Showing posts with label Battenberg Lace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Battenberg Lace. Show all posts

Monday, September 7, 2015

Labor Day Treasure Hunt

Three days of treasure hunting bliss.  Most of Atlanta was out of town, thanks to the lower gas prices. This made it marvelous for someone like me who loves to meander around back roads in search of unique finds.  Lots of photos to look at and they also include items from a weekend ago.  

This gorgeous, early Victorian parlor tablecloth is rich with heavy bullion fringe and tassels along with a fine needlepoint picture on silk. You never know what you are going to find at a thrift shop.

Picked up a pair of these stained glass window panes.  One is a little smaller than this one.  Have wood frames coming for them so they can be hung. Both will find their way into my booth space at the Buford Queen of of Hearts.

I am addicted to true Battenberg lace pieces and this gorgeous, parlor tablecloth is a winner all around. Fine lace work make this extraordinary.  This was part of a linen lot that I won at a local auction.

Another gorgeous Battenberg piece.  

Lovely antique Persian Saph (prayer rug).  The most interesting and complex elaboration of the prayer rug format is the multiple-niche prayer rug or “Saph.”  Saphs look like runners, but unlike runners, where the design is longitudinal, Saphs look like a series of prayer rugs (Mihrab-Gateway to Paradise). The mihrab is an arched niche, usually framed by columns. It is the focal point of the Mosque where the Imam leads the congregation.  Saphs are not common prayer rugs and this one is in lovely condition.  Hand, double knotted wool with cotton fringe.  Circa 1900-20s

Exquisite Victorian oil on board painting depicting the portrait of a young girl with chair.  Dressed in the traditional clothing of the well to do Victorian child: white dress with blue ribbons in her hair and bodice, pantaloons and black high top shoes.  It is of excellent craftsmanship and very beautiful in detail. The painting is set in an original carved, wooden frame with gilt adornments. In perfect condition and dates at the end of the 19th century (1870-80s). This was an auction win.

Pair of pretty antique tablecloths were part of the linen lot auction win.  

 Found this gorgeous piece in Flowery Branch.  Rich in lustre and iridescence with a Star of David in the center.  This is now in my personal collection.

Stack'um high.  Pair of lovely, antique cake stands. They even have the knife marks from years of cutting slices of homemade cakes. The stand on the bottom has a hint of sun purple to it.   These are already in my Victorian space and priced to move as I got them at such a great price.

A thrift store find, really lovely Austrian bowl with hand painted cabbage roses.

  Beautiful silverplated candelabra polished up great.

 Brought in a nice selection of antique copper lustre ware, a type of pottery with a metallic glaze that gives the effect of iridescence.  Years ago when rooms were lit only by oil lamps and candles, people loved to have things around them that shone and glowed in this soft light. The wealth had their silver and glass and gilded furniture: but the less well off had to do it in other ways. One of these was by having lustred pottery and china on their shelves and mantelpieces reflecting the light from the fire into dark corners and recesses.

During the first half of the 19th century large quantities of Lustreware were produced in British factories.  These pieces were produced from a soft paste ceramic making them easy to chip and break.  Still, they were beloved items throughout the 19th century.


Won a huge vintage glove lot at a location auction.  They are all in my main space at the Buford Queen of Hearts.

Sweet vintage hat is sassy fun.

Now this is going green. Big, sassy hat with feathers along the front brim.  

Gorgeous and heavy cut crystal bowl.  Have never seen one like this, don't know if this is a married piece, an inventive repair or make do.  I have reached out to a cut glass site and will report back on what it is.

 Another lovely carnival glass find this weekend.  Brilliant lustre and in perfect condition.

 Stunning Austrian handled server has the prettiest white roses and soft taupe and gold design elements.  A thrift store find.

Found at the same thrift store, this delightful 1930s car coat pin is a big turtle filled with blue cut glass.  It's missing one stone but I think it is too cha cha for words.

 Marvelous antique metal headed doll, called a Minerva. She is marked in raised lettering, "Minerva" and "Germany" on the front and back of the shoulder plate.  Hand stitched body and kid leather hands.  Missing one shoe but has original stockings.  Lovely original gown with underskirt. Late 19th century- circa 1890s


 Did a chalk paint finish on this gorgeous table. It was terribly scratched up but had great legs. Everyone is on the chalk paint bandwagon these days and I have never seen so much taupe/gray furniture being offered. I decided to mix up a blend of gray with a hint of lavender for this table. I am over the moon with the outcome. This beauty is in my main space at the Buford Queen of Hearts Antiques & Interiors.

And finally, this lovely piano scarf.  Turn of the century piece was a thrift store find and a  scarf my sweet little girl decided to park on.

It was a rich two weekends for finding treasure and I really acquired some lovely pieces for my spaces at the Buford Queen of Hearts, but also a few keepers.  

Hoping that the rest of your week is a gentle one and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Battenberg Lace

"Lace" is one of the most evocative words in our language. It suggests an elegant sensibility, a delicacy offering a diverse variety of styles and patterns. The word “lace” comes from the Latin meaning a noose or snare. Most likely its earliest origins from early fisherman who used the looping of threads into nets. As a needlewoman, it is no surprise that I am a collector of women’s textiles. Fiber into fabric and fabric fashioned into the everyday pieces that surround us from clothing to household goods to embellishment has always fascinated me.


Although I adore lace in all of its forms, it is the Battenberg lace technique that has always called me. I have antique Battenberg lace pieces around my house and in my closet. Battenberg or “tape lace” can be traced to the 16th century, Battenberg lace was first created when Queen Victoria of England named her son-in-law as the first Duke of Battenberg in the late 1800s. Every English Duke had his own lace pattern. Thus, a new style of tape lace called Battenberg was invented and became quite popular. During the 1930s and 1940s, making Battenberg lace was a fashionable American hobby made easier by readily available machine-woven tapes.


The most readily available Battenberg lace items can be found at every department, fabric and craft store. Who among us has not seen the Made in China pieces that abound?


I’m afraid I’m a bit of snob when it comes to Battenberg and do not own any of the modern pieces. If you have ever come across or are fortunate enough to own antique Battenberg lace you understand my snobbery. There is nothing quite like it.

Detail of antique Battenberg lace.  No comparison to today's modern pieces.


Lovely antique Battenberg lace parlour tablecloth. Circa 1890s.


Antique Batteberg lace bedspread.  Circa 1900s
 
Highly detailed work combined with netting and linen.  Circa 1910
 
Stunning wedding gown of Battenberg Lace.  Would be worn over a silk tafetta undergown.  Circa 1900s
 
Detail of gown train.  The hours spent creating this masterpiece are mind boggeling.
 
Lovely Edwardian color made from silk tape with pretty pink accents. 
 
Pretty overlay jacket.  I have a similiar piece in black that I wear.  Circa 1910.
 
An exquisite floor length jacket from the 1910-20s era combining silk guaze, battenberg lace technqiues and silk embroidered flowers in the art nouveau fashion.  I would love to own this lovely garment but it is too costly for my humble pocketbook.  But how smashing would the wearer be in this? 
 
I hope, in your travels, that as you come across true antique/vintage pieces of battenberg lace that you have the opportunity to really look closely at the workmanship of these pieces. They are nothing short of extraordinary.  Have a joyous day.  Sea Witch