forgotten furniture: tall case clock

Some pieces of furniture become obsolete. And then sometimes they come back in fashion in an instant. You just don't see tall case clocks, aka grandfather clocks, very much these days. I would say their curvy Swedish cousins, Mora clocks, are a bit more familiar. However, any style of clock in a home is mostly redundant -- every appliance has a digital time display and most of us have a smart phone no more than arm's length away at all times. When's the last time you looked at a clock -- a device designed to tell the time and do nothing else -- to tell the time?

Now, I wouldn't say tall case clocks are making any kind of a massive comeback. I just think that designers with a certain eye appreciate them. Ever since I was a little girl I thought they were magical things, imbued with a sort of Chronicles of Narnia otherworldliness. But of course not every home has a spot suitable for a tall case clock. Oh to be so lucky as to have such a home...

sources: 1. Darryl Carter via 1stdibs. 2. antiquesandfineart.com. 3. swedish interior design  4. ?. 5. Victoria Hagan.

antique markets: aberfoyle and freelton

Mr. A and I sure like antiquing. In fact, our second date was a fun treasure hunt in Toronto's Leslieville neighbourhood, followed by a long chat at a nearby café. Since then, we've gotten up before dawn more times that we can count to sell or shop or both. We've camped out in a tent at the Christie Antique Show in all kinds of weather to sell, and then shopped by flashlight in the pitch black before sunrise and long before the gates opened. We've been to the Paris flea markets, and Portobello and Bermondsey on London. Every time we visit New York, we check out the 26th St flea, even though it keeps getting smaller and smaller. There's one dealer in the garage flea who knows us and remembers us every time. She has the coolest quirkiest stuff. 

Last Sunday was a real treat for us -- we haven't been antiquing together in so long. We hit the Aberfoyle Antique Market in Aberfoyle, just outside Guelph, Ont. and then the Freelton co-op, just down the road from Aberfoyle. To be honest, it was a bit slim pickin's out there. It's end of season and it was drizzly. But we've been at this long enough to know that some days are more fruitful than others. We just enjoyed what we saw and being together. 

This would make the most excellent kitchen island. Either painted up in dark grey or as is in all it's industrial primitive glory.

I've been kinda obsessed with director's chairs lately so I really wanted these, but the seats were just barely wide enough for my behind -- could never deal with a chair as a constant reminder of girth -- I've got skinny jeans to do that.

Old corbels -- always love and there a just so many ways to reinvent them. These ones had a perfect degree of decrepitude and were a good versatile size.

These three were just standing around waiting to be made into lamps.

His and hers Cruisers in my favourite colour were murder to resist, but the timing just wasn't quite right for these in my life. That's the thing about antiquing -- gotta be the right price AND the right time for the find to enter your life or you have to walk away.

Nancy Drew, I will always wish I was you!

Hardy Boys (aka Shawn and Parker), I will always remember the crush I had on you.

Happy and a touch Scandi.

Mother of pearl handled silver tea strainer -- there is no valid reason why you did not come home with me. You should have -- there's always one that gets away.

Truly nobody ever got telephone design right after this one...and now it's too late. I haven't had a land line in 3 years.

Here's the lone winner. We couldn't leave empty-handed so this little table came home with us. It will get a new top and a coat of pant -- there's a drawer in the bottom part. Love the turned spool legs.

The morning ended with a classic diner brunch -- small town service, no waiting, seat yourself, no 'tude, no fancypants eggs benny ten ways, no soy latte, no homemade granola and greek yogurt option -- just 2 eggs over easy, toast, side of sausage and a toasted western + home fries, lots of coffee -- perfect.

dear côté bastide

Would it be alright if I just moved into one of the Coté Bastide stores do you think? The one in the 5th Arr in Paris would be suitable. The words that come to mind are tranquil, minimal, pure, monochromatic, texture, earth, clean, simple, relaxing, fragrant, rough, elegant, spare....

source: côté bastide