Back in the 1700s, French folk gathered around tables in the evening, playing a card game known as Bouillotte. In order to see what they were doing and make sure no one was cheating, they needed light. Being the ingenious fellows that they were, they came up with a specialized candleholder.
It had a dish-shaped bottom, to hold chips (the poker kind, not the potato kind), and attached to the dish were usually 3 candleholders, and a central post that held a metal, or tole, shade that could be adjusted to shield players' faces from the flame.
It looked a whole lot like this:
Only, without the electrical cord.
We are talking late 18th century, when electricity was still just a spark on Ben Franklin's kite.
Anyway, the bouillote lamp was eventually re-invented as a modern table lamp.
They are back in style -- although I don't think they were ever out of style in traditional interiors --
and I found a pair of vintage, and slightly sad looking, bouillote lamps in a garage a couple of weeks ago. Merci, Craigslist.
I was not sure if the brass was real, or plated. A magnet test proved them solid brass.
There's some brass polishing in my future.
Also some candlestick-straightening.
Note to self: Next time I photograph something for the blog, dust it first.
Oops. Black metal really shows dust, doesn't it?
As long as we're speaking French today, let me introduce you to another Craigslist find:
A demilune table.
This half-moon shaped table was a $15 Craigslist find a few months ago,
and it's been bouncing around That Old House looking for its rightful home.
I placed it over the wine racks for my Dad's 90th birthday party, to hold the
stacks of red plates and wrapped flatware, and there it has stayed.
(Please forgive the stack of tablecloths to the left side.
They are waiting to be ironed. They have a long wait ahead of them, poor dears.)
I'm thinking a coat of black paint would serve this little piece better than its rather icky wood finish. Agree? Or, would creamy white be better? Sky blue pink?
And then I think maybe one of the bouillote lamps might look just right on this table.
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Remember that pair of heavy iron sconces I found on Craigslist a few weeks ago?
I planned to paint them.
Now, I am not so sure.
Turns out, they have some great detail and rusty-look bits on them.
I kinda like them just the way they are.
I will hang them, and see. I can always take them down and paint them later.
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Meanwhile, it's good to be home from my trip to Pittsburgh and Detroit with my daughters.
Anne and I left Alida in Pittsburgh; she returns to California today.
I hate having her 3 time zones away!
I am linking to Show and Tell Friday at Cindy's My Romantic Home.
A visit there is always worthwhile!
And Claudia at Dipity Road hosts Finding Beauty on Fridays!
And Miss Mustard Seed? She is hosting Furniture Friday.
Have a lovely weekend! -- Cass
P.S. Please forgive the funky spacing of some of this post. I used the new Blogger editor, and it's giving me FITS.
I hate change.
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