Kakelugnar - Swedish Porcelain Tile Stoves

Recently I visited the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, which is located in a French Chateauesque-style building known as the Turnblad Mansion. Built during the first decade of the 20^th century, the mansion was home to Swan and Christina Turnblad from the time of construction to 1929 when they donated the home to the American Swedish Institute.  Inside the castle like structure are 33 rooms beautifully decorated with elaborately carved woodwork, decorative plaster sculpted ceilings as well as eleven Swedish porcelain tile stoves known as Kakelugnar. These beautiful stoves caught my eye as they kept appearing room after room, each one slightly different than the last. The Turnblad family selected each stove from catalogues and had them shipped overseas and assembled inside the home. Each stove stretches all the way from floor to ceiling; some adorned with mirrors or replicas of 18^th century works of art.

Egyptian Revival

During the first quarter of the 19th century, Egyptian motifs became popular in architecture and decorative arts. Many believe that this inspiration came from Napoleons occupation of Egypt a few years before the turn of the century. After finding the Egyptian culture fascinating in many ways, he engaged in a scientific expedition, which was later catalogued and published. During the height of the revival, pyramids and sphinx heads could be found on everything from furniture to tea services. People commissioned entire parlor sets in the Egyptian style and often drew inspiration from the hieroglyphs and works of art found on the walls of tombs. Always being interested in Egypt and Egyptian culture myself, furniture in the Egyptian revival style always catches my eye on the rare occasion that I come across a piece.

Bookcase c.1830. Image found here
Side chair c.1870. Image found here
Marble clock set c.1890. Image found here

Gainsborough by Spode

A few months ago two little white dishes caught my eye at the Goodwill so naturally, I walked over to inspect them further. I noticed that they were Spode and marked 99 cents each. I fell in love with the floral pattern because of its variety of color and array of species. I am somewhat familiar with the patterns of Spode dinnerware and I had never seen this exact one before. The design, entitled Gainsborough, was in production for almost fifty years and discontinued roughly a decade ago. Since purchasing them, I have found a few additional pieces on the Internet for very reasonable prices. The pattern was offered in three styles of plates with differing edges, Gadroon, Mansard and Marlborough.

19th Century French Gilt Bronze Mounted Mahogany Bed

During the 19th century, furniture was made much more elaborately than it is today. Tables and chairs were made of the highest quality wood and adorned with embellishments such as gilding and bronze mounts. Parquetry panels and floral inlays were common unlike today where everything seems to be mass-produced. This bed is one of the most beautiful beds I have ever seen. Made in the second half of the 19th century, this mahogany bed is definitely a showpiece for any bedroom. Flanking either side of the headboard are two gilt-bronze garland-draped wreaths surrounding floral inlay medallions that match the footboard. I found this listing on Rubylane.com, which is a site I frequent as they have a large selection of antique furniture online. It is a shame things are not made with the same craftsmanship today as they once were.

Images found here

Flora Danica by Royal Copenhagen

Royal Copenhagen is a porcelain company that has been operating in Denmark for over 200 years. It's most notable pattern, Flora Danica, is arguably the most prestigious dinnerware one can purchase today. It is the only remaining pattern still in production from the golden age of porcelain. Put into production a few years after the company was founded in 1775, items from the Flora Danica line depict images from the book of illustrations, Flora Danica, a comprehensive atlas of botany created during in the 18th century. Johann Christoph Bayer, the artist responsible for the images found on the service, painted over 1,800 pieces that make the immense collection of Flora Danica today. These images are transferred onto the pieces of porcelain from copper plates today just as they were 200 years ago. Maintaining the integrity of the line is something that is very important to Royal Copenhagen, as it should be. Some of the oldest remaining pieces are currently on display in Denmark, and are still used by the royal family on special occasion.

Beacon Hill Dollhouse

When one thinks of a dollhouse small children often come to mind. Yes, many little girls around the world enjoy sitting in front of a miniature house playing make-believe, however, dollhouses are anything but just for children. Recently, I have begun constructing a dollhouse of my own from a kit I purchased online. Greenleaf Dollhouse Company has been around for years and has the best dollhouse kits on the market, in my opinion. These kits come precut and in need of assembly and painting. Currently, I am working on the Beacon Hill Dollhouse, a nine-room three story Victorian house complete with mansard roof and cellar window. According to the instructions, from start to finish over one hundred hours of labor are required. It has proven to be a much loftier goal than I had initially anticipated but in the end it will most definitely be worth it, even if the end doesn't come for another twenty years or so.

Quick Sunday Reupholster Project

Recently, a friend of mine from work decided she no longer wanted a set of six mahogany dining chairs taking up room in her basement, so naturally she passed them on to me! Aside from now taking up room in my basement, I have started the simple job of replacing the worn fabric with something new. After a quick trip to the discount fabric store I re-covered the captains chair in a Ralph Lauren floral that I purchased for a great deal because it was a scrap. A few minutes with a staple gun and this chair is looking new once again.