Diminutive Chairs (God Bless the Children)

 The chair is of extreme antiquity,although for many centuries and indeed for thousands of years it was an article of State , rather than an article of ordinary use. The chair is still extensively used as an emblem of authority in Britian. It was not, in fact,until the 16th century that it became common anywhere. The number of chairs from earlier dates is exceedingly limited. Mostly in museums.
   In ancient Egypt chairs appear to have been great richness and splendour. Fashioned of ebony and ivory or of carved gilded wood, they were covered in costly, rare materials and supported upon legs of beast or figures.
   Greek and Roman chairs dates back to the 6th and 7th century BCE. Exambles can be found carved on the frieze of the Parthenon.These chairs were mostly carved from marble. The oldest know is the chair of St.Peter in the St.Peters church in Rome.

 Chinese chairs before the Tang Dynasty(618-907 AD) were not in existance. The predominant setting position was the lotus position on the floor. A remarkable change happened during the Tang period. A small mobile  folding stool developed into a more stationary stately chair with a high back.After that the chair was common in all of China.High back chairs are still in high use in China today.
   In Europe, it was owing in great measure to the Renaissance that the chair ceased to be a privilege  of the State and became available to anyone who could afford to buy a chair or had the skill to make one.  By the 17th century wood chairs in Britian were common. Fabric and leather soon were used to cover and make the chairs more comfortable.
  English chairs came into there own during the Tudor period.  During Charles II's reign they became the most decorative. During the reign of  William and Mary, the chair form became more solid and rigid.Makers like, Hepplewhite,Sheraton,Adams and Chippendale all left there  ever lasting mark on English chair design.
    18th century chairs are when the French took over. The French Rocco   style soon became the rage, with caberiole legs, carved backs and open arms. The bergere chair was also born in Louis XIV France.
   19th century chairs are when the Art Nouveau school produced chairs of simplicity with a movement like no other style before or since. Arts and Crafts  movement produced heavy,straight ,minimally ornamental chairs.
   American chairs: Rocco Revival,  Gothic and Empire  Revival and Eastlake, are  the names that come to mind. Makers like John Henry Belter brought these forms to all all time height and for the first time an American chair maker was considered as important as one from Europe. The Rocco chair was the American version of the French Louis XVI. Bigger in scale and heavier- but very much the same lines.
   Every maker and ever period since the Roman Empire have made Diminutive or children's chairs. One early example was  found in the Sun King's tomb in Egypt. Also known as the child King as he took the throne at the age of 9. The French especially, were  known for it's children's chairs. Some times whole sets were made and thrones were copied for the Heir apparent. Louis XVI was one who did this and the exambles are on display today.

    Most of my children's chairs are more fun than rare and not extremely valuable. I have always been attracted to them and seem to want every one I see. I have them  all about the house-usually in the way, I often fall over them. I love them anyhow. I have 2 very good ones. One is a American Gothic Revival and the other is a high Victorian .Both are made in America of walnut and from the early to middle 1800's. My little  great nieces and nephews love to set in my small chairs. I often catch the adults in them as well. They are usually very strong and can hold up well. But the two special ones, I always say, no-no!
    I  am also sharing several pictures from the garden as spring continues in Missouri. It is one of my favorite times. After a long hard winter it is much appreciated.
   I hope you enjoy my little kids chairs and maybe someday you can come by for a tour and see them in person. I will leave the lights on and Sissy Dog will meet you with a jump and a kiss.

My Sissy Dog, always with me and always a friend. 

I hate to sound like a broken record, but I can't seem to help myself. I am so proud of the fact that , My Old Historic House, is featured in this issue of Victorian Homes Magazine. Please go to the news stands and get a copy. If you like it, let the editor know.Editor-Hilary Black at    www.hblack@beckett.com

My Old Historic House during the great flood of 2008, Mississippi River, Clarksville,Mo. 

A Light Up Above!

French Iron Screen Porch.

Russian, Downstairs Entrance hall, Originally burned Candles, 18th Century.

Pink Beaded Italian, Main Bath

Italian, Porcelain, Capa-  De -Monte, Guest Room.

   It is Sunday night, Mothers Day.  I worked in my shop and before I went to work this morning, I picked lots of lily of he valley from my garden, bundled it and tied several with some sweet pink bows. I had a lady with a walker and her daughter first thing and I thought, ain't got room for that walker. Well she turned out to be the sweetest thing and her daughter bought some stuff, so I gave each of them one of my bundles of lily of the valley. I think it made there day and after that it made mine. I gave away all of them ,before the day was out. In the mean time, the whole shop smelled of there wonderful scent. What ever made me think of it, I do not know? But it seemed to work and I had a really good  and much needed day at the shop.I went home and had some dinner and mowed the yard and headed out to walk Sissy Dog for the last time and thought I would come back to the shop and do a Blog. I am afraid I hurried and the pictures are not the best, OH WELL. Better ones next time, I promise!
   I have been asked by several followers to do a blog about the chandeliers at, My Old Historic House. So here goes. I am afraid my chandeliers are all newer. I had a slight budget problem and could not afford the price tag of the real old Astral or Gas light chandeliers,that would be proper for the age of my house(1845-1860), so I oped for the $900ish ones ,verses the $9,000ish ones. I had a shop in St.Louis for years and one of the main things I sold was chandeliers. Old ones, used ones, vintage and yes, even new ones. I have always had a passion for chandeliers. I saved my money when I was about 14 and ordered my first one from the Sears catalog.It was crystal and had glass shade and glass prisms and ropes. I think it had 8 lights. My Mother thought I was strange, but she always encouraged me to be creative, so when it came in the mail, we hung it in the dining room at the old farm house where I grew up. I paid $69.00 plus shipping. I sold  that same type chandelier, over and over in my shop for around $250-$350. It was a smart investment and I did not even realize it.

