Why Do I Love Vintage?

May 5, 2013

Why do I love vintage?

I attended an estate sale yesterday that was run by the family members, and as pieces were contemplated by those of us looking to buy, stories and memories were shared. I felt privileged to be in the midst, as it was clear the pieces for sale had seen many years of family love… and as each member shared another moment connected back to their treasures, the reasons that I love vintage were underscored for me.

Vintage pieces are the stories in peoples’ lives.

Vintage pieces have stood the test of time.

Mikasa Cera Stone Creamer by Jonas Roberts, c.1960s, D1800 Brown

Like this Mikasa Cera Stone creamer by Jonas Roberts, circa 1960s. 50-ish years this piece has been around, and it’s in perfect condition!

Vintage pieces have seen more than we’ll ever know.

Mikasa Cera Stone Creamers by Jonas Roberts, c.1960s, D1800 Brown

Like these three Mikasa Cera Stone creamers all lined up in a row. Each has lived a separate life, and yet somehow their paths have crossed to become a family of three. All are in mint condition. What are the chances after 50 some odd years in existence?

Vintage pieces come from their very own family.

Mikasa Cera Stone Cream & Sugar Sets by Jonas Roberts, c.1960s, D1800 Brown

They’ve traveled around, have stories to share, and some of their stories we’ll never know…

But as we bring vintage treasures into our own lives, we get to continue their legacy of ‘being’. And we get to build our own stories in to the tapestry of their past.

I’m sharing these thoughts with you, because of…

The Beauty

Yesterday I witnessed vintage treasures being lovingly moved on. It was a special moment in time that I won’t soon forget.

The Tragedy

And then a little later on I experienced a stark contrast to that. I was in a ‘shop’, the name I won’t disclose, where glassware was being cleared from the shelves, apparently destined for another ‘shop’. The glassware was a mix of vintage and not so new, and it was literally being tossed into a cart without care. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing… and more disturbing, what I was hearing. The sound of breaking, chipping glass. Why? It made me so sad that these unsuspecting pieces were being handled this way, that their chances for survival were so carelessly disregarded…

The Opportunity

We’ll never know why… but we do know there are great pieces out there waiting for a loving home. If you shop vintage, go find them before it’s too late! If you aren’t a vintage shopper, do you think you might want to give it a try?

These are just a few of the reasons why I love vintage!!! I hope you’re having a great weekend. Pop by tomorrow… I have a very special guest joining sZinteriors, and there just might be a connection to this post! ;-)

Thanks for stopping by!

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Photographs by Sheila Zeller

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Guest Post: Decorating With Bottles Of All Sorts

April 22, 2013

Today I’m excited to introduce my guest, Mari from Arcadian Home! If you haven’t shopped Arcadian Home, you really need to pop over. There is inspiration and eye candy galore. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

Thanks so much for joining sZinteriors today, Mari!

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Hello, everyone! It’s wonderful to be here with you at sZinteriors with a guest post from Arcadian Home blog. It’s an awesome place to find lots of interior design inspiration including beautiful home decor ideas from oval wall mirrors to lovely lighting for the foyer and much more.

Today, we’re going to take a look at decorating with bottles of sorts. From clear glass to brilliant cobalt blue, the vintage bottle is at once versatile and charming as a collection or a single perfect piece. Please enjoy!

Thanks to Sheila for letting me stop by for a visit.

~ Mari

Bottles in Decor

Two large green bottles can be seen in a living room bookcase filled with antique books, coral, seashells and interesting found objects. Shelves are also a great place to display collections of smaller bottles.

Bottles in Decor

A white vintage mantle looks so pretty with a collection of green, blue and clear glass bottles—made even more interesting by choosing each bottle in a different size. It’s such a fresh look for spring or summer.

Bottles in Decor

Vintage medicine bottles and other drugstore-related boxes and containers line the shelves in this white kitchen. What a clever idea to create a little theme by displaying the medicine bottles just below the pharmacy sign!

