Whether you know us from a past exhibit at an antiques show, an HGTV
television appearance, or from here at
www.meadowscollection.com,
you know that we always have a gallery
full of goodies!
They range from the serious,
such as an important
painting by a listed artist or an early example of travel photography, |
|
To contact us:
e-mail:
meadows@meadowscollection.com
The Meadows Collection
Adela & Mark Meadows
We eventually answer all
correspondence...please
be patient. |
to the functional--a tole
chandelier perhaps or some vintage cork-screws and tastevins.
Whatever the item, we always strive to make each of our offerings
something that is "just as unique as you are".
Each issue, we use this page to put the spotlight on
items from our extensive inventory of vintage folk art,
photography and curiosities. This time our focus is on
three different items.
The
first is this vintage French chocolate mold...
...in the form of Père Noël...aka Father Christmas or Santa Claus.
A New World import, chocolate was first enjoyed in the royal courts of
Europe as a beverage. The production of metal molds for making chocolate
figures began a little before 1820. Prior to that, the sculpted wooden molds
previously utilized for making decorative subjects in sugar were used. In
France, the metal-forming factories began making tin molds for the
burgeoning chocolate confectioners industry...La Maison Trottier, founded
in 1814, was one of the first. The competition heated-up during the
Paris World's Fair of 1855 and the fashion for chocolat de
fantasie...chocolate in fantasy forms...was launched. Other French
producers of chocolate molds include Maison Pinat founded in 1820, Maison
Cadot (1826), Maison Létang (1832), Maison E. Sommet (1882), Maison Gobel
(1887), and Maison Matfer founded by Mora in 1949. Early German chocolate
mold producers include Herman Walter (Berlin 1866) and Anton Reiche (
Dresden 1870).
The
next item under the spotlight is a vintage Chinese feng shui
compass...
...known as a luo pan or lo-pan. Used to unlock the
mysteries of the universe and provide information about a site or
building, ancient examples were made of tiger bone. This one is bone, but
it's not ancient...it's safe to say that no tigers were harmed as a result.
A feng shui compass is used to measure the
banqua or energy emitted by specific areas of your home...areas that
are said to have significant impact upon your well-being. If you are a
proponent of feng shui, then you know that it is not necessary to have a
detailed compass such as this example to make an accurate reading...
...but this is so much more attractive and interesting. Used as a
paperweight in the office, it's sure to provoke intrigue!
And our
third item is a vintage photograph...
...of dolls arranged in a high-kicking can-can line. A surrealist-inspired
image, it was taken in a German doll
factory, circa 1930. It is a Keystone View Co., Inc. photograph;
such photography agencies were the gathering point of many of the world's
finest photographers and photographs. Keystone had its start in 1892 in
Meadville, Pennsylvania with photo-stereocards. The world was eager for
photographs and photojournalism became a profession that resulted in
outstanding images from the four corners of the world.
You'll find further details
of all three of these unique items in this issue's Shop in Your Slippers
pages.
|
