Maitland-Smith

April Showers

It was rainy and blustery in High Point today, so I grabbed the slightly skewed umbrella kept in the car and jumped the puddles as I hurried in to our showroom. 

Did you know that the unbrella was invented 4,000 years ago?  The first umbrellas or parasols were designed to protect from the sun, and the Chinese were the first to waterproof their umbrellas for rain protection. 

In the 16th century umbrellas were popular with women, but it was an Englishman in the 1700's, Jonas Hanway, who carried one publicly and made them popular with men as well.  (Thought you might enjoy some umbrella trivia.)

Next comes the question -- where do we stow the wet umbrellas?  To dry properly, of course, they must remain open before being put away.  So... this rainy day and my wet umbrella bring my thoughts to some fabulous umbrella stands for holding the dried umbrellas until the next time it rains.   

No need to guess the favorite activity of the homeowner who has this umbrella stand in his entry.  Made of crocodile embossed brown leather, this golf bag stand has brass accents. 

 
The second umbrella stand is a classic style with the hand-painted greyhound on coromandel, sporting brass feet and accents.  

 
Thirdly, a trio of finely cast antique patina brass finished geese on a black marble base stand ready to guard the umbrellas in their charge.

 
Each of these would make a handsome addition to a foyer or mudroom placed near the door so that the umbrellas are at your fingertips next time you need to cover your head and jump some puddles on your way to the car or the office. 

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime... Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?  www.maitland-smith.com

Home Furnishings Trivia

Are you one who enjoys adding trivia to your bank of knowledge?  Is Jeopardy your favorite TV show?  Then perhaps you are facinated by learning and love to expand your mind. 

Working in home furnishings has opened up a whole new vocabulary of terms, which constantly drives me to the dictionary. At Maitland-Smith, we were fortunate to have our own historian, Howard Shattuck, working with us for over 20 years.  Howard had a wealth of knowledge and could expound on the history of furnishings and entertain for hours on end.   He often held seminars in our various dealer locations where he was popular with sales personel and consumers as well.   Howard recently retired, but his legacy lives on here at Maitland-Smith.

It was from Howard that I first heard many new words including "rhyton, singerie, and borne."  If you are curious, please read on. 

A rhyton is any of various ornate drinking vessels of ancient times typically shaped in part like an animal or animal's head.    

This Maitland-Smith rhyton is a faux steer's horn with finely cast brass accents.  It can be used as a decorative accessory or vase.

Another word new to me is "singerie," which is a humorous picture of monkeys, fashionably attired, copying human behavior.  These anthropomorphic monkeys were painted by several French painters in the 18th century.  The Encyclopedia of Furniture defines singerie as "Rococo decoration of monkeys at play."  Maitland-Smith is known for the many monkeys in our line. See the blog dated, April 22, "I'll Be A Monkey's Uncle."  

 
Here we have a monkey artist at his easel, wearing a  top hat and coat.  This wall panel is hand-painted coromandel. 

Lastly, the definition of "borne" from The Encyclopedia of Furniture, is a "French type of sofa, oval or round with a pillar in the center." This Maitland-Smith borne has an antique mahogany finish and tufted leather.  It is customizable using our ONE, Singularly Crafted for You program and our Design Express upholstery program.   
My experience has been that as soon as I learn a new word, I see or hear it.  Who knows, one of these words may be an answer for a question on Jeopardy.  If so, you will amaze your family with your knowledge. 

Stay tuned for more home furnishings trivia.  There are lots more interesting words to explore, for example, coromandel, which is used to describe the singerie wall panel above and Rococo, part of the definition. 

Perhaps you can send me to the dictionary with one of your home furnishings trivia words.  Nevertheless, it's fun to learn, even if only for personal enjoyment.

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime.... Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?  www.maitland-smith.com

 

Wall Sconces Blend Light with Design

Don't you just love sitting down with your favorite beverage and flipping through your fashion and home fashion magazines each month?  It is so easy to get absorbed in looking at the latest trends as well as the the classics in both fashion and home decor.   
  
  The March issue of Veranda caught my eye with this article, "The World of Sconces."  It says the following:

"There are modest sconces that discreetly go about their jobs -- and then there are eye-catching statement pieces that transcend lighting to become wall art.  Whether bold and graphic or subtle and fine, a well-chosen fixture can be the triumphant finishing touch in any room of the house and transform difficult-to-illuminate spots like dim corners and long hallways.  Often they look so lovely it's easy to forget they're working so hard." 

Well said.  Be sure to check out the Veranda article as it showcases some beautiful and unusual wall lighting.  Of course, for me, this brings to mind the many Maitland-Smith artisan-crafted wall sconces that I just have to share. 

