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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Skip to My Ormolu

What's It Wednesday #8

Part of the reason I love collecting antiques is simply because of the history behind each piece. The other part of the reason is because of the sheer beauty of such found objets d'art.

Ormolu originally came from the French which meant to ground or pound gold. By the 18th-century the English used the term for applying very finely ground gold into a mercury mixture that was then applied to bronze. As you can imagine this was very dangerous. In fact, the artisans that originally applied this technique did not live to see age 50.



Around 1830, mercury was banned in France and the process evolved into a type of electro-plating. Ormolu is most commonly seen on decorative items such as tables, clocks, and vases. This ormolu casket jewelry box with velvet interior was an absolute steal. I purchased it for $2.00 at the local Goodwill because it has a hairline crack in the beveled glass top. Nothing a strain a pearls can't hide

It was love at first sight when I saw this French perfume bottle at a French antique store. The gold ormolu floral motif overlay over molded glass just made my heart skip a beat. 


This 24 karat gold plated double cherub perfume bottle with atomizer is my absolute favorite. 


This antique gold gilt ormolu has a beautiful leaf motif covering the glass perfume bottle.


Sometimes finding the right piece, for the right price, can take years. But that’s half of the fun. I had always wanted a French lace vanity tray. It was so worth the wait.


Patience lead to the perfect vignette for our dresser. I topped it off with the ormolu standing hand mirror. Nothing like a little gold to make a girl feel special. 

What have you collected that made your heart skip a beat?

xoxoxo
Paula

Thank you all for participating in our 
"What's It Wednesday"  linky party!
Don't forget to grab a feature button.


Ivy and Elephants
Here are this week's features.
First Come Flowers has 5 fabulous tips on how to decorate birdcages.

Carmelina created the most beautiful snowflakes.

Come and experience a heavenly Nordic Winter at Heaven's Walk

You must experience this absolutely amazing kitchen renovation at Miss Gracie's House

You are going to want to run out and find a settee after visiting Shenita's place at Embellishments at SLR

This is classic blue and white heaven at the Swedish Corner - Down Under


53 comments:

Unknown said...

They are all so beautiful. Great find and the Goodwill!! Have a wonderful evening.

Anonymous said...

Hi Paula! Beautiful! I'm always amazed at your pretties! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

SwedishCorner ~ DownUnder...Pernilla said...

Thank you for hosting!!
... and thanks a million for showing my photo :)

Greetings from Australia♥

Susan Freeman said...

So enjoying your party and happy to be joining you again this week!

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Hi Paula, What gorgeous treasures you found. Thanks for the party!
Jann

Pamela said...

I am here!! Thanx of roosting ladies!!

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh my! So gorgeous! I've learned so much from your blog about things I'd never heard of before! Thanks for hosting!
Cindy

June said...

Oh my goodness Paula, what a beautiful vignette of perfect treasures. The French lace dresser tray is such an amazing piece. All of them are!!!!

Karen said...

Those are all such beautiful pieces and as always very informative. Thanks for hosting!

Debra@CommonGround said...

Hi Paula, your pieces are so beautiful. I have the gilded piece to an old antique perfume bottle but the bottle itself was broken. I admire it anyway. Thanks for a wonderful post, just linked up, xo

Bernadette @ b3hd said...

Love those pieces. So beautiful!
I think I'll link on up here.

Bernadette @www.b3hd.blogspot.com

Johanna Gehrlein said...

Hi Paula,
your Ormolu collection made also my heart beating. All the objects are real treasures and you displayed it fantastic. Thank you for sharing of all this information, for showing your treasures and for hosting this nice party.
Best greetings, Johanna

Tina said...

Your dresser vignette is beautiful. What a great price on the jewelry box!

Have a great week.

VintageGramma said...

Wow, I so wish I could stop by to party more often. Beautiful as always!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

OH YES, or rather, OUI!!!!!!!!! Don't you just love gold? I love to couple it with GRAY VELVET!!!!!

I must dash off to work; I suppose you are at school too dearest! LOVE TO YOU! Anita

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

What a gorgeous collection! Absolutely love the tray and that perfume bottle is amazing!
Thanks for hosting!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh mym your collection is stunning. Such beautiful pieces. Thanks for hosting such a fun party. Hugs, Marty

Grammy Goodwill said...

Ooooh, that first perfume bottle is so pretty. Sigh.

Grammy Goodwill said...

Oops, forgot to tell one of you Happy Delta Anniversary. (I can't remember which one of you is a member. And if I don't do it now, and go back and look at your old posts, I'll forget.)

Cottage and Broome said...

What a beautiful post! Thanks for sharing again this week, Laura

Curtains in My Tree said...

It is all so beautiful, I love the round glass dresser tray with the lace under it. I have round mirror trays but not a one with the lace . They usually cost up in the hundreds here at antique shops

so glad you started the weekly party. You always have great treasures to show

Karena said...

Paula you have such a great eye. I adore the perfume bottle with the beautiful leaf overlay!

xoxo
Karena

Art by Karena

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely lady.
Thanks so much for hosting your linky party. I see you have more great finds from the goodwill!! Beautiful.
I just put your Button on my blog, hope you have a wonderful week with your family.
XXOO Diane

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Your collection is beautiful Paula! Thanks for hosting.

Antiques And Teacups said...

