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

The Richness of Antique Textiles!

Chers Amis,   Bonjour students of Bon Gout!!     There is a unique "old world" richness and feeling that just happens when you use antique textiles in your décor, that doesn’t seem to happen by any other means!  No matter whether it is an entire wall paved with a fabulous antique tapestry or just a few throw pillows on the sofa, these textiles "season" the space like just the right spice does in a gumbo!  In the middle ages through to the end of the 18th c most chateaux in France had the walls of their major reception rooms completely covered with tapestries, finished fabrics or straw matting!  This is certainly the most deluxe approach, however just some isolated panels of fine fabric, hung loosely on the wall can also make quite a strong statement.  Fabric panels are also great for highlighting framed engravings as they add color and texture and in the end achieve this "old world" warmth infused into the room's décor.   Rugs have long been the mainstay of decorators to achieve affects of this nature, however I propose that the walls are not to be overlooked because they are also quite a viable venue in this regard.

Find following for your inspiration, five photos of some finished installations in France as well as ten photos of some of the tapestries, finished fabric and rugs available now at Au Vieux Paris Antiques.  Please plan a visit soon to see these items as well as other items newly arrived from my winter trip to France.

Cordialement,  Robert( 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

Upholstery"transformation"

Chers Amis du Bon Gout,  Bonjour d'Uzes!!  Even though we are continuing to enjoy incredibly sunny "Spring like" days here drawing us outside, I have been doing several indoor decorating projects.

A few years ago I was successful in changing the yellow color of the damask upholstery of the head and foot board of a bed into a blueish green color which then matched an antique velvet bedspread I had acquired.  This was accomplished by sponging on a mixture of ordinary latex matte wall paint and water.  Remembering this, I decided to take on the transformation of two pairs of Louis XIII armchairs, which had machine-made "tapestry" upholstery from the 1940s and 1960s in rather "faux du gout" shades of orange.  To have a successful transformation by this means, the choice of the color is all important.  I chose a "vert olive" ( medium toned, muted olive green). My idea was to tone down the existing upholstery and end up with a look that would coordinate with the colors of the large early 18th century tapestry which is a dominate feature in the room.   Using a mixture of about 1 part paint to 4 parts water, I applied the paint mixture with a sponge.  For the bed I had totally soaked the fabric with the mixture and ended with a solid color.  For the chairs I rubbed the mixture on more sparingly allowing a good bit of the original fabric color to come through which gave an "aged tapestry look" to the fabric.   This procedure only makes sense if both the existing finished and under upholstery structure is in good condition.  Today there are many great fabrics available in traditional patterns which are even more affordable now than 10 or so years ago , so reupholstering  seat furniture with new fabric is obviously still a very good and easy option. 

At Au Vieux Paris Antiques there is a very good selection of large and comfortable armchairs and some sets of 6 to 8 dining chairs now on hand.

Find following, 5 photos of my "transformation" projects here, followed by 7 photos of seat furniture available at  Au Vieux Paris Antiques.

Give us a call for a visit , SVP.   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