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Monday, August 8, 2011

Fruits of Our Labor

This week I’d like to share another of my obsessions collections, stone fruit.  It is actually made of marble, then hand painted in Italy.  A few years ago I was reading a magazine article about a woman who collected it. It was gorgeous! She had a huge wire garden planter filled with it on her dining room table. My heart skipped a beat and I was in love!

 These were my first two pieces found on a trip to South Carolina. My other pieces were acquired on eBay.

 
I’ve made many mistakes over the years, (it’s sometimes hard to tell the old from the new) but I think I’ve managed to put together a pretty good collection.

 
I mainly display mine in the kitchen, but lately I’ve noticed them in vignettes in bookcases and on coffee tables. If you are interested you can learn more here. Some people collect only one specific fruit or like me, they want them all.  I’m missing some of the rarer pieces so … the hunt continues!

But my true love is this fabulous Czechoslovakian fruit basket lamp. This unusual lamp design was created in Czech glass houses between 1918-1938.

 
A metal frame holds strings of clear glass beads to form a basket.

 The top was wired with individual glass fruits or flowers.

 A light bulb was positioned at the base of the basket causing the fruit to glow when lit. They are usually displayed in the living room or bedroom. These were rediscovered in the 1990’s by collectors and are highly sought after. 

Here are some other “fruity” finds like this Currier and Ives print entitled “Fruits of the Season”.

I display it up high on the kitchen cabinets with more stone fruit. 

 Also up high is this oil painting on canvas of fruit.

(I just love paintings in the kitchen.)

This molded glass lamp shade is also a fun way to “shed some light” on any situation (or dark corner!) 

This little plaque is also a favorite. It is a reverse painting of fruit on glass.

I hope you’ve enjoyed “the fruits of my labor” and might decide to start a fruit collection of your own. Check out Marcy over at AntiqueChase, she’s a fruitie, too!


Love,

Patti

We're linking to the following parties:

Seasonal Sunday @
Sunday Blog Love @
Masterpiece Monday @
Making the World Cuter Monday @
Today’s Thrifty Treasures@
It’s Party Time @
Show Off Your Cottage Monday @
Mosaic Monday @
Metamorphosis Monday @
Blue Monday @
Amaze Me Monday @
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @
Tuesday’s Treasures @
Sizzle Into Summer Party @
Twice Owned Tuesday
Table Top Tuesday @
Club G.W. @
Wow Us Wednesday @
Share the Love Wednesday @
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday @
Authentic Style @
Transformation Thursday @
Thrifty Thursday@
Vintage Thingie Thursday @
Time Travel Thursday @
Treasure Hunt Thursday @
Vintage Inspiration Friday @
Fridays Unfolded @
Home Sweet Home @
Show and Tell Friday @
Inspiration Friday @
Feathered Nest Friday @
Thrifty Things Friday @
Sat Nite Special @
Saturday Spotlight @

59 comments:

suziqu's thread works said...

All gorgeous but I have to say I just love the moulded fruit lamps - stunning!
Suzy

Maggie said...

What a fab post, I knew nothing about stone fruit until today!
You have some wonderful pieces and the glass fruit basket lamp is lovely.
Happy MM
Maggie

Scrappy Pink Corner said...

wow, Patti. You have a beautiful collection of fruits. Love the fact that you have them displayed all around. Never really thought they would go well anywhere but the kitchen or dining room. This post definitely opens up my eyes for decorating. I have seen many at garage sales (I go every saturday with hubby) and never buy them since my kitchen is full. Thanks for the tip and keep on posting. Love all of your post,

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

Absolutely wonderful collection Patti! Gorgeous!

Liane said...

Hi,
many thanks for the visit on blog. You have also a beautiful blog and I see you also love vintage very much!
best greetings from vienna (today it's rainy)
hugs
liane

Veronica said...

Wow what a cool collection. I adore paintings of fruit as well in the kitchen and have a few myself. The lamps are very unusal and so interesting. aboslutely love the colours in the paintings!!!

Veronica
www.tasselsandtwigs.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Hi Patti! You have so much pretty fruit! It looks wonderful in your basket. Those lamps are adorable!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Life Images by Jill said...

Now you can have a bowl of fruit any time of year. I have never seen these before. The fruit basket lamp is gorgeous.

At The Picket Fence said...

What an incredible collection Patti! That lamp basket is just gorgeous and I don't think I have ever seen anything quite like it. You have some amazing treasures! :-)
Vanessa

Tretswelt said...

hallo,ich bin auch von diesen früchte fasziniert...in meine Heimat lieben wir es...tolle Sammlung hast du da.Schöne Woche.Bussi.Luciene.

