And on the 8th Day the Lord made Pink Bristol.

A pair of pink Bristol Lusters with Hand Painted Portraits.



A Pair of Vases with Hand painted Birds and Flowers




Unusual Shaped Pair of Vases with Butterflies and Flowers.




Another pair of Lusters.





This Pair of Vases were my first pieces of Pink Bristol. I was teaching school and just out of college. I put them in lay-away at a shop in my home town.Clarksville,Mo.

 

3 pieces of Bristol that are in my Guest Room.

   Once when I was out antique shopping with  my friend, Sali , in Chicago, I looked at a beautiful pink Bristol vase and I said ,"I think the Lord made all the pink Bristol in the world ,just for me". latter that day when we got back to my friends home she handed me a bag and said,"the Lord just bought you a piece of pink Bristol." She had bought me the vase that I was looking at,when I was not looking. I am sorry if I have stepped on some toes talking about the Lord, in this way, but I asure you I ment no disrespect.I only ment that He had been good to me and made it possible to have so much beautiful pink Bristol. I had at one time a lot of pieces. Two of my favorite pieces I broke. Yes, Me. Not the kids,dogs,cats or cleaning people,ME. One was a tussie mussie vase. A spelter dog with a pink Bristol bud vase. My dearest  friend,Blossom, had bought it for me for my birthday. We were on a shopping trip and I was saying I was hoping to find a piece of pink Bristol. She saw this precious piece and said,like magic, here it is. Well I broke the bud vase part. The dog is fine and I  have since then found another Bristol bud vase that fits, but it is not PINK. The other piece I broke was another tussie mussie. I guess I should stay away from them. It was a beauty. A gold wire frame held this wonderful pink vase that was all covered in jewels. I found it in Kansas City , again with my friend Blossom. The shop was not open and this vase was in the window. I made Blossom stay over night so I could go in that shop and get the vase the next day. Now it too is broken. But, I have those memories.

  Victorian Bristol glass is known for its delicate and hand painted motifs. The more desirable pieces show off finely drawn and fanciful decorations. The finest glass was made at Bristol.England during the middle of the 1700's. Advances in production allowed for the glass to become more affordable during the 1800's. Today, the Bristol name is sometimes more synonymous with the lesser quality of opaque glass, typically decorated with hand painted flowers, portraits,birds and scenes. Bristol glass ended up being manufactured in Germany,France,Bohemia and Spain, besides in England. None of the glass produced outside Bristol was equal in quality to that made in Bristol. Real Bristol glass is rare and most glass that dealers and collectors call Bristol today was actually made in Germany. So the name Bristol Glass has been attached to the type of glass not the maker. A old time antique dealer friend of mine told me a long time ago, that one call always tell Bristol glass, if you hold it up to a very bright light and look through to the bottom you should see fire. Try it!
    These mold blown vessels made of semi-opaque and opalesent glass are rich in color and decoration.White is most common,other colors include blue,amber,green ,pink,custard,fireglow and clear. The glass is usually decorated with bright enameling  and gold trim. The name Bristol refers to one of the arears in England where glass was originally made. Other area of England that produced Bristol are Sunderland,Stourbridge,Newcastle,Chespstow,Warreington and Birmingham. Production is believed to have originated in the Bowles factory in Southwork. Because of similarities in decoration and possibly lack of research it is difficult to  distinguish the origins of various pieces.

 Bristol reproductions are rare and noticeably inferior quality. so buyers do not need to worry if it is a real piece or not.
    I did an antique show many years back with my partner, Louise. We wanted to show off. We rented 2 booths and after looking at each others mercandise, we decieded to call our booths, "Party on the Porch". It was spring. I coverd our fake walls with brick looking wallpaper. We put white lattis on the ceiling. I had a beautiful sign made.She had a lot of wicker,iron furniture and country pine. I have always had the more formal junk, so I had silver,glass, needlepoint pillows and to show off again , I took a lot of my pink Bristol glass. We both had tons of blooming plants that we latter used in our gardens. Can you see the booth??? Well the time was right and people bought all my pink Bristol.. My partner said," now you have all that money". and I said, "yes but no PINK BRISTOL".Sometimes money does not always buy happiness.  Well, I managed to save a few pieces and I am sharing them and my stories with you all today. Come by for a tour anytime. I will leave the lights on and Sissy Dog will meet you with a jump and a KISS!

HOT STUFF




English needlepoint trivet for hot dishes to protect your table.

 
     It is Sunday morning in our  little sleepy town of Clarksville,Mo. Located on the Mighty Mississippi River Banks, about  70 miles from  St.Louis. The sun is trying to shine, there is still a cool chill in the air. When I walked Sissy Dog this morning we saw a few flowers trying to bloom and welcome spring. Jonquils and Forsythia  are among my favorites. I am going to make a mid night run and get a few brances. I don't have any in my yard and I feel the need to have a vase full in the kitchen to make me smile. Winter has been long and hard here, as it has in many places around the country. We have had over 30 inches of snow and we usually only get around 10. All this has nothing to do with todays post, but I just wanted to share with you.
 





