What's It Wednesday #56
A
lover of all things Victorian, this post is inspired by those brief
but oh so memorable years of excess and social graces. Even a simple
visit was made an event. Thus, our first treasure, the calling card
receiver. The hall table would hold an item such as this. This one is
of the period, quite ornate and unusual in design.
I
purchased it from a darling little old lady many years ago. I just
love it! It was proper etiquette to present your “calling card”
to the doorman or butler who would present it to the Master or
Mistress by way of announcing you. If they were not home or not
receiving visitors, the card would be left with a message.
This
one is more modern, but the little hummingbird just won my heart.
This sterling necessaire is designed to hold cards,
mirror, powder and a few coins, all that was “necessary” for a
true lady as she made her visits.
This
colorful rhinestone one is from Czechoslovakia.
This
later case is made of mother of pearl.
The
cards themselves were works of art. It became common practice to save
the cards or display them in "scrap" books such as this. I found this one
and just fell in love with the gorgeous graphics. Imagine these were called "scraps"!
They
collected greeting cards and advertisements, as well. I'm so glad the
Victorians were such pack rats!
Sadly,
this is another of the social graces lost. Our cards are now business
or networking tools. But, I still like to display mine pretty...
and
dream of by gone days spent filling my dance card. Maybe we'll return
to this glorious time. We'll have to wait and see if “it's in the
cards”.
Hugs,
Patti
Here are this week's features:
Don't forget to grab a feature button:
We are partying with these fine folks:
My Romantic Home
Faith, Grace, and Crafts
Rooted In Thyme
Coastal Charm
A Stroll Thru Life
Boogieboard Cottage
The Tablescaper
The Farmhouse Porch
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Savvy Southern Style
Faith, Grace, and Crafts
Rooted In Thyme
Coastal Charm
A Stroll Thru Life
Boogieboard Cottage
The Tablescaper
The Farmhouse Porch
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Savvy Southern Style
Thank you all for participating in our
“What's It Wednesday” Linky Party!
Come
show off your whatchamacallits, what
is its, what it once was, and "hey,
look what I just did" posts.
In other words, what you created, organized, designed or re-designed,
found, purchased, transformed, inherited, re-purposed, renovated, are
selling, or giving-away.
- Feel free to copy and paste our party button on your sidebar. This way other fabulous folks can join in the fun as well.
- Mix and mingle by visiting the other party people and show them some love (leave a sweet comment).
- Don't forget to leave us a comment. We love hearing from you!
Patti, the cards are just so beautiful xx
ReplyDeleteOh how beautiful,I love coming over to see your beautiful treasures. If only we still had these lovely items in use today. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks so very much for hosting!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post!! Love the calling cards....
Hugs,
Deb
I love the calling card holders. I don't have any holders but I have some old family calling cards.
ReplyDeleteThese pieces are so beautiful! I love all the ornate designs. And yay the victorians were pack rats :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely collection you have! Every piece just screams of history and sends the mind imagining the visits associated with the calling cards. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMelindda
Thank you so much for the feature!! Very exciting.
ReplyDeleteI love all the cards and cases but that mother of pearl is my favorite. It's just amazing. Calling cards seem to be making a comeback. I saw "mommy cards" for mom's to carry and give out.
Your treasures are just beautiful!! I adore those Victorian cards. There is a little shop not too far from me that sells items like these and I can literally spend an hour or so roaming around the shop oooing and ahhhing over all of the little trasures they have there. Thank you so much for featuring my crab bites...they became quite the staple appetizer over the holidays...so easy to make. Also thank you so much for hosting and wishing you a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteXO Barbara
So many beautiful treasures! Thanks so much for hosting - Happy new year!
ReplyDeleteI love this post about the calling cards. I collect them and thank goodness you can usually find them at antique shops. They are such works of art and creativity. The business cards of today cannot hold a candle to the Victorian calling cards. Now I am going to search from some of those calling card cases.
ReplyDeleteOh Patti, your home must be such a beautiful fairytale like place... your collections are the most exquisite I have ever seen... your calling card cases are all just stunning!... I too wish we would go back to a more gentle time, when ladies were ladies, and carried such elegant things with them... thank you for sharing your gorgeous collection... you know each time I visit, I want to start collecting whatever it is you have shown us!... much love, xoxo Julie Marie PS I know your dance card would always be filled pretty lady!...
ReplyDeleteGoing through your pictures one seems to travel back in time and enjoy a bit further all those "outdated" gestures and tokens of a glogrious past.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you have those pieces to enjoy. Thank you for sharing so much beauty with all of us!
Teresa
such elegance
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely collection! Thank you so much for featuring my New Years post! Hugs, Penny
ReplyDeleteI just love your pretty calling card holders.I will have to keep my eye out for one the next time I'm antiquing.Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Janet
I so enjoyed your post today.
ReplyDeleteI love your collection of Card holders and cards.
Thank you so much for sharing all your lovely items with us.
Hugs,
Penny
Hi Patti,
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful treasures you have collected... I love the calling cards, well everything is so lovely.
Thank you so much for sharing with us. I just love the Victorian era.
blessings,
Penny
Hi Patti! I am so glad Victorian's were pack rats too! We do like, and have, a lot of the same things! I have featured my card holder and cards on several posts so it's so nice to see some on someone else's blog. Thanks for sharing! They're beautiful. Gina
ReplyDeleteHow lovely. SO happy to join ion this week :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting! Wishing you a beautiful and productive year!! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
ReplyDeleteI love the cards. They are such lovely little works of art, aren't they? And the hummingbird on the card basket is darling! So cute!
ReplyDeleteRuth
Thank you for hosting. you have some very pretty treasure. I feel happy visiting and seeing your pretties.
