a child. Now imagine that same picture in a frame that she owned. It would certainly give that photo extra meaning.

Maybe that’s an ideal scenario, but you don’t have a frame that your grandparents owned. Well you can still get the same feel. Display that picture in a frame that was made around the time that the picture was. Now the photo and frame will seemingly become one, like they were made for each other. Your family and guests will comment as they eyes are seemingly drawn to it. You now have something more than just a border around that photo.

And with an antique frame there’s very little reason to worry about quality. I’m not some old timer who thinks everything made in my day was better than it is today. But I do think that when you buy an antique, you’re getting something that you know was handmade with pride and quality. That’s still available today, just not as often.

Everything was handcrafted then. And a true artist could provide spectacular detailing. Look closely and you’ll see it. Like we said, there are still frame makers today that can provide great quality, but as we mentioned, quality is not the only reason to go with an antique. It’s just one of many.

If there’s a drawback here it has to be the price. Truthfully, true antique frames can be very costly, especially if you go to your local antique store. You may feel a bit of sticker shock when you turn the price tag over (notice how they always keep it hidden) and look at the numbers on the other side. Gold frames, silver frames, or wood frames can all be quite expensive.

Many people will now do one of two things. They will either give up and go to their local discount store, or they fork over their money thinking they have no other choice. But there is another and better choice. You should be patient and look around. Check local consignment stores and look online. If you take your time, you will eventually end up with the frame you are looking for at a price you can afford.

That’s the time to buy it. Get it home and put your favorite picture on display. You will immediately feel the difference.

You won’t be the only one. Friends, family members and guests will soon be commenting on the picture and frame as well.

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Antique Flooring Today

Jul 15th, 2009 Posted in family | no comment »

The pleasing aesthetic of antique flooring is part of the increase in popularity of this material. Additionally, many people appreciate antique flooring as a wonderful green approach to building that doesn’t require the use of more scarce resources. Not only wood but tiles and stone make popular flooring material too.

Antique Wood Flooring

When it comes to antique flooring, wooden floors are always in demand. Not only are certain woods becoming more scarce but the demand is increasing, making this beautiful medium more difficult to find. Antique hardwood floors can cost an arm and a leg but they often far surpass the quality of new wood floors.

Luckily your flooring doesn’t have to be so expensive. If you are willing to get your hands dirty then you can buy salvaged boards and refinish them yourself. This can save you a fortune.

There are also local options that could save you money. Sometimes the your local classifieds will advertise demolition sales. These can be a great option. You might also find someone advertising their own antique flooring for sale. Many people sell their their old wooden floors when the decide to replace them.

It is good to know the size of the rooms you plan on adding flooring to. Many times you will find the perfect antique flooring at a great price only to find that there isn’t enough to complete your project. This is the nature of a scarce product like antique flooring. Luckily you might be able to change the layout of your room and even mix flooring materials in an attractive way.

Don’t Forget About Tile

If you aren’t in the market for wood antique flooring then perhaps antique tile will look good in your home. Tiles are durable and last for decades and even centuries. Many great palaces use tiles salvaged from ancient buildings.

Today we are lucky to have access to a great supply of Victorian tiles. With the internet it is possible to find dealers all over the world willing to ship tile right to your doorstep. Some companies will even send you sample tiles so that you can accurately assess quality.

The encaustic tiles used in many Victorian buildings are extremely durable and readily available. Often times these solid tiles are used to make attractive patterns on the floor. Many people choose to mix encaustic tiles with modern tiles to form a unique floor.

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