Vintage Powder Room Chandelier.

Purple Beaded Italian in the Purple Bed room.

Cranberry one of a pair, double parlors.

Dining Room, 5 foot tall.

    The chandelier has been a symbol of luxury and an exhibition of wealth since the 15th century. The powerful perception of grandeur lent it by Kings, has proven timeless. In the 21st century, a chandelier still breathes an aristocratic air to any room.
    The earliest Gallic designs, those iron circles of the dark Ages, have proved with perfect achievement of balance and austere beauty that the same styles endure, ignoring the passage of time, even through to the electric age, when the basic candle-burning design is obsolete.
   The decorative arts, not to mention candles, remained almost exclusively in the hands of the aristocracy until the 18th century and the arrival of the Industrial  Revolution. So to trace the history of the chandelier styles, one has to follow the Kings.All candle holders, including hanging ones ,were called candlelbra. A chandelier with crystals and drops was called a luster, the same word used to mean splendor.The gilt metal chandelier decorated with rock crystal would soon become the epitome of luxury, a must-have for Europe's most illustrious palaces and cha'-teaux.. 17th century advances in glass making would give luster.makers  a more affordable way to add light and sparkle to their creations. However, over the centuries, many lighting manufacturers continued to produce a few special fixtures hung with rock crystal..Makers soon began to make molded glass drops and pendants with the specific goal of looking like rock crystal.Soon Venetian glass masters were adding there touches and a whole new world opened up for chandelier makers.Flowers of color and feather like spikes decorated chandeliers.
    Early chandeliers were all lite with candles. And that was not all glamour.  Hundreds of candles created heat, dripping wax was dangerous, a smoke discolored walls and made a foul smell. Because of the dripping wax, people began to dance around the edge of a ball room instead of the center and that tradition continues today.

French Iron, Screen Porch.

Russian 18th century, down stairs entrance hall.

Pink Beaded Italian, Main Bath. 

  Iron, brass and bronze frames were soon changed over to glass. This came about in the second half of the 19th century. Hollow arms were soon made to accommodate gas lines and electric wires.And then even porcelain was made into chandeliers.From companies  like Sevres and Capa De Monte. Chandlers were hung in almost every room ,even the garden room or sun porch.

    Robert Adams created a chandelier style that would influence all Georgian crystal chandeliers and he was one of the first to make a solid color chandelier of all red, blue, green or amber glass.
   At the end of the 18th century, France introduces the brass bird cage frame, hung with prisms, drops and glass ropes. This style is very highly looked  for on todays market and is the style of French chandelier that one things of for there homes today.
    Russian chandeliers were known for their lightness and delicacy, but later the styles became heavier,more opaque and dense with crystal.

Older, Vintage Chandelier with blown glass bubbles, guest room.

Older French with Cranberry, dressing room.

Italian, Metal, My Bath Room.

    Today chandeliers are for almost every one, rich, poor and the middle class. The prices have come down and there is a price range for almost every budget, The Shabby Chic style , brought a big interest back in buying, selling, hanging, decorating with and collecting crystal chandeliers of all types. Home Depot and other do-it-yourself stores even carry some fun and affordable styles. I have to draw the line with the ones that have plastic prisms. I say it should at least be glass. Chandeliers on todays market can be found at yard sales, Craig's list and resale shops for all different prices. They really make a room and I could not imagine my life with out them. I hope you enjoy my collection as much as I have enjoyed collecting them. Come by any time for a tour and I will leave the," lights up above", on and Sissy Dog will meet you with a jump and a kiss. SPARKLE_SPARKLE!!!

Red Beaded, Pewter, Italian, upstairs, Entrance Hall Landing.

French Black Iron and Huge Prisms, Library

The June,2011 issue of Victorian Homes magazine , with a 12 page article about,My Old Historic House, is out on news stands now. I have just ordered more copies and if you are having trouble finding them, just email me at cottrellprissy@aol.com  and I can mail it. They are $5.00 and shipping is $2.00. You can send me a check. Thanks, I hope you get a copy and   see me in print.Richard

LINKING TO:

http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2011/05/wow-us-wednesdays.html