Who knows what the future will bring, especially when it comes to the way we live and decorate our homes? As a kid, I used to love picturing myself in a Jetsons world. From a house high in the sky, I'd hop a flying saucer to school, where everything I ever needed to know I could learn with the press of a button. Life in the future looked so easy, especially at home. I mean—why would you ever have to do laundry if Rosie the robot maid could do it for you? Truth is—and I know I might sound crazy—I actually enjoy doing laundry, just as much as I enjoy polishing silver, ironing linens and cooking good food.
In high school, the only subject I never wanted an Easy Button for was Home Ec. And while everyone else thought it was boring, I couldn't have been happier! These days, with Home Ec pretty much a thing of the past, keeping house has become a lost art. Now I'm all for conveniences—my drawer full of takeout menus I can definitely count among my collections!—but I also believe in holding onto the things that give a home a sense of history. For me, that means that a hundred years into the future, my house would be filled, as it is now, with objects created years—and, as with these few things—a hundred years in the past.
It's a little bit of everything I love—china, silver and glass. From the left, a silverplate tea pot, an English transferware plate, a French sterling silver straining ladle and a hand blown glass decanter.
The decanter I found at the flea market here in town, and it's all the irregularities I love most. To me, those air bubbles are beautiful! Another thing to look for in early glass—this piece is probably from the late 1800s—is the breaking point on the bottom after it was blown and spun. I love the glass bands around the neck as well, and the size is perfect for two! In fact, when Jaithan and I sit down to dinner, I use it all the time for decanting wine. A single fern stem in water would be another beautiful way to display it. Hand blown glass like this, with all its many imperfections, will always have a place on my table.
How gorgeous is this pattern on the black transferware plate? Even though it's over a hundred years old, I still think it feels pretty modern. That's probably because similar pieces (with far less detail) have been produced and reproduced for decades. But classic style like this isn't about following trends; it's about going to flea markets, digging through junk shops and finding the truly authentic pieces that inspired all the rest. This piece I found at an antique market in Brimfield, Massachusetts years ago, and though I've never been able to find another for a table setting, I still love it just as much hung on the ebony black wall of my bathroom. The markings too I find beautiful, and I love the name—British Flowers. So rich!
Speaking of, I found this French sterling silver ladle at a Goodwill in Connecticut. It was one of those down and dirty digs where everything turns up tarnished—just the way I like it! This piece was totally black when I found it, and though at first I thought it was silverplate, turns out it's actually solid silver. Love the intricate detailing on the handle and the pretty shell shape of the bowl.
Once it was all polished up (Rosie the robot, be gone!), I noticed markings on the inside of the bowl as well. From my research, it was probably produced in Paris around 1875—perfect for serving cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving a month, a year, a hundred years from now.
And finally, this silverplate tea pot is the most recent find of the lot but definitely a new favorite. I found it a couple of weeks ago at the Knights of Columbus Flea Market in Greenwich. And even though it's engraving is from 1900, I'm willing to bet it's even older! Love the shape, the size and the ebony detailing.
The markings I haven't been able to decode but the crafstmanship I think is incredible. One hundred eight years and counting…
And so whatever the future holds, whether we're living in cities perched on stilts or furnishing country houses on distant planets, I know what I'm bringing, and it's everything I love now.
Congratulations Eddie you are safe on top design again. I am watching what happens ( or happened ) It’s sad to see natalie leave!
Again congratulations!
Eddie, I loved your futuristic design on the show tonight! I also admire your confidence and how you approach each project the others I am sure have learned alot from you! Your sense of humor cracks me up in all that seriousness going on on the show! Routing you on!! 🙂
Love the refined,civilized post and also tonight’s show;Kelly W looks ridiculous, I can hardly hear her comments for gaping at her ensembles.JA is succinct,but you all look so tired,it hurts to look at all of you! And congratulations on your safety. I love that you seem to support one another,noticed a espirit d’ corps tonight that I hadn’t witnessed before.Go,Eddie, go!
I loved you tonight on Top Design! I don’t know how you manage to be sweet and sassy at the same time. And your response to Kelly’s comment ‘Granny Gone Wild’? Priceless.
Fun show tonight, Eddie. I have a silver question….what do you use to polish old silver pieces? Thanks and keep up the good work.
Wait? Where is the ‘sperm’ fixture — omg that cracked me up. You did great, I loved your calm and cool attitude when the varnish splattered everywhere!
I remember loving the Jetsons too and also loving old things and finding beauty in simple qualities. Making a house a home requires work, laundry, meals and why not do it with things you love.
I would love to have a “Rosie!” I loved that sound she would make!
Would love to know your polishing secrets as well. I have so much that needs it! Do check my blog for art to go with your antiques. I move back and forth from bold abstracts to subtle landscapes and still life.
Lovely. The patina on the antiques with the gray pattern on the plate reflect your great taste for the finer things in life. You can “feel” the history in the pieces! That is priceless!!! So much better than buying new!!!!
Eddie,
Thank you for the wonderful blog you have. I have been so inspired to try differnt things around my home because of your blog, some not so successful, but others are great. I also have tried some of your cooking. I was actually able to make the orange bread with success and my family loves it. Thanks again gina
ah, thanks Eddie! what a wonderful way to start my morning with such a lovely blog entry from you!
There is nothing “gold keds and stirrup pants” about those. I swear, I almost peed my pants laughing at that — and other — comments last night. I love that you call it like you see it and don’t hold back!
Lovely!! I wish I could hop on board your flea marketing train. You seem to find such great things and make it all look so beautiful. I’m finding it difficult to find places here in Seattle.
Hope you are well!
I think you were just born with the “making things look pretty” gene! 😉
How BEAUTIFUL!!! I cannot imagine a life without lovely old things like these… they bring such a joy to the little rituals of daily living. 🙂
Loved the plate pattern… and found another for sale, but out of my price range!:
http://www.seekersantiques.com/items/item.html?o=tr&x=63&i=TCF44
Eddie, you’ve given me and others a new found appreciation for white milk glass. I’ve enjoyed this blog soooo much. I’m much older than you, but I still share your excitement and love for finding the wonderful old and new pieces and transfixing them into artful treasures! I look forward to reading many more of your blogs. I’m also A fellow Etsy seller and purveyor of antiques and collectibles: Serenities. My best Regards, Marci