Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Rats, Race horses and Rita
Yesterday we spent the day searching some of our favorite second hand charity shops. Today we visited with a favorite dealer in Stockholm where we purchased a few items and drooled over many more that were out of our price range or off limits. I particularly fell in love with a large metal trunk that had the crest of the king atop it. The person who owned the trunk had worked for the palace so the provenance can be proved...the price, however, could not be produced by humble Klaradal. There were other pieces which, even if in our budget, could not be removed from the country because they dated to the 1700's and were original paint. We also saw a weapon from 1600 that was destined for Bukowski's auction house...the Sotheby's of Sweden.
We were joined by Rita, an Italian woman and shop owner who was shopping for silver plate. The background "music" of today was Rita sifting through box after box of silver plate. At one point in the day I opened a chest to check its condition and acclaimed "oh, it's filled with silver!" If I had said "Rita, Come here!" she couldn't have been at my side any faster! Luckily our tastes were not the same so we each found lots of wonderful pieces for our customers!
When we finished with the silver we all left the shop and headed to the owner's warehouse. I had spent many a rainy day there this summer helping to pack my items for shipment. Today it was very cold, and had apparently been visited by rats. Poison baits had been set and as I was asking the owner about an especially lovely British Equestrian Print I realized that he was not reaching for some distance object but was inspecting the rat trap! It was the best of times...it was the worst of times. I bought the print and I hope the rat bought the farm!
Peter and I left the warehouse about an hour after Rita. We drove directly to another favorite shop that features lots of old linens and silver and...You guessed it...there was Rita...our Italian partner for the day!
We treated ourselves to an hour of tourist time and visited the Nobel Museum in Gamlastan. It's a tiny museum (made tinier by renovation that blocked off a good percentage of the place) but had interesting displays including some that were interactive. We then headed off to dinner at our favorite restaurant, Agaton, where we were seated by a candle lit window and enjoyed a wonderful meal where the background music was just that...music! and not bus boys (or Rita) sorting through silver!
We were joined by Rita, an Italian woman and shop owner who was shopping for silver plate. The background "music" of today was Rita sifting through box after box of silver plate. At one point in the day I opened a chest to check its condition and acclaimed "oh, it's filled with silver!" If I had said "Rita, Come here!" she couldn't have been at my side any faster! Luckily our tastes were not the same so we each found lots of wonderful pieces for our customers!
When we finished with the silver we all left the shop and headed to the owner's warehouse. I had spent many a rainy day there this summer helping to pack my items for shipment. Today it was very cold, and had apparently been visited by rats. Poison baits had been set and as I was asking the owner about an especially lovely British Equestrian Print I realized that he was not reaching for some distance object but was inspecting the rat trap! It was the best of times...it was the worst of times. I bought the print and I hope the rat bought the farm!
Peter and I left the warehouse about an hour after Rita. We drove directly to another favorite shop that features lots of old linens and silver and...You guessed it...there was Rita...our Italian partner for the day!
We treated ourselves to an hour of tourist time and visited the Nobel Museum in Gamlastan. It's a tiny museum (made tinier by renovation that blocked off a good percentage of the place) but had interesting displays including some that were interactive. We then headed off to dinner at our favorite restaurant, Agaton, where we were seated by a candle lit window and enjoyed a wonderful meal where the background music was just that...music! and not bus boys (or Rita) sorting through silver!
Labels: Swedish Antiques
Monday, January 28, 2008
Sunday, Busy Sunday
Sunday, January 27 we awoke to a clear, bright, albeit cold day. In the morning we shopped at the Sunday Flea market in Hortorget before continuing onto a favorite auction house for some warmth and intense bidding. I think others had the same idea...the auction house was more crowded than usual and thus we had more competition...but we still managed some great buys. We finished out the day by attending a community flea market in Solna. All in all we spent about 7 solid hours shopping and have lots to show for it. Among my favorite purchases is a tiny silouette of a young girl dated 1847 and a wonderful oil portrait of a stern yet regal woman also dating to 1800's.
At one point, while we were driving between sales I marveled at the birch forests which were a blur of thin white trees. It made me wonder how Moose, with their majestic antlers are able to navigate through this maze of black and white. It also reminded me of my one and only Sweden moose sighting which ocurred this Summer. My son and I were traveling up north and approaching the town of Mora at around 5 in the evening. We were hours from sunset but rainy weather made it darker than usual. Suddenly, a safe distance ahead, a Mother moose with her calf trailing directly behind her crossed in front of me. It was amazing how they moved...a quick trot with their massive heads hanging low. It was almost as if they were tip toeing in front of us thinking that if they didn't look at us or hold up their heads we wouldn't notice them. Nothing could have been further from the truth! It's one of my favorite memories. My only other moose sighting happened in Estonia near the city of Tallinn. We were driving by a popular beach on the baltic sea and way out in the distance I saw a moose standing in the water. We turned around and watched as some good Samaritans tried to herd him out of the sea. It is, apparently, not unusual for young Moose to wander near the town and do unusual things...such as takng a dip in the baltic sea!