Love your vignette. The hunt is most of the fun and your collection is beautiful!
Ruth

At The Picket Fence said...

Hi there ladies! Thanks so much for being gracious hostesses! :-)
Vanessa

Lynn at Cottage and Creek said...

I'm really enjoying seeing your pretty things and learning the history behind them! Thanks for hosting this fun party.
Lynn

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Very pretty my friend..I did a post about 2 years ago with my collection of perfume bottle like these..I have 6 of them plus the tray, ring box. and vases..Great minds think alike and all ha ha!! Hope you have the best day ever my friend..Hugs and love Gl♥ria

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

OMGoodness, they are GORGEOUS!! So is the tray! I also love that blue and white jar, since I collect blue and white and they are becoming IMPOSSIBLE to find!!!! Thanks agasin for hosting. XO, Pinky

The Charm of Home said...

Wow! This piece is stunning. What a great find. I also love the lace vanity tray. That is a great find too! Thank you for hosting this lovely party!
Sherry

polkadotpeticoat said...

This was fun thank you for including me......I love your treasures!!!

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

I always learn something every time I come here! Great information and LOVE that box! What a deal you got (and agreed . . . the pearls do the perfect cover up job!)

Toni said...

Such a pretty and amazing collection. I love learning something new everytime I stop by - and seeing something I did not know exsisted. I now want a French lace tray - so pretty.

Just Stuff From a Boomer said...

You have such a collection of pure beauty in your home. It reminds me of days gone by. You live in your own version of "Downton Abby", so congrats on that.

lvroftiques said...

Paula you had me gasping from pic one! Oh my friend anything ormolu makes my heart go pitter patter! LOVE all the beautiful perfume bottles! (I collect them too...probably no surprise seein' as we're twins and all *winks*) Your lace and ormolu tray is absolutely gorgeous! Worth any wait for sure! I'm wiping drool off my chin and trying to pin pix at the same time lol!
Oh and thanks for hosting this wonderful party! Stop by and see what made my heart skip a beat this week *winks*
Hi to beautiful Patti too! Vanna

Sherry said...

Paula, they're all beautiful treasures.

Kathy said...

Hi Girls,
Thanks for hosting this great party. Can't wait to meet new friends. I love the photo of the hanging bird cages - wonderful.
Kathy

Heaven's Walk said...

Wow, Paula.....those French treasures are seriously amazing! They are so beautiful!!! LUV! I also wanted to thank you so much for featuring my blog today, too! What a sweet surprise! :)

xoxo laurie

Dee ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️ said...

Wow! You always show us the greatest looking treasures.

I have a collection of Fisher Girl prints in ornate frames.

Dee

Dreamgoddess said...

Hi Paula! I so enjoyed reading your post this week. I just bought my first piece of ormolu last week - a jewelry casket very similar to the one you have. I'm on the hunt for more pieces now. Your collection is gorgeous!

Kim

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Gorgeous ormolu! Love the features! Thanks for hosting!...hugs...Debbie

the old white house said...

Hi Paula! I'm glad your link was still open, I didn't want to miss the party! I have that same double cherub holder but it didn't have the perfume bottle when I found it :( and I always thought it was to hold a tube of lipstick! silly me! I love Carmelina's snowflakes, gorgeous! And Renee's kitchen is AMAZING! I love the way she thinks, repurposing the dresser was genius!
Thanks for the party!
t.xoxooxox

Sherry@Back2Vintage said...

Love your photography! Thanks for the party!!!

Fete et Fleur said...

What a beautiful post on Ormolu. You have collected lovely pieces!

Enjoying the other posts as well.

Nancy

Red Rose Alley said...

Oh, I love all of these, but I have to say the French perfume bottle is my favotite I've never seen anything like it before. These are all so unique, and they look like antique gold, which I love. Don't ever give that perfume bottle away...it's so pretty.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Hi dear Paula! You have such lovelies, I'm always impressed every time I come to link and visit you, such gorgeousness! Thank you for hosting and have a great evening and weekend. Hugs,
FABBY

Pamela said...

Thanx for coming to party!

john said...

Hello ! These are sooo beautiful....Me I like the ormolu the best...wonderful. Have a nice weekend ! Gail x

NanaDiana said...

Coming over from Brenda's Cozy Little House. What a beautiful blog..and you know I am your newest follower. Those pieces are beautiful. Blessings~ Diana

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Thanks for hosting. Ormolu - a word I never knew and your wonderful photos and descriptions of your collection - a real treat today.

Unknown said...

What a beautiful vignette. Each time on at your site I fall in love all over again with your photos.

Thank you so much for taking the time to join our Pin'Inspiration party this week. I'm hoping that you'll pop by tomorrow and share at my "Beat The Winter Blues" party. :-)

Unknown said...

Beautiful and elegant pieces indeed!!!
I just tagged you via post! Come check it out if you like to join the fun!

http://votreamielouie.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-have-been-taggedyoure-next.html

Palomasea said...

Oh my!!!! GORGEOUS..I absolutely love these...had a perfume tray similar to this look, unfortunately it absolutely fell apart. Thank you for reminding me to be on the lookout for another one!!
A beautiful week to you both,
xoxo,
- Irina

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Gratitude is the Memory of the Heart ~ French Proverb ~ We are so grateful that you stopped by ~ Please visit again soon! ~ Much Love, Patricia and Paula