“Garden as though you will live forever.”

William Kent is quoted as saying “Garden as though you will live forever.”  I will embrace his words as I undertake the acres surrounding Chesapeake’s Cottage.  William was a highly regarded English architect, landscaper, and furniture designer in the 18^th Century.  His accomplishments include; The Temple of Ancient Virtue, Stowe; Badminton House; Houghton Hall; along with other distinguished homes and gardens in England.

As I begin the fine-tuning process of my stable my thoughts race ahead to the surrounding landscape and inevitably I think about how it will relate to the entire property.   I trust Mr. Kent and will forge ahead knowing that it will take time to see my landscape reach maturity.   

Today I came across some breathtaking English homes with glorious gardens that just happen to be for sale.  These were highlighted in today’s Telegraph UK.  I will be looking for ideas and hope you will find some also. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four photos from Telegraph UK

 

Just had to include one of my all time favorites!

 

Photo Veranda Magazine

 

 

Sunrise on a foggy morning...my blank slate...

quite a bit of work ahead of me

Antique Papier-mâché

Papier-mâché,  paper mache, or papier machie?  So close, yet just a letter or two apart.   If you collect papier mache you may have a preference for the spelling.  The origin dates back as far as the invention of paper.  Paper was developed in China during the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.- 220 A.D.)  Examples have survived from ancient Tibet and Persia along with China.  The use spread to France and England where in each country craftsmen perfected methods and materials.  The term “papier-mâché” means masticated or chewed paper.   I will need to do a follow-up on the ways and methods; however, my horses are waiting to be fed or they may masticate the pasture fences.

I am always drawn to examples of papier mache.  Rich glossy black pieces inlaid with Mother of Pearl and treated to gold pen work always capture my attention on a buying trip.   My inventory normally includes boxes, trays, ink stands, and desk accessories.  Below are a few I have available now and a few others that hopefully will capture your attention also. 

          Papier Mache Tea Caddy Mother of Pearl Abalone Inlay~Bird & Floral C. 1850
                                                             Photo by D. Hartsook
           http://www.rubylane.com/item/378674-2010050/Papier-Mache-Tea-Caddy-Mother

      Antique Victorian Era Papier Mache Blotter, Folio with Floral Design MOP & Abalone
                                                                 Photo: D. Hartsook
        http://www.rubylane.com/item/378674-211126/Antique-Victorian-Era-Papier-Mache 

                      Antique Papier Mache Ink Well Inkstand Victorian Mother of Pearl
                                                                             Photo: D. Hartsook
      http://www.rubylane.com/item/378674-211010/Antique-Papier-Mache-Ink-Well

 

One of my favorites; a stunning letter box which has sold

Photo by D. Hartsook

"Muddle that Mint!" for Kentucky Derby

"Muddle that Mint" for Race Day

It has been awhile since I last posted.   I have been busy looking at barn plans and trying to decide what will work best for me and my horses.   Spring has passed so quickly and it is now early May.  So thoughts and plans are turning toward this Saturday’s race; the Kentucky Derby.

I wanted to share some ideas that I and several of my riding friends used just recently for day at the races here in Aiken.    We hosted a rail side picnic and everyone brought their favorite recipes.   One of my riding partners made Mint Julep cupcakes from a recipe that is quite popular on-line.    It is worth the time and effort; the flavor of a Mint Julep in a moist cupcake. 

 

 

To cover our tables we used long runners of khaki burlap.  These were actually recycled from my son’s wedding rehearsal dinner just a few months ago in St. Petersburg, FL.   For the dinner they crisscrossed round tables of white linens and were piled high with bleached white shells and starfish interspersed with candles and votives.   Well back the races! I mentioned the runners to a very talented riding partner.  We decided to do a jockey theme for the tables and then headed off to shop for fabrics that were bright and eye-catching.   My friend, Karen, turned the fabric and runners into custom made “linens” for our picnic.   Each end of the runners had a different pattern for the jockey silks.  Wicker baskets, pink topiary roses, and horseshoes added the final touch.

 

   

 

 

 

My mint plants have taken off in the last few weeks!  Just in time for me to gather a large bunch and prepare my own recipe of Mint Juleps for Saturday.   Just be sure to “muddle the mint” for the best tasting drink.   That’s what we do in the South! 

