A Day of Flowering

Bonjour and welcome to l’Ecole du Bon Gout!  The Mayan calendar created about 550 b.c. described the past year, November 19, 2007 to November 12, 2008 as a “dark night of destruction (the end of manufactured lack)”.  The good news is the year starting November 13, 2008 to November 8, 2009 is labeled “a day of flowering” (consciousness surpasses technology).

To celebrate this promising new year, today’s subject is flowers.  Flowers are one of the joys in life that will invariably lift your spirits or that of a friend receiving them.  I have noticed even in the raunchiest bar in a small town in France, there will often be a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers on the bar!

An ordinary bouquet can be transformed into a major celebration of “Bon Gout” by utilizing a wonderful antique container of by presenting the finished bouquet upon a pedestal or wall bracket.

When giving a gift of flowers for a special occasion, consider giving it in a choice container so that the gift will “keep on giving”, being remembered throughout the years long after the original flowers have faded.

Here at Au Vieux Paris Antiques we always have vases, “cache pots” or other more utilitarian containers which can customize and individualize your arrangements.  The photos attached below are of home setting arrangements enhanced by antiques all sourced from Au Vieux Paris and of items which are presently available.

Please fell fee to contact us with any questions or request you may have by telephone (337) 332-2852, e-mail robertesmith@centurytel.net or visit our website at www.auvieuxparisantiques.com.

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

Fireplace

With the welcoming of cool fall days and the anticipation of cold winter nights ahead, today's subject is the fireplace.  Even if you have central heating, the fireplace of any room is that room's focal point and the place that first catches the eye when you walk in.  It also usually sets the tone, scale and style of the room.  The mantle itself is usually the most important element; however, this is usually supported visually and functionally by andirons, a cast iron fire back, fire tools, wood box, etc.  The mantle itself can be a veritable "altar" of Bon Gout!  Candlesticks, books, vases of flowers, a clock or small personal items all can find there way into a delightful composition.  Over the mantle is always an important place, usually calling for a large mirror, an oil painting or even a large scale engraving like an Audubon bird print.   

Antique fireplaces can be handsome additions to existing rooms even if they don't burn real wood and have a chimney.  There are gas, as well as ethanol units which look completely real when burning.  Here at Au Vieux Paris, we have in stock three wooden, three limestone, and four marble mantles.  Find following pictures of three of the mantles in stock, followed by photographs of antiques mantles installed in new situations all sourced from Au Vieux Paris.

Warm up your home and life for winter, and throughout the years to come, in the fireplace arena. A Bon Gout opportunity awaits!!!

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

French antique garden ornaments

Bonjour and welcome to today's visit to l'Ecole du Bon Goût.  Today's subject is French antique garden ornaments.  “A rose called by any other name may smell as sweet,” but it will look a lot better in an antique vase Anduze than it will in an old washing machine tank!  The presentation an culture of plants in attractive containers has been an important subject in France since before the Renaissance.  During the Renaissance (1515 à 1559), many fanciful and elaborate vases were created in terra cotta, cast iron and lead.  Building on this heritage, Louїs XIV’s huge cast silver decorative vases for his prized orange trees etc, certainly reached the ultimate high point in plant containerization and presentation.  Sadly, Louїs had these magnificent vases and the rest of his silver furniture melted down in 1689 and we know them only form a few surveying preparatory sketches as well as illustrations in paintings and tapestries.

Well, your gallery may not call for cast silver vases for your orange trees, but you certainly can enhance almost any gallery, patio or courtyard with punctuating focal points of terra cotta, copper or carved stone.

Find below, a seven picture montage of garden items available at Au Vieux Paris Antiques as well as photographs of installations of antique items used in garden settings, all sourced from Au Vieux Paris Antiques.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions or requests you might have by telephone (337) 332-2852, e-mail robertesmith@centurytel.net, or visit our website at www.auvieuxparisantiques.com.

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

Mirrors

Bonjour and welcome to today's visit to l'Ecole du Bon Goût.  Today's subject of interest
is mirrors.  “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the loveliest of them all?”  Well often, the
mirror itself can be the “loveliest” single contributor to a composition of an entire wall of
decorative and architectural features.  Mirrors, though they are framed like major works of
art which are static, have the ability to be ever changing as they reflect various other light
sources, or often a reflection of a beautiful view which changes as you change positions in
relationship to it.  Some old mirror plates, mainly those beyond 150 years of age have a
patination called in the trade, “diamond dust” which has taken place.  This effect gives the
impression of tiny sparkles of reflected light (think Tinkerbell) scattered across the reflected
image.  This effect is most pronounced when the mirror reflects candle light or direct
sunlight and can be quite magical.  In new homes which may not have many windows with
natural light and views, a large mirror, strategically placed opposing the extant windows can
function almost like an added window and therefore enhancing, balancing and even
“enlarging” the space.

Here at Au Vieux Paris Antiques we currently have a selection of about 45 mirrors in a wide
variety of sizes (10’’ to 10’ tall), ages (17^th to 19^th century) and enframing materials (bois doré,
painted wood or waxed woods).

