Monday, February 16, 2009

Swimming with the Fishes




Back when my sister and I were young, the highlight of each Fall was our school fair. Not only was it a lot of fun, but it was also our opportunity to win a few pet fish. All you had to do was toss a ball and hope that it landed in an empty fish bowl. Much to the dismay of our parents, Laura and I had really good aim and inevitably we would come home with two or three fish. And every year, we pulled out the cheap fish bowl and deposited our prizes into that bowl where they swam for about a week until they died. During that week, Laura- the good child- took care of those fish, paid attention to them, and cleaned that dirty bowl. I immediately lost interest and was on to the next thing.

So based on my history with fish, I don't think I'm cut out for providing a proper home for the poor things. But fortunately, there are people who are not only good fish care providers but who house them in really chic bowls and aquariums. 1936 must have been quite a year for a few lucky fish who found themselves housed in some stunning fish abodes. Just look:



This aquarium was built into the overmantel above a striking streamlined fireplace.


George Frelinghuysen, Jr., a decorator, designed this entrance hall panel in his home. The aquarium was built into the panel.


Frelinghuysen also designed this chandelier aquarium for his bedroom. Attached to the ceiling by black silk cords, the bowl was open at the top, and a group of crystal prisms hung down from the ceiling and dipped into the water. I think it was electrified, but I can't tell. Between the chandelier aquarium and that bed, Frelinghuysen really created his own bedroom grotto.


If I were to own a fish, I would use the Elsa Peretti fish bowl. Actually, I might ditch the fish and use this bowl for something else- it's that fabulous! (And no, that's not a real fish in that bowl.)

(See that Schlumberger brooch at top? Now that's my kind of fish!)

19 comments:

  1. The chandelier would be so soothing, wouldn't it? But I'm with you - the best fish come with diamonds.

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  2. I love staying at the Soho Grand In NYC, a pet friendly hotel, where you can have a pet goldfish for your stay. It is quite chic-a large crystal bowl with a black bubble-eye that matches the decor.

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  3. I love the diamonds... but I once attended a birthday party with a water theme - goldfish in bowls were used as centerpieces, the hostess was not an animal person and disposed of them inhumanely! It was infuriating and awful. Every time I see a fish bowl on a table now, that comes back... Be well, The Hostess

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  4. Patricia- We certainly like our jewelry!! ;)

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  5. Style- That does sound quite chic!

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  6. Hostess- Yikes! That's terrible. How awful.

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  7. I ditto the diamond broach comment - I just love any unique broach! I recently found a fabulous one at Banana Republic, it was an adorable elephant : )

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  8. I had a horrible experience with my fish that I had raised from babies and named (like a dumbass). The electricity went out in my office building several years ago. The rest is history. Now, we have a pond with carp in our backyard and I refuse to bond with any of them...bonding with fish...sounds stupid, doesn't it? Love the fish pin, I'm a pisces so don't I have to?

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  9. Arlynn- That brooch sounds beautiful!

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  10. Jill- Another bad fish experience! No, you can't bond with them because they seem really fragile- like mine that lived for a week!

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  11. I had a friend who also used real fish as centerpieces for a party. I was living overseas at the time she had the party - but I do think the fish probably got the flush after the revelry was over. Awful!

    Now that faux fish in the Peretti bowlis stunning. Wonder where it came from?

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  12. Covetable- That is awful!! At least mine were flushed only after they expired. And my father was the one who had to do it. I can't imagine flushing live ones!

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  13. Me neither - I never felt quite the same about her after she told me the tale....

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  14. ugh - my daughter just came home with two fish. again. i can so relate to this. last time around we had to hire someone to come in and clean the bowl because she was so lazy about it. i thought we were through with all that - but they actually are cute - one keeps chasing the other one - it's hysterical!

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  15. I'm in love with that Tiffany's brooch. Too bad it's a tad out of my price range ;)

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  16. The fishbowl centerpiece is always asking for trouble! At my friend's sweet 16, instead of becoming take-home pets for her guests as intended, the poor fish became live snacks for some immature boys. Gross.

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  17. Bean- Good grief! How come so many of us have bad fish tales!!! Teenage boys...what can you do with them??!!

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  18. Anonymous10:46 AM

    George Griswold Frelinghuysen died in 2004 at the age of 92. Here's his obituary notice from The New York Times: FRELINGHUYSEN -- George Griswold died at the age of 92, after a long illness, on Sunday, April 25, 2004 at his home in West Palm Beach, Florida. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Peter H.B. Frelinghuysen of Morristown, N.J. and was named for his grandfather, G.G. Frelinghuysen, also of Morristown. His maternal grandparents were Mr. & Mrs. H.O. Havermeyer, of New York, N.Y. At an early age Mr. Frelinghuysen was employed at John Wanamaker's in New York, where he developed solid talent as an interior designer. He later went into business for himself. During a long and active life, he lived for many years in Morristown. Later he moved to Bel Air and Santa Barbara, California and then to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Next he lived for years in Honolulu, Hawaii before his final move to Florida. Mr. Frelinghuysen is survived by a younger brother, Peter, of Morristown, and by six nephews and two nieces.

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  19. Anon- Many, many thanks for the obit. I'm familiar with the Frelinghuysen name, but had never seen George F.'s work before.

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