Antique expert, Catherine Snow, shares ideas for bringing a room to life with interesting conversation pieces such as items from a trip or odd pieces from a flea market:
- Put a Japanese paper umbrella in front of a fireplace during the off-season, hang it from a ceiling light fixture or around a window(figure A).
- Bookcases are great for displaying interesting items such as an old birdcage with Chinese hand-painted food and water dishes in it. Or fill the cage with plants, flowers or small books.
- Make a shelf display of a favorite vacation with items bought while on the trip plus books about the destination. Include some unusual items on other shelves such as trophies for interesting contests or fill an antique English chamber pot with small glass balls in it. These can also be used as a planter or in the bathroom filled with soaps, etc.
- Try unique items for great conversation starters on the coffee table such as a 19th century ballot box (the marble balls were used to vote. A black ball meant that the candidate was not accepted, hence the term "black-balled"). A1920s bingo cage with a Bakelite (an early plastic) posts and handle is great fun to play with!
- Put a collection of molds for cast iron pipes on the mantel (figure B). Try finding similar items at flea markets and antique stores. You don't have to be a serious collector or have a great knowledge about the items--just that they look good.
- Incorporate a 19th century dictionary and coordinating stand, which were given along with the purchase. This is a wonderful item for a den, library, home office or guest room, as people will love to browse through the pages.
- An ice cream stool makes a great side table.
- Create a musical collage with a framed illumination, pipe organ grouping old violin , metronome and a xylophone (figure C). If you're a music lover, make a grouping of musical items for the living room, den, hallway or even the bathroom.
- Japanese stacking boxes make a great statement in any room or hallway. Use them to store items or as a side table.
Guests Catherine Snow
Antics Fine and Fanciful Antiques
Email:
cwsnow@mindspring.com
URL:
www.eantics.com
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