  You must agree that these sconces are definitely eye-catching statements and certainly art.  The antique patina finished brass bird has glowing inlaid penshell tail feathers and can keep watch alone on a narrow wall. As a pair, the diffused light makes a subtle statement, perhaps while flanking a mirror above a mantlepiece. 

Butterflies and birds are both good feng shui.  If you prefer butterflies to birds, this sconce may catch your eye.  It has inlaid yellow and white mother of pearl as well as touches of penshell and brass. 

The details are what make these sconces stand out from the crowd. 

 Remember, accessories in the home, including lighting, express your personality and are like the icing on the cake -- they add the finishing touch. 

Add the finishing touches to your room with lighting that is also art.   Illuminate your life with a sconce or maybe two. 

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today,with quality and style to last a lifetime...Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?  www.maitland-smith.com

 

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

Who is the fairest of them all? We know this question from the fairy tale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.   Subconsciously we ask a similar question every day as we look into a mirror ..  "Do I look okay?" 

How many times a day do we sneak a look at our reflection, whether in a store window we pass or in a piece of shining brass or metal?    "How is my hair?" "Is my tie straight?"  We are constantly using mirrors and they're everywhere.  Mirrors are found in our hallways and in our bedrooms. They are in our foyers and dining rooms.  In fact, there is no room in the home where a mirror is not a welcome addition. 

Besides being practical, mirrors add beauty and interest to a wall or floor space as well as a sense of your style based on the size, shape and color of the frame.   Mirrors can open up a room making it appear larger, and we enjoy the reflected light from the outdoors, particularly in winter time.  Also, nothing is more romantic than candlelight reflected in a mirror.

The earliest mirror was probably just a reflection in a pool of water.  Mirrors during the European Middle Ages were slightly convex disks of metal that reflected light off their highly polished surfaces.   During the 16th century, a method of backing a plate of flat glass with a thin sheet of reflecting metal came into production in Venice.  The chemical process of coating a glass surface with metallic silver was discovered in 1835, advancing the modern techniques of mirror making. 

The earliest mirrors were hand mirrors and larger mirrors did not appear until the first century AD.  From the late 17th century onward, mirrors and their frames played an inportant part in the decoration of rooms. (Taken from Encyclopedia Brittanica.)

We enjoy mirrors in all shapes and sizes from a small purse mirror, to a floor-standing or large wall-mounted mirror.  Styles range from rustic to chic metropolitan, to classic traditional to regal elegance.  Mirrors can be found for every taste and style.

Following are a few examples of the beautiful mirrors found at La Barge.

 
Hand carved, this is a classic style with an antique gold metal leaf finish.

 
Grand describes this La Barge mirror that is completely hand carved. Inspired by a small Florentine portrait frame,  it has a taupe finish with a gold wash and is 53" wide by 76" high. 
 
This overscaled Baroque mirror has a Grecian crackled gold finish with rub through and is perfect over a classically styled sideboard. 

 
A completely different look is seen in this crisp geometric patterned frame with its aubergine finish and silver accents. 

La Barge has a wide range of mirrors using a variety of materials including shells, brass, leather, iron and rich walnut burl.   Visit the La Barge website, www.labargeinc.com,  to see the full line of beautiful mirrors, tables and accent pieces.

La Barge... a reflection of all that you are. 

 

Golden Globes

The Golden Globes were presented recently to the best of the best in motion pictures and TV.   I have to say I can't help being addicted to the red carpet outfits and jewelry, and hope that my favorites will win.  As an admitted Anglophile, I place Colin Firth high on my list after seeing him a few years ago in the movie, Pride and Prejudice, where I fell in love with Mr. Darcy. 

I was thrilled that he won for best actor in a motion picture, drama, for his role as England's King George in The King's Speech. 

At Maitland-Smith, we have our own golden globes -- chandeliers, that is. 

They, too, bring drama as seen in this three-tiered verdigris patina wrought iron chandelier with penshell globes. 

  

With a 58" diameter and height of 54", this one is sure to make a dramatic and bold statement where you need it, perhaps in a vaulted foyer or large dining room with high ceilings.

A more refined drama is seen in this smaller antique brass and verdigris finished chandelier with ten blown-glass globes.  The shade under the globes is silk, creating an overall elegant look.

 

 The last chandelier is best found in the kitchen with its penshell and faux tortoise globes.  Handsome as well as functional, wrought iron hooks hold your favorite cooking implements at just the right height and at your fingertips. 

 
If you want to add some drama to your life (the good kind), consider a new dramatic chandelier or perhaps find a fabulous new dramatic focal piece. 

 Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime....Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?  www.maitland-smith.com

 

The Weather Outside Is Frightful...

  But the fire is so delightful... and since we've no place to go...let it snow,  let it snow,  let it snow. 

