THE PREPARATION
"Anticipation" and "Preparation" are at the heart of
the "Advent Season" -
looking
forward to the wondrous coming celebrations and
events ... while reflecting a bit on events past.
The Advent
Season begins in
Western churches the 4th Sunday before Christmas,
ending on Christmas Eve.
( Of
course,
as merchants, we begin our "anticipation" a bit
earlier! )
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A BIT MORE 'ROOM AT THE INN' :
Small Stools & Tables for Unexpected Guests |
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Good George II Irish Carved Mahogany
Stool
Ireland, c1750
The shell headed legs with c-scrolls
and ending in trefid feet;
good oxidized leather stuff-over
upholstery
18" High x 21.15" Wide x 16" Deep |
Scare George I Walnut & Walnut Veneered Oval Stool
England, c1720
With early (possibly period) needlework covering
Oval Stools are quite rare; we are pleased to offer this one.
17.75” High x 22 Long x 18.25” Deep
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Pair of William & Mary Walnut Stools
England, c1695
With tapestry-covered stuff-over seats,
raised on
block turned legs and stretchers,
the lowest leg block with vertical applied geometric moldings;
19" High x 20.75"
Long x 18" Deep / 18.5" High x 20" Long x
17.75"Deep
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Until
circa 1700, the use of stools at the dining
table was usual.
In fact during the first half
of the 18th century, celebrative dining
was usually grazed (shall we say)
from a large table, the guests seated
about on a combination of chairs and
stools,
as shown below in
"A Dinner Party", c1725,
by
Marcellus Laroon the Younger.
There is always a place for
stools, even in established households -
beneath a table, in a corner or hall.
Without taking up
space, stools gracefully accommodate
extra guests -- and children.
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.... And For THE Special Child
- or
Grandchild : |
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Rare William & Mary Walnut and
Yewwood Caned Child's High Chair
England, c1695
The caned back and seat over turned
legs ending in Braganza feet;
the bar and footrest 19th century
safety additions,
as in the 17th century, a child would
simply have been tied in
with a tea towel
43.5"High x 14.75" Wide x 18.5" Deep
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... SMALL TABLES
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Fine George III Rosewood &Mahogany Quartetto
Nest of Tables, England, c1810
Having rich color, the crossbanded tops raised on
"bamboo-turned" legs and
carved overscrolled bases
raised
on turned toupie feet
With minor variations to top and leg,
as pictured in
George Smith's Household
Furniture,
1808
28.5" High x 19" Wide x 18.75" Deep (The Largest) |
Good George III Mahogany "Spider Leg
Table"
England, c1765
With single drop leaf over slender
turned legs and incurving
front stretched connected by blocks;
heavy timbers
This unique form represents the last
of the gateleg tables
produced during the first half of the
18th century.
The incurving legs accommodate the
sitter's knees.
27.5" High x 36"
Wide x 35" Deep (open) |
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George I / II Diminutive Mahogany
Fold-Over Demi-Lune Card Table
England, c1730-40
Of "uncommon" half-round small form in heavy
dense Cuban timbers
with tapering lappet headed legs,
retaining
early surfaces with beautiful patination,
the top of solid mahogany,
the frieze veneered;
of small size of regular
27.5" seating height,
and small diameter, being only
27" round when open.
An almost identical walnut example
is shown in British Antique Furniture (Andrews), Pl. 333,
cited as "highly desirable" for a
collector.
27.5" High x 27" Wide (Open), 13.25"
Deep (Closed)
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Likewise these small tables were
designed to tuck away and serve multiple purposes throughout
the home.
"Quartetto
tables" were introduced by Thomas Sheraton c1800,
with
suggested uses for "desserts, needlework and writing".
George Smith
assigned them to drawing rooms, where
"they prevent
company from rising from their seats when taking
refreshment".
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.... Old Ways
for NEW Warmth :
Buckets &
Brasses |
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George III Irish Brass-Bound Mahogany Large Peat Bucket
Ireland, c1800-1820
Of quite large size, the staved coopered bucket horizontally reeded in
the Irish manner
with fine brass bandings and handle,
black painted liner
18.75" High
(not including handle)
x 15.25" Wide
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George III Brass-Bound Mahogany Plate Bucket
England, c1790
Of heavy timber with wonderful patination,
of usual staved tapering form form with vertical plate removal slot,
original reeded brass mounts,
and T-shaped attachments
16" High
x 14.5" Wide
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Early Fires were often fueled by peat, which was transported in lined buckets to the hearth.
Conversely,
plates were often transported from the
warmth of the kitchen to the table in unlined buckets
Today these
buckets can provide the same services -
or put to a myriad of other uses.
The large peat buckets : small
logs at the hearth; umbrella and cane
stands at the door; quite large
wastepaper baskets.
The smaller plate bucket : will
hold all your Christmas catalogs; with a
liner the perfect size for a wastepaper
basket.
Either would make an elegant and heavy
weight stand for your Christmas tree!
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Trivets, often referred to as "footmen", sat on the hearth, usually
with the back legs
in the fire,
keeping the pots, kettles of food,
and dishes
warm.
The lower rails
shown above were
used to hold the plates.
They can
also
make excellent "indestructible" chairside tables,
plant-stands and
stools.
I keep one for
seating in front of
my fireplace, to
catch the fire warmth
on
colder days.
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....
And for
Moments of QUIET Reflection : |
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Good George I Carved Gesso &
Giltwood Looking Glass
England, c1720
The gilt and very thin plate original
and in excellent condition;
the pierced broken arch pediment of
leaves and c-scrolls centering a plumed shield above a
rectangular plate;
the shaped base with further carved
leaves,
45" High x 24" Wide Overall
/ The Plate : 27.5" x 17.5" |
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Fine Regency Ebonized & Giltwood Diminutive Convex Girandole Mirror England, c1810
Surmounted by an ebonized eagle and
brass, gilt gesso and cut glass candlearms
Original gilt, eagle and girandoles; antique replaced mirror plate
I usually prefer much flat mirrors but found this small convex example
completely irresistible.
Additionally, the most collectible of the convex mirrors are the quite
large - or the quite small.
30" High x 21" Wide Over Bobeches / Plate 11.5" Diameter |
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The
'Annunciation', the 'Nativity' and the 'Journey of
the Magi' have inspired
some of
the most extraordinary art in the history of mankind.
From the
more stoic medieval art to the full blown
renaissance, the examples are rich and myriad.
We have
chosen three works to illustrate this celebrative
Christmas season.
Each is
remarkable in its own way.
We
begin with the magical 'Annunciation
of Cortona',
the altarpiece shown above,
painted
by Fra Angelico,
tempera on panel, executed 1433-34.
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In this unusual detail, the Angel
Gabriel speaks to
the Virgin :
"The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and
the power of the highest shall overshadow thee."
The Virgin replies, her
word in reversed
letters, upside down, in the center :
"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it
unto me according to thy word"/
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