Thursday, February 27, 2014

Pink sevres and Marie Antoinette




My favorite Marie Antoinette movie is the 2006  Sophia Coppola one shown above. I've watched it many times and always see "new" things with each viewing. I love the dressing scenes and the use of historically correct props. The Sevres porcelain bowl and water pitcher is a perfect example.
I think it must be fun and rewarding to be on a movie team maybe scouting the locations and finding props and building interiors.It is probably very hard work and many long days. Some props are hired from a few big London prop houses or lent by private collectors.
Many of the Sevres porcelains in museums and coming up on auction sites are in blue or Pompadour pink, a deeper rose shade favored by Madame de Pompadour a patroness of the Sevres factory.
The bowl above is more to  Marie Antoinette's taste in the pastel pinks and blues.
The jeewelry chest which I found for sale is the pale pink and I like to think it could have been in the movie too!
Have a Pink day!

Monday, February 24, 2014

Petit Trianon home to Marie Antoinette's heart







Marie Antoinette's little court of her heart
Those lucky few that were part of Marie Antoinette's inner circle were allowed to visit Petit Trianon with her. A gift from her husband in 1774 the Petit Trianon was originally built for the King Louis XIV mistress Madame de Pompadour. She died before it was completed and Madame du Barry his next mistress enjoyed it. Marie Antoinette used it as an escape from the pressures of court life and it is a little Neoclassical jewel right on the grounds of Versailles. 
It is my favorite spot to visit at the Chateau , for me, its appeal is the human scale of the retreat and the setting. I think when the Queen visited she was more herself and relaxed.
Have a Pink day!

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Chatlaines are quite the thing






When I am in a museum I usually spend a lot of time in the decorative arts area and one of the items I always look for ( besides hand fans and Sevres porcelain) is the chatelaine. It is a decorative pin worn at the waist that the woman of the house or in a large estate the housekeeper wears . The purpose was to have all the keys watch, little tools at hand for use in running the household. Tea was expensive as were spices and keys to those containers or rooms were kept on the chatelaine. 
They come up at auction sometimes and can run fairly high if they are ornate.I guess we could say it was the 18th century and earlier version of the laptop with a password.
Have a Pink day!

Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy Valentine's Day

Wishing you a wonderful Valentine's Day filled with love.
Isn't this little Faberge style egg adorable?
Have a Pink day!

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Snowy Valentines day in Paris





Happy Valentines week! Doesn't Valentine Day in Paris sound wonderful? I bet it may snow, it may be cold so go to the new Angelina on rue de Bac for hot chocolate and a pink macaron.
Have a Pink day!

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Swan love and Spring dinner











Friends came by on their way to Florida so what better time than that to do a dinner with a Spring time feel in the mist of Winter? I will take any excuse I can get to hurry Spring along.
After 5 years of searching I finally found my huge Italian pottery swan tureen. I kept missing them when they came up for auction. I gather it was made in the 70's or early 80's by pottery studio Erna in Italy. I just love the look of her.
 We bid on it and then in a special ,happy serendipity our friends the ones passing by staying one night on way to Florida passed right by the auction house in Ohio so they brought her to me! I had the smaller version of her that is cracked in the base.
It was meant to be I think. I have named her Cecelia and she is Queen of all my swans and presides over the dining room with swan like grace. 
Dreams do come true! I love her.
Tabletop Thursday:
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/
Show and Tell Friday
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
Have a Pink day!

Monday, February 10, 2014

Modern Marie Antoinette would desire this








I really think if Marie Antoinette popped into this time period she would be buying her treats and beauty products at Laduree. 
They invoke such a royal feel and use all those pastel colors we associate with her. In fact one of the hat box selections is actually called the Marie Antoinette!
The rose bubble bath powder is divine.We know she loved a good warm bath. I could see her soaking away.
Have a Pink day!

Saint Valentine


J'adore

It is almost time for Cupid to  flutter by! Paris for Valentine's Day sounds fun! I'm happy with cookies and hot chocolate or a sweet snuggle with all my pets. Whatever it is I always enjoy Valentine's Day  Bisous
Have a Pink day!
Paris photo by Georgianna Lane
http://georgiannalane.com/

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Laduree restaurant and shop now open in Soho







Laduree has opened a second location. It is in New York's Soho area. This wondrous event occurred a few days ago. 
Now you can enjoy a full restaurant menu and the lovely shop and tea room.  Have any of you visited the new location yet? I am sure it is delightful and delicious. I hear Miami will have a shop opening soon. 
I am dizzy with joy and hope I will be visiting the new location soon.
Have a Pink day!
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