Lilla Blanka said...

Hi Paula!

Oh I have never thought about stone fruits before, but now seeing your beautiful collection I would like to buy some myself :)
Lovely post!!!
xo
Mia

LV said...

I have some of the stone fruit that is very vintage. It is the small size and very heavy.

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

I am so excited to know about this stone fruit.
I did not know anything about them!
I have seen a lot of marble grapes going for very high prices in Chicago at collectible shows and antique markets. I am going to have to pay attention. Thanks for the tutorial!
xx
Alison

AntiqueChase said...

I never knew about stone fruit either.... oh boy, another thing to look for! thanks for the shout out about my beaded fruit collection!! I appreciate it!! Marcy :)

lvroftiques said...

What a gorgeous collection Patti! (as always *winks*) Ooohhh I have wanted one of those czech fruit lamps for years, but they're always sooo expensive! what a fab piece that is!!
I collect stone fruit also, but I don't have nearly as many wonderful pieces as you do.

I'm so excited to see what you two will be sharing next! It's always such a treat! Vanna

Daphne Nicole & Lynda Cade said...

OMG, everything is just beautiful, but I have to say I'm with you on the fruit basket lamp, it's absolutely gorgeous.... I've never seen anything like it! I wanted to thank for your sweet visit's to our blog, I so enjoy you stopping by! I've added you to my blog roll so I can better keep up with you! Hope you have a wonderful week!
Hugs~~ Daphne

Frøken Anker said...

Wauw - how beautiful collection of fruits. I have never seen anything before. WAUW! Lovely :o)

Janet said...

I just love your fruity collection! Now you've inspired me to start one!
Blessings,
Janet

Karen said...

That is a wonderful collection. I really love the stone fruit. Its remarkably realistic and so beautiful.

Sharon Lee Johnson said...

This was a very interesting post and I love your collection of stone fruit. I also love your gorgeous fruit paintings. I've been on the lookout for some for ages. x Sharon

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Your fruit is wonderful and I love all of your displays. I havn't seen any of the marble fruit, but it is fabulous. I love that basket lamp, what an unusual piece and so pretty. I love paintings and all of yours are wonderful and I also like the gold frames. Be still my heart. Thanks so much for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

VintageGramma said...

Looks good enough to eat! Love the lighted bowl-bet it looks delicious on a stormy night!

Burlap Luxe said...

Thank you Patti for your beautiful comment and taking the time to get to know what I'm inspiring!
I would love to see your Oprea Theatre when you complete one! It is so much fun when someone is so taken with a piece that they too have to make one!

I was inspired by opera and had to make a french opera theatre, the mice were inspired through my daughter.

Thank you again Patti for your visit, as well as sharing your art with us, its a beautiful collection. I have to tell you I had some old pieces that I gave up years ago when I moved into the flea market style from the Victorian design trend. I wish I had them now after seeing your beautiful collections.

Keep inspiring your beauty.
See you soon
xx
Dore
Dore

Dreaming of Vintage said...

What a cool collection! That lamp is amazing!
Kelly

www.MaisonStGermain.com said...

Your lamp basket is beautiful:) And the stone fruit looks so real. What a fun thing to collect:)
~Debra xxx
Capers of the vintage vixens

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

You have an amazing collection, Patti! And you have displayed it beautifully. I wonder if Joan @
http://thepottingshed-anythinggoeshere.blogspot.com/ was the woman in the magazine who inspired your collection. Somewhere in her blog archives, she shows some of her stone fruit and talks about being featured in magazines.

Hope to see you linked to Time Travel Thursday tonight.

Blessings,
Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

Custom Comforts said...

I have never heard of stone fruit or seen it. I'll have to be on the lookout for it. It looks beautiful.
Cindy

Roxy said...

What beautiful art. I love the idea of having fruit on display.

Linda said...

all of these shots are wonderful!!

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

That beaded lamp is amazing! What a wonderful collection you have!

Pia said...

Unbilievable! It is impossible to see the diffrence between real/not real fruits!

What a lamp!

Greetings from Turku, Finland!

Kim said...

Love all of your fruit! You have a lovely blog. Hope you don't mind my asking, but is there an easy way to link to all of those parties? I just can't seem to find the time. Just curious if there's an easier way. THanks!
Kim

LV said...

Wonderful collection of your fake,hard fruit.

Pamela said...

