Antique porcelains

Mar16

Many things have to be considered when buying antique porcelains. Collecting really rare and valuable pieces needs a little expertise, since many imitations are made. Here are some good advices before paying:
The objects made of original porcelain, e.g. pieces of a table set, are translucent. Put our hand behind the plate while turning it to the light: its shadow can be lightly seen through the material of the plate. For example, classic blue-white Worcester china made in the 1760s has greenish tone to the light. Examine carefully the selected object if there are hair-cracks on it, if the edge is chipped which is a very common failure and lower its value. If the glossy glazing is not even or maybe hazy, it might refer to post-repair. Gently run a needle or blade on the questioned surface. It will run along the immaculate glaze but stuck on the edge of a repair. Knocking it with a hard object or nails is another method. In normal case, it gives clear, a bit deep, clinking voice. If we hear a blunt voice, there is a crack on it somewhere.
It’s not easy to make a difference between the modern copies of antique porcelains from the originals. The lack of glaze on the bottom could be a strong point, where the hand-made pieces were got off the wheel after glazing. There always should be one or two tiny holes on the bottom or elsewhere on a hidden part of the figure porcelains. The gases arose during the burning were off here.
If products of a certain company are collected, always check up the used signs by the firm. These were changed during years but it is always found in special books which sign was used in which time interval. Popular patterns and colors of eras can be strong points for the age of the porcelain. If two marks show different eras, we may hold a copy in our hand. For example, the sign of Meissen porcelain is two swords cross each other, which changed during times but beside this, the number of cut patterns were marked, the number of the maker and the number of the painter also. The English „registered design” had two variations between 1842 and 1883 too.
Always carefully check up the purchasable rarities! There are many books in the topic but a professional can be asked for estimate.

Inspiration 5.

Mar13

We can be inspired by paintings

Fringes, tassels…

Mar11

Fringes, tassels, beads, ribbons – make our fabrics exciting

Saint Patrick’s Day

Mar9

Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated on 17th of March by the catholic Irish. This habit is about the patron saint of the island who, according to the legend, has cast out all the snakes from the Emerald Island. Nowadays it became popular in the USA also thanks to the Irish who emigrated in the 1880s. There it is a real celebration which indicates the beginning of spring also. On this day, people traditionally wear green dresses. The three-leaf clover, green-clothed elf and the caldron full of gold are among its main symbols. Sending postcards with best wishes is typical to this holiday also.
Although this has no tradition in Hungary, if we would like to make an extra opportunity for a party or dinner with our friends, we can adapt these decoration ideas.
Since green and gold are the colors of the feast, we can easily refer to the special occasion with these. The buffet and the dinner table also can be decorated thus. Let’s cover the table with plain green tablecloth. Clover stickers can be put on seating cards and glasses. Let’s bake a clover-shaped cake covered with green marzipan. Full parsley-leaves can be put on the sandwiches but we can make cloves from cucumber also. The tops of the muffins and smaller cakes can be decorated with edible green glitter. Green napkins and straws can be purchased anywhere.
Take care of decorating the rooms also: green tulle or organza bows can be put on chairs and cushions. Let’s make garlands from green-white patterned wrapping papers or leftover fabrics and place them on the stair-rail, mantelpiece or curtain rods. Put greenish flowers in glass vases, for example half bloomed hydrangea, tulip or bamboo. Put ground into a white bowl and plant cloves in it. This will be a great table centerpiece. Place white candles in glass candle holders half-filled with green decor pebbles. The mood light gives coziness for the dining table. Green or green-white door wreath should be hung on the entrance door, it can be a simple round wreath or a clove-shaped ornament. Ask our guests to wear green clothes also.
If you would lie a special party, ask for help of a style-adviser for the perfect St. Patrick’s Day decoration.

Steampunk

Mar6

Victorian style in another way: steampunk for braves

Door wreaths 3.

Mar4

Spring door decors – even DIY

Metallic colors

Mar2

When it comes to “metallic colors” we are thinking about gold and silver immediately, which are assigned to yellow and gray by most of the people. We are often associating to warm and cold contrast. Of course, there are much more metallic hues, in addition to, different colors can get a metallic shine also.
About the elements in our homes, first we consider the items and accessories really made of metal: faucets, door handles, lamps, picture frames etc. From the aspect of material, they can be made of copper, chrome, steel, iron, bronze, etc. These are automatically become parts of our interiors. Using paints, fabrics and wallpapers allow more emphasized usage. Wooden furniture painted to gold results luxury effect. Fabrics woven with metallic fibers make any style of seats exciting. A quite simple interior can get a focus point with a wallpaper with metallic motif. In case of historic styles, (e.g.: renaissance, rococo, empire) we often meet these solutions, sometimes even exaggerated. Gold was always the symbol of the wealthy. In a church, the respect of god(s) is being expressed by it. Nowadays chrome and nickel coatings provide not only the glazing, but also the endurance and long lifecycle.
Feng shui associates silver (lunar quality), copper and bronze (venus quality) with Jin, the feminin side. With Jang, the masculine side, gold (sun) and iron (martian quality) are assigned.
In business life, metallic hues have representative roles. At events the gilding of the cutlery or the gold wristwatch of a businessman has a clear meaning. Metallic luster paper of the sweets arouses our interest, implies exclusivity. Use metallic surfaces with care in your home, because they can easily rule the complete room. Ask for help from an interior designer to produce a real classy glamour.

Restaurants

Feb27

Restaurants in classic style

Color pairs 3.

Feb25

Color pairs: blue-red

Tartan

Feb23

Tartan is associated with the Scottish heritage.
The pattern itself consists of stripes with different widths and colors which cross each other in 90° angle, this way they create a grid pattern in both directions which has a checked pattern effect. There are same stripes in width and color on both sides of the main stripe in vertically and horizontally also, so the pattern is completely symmetrical. This differentiates tartan from other similar checked patterns. The order of the threads is reversed mixing the two colors with this and „creating” a third one.
On the contrary to the popular belief, in old times rather institutes, regions and families had the same clothes, not the clans. The pattern was connected later to the Scottish nationality and costume. First it was only used on textiles for clothing, these were made of almost only wool and were colored with natural dyes. Artificial dyes became widespread in the Victorian era allowing new color variations to be used.
Nowadays tartan isn’t limited only to clothes, or to the fabrics at all. It appears on objects made of any material, be it paper, porcelain or plastic. Because of this fact, there are many possibilities for using the pattern in interior design: not only on upholsteries but on wallpaper, lampshade, dinner set, carpet etc. The variations of it with red-green color combinations are associated with Christmas mood.
If you also like it and want to make tartan the part of your home, ask for help of an interior designer.