Bottles in Decor

A collection of mostly pale blue vintage glass bottles looks pretty on a thick glass floating bathroom shelf. How cool is the idea to hang a framed photograph of a contemporary meets rustic bathroom in a vintage bath.

Bottles in Decor

Colorful glass bottles march along a shelf above a built-in desk in the living room of this newly renovated 100-year-old home. Modern pendant lights are hung above the dining table and in the living room.

Bottles in Decor

A large fat glass bottle is a perfect decorative object for this coastal living room dressed up in a watery blue and soft tan color palette.

Bottles in Decor

Blue green antique spritzer bottles draw the eye to the top of a rustic white paned-glass cabinet. Blue canning jars hold white tulips on the table. It’s a lovely combination that ties the room together nicely.

Bottles in Decor

An interesting mix of vintage and contemporary bottles is just right for this eclectic outdoor dining room. I would love to see twin Mid-Century buffet lamps on either end of this washed wood sideboard. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

What do you think of these bottle decor inspirations? Leave us your comments below and visit our blog for more home decor and lighting inspirations!

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Vintage Lowney’s Campfire Marshmallow Tin

April 1, 2013

Not too long ago on a thrifting round I spied a bright, cheerful tin hanging out with a bunch of old tools and things.

Vintage Lowney's Marshmallow Tin c1930-40s

Maybe it was the ‘Campfire’ label that suggested a fit, but to me it looked out of place among the rusty grit and grime of the others.

So I pulled it off the shelf to take a closer look.

Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval

Marshmallows. Who knew marshmallows once came in a tin? Along with a ‘Tested and Approved’ Good Housekeeping Institute seal of approval to boot! No wonder this tin didn’t belong in the grimy group!

A little digging confirmed the tin originated in Montreal, and was manufactured by Walter M. Lowney Co. Limited – as in Lowney’s the maker of all things candy, chocolates ‘n yummy, sweet treats! According to the Canadian Museum of Civilization this particular tin dates back to no earlier than 1930, and no later than 1940. I love it when dates are so precise!

Here’s another look at the sweet marshmallow tin.

Vintage Lowrey's Marshmallow Tin c.1930-40

I didn’t leave it behind, but I didn’t bring it home for me, either. My friend, Heather loves yellow, and was on the hunt for a cool, old tin so I decided to pass this one on to her. I figured orange was part of the happy yellow family, and the label more than made up for the rest!

Here’s how she utilized the tin.

Vintage Campfire Marshmallow Tin Sewing Box, c.1930-40

{Photo by Heather McLeod}

And this is the nice little note she sent with the photo above.

I LOVE my marshmallow tin. It fits all those awkward sewing supplies that don’t fit in my little tins (e.g. the one on the right), like fabric pens and tall stuff and scissors. I haven’t come close to filling it yet.

Thank you Sheila!!!

And this is what treasure seeking is all about. I love it when outings end like this!

Linking up here…

Junkin Joe

Between Naps on the Porch

Thanks for stopping by.

I hope you had a really great Easter weekend!

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Photographs by Sheila Zeller unless otherwise stated.

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Christmas Cards – Where Did They Come From?

November 29, 2011

Ever wonder how a tradition came to be?

I thought it would be fun to take a look into Christmas card past. Just curious, are you writing cards this year?

With this fast paced electronic world, the tradition of mailing out Christmas cards is slowing year by year, but there was a time when the cards one received could paper a wall! The cost of postage is literally tipping the scales in favor of e-cards and emailed Christmas letters, not to mention the time delay with mailing that we are just not used to anymore. I’m not standing in judgment of this choice, just expressing a melancholy acknowledgment of the shift that’s happening in our world of today…

Do you know the roots of the Christmas card tradition?

The first commercial Christmas card (below) was designed in 1843 by John Callcott Horsley.

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Horsley was commissioned for the illustration by Sir Henry Cole, the first director of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.

