"Change is a good thing!"

Chers Amis de L'Ecole du Bon Gout, Bonjour, Yes! Change helps us see with "new eyes" our everyday surroundings. Changes in the seasons gives us a heightened ability to appreciate the qualities of each new season! We have just arrived, after what was a cold winter, to be more appreciative of the glories of spring's weather, flowers, etc.!!

In eighteenth century interior décor, there also was a tradition of having major changes in sequence with the seasons. There is an 18th century gold snuff box, at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC, which has a very detailed painting on one side showing a lavish salon in summer "dress" and on the other side, the same room in winter "dress". Here one sees an extreme case where not only the seat upholstery, curtains and rugs were being changed out, but also there was a change of the parquet flooring to another different pattern of parquet flooring!! Now this is a true bon gout seasonal transformation for sure!

Regarding seat furniture, the "mechanism" which made their seasonal changes quite easy, involved detailing the chairs and sofas with easily removable back and seat cushions. Such furniture would be called "à châssis". Some of the finished fabric choices for these sets of interchangeable cushions could be tapestry, velour frappe, damask, leather, or for summer there could even have been a set of inserts of caning which would have been a comfortable choice for those warm summer nights!

At Au Vieux Paris Antiques , we are happy to offer for the very first time, a set of six Louis XV, walnut, "chaise à châssis" seen in the photos to follow. Their large size (H 39¼" W 20½" D 20") indicates they were probably part of a set of seat furniture for a salon, however they would also be great as chairs around the dining table. Plan a visit soon to see these rare models as well as the rest of the current stock of bon gout!

337 332 2852 or visit the web site at www.auvieuxparisantiques.com

Cordialement d'Uzes, 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

Topiaries from down to up???

Chers Amis de L'Ecole du Bon Gout!! Bonjour d'Uzes!! When I arrived here two weeks ago, I knew I wanted to get the courtyard replanted before the marathon of April through May shopping and restoration of the goods began!

Of all the plants I have tried in my court yard, "English Ivy" ( Hedera helix) seemed to prosper the best. It is a native to most all of Europe and western Asia, and here in France it is called "Lierre". You find ancient specimens growing in our local valley with trunks as big as six inches in diameter! But I wanted topiaries, svp!!!

Seeing some great looking ivy hanging baskets at a local florist, an idea was spawned ! Like the "wheel of fortune", what is down can soon be up! Next from a plant store in Nimes, called Truffaut , which has a truly staggering selection of plants ranging from enormous 500+ year old olive trees to miniature petunias, (both conveniently sold in pots, svp), I acquired some metal forms to which I added additional wire spirals. Next the hanging baskets were planted, and after separating them to their various single vines, it was very easy to entwine them up the cone starting with the longest first, which reached just short of the top. The individual leaves were a bit confused after their "down to up" transformation, but after only two days they were perfectly oriented to the sun and very happy! These topiaries were planted in 19th c vase Anduse which have the ability to make even the humblest species of plant like this "English Ivy", into a presentation of total "bon gout"!!

If you happen to need some vase Anduse for your topiary project, there is an assembled set of four 19th c vases, sold in pairs, available now at Au Vieux Paris Antiques ( 337 332 2852 or www.auvieuxparisantiques.com ). Just like the "wheel of fortune", if your spirits are a bit "down", you will certainly bring them "up" if you are inspired to do some topiaries of your very own creation !!!

Cordialement, 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 bedroom, your waking dream come true!!

Chers Amis de L’Ecole du Bon Gout!. Bonjour! Since most humans spend about 3,650 hours a year in bed, the bed itself, as well as its surroundings and the views from it become very important subjects! Also if you are even “bed ridden” for a period of time, then a commodious and beautiful bedroom environment becomes immediately more important to you and your recovery !

 My formula for the most comfortable and luxurious bedroom environment is : A beautiful and stylish antique bed; a custom made, memory foam mattress with my choices of foam layers; antique, hand woven linen sheets lightly starched and pressed; and a functional bedside table to hold, at the ready, the phone, clock etc.. Away from the immediate bed area, I like to have in prominent view, a commode and a fireplace mantle both surmounted by an arrangement of my favorite objects, flowers and candle holders. I always align the position of the bed with appealing views out of the windows.

 Today, here at Au Vieux Paris , there are nine 18th and early 19th century beds to choose from. Some are single size, or standard American double size, but one is just 2” shy of being queen size SVP! We also have deep stock in hand woven linen and cotton sheets, numerous bedside tables, 5 commodes and plenty of other fetching items to make your bedroom a waking dream come true!

 Attached here are photographs of antique beds seen in museums and private homes to give you some extreme to moderate ideas, followed by photos of bedroom furnishings here at Au Vieux Paris Antiques. Plan a visit to see these and more in person or visit the web site at www.auvieuxparisantiques.com

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith 337 332 2852

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

Sculpture : Fine art, but decorative arts too!

Chers Amis du Bon Gout, Bonjour! Since the days when we humans inhabited caves, man has been crafting pieces of sculpture of one sort or another. Fertility figures, like the famous “Venus of Willendorf” ( 28,000 to 25,000 b.c.), are certainly some of man’s first sculptural achievements, which today, thousands of years later, still hold our admiration. In more recent centuries, portrait busts have been a popular theme along with of course religious and mythological figures.

In a home setting, a powerful piece of sculpture, used as a focal point, can immediately attract and hold our attention and may set the tone of the décor of the rest of the room.

Besides sculpture which is classified as “fine art”, there are many pieces that are classified as “decorative art” that are really sculptures too. These were sometimes made by the same artist making “fine art” pieces. For example, the fabulous marble Medici urns in the gardens of the Chateau de Versailles, were created by the leading fine art sculptors of the day like the justly famous M.Coysevox .

Attached here are photographs of “fine art” sculptural works, in stock now at Au Vieux Paris Antiques, followed by photos of pieces of “decorative art” which are also very “sculptural” ! Please plan a visit to see these and many more three dimensional pieces in person or visit our website at 

www.auvieuxparisantiques.com or call 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

St. Valentine's Day!!!

Chers Amis de l’Ecole du Bon Gout”, Bonjour !! February 14th, St. Valentine’s day, named for a 3rd century Roman saint, gives everybody a great opportunity to let the special person (or persons) in their life know that they are so very dear !! Candy, flowers and cards are certainly tried and true methods of communicating your affections, but if you would like to make a more sensational and long lasting expression of your appreciation, I suggest a gift of “Bon Gout” from Au Vieux Paris Antiques.

You could also consider a two part gift. For example: a set of antique champagne flutes with a chilled bottle of bubbly to go with them, or an old Paris porcelain vase with fresh roses in it, or a set of silver dinner forks and spoons and a catered meal sent in just for the two of you!!

With two recent shipments of antiques just in, I see many imaginative possibilities here in the shop! If you would like to work up a truly memorable gift, be it fine art, silver , stemware, candlesticks or other lighting or ...., please give me a call and we can select something special together. I will be happy to wrap it in some extravagant yet of course “Bon Gout” way !!!

If you can’t come in person, visit the website at Au Vieux Paris Antiques.

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith

337 332 2852

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