A Pickwick Christmas...

   Join us at Pickwick Antiques in Montgomery, Alabama for our Pre- Christmas Sale...
                                      
                                     December 3rd-December 15th

                                                  SAVE  30% Storewide...

                                                       

The "WRITE" Stuff...

Imagine this...one day, if not at this very moment in time, modern man will no longer use pens and pencils to write, communicate, calculate,etc.Today's students have difficulty, at times, reading anything written in cursive....sadly handwriting is becoming a lost art.

Technology has created a totally new language of abbreviations, lower case letters, and acronyms that are becoming the norm.I miss the beautiful handwriting of my grandmother...written with the free-flowing ink of a pen which had to be refilled rather than thrown away. The stages of handwriting itself certainly gives hints of my era as well.

At one time, a signature showed both creativity and pride behind each letter and character.


Inkwells are the last reminder of the beauty of a bygone era of handwriting as an art form. Allow me to share a few details about the demise of the once common inkwell.

Luis Waterman gave the world the first practical fountain pen...sonn there after, the first ballpoint pen was patented. The spinoffs of the space age gave us the Bic pen which could be effective because of the ability to write on any surface and position....alas Plastic had taken over.

Students of history and , thus, design know this to be true...as man became more civilized, so did his need for more decoration and beauty. This included the humble inkwell.

Wealth was evidenced by the materials used in the construction and decoration such as silver, gold, tortoiseshell, gemstones, and ivory.By the 19th century, the inkwell became more ornate, even whimsical. Materials such as ormolu(gilded bronze), porcelain, shell, rosewood, mahogany, papier-mâché' cut and pressed glass were used.

By the 20th century, the inkwell became more decorative rather than functional.TODAY...
an inkwell is  a beautiful reminder of history and lifestyles...a memory that is STILL worthy of being incorporated into one's decor.

Here are some beautiful examples of various types of inkwells that we have at PICKWICK ANTIQUES.
 A handsome, French, gilded  inkwell that features a charging bison .If you are looking for a masculine gift...this is it!

 

Love this Spelter inkwell!...I have two Boston Terriers and this whimsical piece is difficult  to resist!

Marble, Malachite, Onyx, Dore, Porcelain, Boulle, Papier Mache'....And many more!

Remember.....as ALWAYS....

DESIGN is in the Details.

Visit me at pickwickantiques.com

or

pickwickantiques@bellsouth.net

or

pks@knology.net

BEYOND REACH....

As children we are tantalized by just about anything... As for me, beginning very early, I was tantalized by shoes! Now, my (almost) two year old granddaughter, has filled not one but two hanging shoe bags in her closet.....What can I say???... All dressed up in handmade dress and bonnet and trying on a pair of tennis shoes! 

So, WHAT does this have to do with antiques? Let us go back to the history of the gods and goddesses of Greek Mythology.

There was once a wicked king, a son of Zeus, who, for his crime was condemned to Hades. The king's punishment was to stand in water that receded she he tried to drink. To further complicate his situation, the king was forced to stand beneath a tree heavily ladened with luscious fruit overhead, but beyond his reach. The king's name was.......
Tantalus.  Thank you Tantalus!

The Free Dictionary by Farlax defines the Latin word tantalize as : "To tease, frustrate, or torment with the sight of something greatly desired but inaccessible."

At Pickwick Antiques in Montgomery, Alabama, we have a fabulous collection of tantaluses, decanters, and cave a' liqueurs.

So...what is the difference between a tantalus and a cave a' liqueur? In so many words...the difference is in the liquids they were intended to hold and the size of the decanters.

A tantalus is an "open-work rack for large decanters." These were extremely popular in the late 19th Century England through the early 20th Century. The general purpose of a
tantalus was to hold and protect alcohol-based beverages.

 These pictures do not do these pieces justice!... The cases are quite lovely. It is difficult to choose to keep them open or closed!


On the other hand, a cave a' liqueur is a caddy with diminutive decanters and small glasses. A cave a' liqueur's purpose is to hold and protect fermented-based beverages.

These are exquisite examples of cave a' liqueur:

PROTECTED??? Yes....Locked in Fact....Why?  A locking mechanism was more often than not built in to discourage household staff from imbibing as well as watering down the liquid to hide the evidence!

Please enjoy the pictures of these truly beautiful items from Pickwick Antiques in Montgomery, Alabama.


I would like to give credit to Mr. Buzz Kaplan as a source of information for this article.

On  final note...Buzz Kaplan of  Marigini Antiques and Restoration in San Francisco is one of my favorite go to sources. Mr. Kaplan is one THE authorities of high end 17th,18th,and 19th century European Antiques. I encourage you to visit  his blog:  
buzzonantiques.blogspot.com


Remember...as ALWAYS.... Design is in the Details. Visit me at pickwickantiques@bellsouth.net or www.pickwickantiques.com or pks@knology.net