ANTIQUES - PROVENCE & LURCHERS

Tomorrow is the start of August and the antiques trade take some time off. The shop is staying open until the last week in August, but the website is there 24 hours a day………..the joys of modern technology!

It seems that lurchers are the 'in' dog in or business and we are now exception. There are two in the shop and the youngest and latest arrival Lucy is also going on holiday down to our house in the South-east of France.

She has been in holiday mood for some time and her favourite toy is her yellow ball.

Just hung in the window is a Japonese early Edo screen circa 1650. The scene,  deer by moonlight, is from the Tale of Genji known as the ‘first’ novel. Written in the 11th century by Murasaki Shikibu, a lady-in-waiting of the Japanese court.

Meanwhile with thoughts of the holidays in mind this is where the three of us head off to………

Dog walks in the morning, buying food in the local markets and maybe a little bit of antiquing, 

A lazy lunch with friends by the pool, and long dinners under the wisteria pergola …….

but in-between  it is books and a cold drink by the pool. 

And, when we aren't there the house is for rent and  autumn is one of the best times, the intense heat becomes easier the tourists are gone and the vines are being harvested and the weather is glorious.

My colleague France Lasserre will be at the fair in Issigeac in the Dordogne this week end with her signature died blue linens and small decorative antiques Sat 4th and Sun 5th Aug

There will be more about antiques, lurchers and France soon, you can see more about the house in Provence here

WAYS TO MAKE A STATEMENT

It's the 14th July,  a big holiday in France. Before and after the French revolution France was a country of wonderful furniture and decoration………………

Less is not always more and antiques add character and warmth to a room. Below are photographs taken in the shop showing some of the new stock that we have in and how we have combined things….

 In the foreground an 18th century blue & white "Pot à Oranger" 

A large set of framed prints of Switzerland hang above an early French mahogany desk, similar to a desk at Chatsworth at the foot of the bed in the Mary Queen of Scots room…..

 Four early 19th century sporting prints after Carle Vernet are framed in water gilt frames

 Hanging on the wall is part of a large set of 19th century framed Jamaican ferns in water gilt and painted frames. Below are a pair of gilt bronze candlesticks and a pair of gilt bronze urns

 Standing in front of a gilt Règence mirror is a Spanish 18th century carved wooden figure

 I have always advocated hanging prints close together and the shop is no different; we have a large collection of 18th century French engravings most in original frames, visit our print section to view the collection

 A portrait of 'Pomona' goddess of fruitful abundance is hung with 18th century prints above a

Louis XV commode

 'Le Matin' & 'Le Midi' 18th century prints after Joseph Vernet are framed in original gilt frames

Great pieces of furniture and large tapestries also look good in a modern setting

This Règence commode was made in the first part of the 18th century and the richness of the colour of the veneers is wonderful. 

We always have a selection of 18th and 19th century French commodes for the drawing room or the bedroom.

Made whilst Napoleon Bonarparte was ruling France, simple lines make this a great piece for the dining room the doors open to reveal a single shelf.

Whilst this 20th century tapestry 'CHANT' by Francois Baron-Renouard woven in Paris in the 60's brings a splash of colour at a fraction of the cost of a contemporary painting!

We have several great pieces arriving in the next few weeks,  to see new arrivals check out our "New Arrivals' section of the webs site.