Is less really "more" ??????

Chers Amis de l' Ecole du Bon Gout!!!   Bonjour!!  The April issue of Vanity Fair magazine had two adds which came as a delightful surprise for me to see in a contemporary magazine!!   What made them surprising was their use of very bon gout 17th and E.18th century French antiques in deluxe 18th century architectural settings.   Evidently the stylists for these two bastions of "bon gout", Chanel and Patek Philippe, realize that maybe the antique deprived, "less is more", "industrial modern" look one sees featured in most home décor magazines today is not their choice to promote their high end couture creations.  Since I no longer subscribe to any décor magazines, I have more time to read, look at and really enjoy my books on antiques, period architecture and gardens.

Find attached here photos of the two adds followed by photos of the covers of some of my top favorite books. Some books are fairly new and in print and the others you can find inexpensively on used book sites like  amazon.com  or  overstock.com  or  abebooks.com .      Why have "less" when you can have "more"!!!!  More what ??  Decors using antiques include more interesting, diverse and tasty materials , more historical associations and regional context, more long range investment value, more intellectual content, more possibilities for true personalization of your home, more........joie de vivre et bon gout !!!!!!

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith

Visit the Au Vieux Paris Antiques homepage (click here)
Browse a sampling of the merchandise available (click here)

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith   (337) 332-2852
http://www.auvieuxparisantiques.com

Tower at Lake Martin, Louisiane

Bonjour!! Find here some photos that give an impression of the exterior and interior of my tower at Lake Martin, Louisiane.  Enjoy!!

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith

Visit the Au Vieux Paris Antiques homepage (click here)
Browse a sampling of the merchandise available (click here)

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith   (337) 332-2852
http://www.auvieuxparisantiques.com

The plasma screen's ancestor: the "vue d'optique"!!!

Chers Amis du Bon Gout, Bonjour!!    Today many people spend a lot of time having escape, travel, informational or other forms of "virtual" experiences by viewing  a high tech TV screen.  Beginning in England in the mid eighteenth century, a new type of colored engraving and instruments to view them were invented which quickly spread to neighboring France and then to much of Europe.  This was a new genre of engraved prints called "vue d'optique". The loose prints were usually shown in "peep boxes" which their owners set up at public markets and fairs. The public could pay to have the thrilling experience of viewing, in a sort of 3D perspective some famous distant city, garden,  monument, etc. This was the original "Pay for View" enterprise!!    Well-to-do persons acquired their very own instruments and began building collections of their favorite images for showing in their homes to the amazement and entertainment of their family and friends.  ( Think super bowl game home party seen on a new high definition screen TV!!!)

Find attached photographs of a 1780 engraving by Louis Leopold Boilly of a mother and son using their "zograscope" to have the thrilling new "vue d'optique" experience followed by two installations of framed prints in groupings to get you further inspired.

Here at Au Vieux Paris Antiques, you can find a number of 18th c."vue d'optiques" loose or even framed, as well as other two dimensional art works, from quite small to very big, which could become exciting additions to your interiors.  Please call if you have any questions or would like to plan a visit.

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith

1780 engraving by Louis Leopold Boilly of a mother and son using their "zograscope"

Visit the Au Vieux Paris Antiques homepage (click here)
Browse a sampling of the merchandise available (click here)

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith   (337) 332-2852
http://www.auvieuxparisantiques.com

Easy formula for successful entertaining!

Chers Amis du Bon Gout ,   Bonjour!  With days getting warmer and longer, you probably are thinking of celebrating Spring's arrival with some entertaining. For this endeavor, I like to have a formula for success which is both "guest pleasing" and also easy on me the host.  For dinner parties, I find the formula that works best is 1)simple foods prepared beforehand with fresh ingredients, 2)served in courses with attractive serving pieces, 3) fresh flowers and for certain 4)candlelight in abundance SVP !! After a work week in an artificially lighted office, looking for hours at a computer screen, most guests respond in a big way to "candle light therapy"!  Some of my "prepare a day before" favorite main dishes, whether I am entertaining in Uzes or in Breaux Bridge are : gumbo, pasta primavera, gazpacho, or shrimp and avocado salad.  For desert, a completely easy and very big guest pleaser is some good dark chocolate ice cream with crème de menthe splashed over it and a garnish of pecans and/or fresh fruit.  

Find following four photographs of entertaining to inspire you, followed by ten photographs of antique items useful in entertaining, available here at Au Vieux Paris Antiques.   In particular, if you are in need of candle sticks, I just brought back from France, a batch of fabulous ones in my plywood lined suit case. Also to further your candle light program, I have a great collection of chandeliers and sconces in stock. Please plan a visit here soon. 337 332 2852 

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith

Visit the Au Vieux Paris Antiques homepage (click here)
Browse a sampling of the merchandise available (click here)

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith   (337) 332-2852
http://www.auvieuxparisantiques.com