Indeed, lots of snow has already fallen this winter, including here in the south.  If you are like me, you gravitate toward a fire in the fireplace for a little coziness and some extra warmth.     Sad to say, a blazing, crackling wood fire in the fireplace is a thing of the past for many of us.  We instead turn to the clean and convenient gas logs.  Happily, there are still the purists who insist on having a functional fireplace and a wood burning fire. 

Today we rely on our furnaces for heat and use our gas logs or wood burning fire for ambiance.   But for our forefathers, the only home heat came from the fireplace. 

As you can imagine, the heat could be intense near the fire and cold in the outer areas of the room.  Wing chairs were placed close to the fireplace with the wings keeping away the drafts. 

To protect from the intense heat and keep sparks from flying, fire screens were developed. Most 18th century screens were made of wood or wood with decoration of fabric or needlework.  The most common types were the horse (cheval), pole and banner screens.

The cheval screen has two end frames standing on two feet, suppporting the screen panel, as shown in the first fire screen below.

The banner and pole screens consisted of tall poles with a solid sliding screen or fabric banner which could be adjusted by moving it up and down the pole.

Though we may not need a truly functional fire screen today, we can still enjoy the tradition and certainly the style.   Adding a fire screen is a great way to cover the fireplace opening when there is no fire or in the warm summer months. 

  This wrought iron screen has finely cast brass accents with scroll and leaf pattern.

The  second fire screen with verdigris finished iron has a grand presence with its style and size -- 54" wide and 36" high.  Elements include brass floral flourishes and scrolls with a center medallion, and it sits on an arched stone base.   

My favorite is the peacock fire screen.   With finely cast verdigris patina brass, the peacock rests on a green marble base. This one, in particular, would surely be noticed and add a touch of whimsy and interest to the fireplace opening.

We're a long way from spring, and more cold, snowy weather is yet to come,  so stay warm, get cozy and enjoy your fire.

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today with quality and style to last a lifetime.... Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?     www.maitland-smith.com

The Sunburst Mirror

Now that the holidays are almost over and winter has begun in earnest with lots of snow, the sky can be overcast for days on end.  It doesn't take many of these cloudy days to cause us to wish for the sun to shine once more.

The Wall Street Journal recently posted an article, "The Ever Stylish Sunburst Mirror."  It begins by saying,

 "With bleak winter days upon us, a mirror will refract each precious ray of sunlight -- and the sunburst mirror seems to stand in for the sun itself." 

The sunburst mirror dates back at least as far as the 15th century when the Flemish painter Jan Van Eyck, placed a sunburst mirror in his Arnolfini portrait of a married couple. As he lived in Bruges in Belgium, the winters would have been heavily overcast.

Louis XIV established the first glass and mirror factory in Northern Europe in the 17th century and made mirrors bigger and clearer than ever before.  However, in the Wall Street Journal article, a Manhattan antiques dealer is quoted as saying we have the French Revolution to thank for the sunburst mirror's debut.  Read the entire article to see the Van Eyck portrait as well as other examples of sunburst mirrors. 

The overscaled oval shaped La Barge sunburst mirror above is finished in wood tones with gold rub through. 

 Here a smaller round sunburst mirror is completely different from the one above, and its leafy, free form pattern has an antique gold gilded finish.

This 59" diameter mirror below has a silver gilded frame with a mirrored sunburst pattern in the center. 

Each of these mirrors reminds us of the sun, yet each in a completely different way, based on the designer's creativity and vision. 

Spring will come eventually, but in the meantime, you may wish to bring a little of the sunshine indoors by hanging a sunburst mirror where it will remind you of warmer days.

La Barge... a reflection of all that you are.

www.labargeinc.com

 

Lost Wax Cast Brass

Lost wax casting is an ancient art and craft which is over 2000 years old.   The process began in the Middle East and was perfected by the Greeks and Romans during the Classic Age. 

This many step, labor intensive technique at Maitland-Smith begins with a detailed sketch followed by a finely carved wax model. 

A pigment is added to the wax to make it opaque and easier to work.  Whether the item is a traditional 18th century bail handle or an escutcheon plate or highly ornate rococo drawer pull, each item starts with a master wax example. 

The finished wax model is then encased by a modified form of plaster which is extremely fine in consistency.  This allows the plaster to capture the negative of all details of the wax object. 

A coarser top coat of many layers is applied.  As the plaster dries and hardens, two holes are carved into the material to facilitate casting. The plaster mold is then filled with molten metal, which in turn melts the original wax model which drains away using a narrow exit hole, resulting in "lost wax."  When the mold cools, it is broken open to reveal a finely cast metal object.  It is at this point that the newly cast item is polished and a hand-applied finish is added. 