These are all wonderful. You reminded me of my child hood. My mom use to collect glass grapes and glass eggs! Thanx for linking up to Treasure Hunt Thursday!

At The Picket Fence said...

Thanks so much for linking up your fabulous collection to Inspiration Friday this week Patti!
Vanessa

Debra@CommonGround said...

Hi Pattie, I saw that blog post too, wish i could find it again, it WAS incredible. You have a gorgeous collection, It's just something I rarely see, thanks so much for linking up the inspiration with VIF! xoxo Debra

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Patti, I also love the stone fruit but only have a cluster of grapes so far. I am always on the search for more. Your collection is fabulous and I love the lighted basket. Thank you for joining the Open House party again this week.
xo,
Sherry

Sandra said...

Oh my gosh! Everything is so beautiful! I've never seen stone fruit before. I do believe this is my first time visiting your lovely blog. I love the idea of using a light bulb too. Ok, I need to go look at all of your pictures again cause everything is marvelous! Just marvelous! Thank you for sharing!
Sandra

Sanghamitra Bhattacherjee(Mukherjee) said...

Another great post...as always!! I love to visit your cool creative space. Thanks for sharing.
Hope to see you on my blog:)

Anonymous said...

lovely!! xox Simone

French Kissed said...

Love your fruit collection...especially all of your fabulous clusters of grapes...I have been tempted to start collecting the grapes as I seem to have come across some beautiful ones lately...this post may have pushed me over the edge!

Jermaine

The Charm of Home said...

Well, that is a fabulous collection. I haven't seen that many colors of the fruit before and that basket lamp is divine! What a great piece to show off your fruit! I also love your paintings of fruit. You all have it going on over here with some fabulous collections and vignettes. Thanks for linking it to Home Sweet Home!
Sherry

Diana said...

Wow these are beautiful and go so well with your fruit inspired artwork on the walls. It is fun to see what other people like to collect and the history behind it. Thank you for sharing.
Hugs
Diana

Pamela said...

My heart just sings over this new post. I love one I can just lose myself in, unique and well written. I love fruit, too, but I don't have any of the stone fruit. I be looking, now!

Miss Gracie's House said...

Isn't it great how we all collect something different? And then share about it so that we all learn...very pretty!
Rene

WhisperWood Cottage said...

So unique and beautiful! Truly stunning! I'm so glad you shared your authentic style at the Authentic Style linky party at WhisperWood Cottage.

LaLa said...

Oh My Goodness!! My Nana had that exact same lamp. I loved that and my mother confiscated it when Nana passed away. It is so beautiful when lit. Thanks so much for sharing.

peace

Savannah Granny said...

Patti, You are "PLUM" fruity! This collection is to die for. I have never seen this before. It looks so real. I would surely have broken a tooth by now.
The crystal and fruit lamp is breathtaking. As I was scrolling I was thinking, "light it up". Then there it was in all it's glory.
Thank you for sharing.
Hugs, Ginger

Kristal said...

I recently discovered stone fruit and had thought about starting a collection, but wasn't exactly sure if it was something I could display in my house right now with all the crazy activity in our household! But thanks so much for sharing yours, I can just look at it ~ LOL!!!

XoXo,
Kristal

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Patti, this is a fabulous collection! I don't know if I've ever seen stone fruit before. The art involved is amazing!

I'm your newest follower.

Flea Market Lynn said...

Wow....love the fruit.....especially the lighted arrangement.....thx for becoming a follower. Enjoy your posts and I am a follower too!

Marlis said...

Your lighted fruit lamp is amazing. I 've never seen one so this was quite a treasure. Love your marble fruit, my mom had some too. Such pretty pieces. xo marlis

SImple and Serene Living said...

Your fruit lamp is really unique. I am a happy new follower from Vintage Inspiration Friday. Would love to have you visit me back.
Laura

very merry vintage style said...

Wow... what a great collection! Thanks for linking to Share the Love Wednesday!
Mary

Maria said...

Some of the fruit looks so real! I also love paintings of fruit and have two in my dining room. What an awesome collection!

Rebecca said...

I've never heard of this stone fruit, very interesting and wonderful collection!

The Tablescaper said...

What an amazing collection. I love the way the grapes look. Thanks so much for making your wonderful fruit collection a part of Seasonal Sundays.

- The Tablescaper

Susan said...

I have seen a fruit basket lamp like yours in the past. I wanted it so badly, but I was a poor single mother and could not afford such luxaries. This was many many years ago.
Your lamp is beautiful!!

Karamloe said...
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