ReplyDeleteSuch wonderful past traditions. Your vignettes of your collection inspires. Thank you for hosting today.
ReplyDeleteJoy
Patti, your collections are just stunning!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting another beautiful party and allowing us to show off!
Linda and Jeannie at The French Hens Nest
I've always been fascinated by the custom of leaving calling cards.
ReplyDeleteOh my, your collection of calling card holders is stunning. These are the kind of items that are priceless to me. I would love to see all your collections..I am sure we would spend days talking and admiring it all..
ReplyDeleteWow, what a beautiful collection. You always share the most beautiful treasures. Thank you for hosting such a delightful party. It is always fund to see the creative ideas of everyone. Hugs, Karie
ReplyDeleteOh Patti, your kinds words this evening are appreciated more than you know.. I often have trouble expressing myself, so your kind comment was a joy.. I am so happy you enjoyed my Angel relief..
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Penny
ReplyDeleteI have an old calling card case and think it's as pretty as one of yours.
You have more treasures than anyone on the blog world I do believe
of course you always have a great story to go with your treasures also which I enjoy
Patti, thanks for hosting. Such a beautiful tradition now lost. You have a wonderful collection..Happy Thursday..Judy
ReplyDeletePatti, Love the cards and the features this week!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting a fun party! Happy New Year!
Jody
Beautiful pieces! Thank you for your kind comments and inviting me to link up. Great party!
ReplyDeleteHi Patti,
ReplyDeleteall those wonderful pieces are parts of my favoured novels. Must have been a charming time despite the circumstances were not so romantic. Thank you for sharing these pretty things. Makes me dreaming, too.
Best greetings, Johanna
What a lovely collection of cards case! I love very much the victorian cards, another amazing collection! Thanks for your sweet comment and for stopping by over my blog.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Alessandra
Such gorgeous treasures Patti! Every time I come here I see such gorgeous, lovely and romantic things..where do you ever find all these treasures!! I'm sorry I'm late, I was so sure I joined your great party..it's old age, (don't tell)Thank you for hosting, I alove this meme and you too! I'm sure I wished you a wonderful, happy, healthy and prosperous 2013!
ReplyDeleteFABBY
Hi darling, I love coming over to see all your beautiful treasures. The calling card holders are wonderful. hugs ~lynne ~
ReplyDeleteCalling card holders were so special. You have a beautiful collection.
ReplyDeleteI remember that my mother, as an RCAF officer's wife, had calling cards. She was expected to call on the CO's wife and leave a card when first arriving at a new base. It was, truly, another time!
ReplyDeleteI have business cards, but for travel I have had special cards made up. I learned that this was a good idea when we visited Japan. They contain my name and email and look beautiful, if not as elegant as those old Victorian cards.
Hi Patti! Here you go with another gorgeous collection! I love old calling cards and the holders are so pretty! Thanks for popping in to see me.
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Oh I love your silver calling card case! I really think I was born over a 100 years to late. Take care.
ReplyDeleteWanda
That is an amazing piece, Patti! You find such great stuff; I have never seen one of these. When I read about people leaving calling cards in books, I always just imagine a regular silver tray.
ReplyDeleteLove your calling card case and holders, They are treasures!
ReplyDeleteThank you for allowing me to link my post to your party. I am following you here and on FB, now, too!
Such a lovely post-I remember my grandmother and her mother of pearl coin purses, with velvet lining. Beautiful treasures!
ReplyDeleteHello, my name is Marina and I'm a new follower from Spain, your blog is amazing.
ReplyDeleteHugs
It's a shame they don't make cards like they used to. Those are very pretty, and even the cards from my parents' era have more charm the the ones of today. My Mom still kicks herself that she threw away a big stack of her old birthday cards she had kept since childhood. A few years ago, she was throwing away clutter and those things made it into the trash pile. She said if she only knew I would be blogging and crafting later, she would have given me those cards. Live and learn I guess.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for stopping by my blog, and I hope you enjoy your next Super Bowl party!
Your collection is stunning. It's always a treat to see your beautiful treasures.
ReplyDeleteYour post are always so fasinating, thank you so much for sharing all of your finds and wonderful ideas, you inspire all of us. Thank you so much for visiting and your lovely comment, oh to be young again. Hugs...Lu
ReplyDeleteYes Patti, I'm so glad that the Victorians were not only pack rats but knew how to really spoil themselves to the excess : )
ReplyDeleteThey have left such beauty for us to enjoy. I love all of treasures Patti.
sending hugs...
Hi Patti,
ReplyDeleteI just love calling cards and the beautiful holders! I'm glad you dropped in on me or I might have missed this post and it's just lovely (as usual). Take care!
Dear Patti...there are so many graces I wish would come back into fashion!
ReplyDeleteYour collection is gorgeous...I remember gifting some beautiful card holders to friends as college graduation gifts...
Thank you, sweet friend, for your visit...
My blog visits are a bit limited, for I'm battling a cold, but I am slowly catching up...
Have a beautiful week!
Much love,
- Irina
I love Victorian scrapbooks! I have one and I really enjoy it. Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteSherry
You have the most interesting, beautiful collections! Love the cards, the receivers, all of it! Just wonderful. You chose some wonderful features too! Thanks for hosting such a fun party!
ReplyDeleteThe calling cards and cases are just beautiful....truly little pieces of art!
ReplyDelete~Des
Oh, my dear! You have the most exquisite taste. I want to wish you the Happiest of New Years!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Nancy
I always enjoy seeing and hearing the history of your wonderful treasures! The cards are amazing! My maiden name was Chorniak. My heritage was from Czechoslavkia. Thanks for sharing with Share Your Cup.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Jann