As a high-end producer of accent furniture and decorative accessories, it is crucial that we have the ability to create our own hardware, metal mounts and fittings as well as finely cast decorative accessories.  This enables our artisans to create hardware in the appropriate scale, historic reference or to their own vision without any compromise. 

Companies without this ability must buy ready made mountings and hardware from industry catalogs.  Often the available parts are not the right proportion, and sometimes of less quality.  They may be used by many manufacturers, rendering the item less unique. 

Notice the detail of the dark antique brass finished dogs on these bookends.  They are sitting on a wood base covered in chocolate brown leather.   

Below are the door pulls with escutcheon plates from a leather bar cabinet.  Limited only buy the imaginations of our designers, pulls can be classic  or more contemporary designs.  On a whimsical note, one of the Maitland-Smith leather inlaid center tables features cast brass turtles as feet. 

  Lost wax casting is just one of the many intricate processes used by our artisans that are the hallmarks of Maitland-Smith.   

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime.... Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure? 

www.maitland-smith.com

Holiday Gift Giving

If you are like me, you have run out of ideas for really special, unique gifts for your family and friends.  When this happens, we generally fall back on the always appreciated consumables, such as gourmet foods or wine.  But don't you enjoy finding just the right thing that you know will be loved by the recipient?  Sometimes all it takes is a serrendipidous moment from just wandering through a gift store and "voila" - there it is. 

Finding the perfect gift takes time and thought.   

Following are two suggestions of unusual, finely crafted Maitland-Smith gift ideas that are sure to stand out.

The first is a gift that I would love to receive, which is usually my prerequisite for buying for others.  These three girls dancing together remind me of myself and my two sisters when we were young.  It takes me back to a special time when life was carefree.  The girls are finely cast brass with a verdigris patina on a black marble base.  For many of us, nostalgia is what the holidays are all about.  Some say hanging particular tree ornaments always brings floods of happy memories of people and events from holidays past.  For some people  certain foods and beverages of the season, have the same effect. My mom passed away years ago, but we still make her famous coconut cake to have each holiday season.  The taste brings back for a short time those warm, fuzzy moments of twenty years ago.   

If the man of the house is a golfer, a gift to consider might be a golfer's valet for the bedroom or office.  Not only does it hold the jacket neatly, it gives many opportunities to sink that winning putt.   And, as they say, "practice makes perfect."

Remembering the special people in our lives with the perfect gift is one of the best things about the holidays. 

Visit our website at www.maitland-smith.com to find the location of your local Maitland-Smith/La Barge dealer for unusual gift ideas. 

Good luck in your search, and happy shopping! 

Venetian Mirrors at La Barge

When we think of Venice,often the first thing that comes to mind is a romantic gondola ride in the canals listening to the aria of the gondolier and drinking in the beauty of the surrounding architecture.  Other Venetian things we might consider are "Venetian blinds" and exquisite Italian Murano glass.  

The early gondolas had a small cabin to protect the passengers from bad weather.  Some believe the first "Venetian blinds" were the louvered shutters covering the windows of this  small cabin.  Others believe blinds originated in Egypt or Persia before Venice discovered them, but Venice gets the credit. 

 

 

Glass making was a specialty for the Venetian craftsmen of the 13th century.  Making colored and clear glass as well as mirror glass, the standard was set by these Italian artisans, but their secret formulas were eventually exposed, and later glassware was made all across Europe. 

Venetian mirrors were first created in the 1700's for royalty and wealthy land owners.  La Barge specializes in reproducing these 18th century mirrors, and ours are just as beautiful and highly prized as the original creations. 

The La Barge hand-crafted Venetian mirrors, are made with the same attention to detail as our Italian counterparts.  Each glass section is hand cut, beveled, wheel engraved and polished.  The sections are then mirrored prior to assembly.  As with all handmade articles, slight variations in the decoration are a natural result of the manufacturing process and, like the antique originals, are enhanced by such characteristics. Below are two examples of Venetian mirrors of different shapes.

  
The flat bottom makes this the perfect accent over an entry table or small sideboard.  A pair of these would certainly add the unexpected over double sinks in the bathroom.  Against dark walls, these would be sure to "pop." This one is 55" high and 28" wide.

The great thing about the Venetian mirror is that there is no dark frame to close in the freedom of form and flourishes. 

    
This oval mirror has a crown similar to the first mirror, but that is where the similarity ends.   It is a bit smaller at 40" high and 21"wide.

Both of these mirrors reflect light and sparkle on the wall as jewelry adds light and sparkle to an outfit. 

Winter is here and we can only dream of a spring trip to Venice, but as we wait, we can enjoy what Venice has to offer --  Italian wine, food, art, glass and Italian-style mirrors. 

La Barge... a reflection of all that you are.  www.labargeinc.com