The story:

Sir Henry found himself too busy in the Christmas season to compose individual Christmas greetings for his friends! At that time Christmas greetings were hand written notes, not cards, and this custom evolved from the days in England when young boys practiced their writing skills by creating Christmas greetings for their parents. See, everything has a story!

And so the Christmas greeting card was born, inscribed with ‘A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You.’

But did you know the illustrations of early English cards were not winter or religious themes? Interestingly, flowers, fairies, animals and other ornate designs were used as a reminder for the recipient of the approaching of spring!

Here you see the popular robin redbreast.

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You will find this ornate 19th century Christmas card housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Commercial Christmas cards were introduced in 1874 to America by Louis Prang, an immigrant from Prussia with a background in textiles and printing. As a result, Prang is sometimes referred to as the ‘Father of the American Christmas card.’

Traditional American Christmas cards followed in the footsteps of Victorian style cards until the first souvenir postcard came on the scene in America in 1893.

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This famous Louis Prang card is c. 1882.

The postcard phenomenon took hold, but by the 1920s  Christmas cards with envelopes had returned albeit with a different look from the original Victorian style. And this was as a result of changing tastes and evolving printing techniques.

But the changing face of illustrations on Christmas cards was also impacted by World War I…

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And World War II…

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TIP:

One way to identify vintage American WWII Christmas Cards is by the colours used. You will see a combination of patriotic colours in the illustrations, and often patriotic images too.

This is another example of an American Christmas card from WWII…

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In the American colours of red, white and blue!

And this card, the ‘Victory Card’ is post WWII.

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You can still see a hint of Victorian influence in the child on St. Nicholas’ knee, but it’s the prominence of St. Nicholas himself that is the key to the shift in Christmas card illustrations that we see today.

And we have Coca-Cola to thank for that. The standardized version of the guy we now know as Jolly ole Saint Nick aka Santa Claus evolved from their series of illustrations for advertisements drawn by Haddon Sundblom over the course of years, 1931 – 1964, into the persona of Santa as we know him today.

This is just a random sampling of Coca-Cola Christmas cards with Sundblom illustrations ranging between 1945 to 1956.

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This is a sampling of vintage Christmas cards from the 1940s and 50s.

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A retro collection spanning the 1950s – 60s…

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And a random vintage assortment from the 1940s – 60s.

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And the rest they say, is history!

Do you remember any of these styles?

Isn’t it funny how Christmas cards evolved? Handwritten notes to folded cards with envelopes, the post card phase, and back to folded cards and envelopes. And now we’re circling back to personalized notes, but in the form of emailed Christmas letters. Of course, there’s also e-cards. But the irony is that time and convenience are at the heart of each change, the very place that Christmas cards began!

I love to receive Christmas cards in the mail, and look forward to incorporating them into my holiday decor. How about you? For me they are a symbolic reminder of the people in our life, that keeps them close in our thoughts even though they aren’t here.

I sincerely hope we don’t lose the tradition of mailing Christmas cards altogether, because I fear we will have lost a beautiful piece of our history to the convenience of modern technology. But that’s just me!

For where would I be without technology? I know my blog wouldn’t be possible! But… I’ll still be mailing my cards on December 1st.

It’s about coming home… If you want a remarkable space that tells your story, contact me to see how we can help!

Did you enjoy this post? By subscribing to my RSS Feed you’ll receive each new post without missing a beat! And you can find more posts here… If a thought comes to mind, comments are always appreciated and I read them all. I’d love to hear from you…

THANKS FOR READING!

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Vintage Milk Glass

September 12, 2011

Milk Glass. It’s been around for years. You may have grown up with it, seen it in passing, or started your own collection. And undoubtedly you will have come across Fenton’s hobnail milk glass, a common pattern that was developed in the ’50s. Because of its popularity, and of course its charm and versatility, the hobnail design was a sure seller in its time and for years to come. Now these pieces are common collectibles, generally easy to find, and still reasonably priced.

This is a hobnail pitcher that I recognize well, and you might too.