My neighbors house, she might have a late night visitor as I think I need a big bokay for my kitchen.

 

   How many have ever had a family dinner and was on the way to the dinner table with a very hot dish or platter and you yell, get something to put under this, it is HOT STUFF? Well I know I have heard it many times and I ususally grab a t-towel or pot holder.In Edwardian England (the Edwarian period was when Ewdard was King of England,periods of English history were always named after the ruler on the throne at that time)., they would have never used a pot holder, but would have reached for a fine trivet to place under the hot dish.  So today I am sharing with you my Needlepoint Trivets. Some of these may be a little older than the Edwardians and could really be called Victorian. Victoria reigned on the throne of England till 1903 and everything during that time was known as Vistorian. So if I was to guess the age of these trivets I would say, later part of the 1800's and very early part of the 1900's.The English took great pride in there homes, especially if you were of the upper class. They entertained with very high style. The ladies did needlework as a form of pass time and made everything under the sun. These trivets  were among those items. Beautiful maghogany frames were made and sold to hold the ladies needlepoints. Glass was placed on the top so the needlepoint would not get dirty or burn. The frames came in all different styles and shapes. They were mostly custom made to fit the needlepoint. The bottoms came off. The craftsmen were very clever and made  wood screws on the botton, so the bottom could be removed. An inner board was placed inside and the needlepoint would have been strtched to that and inserted into the frame. A fancy Passementere cording would  finish off the edges. Often the needlepoint inserts would be very elaborate and have bead work and some times gold and silve wire inserts.I am very fond of needlepoint, I have a vast collection. And I love it with the bead work. A needle with a thread would be pulled up from the bottom of the needlepoint canvas, a bead threaded through it, and then the needlewould be pullled back down and repeated till the desing was done. I can not imagine doing this, especially then, when the only light they had was an oil lamp or candle. So many of the beads were black and shades of gray,making them even harder to see.




The frame is mahogany and inlaid with walnut.

 


This one is all beads and made in black and grays.

     The first time I saw one of these was at a fancy antique show in Chicago. There was a wonderful dealer there from England. She had lots and lots of old beautiful English needlepoint. Pillows, firscreens, bell pulls,tea caddys and trivets. I was in love. They were way over my head as far as the prices went. Starting at $500 and going up. Well I didn't get one that day, but I was patient and have found several since then that had a better price. Just like most antiques the popularity of these needlepoint items has fallen off and so has the price. I have bought a few on ebay and sold them. I guess it was good to make some money, but, I would rather just look at them at My Old Historic House. Please come by any time for a tour. I will leave the lamps on and Sissy Dog will meet you with a jump and a KISS! Happy Sunday. Happy  first day of SPRING!




Close up of the needlepoint with black and white beads.




Notice the beautiful workmanship of the mahogany frame.





You can see the in-laid wood trim on the frame here.





The needlepoint on this one is all black and shades of grays. I can just imagine how hard it was to see these tiny beads.





Bottom has a wood screw so it can come off to change the needlepoint insert.



Stuff For Sale



SORRY SOLD!!!!!!



Nice shape and in perfect condition. 12 inches tall and 12 inches wide and 7 inches deep. $85.00 plus $20.00 shipping.

Framed Victorian ladies Fan. Mother of pearl with silk and mirrored sequins.



Wonderful condition.



Gold leaf shadow box frame with hot pink linen backing. 17 inches by 20 inches and 3 inches deep. Actual fan is 14 inches by 7 inches.

$65.00 plus $20.00 shipping. I will double box and wrap really welll.

Hand made large fat needlepoint pillow.

20 inches by 20 inches. Off white backing with brushed fringe.

$25.00 plus $12.00 shipping. Clean and smoke free.

  Today  I  am offering a few items for sale that go along with my last few post. I hope that maybe some of you all can use and want them. I appreciate you looking. I also had to put a few new pictures of  Ms. Sissy Dog on as well. We went for our morning walk in Beautiful Historic Clarksville,Mo., where we were delighted to see a few signs of spring. I say, "BRING IT ON!" I don't know when a winter has been so long and hard. The sun was shinning bright yesterday and I even had the kitchen door open and was thinking about opening the screen porch. Then today, rain,dark and chilly again. Maybe soon. If you are interested in any of the items, just email me or call. elcothouse@yahoo.com  or 573 242 9688. I can take a  master card or visa charge over the phone or I am also glad to take a check. THANKS! Richard

Spring has Sprung



Sissy had to stop and smell the flowers.



My favorite .

More to come.

My little girl, Sissy Dog with  all her diamonds.