My Love Affair with trinkets and treasures from the past
As poets, mystics and wise men and women through the centuries have known---the soul needs beauty to thrive and flourish.
One form of Beauty is the rich array of treasures from yesteryear- the wondrous world of Antiques and Vintage Collectibles- for which I have an abiding love and passion.
I am fascinated by the odd and quirky bits and bobs that people meticulously collect; I’m amazed and delighted by the myriad functions, history and stories of lovingly crafted and created pieces-whether an art deco clock, an ornately decorated silver ladle or an old railway signal lamp. And sometimes I simply stand in awe at a thing of boundless beauty.
This passion for old treasures runs through my veins, as my late granny Renee (for whom I am named, and who lived to be 103!!) spent weekends rummaging around car boot sales to fill her quaint and charming semi in South England with a kaleidoscope of fascinating nick knacks: Royal Doulton ceramic dogs crouched next to ancient faded (and rather scary) lace-clad dolls; fine eggshell porcelain teacups (which you held with bated breath) nestled among oriental curiosities -fierce-eyed foo dogs and finely wrought Indian silver -collected over years by my grandfather -a decorated Colonel in the British army.
When I close my eyes I can still smell their home: the scent of mystery and possibility- like Lucy, Edward, Peter and Susan must have felt when they opened the wardrobe to enter the magical world of Narnia. I can still feel the excitement bubble up at what might be hiding in a corner of the attic, or tucked away in a carved Chinese camphor wood chest.
So nowadays, following in Gran’s footsteps, I scoot around junk shops, auctions, car boot sales, and hidden alleys to sniff out the very best pre-owned and pre-loved treasures. The joy and satisfaction I feel when someone finds among my stock a birthday present for a friend, a rare item to add to their collection, or simply a little trinket that delights them, is immense and heart-warming.
I feel such relief that in this world of cheaply and carelessly mass-produced ‘stuff’, that fine quality hand-made furniture, ceramics, silver etc are still available that will last for decades to come. And antiques and collectibles have a small carbon footprint- so imperative in the 21st century where living lightly and sustainably on our precious earth is becoming imperative.
I love, too, that old items can be re-purposed and up-cycled--- use a chipped Royal Albert cup to plant a succulent or hang a bunch of antique keys for a wind chime. As writing is another love of mine, you’ll be able to read interesting things here, too. I relish researching old treasures that stimulate my curiosity or fire my imagination, and if it’s possible to find the history and story behind a treasure. So, please join me on this fascinating journey into the past. I regularly add new pieces for sale, so do keep a lookout on this site.
I would love to hear from you- comments, ideas, reflections- and am also very happy to answer questions (or find out for you- as there is so much I don’t know and am learning), or if you’re struggling to find something special - let me know and I’ll do my utmost to to source it for you. You are welcome to collect what you buy, or we happily deliver for a reasonable fee. Happy treasure hunting!!