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I grew up with one of these pitchers in our home. Unfortunately, when my parents moved my Mom put it in a garage sale! If only I knew then what I know now ;-)

Fenton milk glass was also easily identified by the unique ruffled edges found on many of their pieces.

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Like this candy compote. If you collect milk glass, then this piece will be one you probably recognize.

Milk glass vases have long been a popular choice for styling tables for weddings and other celebrations.

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Isn’t this display effective with the pop of red in the milky white of the vases?

Of courses table scapes don’t have to be limited to vases.

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A little arrangement in a milk glass flower pot can be cheerful and festive too.

Or you might like to add a splash of colour in a tabletop urn.

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An urn always adds an extra feeling of glam, especially milk glass urns like these.

Or how about a goblet instead?

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I love this setting, and it’s the hobnail goblet that really sets it apart to make a statement.

But no place setting is complete without a great set of napkin rings.

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They’re fab displayed just like this… now imagine them on beautiful linen napkins and placed around the table. How can a table not feel dressed with pieces like this?

Here are a few different milk glass collections, just to give you an idea of the range pieces.

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These are just a handful of examples of the assortment you can find in milk glass pieces. Can you pick out the hobnail pattern? Remember, that’s the super popular pattern I mentioned earlier that became Fenton’s sure seller!

Another pattern similar to the hobnail is the sawtooth.

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Like you see here in this sawtooth patterned compote.

No matter what the size, the shape, or the pattern, milk glass pieces are a great addition to any décor.

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They can add a sense of whimsy, or an element of elegance and class. It’s really up to you.

Just for fun I have included a few links to DIY projects so you can create your own faux milk glass! You never know when you might need a few pieces :-)

These three involve painting the exterior of your your chosen pieces:

Ruffled Blog: DIY Tutorial for Faux Milk Glass

Scoutie Girl Blog: DIY Tutorial for Faux Milk Glass

Hey Gorgeous Blog: DIY Tutorial for Faux Milk Glass

And this one, a little more involved, is for coating the inside of your piece with paint:

A Little of This, A Little of That Blog: DIY Tutorial for Faux Milk Glass

This should be enough to get you started!

Do you have any milk glass pieces? Where did your pieces come from?

Thanks for stopping by!

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Photographs courtesy of linked source

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Vintage Amber Glassware

July 21, 2011

Little did I know that amber glassware would be making its way into my home after all these years!

Growing up I remember my Mom having a set of these apothecary jars on the kitchen counter.

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They were really more like canisters because as I recall she had four of them on the counter, 3 large and 1 small. And now, gasp, this very jar is considered vintage!

We also had this Hazel-Atlas candy dish, and it came out mainly during Christmas. I actually remember Christmas candy being put in it… speaking of vintage, do you remember the sticky, colourful old fashioned Christmas candy mix?

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This dish is in the pinwheel & leaf pattern, and is circa 1970s.

My Mom had a little amber glass dish similar to this Anchor-Hocking ‘Star & Cameo’ patterned one too.

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Hers was more plain than this one, but she also had a set of clear dessert dishes exactly like this one. In fact, they’re still around! The amber dish was depression glass, as well as the clear dishes.

But I bet you’re wondering why this sudden interest in the amber glassware. Well, Kaleigh and I were antiquing for a few decorative dishes for her bathroom. She had a covered candy dish in mind for her Q-tips, and really wanted something on a pedestal. Originally she was looking for something in clear glass. So imagine my surprise when she spied the amber glass and changed her vision on the spot!

This is what she chose.

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Another vintage Anchor-Hocking piece, this one being a ‘Fairfield’ amber glass candy dish. I saw one on-line without the lid and it was being sold for more than we paid for this one! Lucky us :-)

And we also found this…

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A mini ice cream dish which will be used as a soap dish.