Let the mirrors in your home be a reflection of your “bon goût.”

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or requests you might have by telephone
(337) 332-2852, e-mail robertesmith@centurytel.net, or visit our website at www.auvieuxparisantiques.com.

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

Period candlelit chandeliers and sconces

Bonjour and welcome to today's visit to l'Ecole du Bon Goût.  Today's subject is period candlelit chandeliers and sconces.  Today, in the average day we are usually subjected to lighting experiences which are of a totally new nature: i.e. florescent light, widescreen television images, computer screens images, and even strobe lights if you happen to be running a red light in your car.  Well, after a day in the 21^st century jungle of “aggressive light abrasions,” I recommend coming home to candlelight for its therapeutic as well as aesthetic rewards.  However, if candle light is not for you every night of the week, most chandeliers can be wired so that you can have them offer electrical light (on a dimmer S.V.P.) and not negate the possibility of using real wax candles too (think Saturday night dinner party after a whole week of 21^st century light abuse).

Here at Au Vieux Paris Antiques, as well as Patrick Dunne’s shops Lucullus Antiques in Breaux Bridge and New Orleans, one can find a wide selection of period chandeliers, sconces and candlesticks in various styles to choose from.  So light up your world and life with a period fixture and feel more relaxed and at ease enjoying le bon goût.

Below, see a photographic montage of six different fixtures of various styles now in stock at Au Vieux Paris Antiques.  Also, see a photo showing the impact the right period lighting fixtures can make even when they are not lit.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or requests you might have by telephone (337) 332-2852, e-mail robertesmith@centurytel.net, or visit our website at www.auvieuxparisantiques.com.

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

lecojum “Snow Flakes” in bloom

Mes Amis,

Bonjour and welcome to today's visit to l'Ecole du Bon Goût.  With winter’s mantle lifting and the promise of spring in the air, today's subject is focused on the plant world.  I invite you to visit the very beautifully illustrated “blog” visit to Au Vieux Paris Antiques by Chris Wiesinger (www.southernbulbs.com/blog/).  Chris is a knowledgeable purveyor of “antique” or species flowering bulbs.  His website, not to mention his business, is very impressive.  Be sure to check out some of the past “blog” articles in the “Last Posts” and “Archives.”  He has been running a veritable Ecole du Bon Goût of “antique” flowering bulbs.  Chris can be contacted by email through his website at http://www.southernbulbs.com/contact-us/ or by phone at (903) 768-2530 ext 103.

Plan to treat your eyes to a visit here at Au Vieux Paris Antiques after about February 20 to see the lecojum “Snow Flakes” in bloom.  There will be a veritable color of white and green around the central “Tapis Vert” of the front garden.  These bulbs, now multiplied to about 2000, were rescued from the old Dr. Buchanan home on Buchanan street in Lafayette in 1984 just days before a flood of concrete transformed this charming 19^th century historic time capsule into a parking lot.  Fortunately, the home and Dr. Buchanan’s office were saved and moved to the Acadian Village in Lafayette and are on tour today.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or requests you might have by telephone (337) 332-2852, e-mail robertesmith@centurytel.net, or visit our website at www.auvieuxparisantiques.com.

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

Dining tables

Mes Amis,

Bonjour and welcome to today's visit to l'Ecole du Bon Goût.  Today’s subject is dining tables.  With the holiday season in full tilt whirling all around us, it might be a relief to focus on a holiday tradition that really does go back farther than jingle bells do: Dining “à table” can be the true “bon goût” high point of the holiday season.

Finished dining tables are a fairly modern invention when it comes to looking at the big picture of the history of dining.  They are a late 18th century invention!  Previously, practically all dining tables were, even for the kings of France, simple “saw horse” like supports called “treteaux” which were  used to support a top or tops of unfinished planks of wood which were always covered with a generous (usually to the floor) white tablecloth.  One can see these illustrated, at least as far back as 11th century in depictions of the Last Supper.  There are even three or four early Louisiana treteaux tables known to me.

The invention, in the late 18th century, of a finished dining table with leaves was revolutionary and caught on very rapidly with nearly every household of sufficient means, having one, usually in walnut, mahogany or oak.  This is no surprise since they are so versatile, converting to many different sizes by means of adding or subtracting leaves.  They are on wheeled casters, so they are easy for one person to move them about; however, most importantly, they are just the most dramatic piece of furniture you could have in a dining room.

Here at Au Vieux Paris Antiques, we have in stock six late 18th century extension dining tables, ranging in length from 13 to 10 feet, one fixed round table, one folding square table, as well as a very ancient set of treteaux with a 19^th century top.

Also Patrick Dunne of Lucullus Antiques in New Orleans and Breaux Bridge always has a tasty selection of dining tables available for purchase.

Find following a selection of tables in stock here followed by two photographs of completely outfitted dining rooms, one Louis XIII and one early 19th century.

Dine “à Table du bon Goût” this Holiday season.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or requests you might have by telephone (337) 332-2852, e-mail robertesmith@centurytel.net, or visit our website at www.auvieuxparisantiques.com.

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