The Salon...

Last month the leather couches for the salon arrived. We chose some traditional deeply buttoned Chesterfield styled couches, with two matching chairs. After a few iterations, we settled upon a configuration which splits the long salon into two smaller spaces suitable for conversation...

The area is split in two by a Boulle cabinet with a lovely Lalique lamp on it, which we leave on most of the day for effect, and at night it makes a lovely 'night light'.

At the moment the space is still a little less cosy than desired, so we plan to add area rugs under the two coffee tables, which will help to absorb some of the echo, and some parlour palms.

Examples of area rugs and parlour palms used to good effect...

We also have our French Boulle clock in the corner nearest the music room...

I am sure this won't be the last time we rearrange the furniture in the salon, but I think need to live with it as it is for a little while before we change it again. Maybe we will try the couches at either end with the chairs and tables in between...

What do you think?

The Dubbo Chronicles No 12: Sold to a private collector for an undisclosed sum!

Yesterday my friend Fran and I went to the annual Dubbo antique fair. It was a really too small for it to have been called a fair, with only about 10 dealers there; but given Dubbo only has one antique store, it was worth a look...

I had gone with the intention of looking for some larger pieces of Wedgwood. However, there were none to be had - not even for ready money. There was a little bit of silver, but anything vaguely interesting did have a fairly high price tag attached...

I almost bought this sweet little stirling silver salt spoon. Not sure why I didn't now!

I did happen across this frosted glass ornament which I thought looked reminiscent of a somewhat famous French artisan's work...

It reminded me of a Lalique, and so I acquired the item for a very reasonable sum, only to find that it was indeed a Lalique piece. The dealer did not seem to know what he had.

It will go along side the two other pieces we have at home...

 Then I found this set of decanter tags. I had half been on the lookout for a nice set of these for a while, but couldn't seem to find a matching set of antique ones. These are stirling silver Victorian tags with silver belcher chains.

My final little purchase was a gold belcher chain...

All in all not a bad little haul, and to top the morning off, my friend won the door prize, a gift voucher for one of the dealers!