You can see from the counter top that the amber glass is a great match. And with the gold in Kaleigh’s new colour scheme (you can read about it here, here, and here), the amber creates a nice flow between her bedroom and ensuite. You’ll get to see more photos as Kaleigh’s new scheme comes together… one project at a time ;-)

But for now, here are the two pieces sitting beside each other.

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They’re not a set, but they definitely compliment each other.

It’s interesting seeing Kaleigh’s choices come together. Who would have thought popular glassware from my childhood would turn up in my teenage daughter’s décor scheme? Hmmm, what goes ’round comes ’round, and this is especially true with the décor trends today. What’s old is new again!

Do you remember any amber glassware in your home? Do you have any now?

Thanks for stopping by!

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Photographs by Sheila Zeller unless otherwise indicated.

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Corelle Dinnerware: Do You Remember When…?

May 10, 2011

I came across this article featuring new Corelle dinnerware available April 19, 2011. I was amused because I had forgotten all about Corelle dinnerware. Growing up we had Corelle dishes, along with some matching Pyrex and Corningware pieces! Back in the day we had the hottest trend in the latest look, and when that started to get tired, my Mom upgraded to just plain white, but still Corelle! We definitely had other dinnerware, but our everyday was this.

So to have a little fun, I decided to look up the pattern and find some images to share with you of the dinnerware I grew up with! Maybe some of you will remember it, and maybe some of your parents still have a few pieces. I know my Dad still has the oval Corningware casserole dish I remember so clearly. And I also know it’s one of those pieces that is just the right size that works for so many things…

Spring Blossom. White with green flowers. Now… vintage!

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Does this look familiar to any of you?

Here we have a close-up of the pattern…

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Dinner plates, salad/luncheon plates, and bowls.

Did you know that Corelle is:

  • Dishwasher and oven safe
  • Break-, chip-, and fade-resistant under normal use
  • Lightweight, yet durable
  • Easy to clean
  • Affordable, yet attractive At the same time,

What do you think so far?

Here we have the classic teacups and saucers.

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If you look carefully you’ll notice that the teacup handles are open at the bottom. This distinct design was very clever because you can stack the teacups, one inside of the other. What a great way to maximize your cupboard space!

This is the matching platter to the Spring Blossom dinnerware.

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I love the shape of it. Can’t you just imagine a Sunday roast beef dinner coming up?

And speaking of roast beef dinner…

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Isn’t this butter tub awesome? I think the shape of it is so much fun… charming with lots of personality!

I mentioned matching Pyrex and Corningware pieces to the Corelle dinnerware pattern.

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This creamer, sugar bowl, and butter dish are just one example of a Pyrex match.

This set of coffee mugs is another.

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I remember the coffee mugs very well. My parents used these all the time!

And last but not least, the matching Pyrex casserole bowls and mixing bowls.

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I couldn’t find a photo of the oval casserole bowl that my Dad still has, and I should have thought to take my own, but I didn’t. It’s like the green bowls on the left with white flowers, except that it is oval. It also has a lid, which is a great feature of the bowl, and the lid is white with green flowers.

So that’s a little walk down memory lane with me, and a glimpse into what our dinnerware was like, probably through the 70′s as I was growing up. Did you grow up with Corelle, or do you own any now? How about the matching Pyrex and Corningware bowls?

To see what Corelle has to offer today, click here. I think you will be amazed at the options!

It’s about coming home… If you want a remarkable space that tells your story, contact me to see how we can help!

Related Posts You Might Like to Read

Baribocraft Canada: Vintage Wooden Ware

Coffee for a Crowd

What’s Special On Your Table?

Did you enjoy this post? Click here to read more. Don’t want to miss a post? Be sure to subscribe to my RSS Feed. I’m also on Facebook , Twitter, and LinkedIn. Would love to see you there! Thank you for spending this time with me :-) And please don’t hesitate to leave a comment… it’s nice to know what you think.

 

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Feeling At Home In Your Own Home

April 28, 2011

Marc Atiyolil, editor-in-chief of Canadian Home Trends. What does he say about feeling at home in your home?

