French country design – collectibles

by Sharon Santoni

 

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In the second of the French Country Design series, where I team up with four other blogs to talk to you about ideas for bringing French elements of design for your home.

 

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Today our theme is collections with a French feel.  I find that I collect some items long term, and others I’ll collect for a while and then disband before moving on to something else.

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Two that I have been collecting for a while are the antique family soup tureens, and tiny liqueur glasses.

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I love the tureens because they are so representative of traditional French homes.  Two generations ago, every family had their white tureen standing proudly on a table or a shelf.  The tureens that I find here in fairs range in size and age, some up to 150 years old, but they are all plain white with the traditional domed lid.

I like to show them behind wire mesh cabinet doors for the way the light catches on their nuances of white and off white.

I collect liqueur glasses  because I use them for flower display.  I love to scatter individual blooms on the dinner table, and to use these tiny glasses  is ideal.  They allow me to place single flowers all over the table without getting in the way of serving platters and flatware.

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If you would like to see the collections of the other bloggers then just pop over to the links below, I’m sure they have some wonderful pieces to share with you.

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Cedar Hill Farmhouse

French Country Cottage

Savvy Southern Style

Confessions of a Plate Addict

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12 comments

princesnowfarm April 27, 2014 - 3:27 pm

Oh Sharon I am so sorry! I knew that your blog hadn’t popped up in my sidebar with a new post for a very long time. So this morning I decided to go on your blog and get your email to see if you war ok. That’s when I discovered that you have been posting !!! So 1) I am glad you are ok 🙂 and 2) I have a lot of catching up to do! I will have to update your url. Happy Sunday!

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Confessions of a Plate Addict April 27, 2014 - 4:06 pm

I love your collection of soup tureens, Sharon! I have my mom’s white tureen and I have to say that there is indeed a strong feeling of family connected to them. I am enjoying being a part of our little design group with you!…hugs…Debbie

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Jackie April 27, 2014 - 4:12 pm

Love the beautiful windows in Sainte Chappelle, breathtaking. (Spelling ?)

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John Wines April 27, 2014 - 4:30 pm

I consider the Sainte Chapelle windows the most beautiful of the many splendors of Paris (and I lived there for 22 years).

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Kim April 27, 2014 - 4:39 pm

Sharon, I would so love to collect those soup tureens, but darn they cost a lot over here. Maybe some day I will find a bargain, but I doubt it.

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Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon April 27, 2014 - 7:53 pm

I love the white and good glasses. How do you know how old they are? Is there a marking or is it the style? I have been watching Antiques Road Show. 🙂

Madonna

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sally April 28, 2014 - 12:42 am

Im very interested to read about the tureens Sharon, how beautifully you display them as well, I love all white. They are difficult to find here, so I will have to wait until I get back to France around Whitsun…..

…aren’t mismatched little glasses lovely for flowers?
Be sure to keep a couple spare for a petit tipple though… Cointreau pour moi!!

popping over to look at the other collections now

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Jeanne McKay Hartmann April 28, 2014 - 2:02 pm

Lovely, Sharon. Just a wonderful idea to use liqueur glasses for flowers. I love to see what other people collect and learn the reasons why – it makes sense that you are drawn to things like tureens and glasses that can be used in your beautiful floral arrangements. I love café au lait bowls (the more chips, cracks and personality the better) and old Hermes scarves (I like to imagine the lives of the previous owners). Mostly I love to be surrounded by things that have a story. Looking forward to seeing what the other bloggers share, as well. Have a beautiful week! XO

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Colleen Taylor April 28, 2014 - 3:30 pm

Your hydrangeas are gorgeous Sharon & displayed so beautifully in your liqueur glasses. Those soup tureens, oh my, outstanding display as well! X

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Anita from Cedar Hill Farmhouse April 28, 2014 - 3:46 pm

Gorgeous!! Great idea on the liquor glasses, and I am drooling over your tureens. They are stunning!! Everything you do is fabulous in my book. 🙂

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LuAnn April 28, 2014 - 5:50 pm

I have a love of soup tureens as well! I think they make a lovely accent on kitchen or dining room tables. When I use mine for design my family keeps asking me to make one of my soup recipes and serve it in it. Sometimes I do! 😉
LuAnn

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Courtney May 1, 2014 - 4:57 pm

Love your collections Sharon! Those soup tureens are just gorgeous as you have them displayed!

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