Antique AltarSticks

One thing we are really concentrating on at the moment is growing our collection of antique Altar sticks. We love them as simple candleholders and we especially love them when made into a gorgeous pair of lamps like the pair below that we just got back from being wired! 

Mulberry Heights Antiques

Acquired Objects

While searching Pinterest and the internet I was so happy to find that the prettiest pictures of Altar sticks came from one of my most favorite bloggers! If you haven't started reading Debra's blog Acquired Objects, you really must give it a try! She is always full of knowledge, wit and fun! I love seeing her home and getting to know her through her blog. She has a gorgeous array of antique pillows for sale as well!

We actually have a floor lamp in the shop right now that is very similar to this one. It is quite stunning and looks great in so many different rooms. The shade we have on ours is pleated and very dressy so it gives the lamp an even more formal appearance.

I would venture to say that not many of us could pull off this look with such a large, overscaled pair of altarsticks but they are quite stunning!

I love that these altarsticks above are formal and yet, not! 

They can work well in any setting and any type of decor!

These are definitely more on the formal side and truthfully, much more to my liking! As much as I like the reproductions that are out there…and yes, we do carry those as well….there is nothing like the real thing! These are stunning!

These painted beauties are gorgeous as well!

                                                                               Lisa Luby Ryan

We carry some items from the line created by Lisa Luby Ryan that you can see above and below…she does a great version of altarsticks that sometimes are even hard to tell apart from the antiques.

So, what is your take on altarsticks? Do you like them? 

They sure are timeless!

 Cote de Texas
I loved this picture above from Joni Webb's blog Cote de Texas the minute I saw it…. and the vignette below is breathtaking even if it is little blurry! ( sorry about that! )

Then, I opened my newest issue of Traditional Home and my favorite feature in the entire magazine was on Joseph Abboud's home! They showed these beauties displayed on the serving piece in the background! Aren't they stunning?

But when all is said and done…I must confess that the two pairs we have just recently added to the shop are the most beautiful ones we have ever had.

 I almost hope we don't sell them!

These are 17th century altarsticks that will take your breath away! We have never had any as beautiful as these….

Or, as beautiful as the other pair that were made into lamps!

 I am actually a wee bit upset that someone is already interested in them! 

When we get in something of this quality I am one to want it to stick around for awhile! 

Hope you are all enjoying a wonderful week!

 Can't wait to tell you all about our 30th Anniversary trip! 

Wednesday's What If Posts…What If You Got A Sneak Peak?

So, I told you all last week that we were headed to Market in Atlanta….I thought I would be on the hunt for just a sofa for my sweet mother….luckily, we solved that dilemma before we even left thanks to so many of you giving such great suggestions! That meant we were able to focus on the main reason for our trip…picking out wonderful antiques and then those few "new" pieces to give the shop an updated appeal!

Take a look at the fabulous majolica pieces we were able to find and look at how wonderfully they bring out the beautiful colors in Lauren Dunn's painting! I was thrilled with the results! Many thanks to Alison for her talent at setting up vignettes that showcase these pieces to their fullest! 

Here are some great close up shots of the beautiful antique majolica.

I found several gorgeous antique wooden trays but this was the "last man standing" before I got a chance to photograph them! A wonderful designer in town took out the others for a client.

One of my most treasured and favorite finds of the trip were these 8 antique majolica plates that at first glance resembled creamware to me! It's almost as if the two have been combined! I tried and tried to get a great picture but I am not a great photographer…the shop is difficult with the lighting and white plates are hard to photograph period! Trust me on this one…. they are spectacular! There are hints of blue throughout the basket weave pattern…it will be hard to part with these plates!

Luckily I was able to find some reasonably priced antique boxes as well. These Tunbridge boxes are fabulous and even the insides of them are pretty!

Pillows were pretty scarce this time…especially at Market! But the ones we bought are hand done by a local vendor that I buy from all of the time…her work is great and her remnants of antique Aubusson tapestries always amazes me! This first shot is a pair of Galbraith and Paul pillows….

Love the fact that this is a fabric company based in America! You can see their website HERE!

This other pair is phenomenal! I wish I had shown the pair together but they are identical…19th Century Aubusson…pure gorgeousness! Just begging to be bought!

And like I said earlier…we sure did hit the jackpot on the majolica this time! I'm loving the way these plates that we just brought in liven up this area that already had our antlers displayed! It truly is like a breath of fresh air in the shop…at least to me!

I did very well on the restraint factor once we hit the many hundreds of floors at Market. Truth be told…market so overwhelms me that I often think I might just break out in hives! It's depressing picking through the floors and floors of junk. It's a never ending mind battle trying to decide if other's will love something as much as I do! And then sweet Jim…he just carries my bags and keeps up with all of the tickets…he about gave out on me this time, though! We were both exhausted before we ever got there and then our hotel stay was quite the nightmare! I will spare you the details as you truly might spend the rest of your day just doubled over in laughter at all that happened to us this trip! It is "almost" comical even to me! But here is a sampling of the "new" goodies that we are anxiously awaiting to come in to the shop!

A wonderful 3 tiered serving piece that is so fun and very functional!

 Several gorgeous mirrored frames from Lisa Luby Ryan's collection to add something new to our already extensive variety of frames that we carry! I truly love these and debated about getting them at the last market…I'm so glad I just went with my gut feeling on these!

Then, we hit the 'Temporaries' and ran straight to my friend's booth…Lucy Smith! Her work is phenomenal and I'm so excited about the two pieces that will be arriving at the shop in just a few weeks. 

The "Linus" console above and the "Sylvia" occasional table below will add that fun edge I'm trying to incorporate and they should only enhance the antique furniture that we are known for.

The only "new" lamp we got this time was this great mercury lamp above….

As well as this beautiful iron chandelier. Super excited about these two pieces!

And last, but certainly not least….this wonderful Iron Box and Stand will serve as a great addition to our side tables or cocktail tables! What an interesting piece this would be in a room! And quite functional if you think about it! 

There truly is so much more I could show you…leather trays, Lafco candles, preserved boxwood balls, fabulous candlesticks, etc….but I just wanted to wet your appetite with a few sneak peaks into Market this January 2013! So far, our January has proven to be better than ever! I for one am very excited about this new year and all that it has to offer in the areas of design! I'm also enjoying my shop more than ever and realizing that I now have a lot more time to spend there than I used to. 
I hope and pray that is a good thing! 

I hope you all have a great start to your week! I am headed full throttle into "Birthday Palooza" weekend at our house with Miller's 19th birthday this Friday and Holly's 26th birthday on Sunday! It should make for a very special weekend! ( not to mention tiring!) But that's ok! We are blessed!

I also forgot to mention that I won another Novica give away! Wow! Two in less than a month! I'm thinking I need to try the Lottery or something! Thank you, Barbara at HAUSDESIGN for this fabulous gift certificate! I'm thinking I will just add to my last giveaway purchase of the champagne flutes! We shall see!

Much love and many thanks for reading!