In his article titled ‘Finding Your Personal Style‘ Atiyolil says design is about having your personality come to life in your surroundings. He provides five tips (you’ll have to read the article!), all of them really good, but as a teaser, here are the two I like most:

Printing a selection of photos in black and white that capture special times spent with family and friends.

My thoughts, what’s a home without personal photos? Better yet, with black and white photos you’ll not only be displaying some of your cherished moments, but you’ll be adding to your décor too. Did you know that black and white photos work with any colour scheme? It’s all in how you frame and present them that makes the difference, and you can definitely have some fun with that too!

Here is something my hubby Clemens put together for me for our anniversary. It’s a few photos from our trip to New York last summer, which he’s printed in sepia tones rather than black and white.

To others these photographs would be, well, just photographs. But to me each one has a memory attached. I know where we were and what we were doing, and when I look at this collage it’s the ‘feeling’ that keeps those moments alive. Like me with the lion. Here I’m just being a corny tourist, innocently mortifying my daughter who was pretending she didn’t know me… but the story behind this particular shot is that I’m a Leo, so it’s just one lion posing with another. See, just being corny in the moment, but now there’s a story that sticks!

Bringing something back for your home from your vacations.

I love doing this! Before you panic and envision tacky souvenirs, remember that the key is ‘for your home’. Integrate your mementos into the daily living of your décor, things that bring a smile to your face and remind you of where you were when… Your journeys are a reflection of your personal taste and style, so bringing pieces from your travels into your home are just another expression of you. And it’s in the expressions of you that the stories are told in your space.

Here are a few mementos we’ve integrated, just to give you some examples…

I love books, and these are from my trip to Europe in 2000 with my Mom, Aunt and Cousin. Each book represents somewhere that we visited, and with each one I have special memories of the visit.

For example, the Passion Play 2000 in Oberammergau, which only happens every 10 years. We planned this trip for a long time because we wanted to go to the Passion Play in the year of the Millennium, and the rest of the trip was planned around this date.  And the one I’m particularly drawn to right now is the Althorp book. Althorp is the Spencer family estate of the late Princess Diana, and with the Royal wedding upon us, I have found myself drifting back to memories from that time. I am grateful for these memories, and to have this book to flip through…  Or Swarovski. I will never forget my visit to the Swarovski factory in the Alps: Wattens, Austria. Seeing is believing, and now that I’ve been to the factory, Swarovski will always have a very special place in my life. This is why Swarovki pieces were the jewellery of choice when Clemens and I got married… earrings for myself and the special ladies who stood up for me… and cufflinks for Clemens aka ‘hubby’.

Clemens loves to cook, and on one of his business trips to Tokyo he treated himself to this knife below.

I know, it looks like it means business, and there’s definitely no messing around! And yes there’s a story to the knife too… where Clemens bought it, the journey he took to get there, who he was with, how and why he selected this particular knife, why the engraving is symbolic… And every time he uses it, it makes me happy to see him so happy! He LOVES his knife!

A last memento and story to share…

If you’re into serious cooking, then you’ll know why Dean & Deluca was a must stop when we were in New York. The cookbook was actually purchased here, inspired by our visit, but the salad servers were bought at Dean & Deluca.

And you guessed it, there’s a story to the salad servers too! In short, we have a beautiful wooden salad bowl, handmade by a gentleman where we used to live. We needed serving utensils to compliment the bowl so when we saw these at Dean & Deluca we bought them to serve not only salad, but also as a memory of our visit there!

Feeling at home in your own home. It’s all about you and your style, the stories behind the objects, the pieces you choose to share. It’s your personality reflected in your space, just like the stories I shared with you above.

What makes you feel like you’re home? How do you know when you’re there? What stories are evident in your space that are truly a reflection of you?

If you want a remarkable space that tells your story, contact me to see how we can help!

Related Posts You Might Like to Read

It’s Your Space: Tell Your Story

Display of Affection

A Chair With A Story

What Does Coming Home Really Mean?