Stables

It has been rainy and foggy for two straight days here in South Carolina.   Thursday was the last I was able to ride and the weather was so very nice that I went on a long ride with several of my friends.   I stayed way too long at the barn afterwards.  Yesterday, I spent more time getting acquainted with my new computer which was easier to do since I could not ride due to the heavy rain.   Change can be very good; however, I find myself more resistant to change when it involves computers, cameras, and phones.  Today, I decided to take a break and focus on a future barn design for my property.  I could just use the search feature on my new computer and not worry for several hours about  all the more detailed features of the new computer.  What type of design, stalls, type of roof, flooring, lighting, tack room, feed room, wash stall? So many things to think about and of course every barn looks better with the right landscaping.   The rain? The new computer?  They are still here; I just forgot about them for awhile.

 

 

I am ready to have the pastures green again!  My friend Karen and her horse Bandit enjoying

 

                                     the final lush days of  the pasture in late fall.  My photos

 

Good design buts needs some lush landscaping

 

 

I could be happy with this garden at one end of the stable!

Veranda Magazine

 

 

Antique Jewelry

The holidays seemed to fly by and now almost two weeks of the New Year have passed.  I enjoyed visiting family, time with friends, and hours riding my horse but now it is time to focus on work again.  I am beginning to focus on my upcoming trip to England and France.  Today I decided to see what was happening in London at the great auction houses.  Christie's is having a mouth watering jewelry auction on the 16th. of January at the South Kensington location.  There is no charge of course to view the on-line catalog.   So pour a glass of champagne and start clicking away.  Below are a few of my favorites

 

Christie's Jewelry Auction South Kensington

 

 

All Photos Christie's Catalog 

Antiques-French Polish

French Polish~~~French Polishing

Some of us just like the use of the word French in front of our favorite things, wine, cheese, bread, chateaus, and more.  Now what about French polish or French polishing?  It is actually a technique for finishing wood and not a material or product.

It involves the use of many layers of thin shellac that eventually yield a glossy surface on wood that is not only time consuming to acquire but breathtaking to view.  Some collectors of fine furniture refer to the technique as “the icing on the cake”.   It is costly and also time consuming; yet the richness that is captured with the process produces a piece that captures the eye. The technique was perfected by a Frenchman or so I have read around 1820.  I have also seen credit given to Viennese craftsmen during the late 18^th century.  Next time we will go into more about the process and the little insect called Laciffer Lacca that is part of the process.  Yes, a little insect.  Below are some pictures of antique boxes with that little something extra….French Polish.

                    From the Victoria & Albert Museum-18th. C Knife box

                       
                             Two Rare Tea Boxes-Antiques.com

                         
                         A Stunning Cave à Liqueur  from my Innentory

                       A closer view of that beautiful technique called
                         French polishing; the wood is resplendent
               
                                             

Antique Silver -Monteiths

Monteith.  Not a word you hear often or an item you hear much  about.   Ok...  What is a Monteith?

 They are considered a wine accessory.  Monteiths were vessels or large footed bowls with notched rims  that were used to chill drinking cups.  The scalloped rims were removable on some examples.  This offfered the option of a punch bowl or in the case of very large examples they became spacious cisterns for chilling bottles.  So named after a Scotsman called Monteith (or possibly Monteigh) that had a fondness for ruffled edges on his cloak.   

 

 These vessels were made from various materials including wood, copper, porcelain and silver.  Silver was the predominate material for the bowls.  Monteiths have been used for almost as long as wine coolers and buckets.    A silver Monteith with English hallmarks has been documented with a date of 1684/1685.   

 

Popular through the last two decades of the 17^th Century; cups were suspended by the foot from the scalloped edges in ice water in order to chill them.  Large and ornate with decorative scalloped edging; the bowls held court on grand carved sideboards at parties of the affluent.   After all, it was only the affluent that could afford them.

As customs and fashion ebb and flow; the use of silver cups faded and glass became the choice for serving wine or other spirts.   The use of the grand scalloped bowls diminished.  Today, Monteiths are mainly seen in museums; however, fine examples can be found at major auction houses and a few well known antique shops.  

Below are a few examples from the  Albert & Victoria Museum in London.   Their website makes a visit so easy, no plane tickets or hotel reservations, just click the link. 

http://www.vam.ac.uk/

                              Farrell, Edward ---  Albert & Victoria Museum
                                                       Silver Gilt 

                          Creator, unknown---Albert & Victoria Museum

                        Leeds England Pottery---Albert & Victoria Museum

                     

                                                           Jingdezhen, China (made) Porcelain

                                                 Date:ca. 1700-1715

                                         Albert & Victoria Museum