Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Night (and Day) at the Museum


By any chance, do you remember the December 2004 House & Garden article that featured this lovely table, seen above? The table was set with pieces purchased from the online gift shops of various museums, whose locales included Sweden, France, and Massachusetts.  It was such a memorable article, not to mention photo, because the table accessories were absolutely gorgeous.  (The pink cloth and flowers didn't hurt, either.)  If you didn't know better, you might think the china and crystal were purchased at auction or from an antiques shop.

I thought about trying to recreate the article's concept, but unfortunately, I don't have the time or budget to go on a freewheeling shopping expedition.  But, an online perusal of museum gift shops did yield some really interesting finds for the home, from furniture to tea towels to candlesticks.  Although a real-life trip to a museum is best, the next best thing might just be a virtual visit to their gift shops. 




2014 Versailles Calendar Tea Towel



A copy of Napoleon's folding stool




Reproduction of an 18th century Delftware candlestick- Rijksmuseum





Outdoor folding chairs from Musée de la Toile du Jouy




Reproduction Sandwich glass cobalt dolphin candlestick- Sandwich Glass Museum





Lion decanter from the Hermitage Museum.





Sèvres Gold and Turquoise Tin Plate from The Wallace Collection





Tiles from Museu Nacional do Azulejo, Portugal





Zodiac plates, based on illuminations from a 15th c. Italian Book of Hours, available at The Morgan Library and Museum.








Pillows based on the elaborately decorated Red Bedroom of the Herrenchiemsee Palace, the Bavarian palace that was modeled after Versailles.  Available from the Bavarian Palace Department shop.

6 comments:

  1. Thomas12:30 PM

    Those tin plates are fabulous- I smell Christmas presents

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    Replies
    1. I wouldn't mind owning a set myself!

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  2. I tore that photo out for my scrapbook as well! I tried to do my own version using a pink table cloth with my William Yeoward wine goblets. It was pretty, but not as fantastic as the photo. I really loved the Assiette Plate Pourpre et Service Pivoine on the next page so much, but didn't actually see them on the table. As usual, you post the most refined tables!

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  3. these are finds + the tin plates divine + i will bookmark this. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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  4. A great post. I want the delft candlesticks. Only 15 Euros.

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  5. Anonymous11:42 PM

    Your discoveries are wonderful - brava. I like your eye.

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