What’s Special On Your Table?

Did you enjoy this post? Click here to read more. Don’t want to miss a post? Be sure to subscribe to my RSS Feed. I’m also on Facebook , Twitter, and LinkedIn. Would love to see you there! Thank you for spending this time with me :-) And please don’t hesitate to leave a comment… it’s nice to know what you think.

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Baribocraft Canada: Vintage Woodenware

April 5, 2011

One of the things I like so much for a table setting is the introduction of something made out of wood. Wood warms the look, and there’s nothing better than working with a natural element to make your table feel welcoming.

So imagine how excited I was when I stumbled upon a very cool vintage set of 8 teak Baribocraft salad bowls. I’m only showing you four here because they were teetering like the leaning tower of Pisa!

I love the shape of them… not your traditional round shape.

Who would’ve known such a treasure was waiting to be discovered when I was really only browsing? I was waiting for my ferry and just passing time! If you’re ever in Horseshoe Bay between ferries you should pop into the heart of the village, as it’s full of all kinds of unique and fun things.

In case you’re wondering, Baribocraft was a Canadian company in Quebec through the 60′s & 70′s famous for their gorgeous grained maple and teak woodenware. They were known world-wide for their quality of craftsmanship and innovative styles.

This is their signature logo…

…and you’ll find it on the bottom of each piece, like this.

Notice the grain in the wood? Isn’t the colour and sheen pretty?

Salad bowls were definitely popular Baribocraft pieces, and I have to say that in all my research I never came across another set of salad bowls shaped like mine! That makes me feel pretty lucky to have them.

Baribocraft also had another division called BARIBO-MAID, which was dedicated to the production of commercial woodenware for the food service industry.

In fact well-known British chef and TV personality, Jamie Oliver collects Baribocraft bowls. If you go to the forum on his blog (bcrain is his forum name), Jamie says, ‘The only thing I look around for is Baribocraft woodenware from Montreal. I have a small collection but I love big wooden bowls, actually, I love bowls for some reason and have so many I don’t even use them, lol!’

Here is an example of a Baribo-Maid large serving salad bowl:

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I actually saw one like this the last time I popped into the vintage boutique in Horseshoe Bay, and was tempted to become its proud owner, but we already have a beautiful handmade serving bowl, so I disciplined myself and left it for someone else to enjoy. Crazy? I know!

Here is another style of a large salad serving bowl:

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I really like the shape of this bowl; I can see why Jamie Oliver collects them! I think it’s safe to say that if Jamie is a fan of Baribocraft, that says a lot about what you can expect of the Baribo-Maid commercial line too!

Salt and pepper mills were another popular Baribocraft/Baribo-Maid item. In fact I grew up with a set like these, and remember them well.

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The grinding hardware used in the pepper mills was known for its lasting quality, and was among the commercial favorites.

Here is a close-up of the grinding hardware.

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If you look closely you’ll see Baribo-Maid engraved in the underneath piece.

This very unique piece is an arc fruit bowl, also referred to as a curved serving dish.

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I love this piece for its shape and simplicity, beautiful classic lines so typical of the Eames era.

True to form, Baribocraft designed a piece that really spoke to the fun side of innovation and craftsmanship…

The apple ice bucket.

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Never known to overlook function, here you can see that the apple has been designed with a removable bucket.

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This makes for easy clean-up without jeopardizing the integrity of the wood.

And this last piece is really a set, but I thought it apropos of not only Baribocraft’s time, but also their French-Canadian roots.

Kitchen canisters labeled in both French and English…

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| Café * Coffee | Thé * Tea | Farine * Flour | Sucre * Sugar |

Isn’t it interesting that the words in each language begin with the same letter?

Sadly Baribocraft ceased production in the 70′s and they are no longer in business, but their pieces have withstood the test of time!

With proper care the woodenware looks just as stunning today as it did when it was created, and the quality in craftsmanship allows for continued use for as long as you have a use!