At one point, while we were driving between sales I marveled at the birch forests which were a blur of thin white trees. It made me wonder how Moose, with their majestic antlers are able to navigate through this maze of black and white. It also reminded me of my one and only Sweden moose sighting which ocurred this Summer. My son and I were traveling up north and approaching the town of Mora at around 5 in the evening. We were hours from sunset but rainy weather made it darker than usual. Suddenly, a safe distance ahead, a Mother moose with her calf trailing directly behind her crossed in front of me. It was amazing how they moved...a quick trot with their massive heads hanging low. It was almost as if they were tip toeing in front of us thinking that if they didn't look at us or hold up their heads we wouldn't notice them. Nothing could have been further from the truth! It's one of my favorite memories. My only other moose sighting happened in Estonia near the city of Tallinn. We were driving by a popular beach on the baltic sea and way out in the distance I saw a moose standing in the water. We turned around and watched as some good Samaritans tried to herd him out of the sea. It is, apparently, not unusual for young Moose to wander near the town and do unusual things...such as takng a dip in the baltic sea!
Labels: Swedish Antiques
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Greetings from Stockholm
This is day two of my 12 day trip to Sweden. My husband has joined me for the first part and we've already done some major shopping! We went directly from the airport to one of our favorite Antik shoppes 2 hours north of Stockholm. We didn't find any furniture this trip but did buy a number of small silver plate pieces and a funky paris charm bracelet. On the way back we stopped at a small antique shop run by a young couple. The wife has done a lovely job updating some basic chairs by painting them white and covering the seats with natural linen. They are a Gustavian shabby chic. We purchased 4 different chairs. She also has embellished vintage tea towels and turned them into charming pieces for the powder room or kitchen. I am bringing back a few to see how everyone likes them.
I must say that on the drive to Sala the colors in the sky were awesome! There were some clouds, and then pockets of light with yellows, and ochres, and blues. Some fields were green with winter growth, some were dusted with snow, and some were wonderful earthy shades. Every view was worthy of being placed on a canvas...perhaps that is why there is always so much art available for sale in Sweden....there is always so much to inspire!
Today we visited another small favorite shop and purchased 4 Mora clocks, two empire pieces from the 1840's, and some fabulous new silver pedastol servers. (one adorned with angels and one with a complex hunter and dog scene.) One of the empire pieces combines Gustavian features and a touch of Karl Johan...it's quite interesteing. We also bought a Gustavian style mahogany tall dresser (a little larger than a lingerie dresser) that will work well with most any interior. On our last stop we bought a gorgeous mahogany card table dating from the 1880's, some original paintings, and a fun assortment of old sheet music from France. (I already have a small table in the shop dedicated to Paris...I may need to do a room!)
We did discover where many Suburban Families are on a Saturday night....Ikea! We popped in for a quick meal before we hit our storage unit to unpack our purchases. We expected it to be empty...not knowing that the last Saturday of every month is half price in the restaurant...the line was huge! We had a meatball dinner, popped into our storage unit, and then finally checked into the hotel, wrote to you and now are ready to collapse! Good night... More updates to follow!
I must say that on the drive to Sala the colors in the sky were awesome! There were some clouds, and then pockets of light with yellows, and ochres, and blues. Some fields were green with winter growth, some were dusted with snow, and some were wonderful earthy shades. Every view was worthy of being placed on a canvas...perhaps that is why there is always so much art available for sale in Sweden....there is always so much to inspire!
Today we visited another small favorite shop and purchased 4 Mora clocks, two empire pieces from the 1840's, and some fabulous new silver pedastol servers. (one adorned with angels and one with a complex hunter and dog scene.) One of the empire pieces combines Gustavian features and a touch of Karl Johan...it's quite interesteing. We also bought a Gustavian style mahogany tall dresser (a little larger than a lingerie dresser) that will work well with most any interior. On our last stop we bought a gorgeous mahogany card table dating from the 1880's, some original paintings, and a fun assortment of old sheet music from France. (I already have a small table in the shop dedicated to Paris...I may need to do a room!)
We did discover where many Suburban Families are on a Saturday night....Ikea! We popped in for a quick meal before we hit our storage unit to unpack our purchases. We expected it to be empty...not knowing that the last Saturday of every month is half price in the restaurant...the line was huge! We had a meatball dinner, popped into our storage unit, and then finally checked into the hotel, wrote to you and now are ready to collapse! Good night... More updates to follow!
Labels: Swedish Antiques
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Stockholm Bound
This Thursday I head for Sweden to complete my spring buying. The dollar is so weak it will be a challenge to find the pieces my customers desire at the price they prefer but I'm up for it! The snow and chilly temperatures in DC this week are getting me ready for the Nordic Winter weather. I am eager to see the candle lit windows and sidewalks of Stockholm and settle into the slower pace of short days and long nights!
My blogging has been sporadic but I promise to update at least every other day that I am away. E-mail me if there is something you would like me to find for you.
Hey Dor!
My blogging has been sporadic but I promise to update at least every other day that I am away. E-mail me if there is something you would like me to find for you.
Hey Dor!
Labels: Swedish Antiques
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