TIP: To care for your Baribocraft, or any other woodenware for that matter, never soak it in water.  Water will dry out the wood. A small amount of coarse salt scrubbed gently on the surface will clean and sanitize your piece, and if you condition the wood occasionally with butcher block oil it keeps the wood looking fresh and moisturized! If you prefer to wax your woodenware, I like to use an edible mineral oil and beeswax product, Clapham’s Beeswax Salad Bowl Finish. Once the wax is dried and buffed, it also leaves your piece protected and sets off the patina of the wood. *You may have heard to use a skim of cooking oil instead, but I find it builds up over time, and leaves the piece feeling sticky to the touch. You decide!

To see more classic Baribocraft pieces such as their infamous nut bowls, cheese boards, steak & fish trenchers, cutting boards, candlesticks, and more click here.

One last bit of trivia… did you know that Baribocraft made pant hangers?

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AND hockey sticks! I wish I had a Baribocraft hockey stick to show you… in fact I wish I knew where there was one to see for myself.

Do you have any woodenware that you treasure? How about a vintage Baribocraft?

If you are interested in more information on Baribocraft and Baribo-Maid, please don’t hesitate to visit the corporate website or contact them at info@baribocraft.com. You’ll be pleased to note, the website is available in both French and English!

Thanks for stopping by!

Signature 100x47 b&w

Photographs by Sheila Zeller unless linked to a source where indicated.

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Cedric Sofa Meets Vintage Cousins

April 4, 2011

Have you popped into Urban Barn lately? Or taken a browse through their online catalogue?

One of the pieces that has caught my eye is their Cedric sofa. It’s very mid century modern in a tuxedo style, and shows extra attention to detail in the tufting. Notice how the seat, back and arms are all tufted? I love the elegance of the soft gray upholstery (polyester), and the fact that this sofa (89L x 29.5D x 28H) will compliment multiple decor styles because of it’s classic, clean lines.

 

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Not only is this a durable piece you will be able to enjoy for years to come, but it’s also extremely affordable at $999 CA.

Since I know original pieces are sought after, I decided to do a little research to find a few vintage sofas in this style… just for a fun comparison. So without further ado please be introduced to Cedric sofa’s ‘older’ cousins!

The first is a vintage Dunbar tuxedo style sofa, circa 1960′s.

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You will notice it has 2 sets of inset legs, opposed to the 3 sets on the Cedric. If you look at the tufting, the seat and back have been tufted, but the arms have been left plain. The uphostery is wool/cashmere, and this sofa is smaller (78L x 30.5D x 27H) than the Cedric above, although it is 1″ deeper. This is a one-of-a-kind item and priced at $7650 US. This sofa would definitely be a value-added piece to any collection!

The second is a 20th century vintage tuxedo style sofa.

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Another one-of-a-kind sofa, it has its original wood base and finish, but has been re-upholstered in a quality leather. The tufting was done in the original diamond style, and you will notice the back and arms are higher on this sofa than either the Dunbar or the Cedric. Like the Cedric, this sofa has 3 sets of legs, but they are longer in order to balance the proportions of the higher arms and back. This sofa is close to the Dunbar in overall size (79L x 32D x 29H), and was priced at $8200 US, but has since sold. With a piece this beautiful, it’s nice to know it has found a home.

I love seeing new furniture reflecting the roots of its past. It’s such a testament to great design. And I appreciate that stylish outlets like Urban Barn make it possible to give a toast to our vintage pieces by adding to the family, and making new variations available at affordable prices. In this way great design lives on…

What’s your favorite piece of furniture? Is it antique, vintage or new? What do you love about it?

If you want a remarkable space that tells your story, contact me to see how we can help!

Related Posts You Might Like to Read

Tommi Parzinger: Simply Brilliant

Antiqued Mirrors: A Now WOW!

A Reflective Masterpiece

Vintage Look – Modern Device

Plywood: Shapely & Curvaceous

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