Show & Tell Friday: The Antique Secretary

This is one of the first antique pieces of furniture that I bought, many years ago, at an auction. It was 1996 and I was twenty-six years old. The glass door on the side is curved outward and it had it's original glass in it when I bought this. However, the knob and catch is missing on the door and when it was being unloaded from the back of the van I transported it in, the door swung open suddenly and smashed on the corner of some stairs. I have to re-organize some of the items on the shelves; it's a little untidy in there.

The top of the secretary looks better!  The picture of the nurse on the left is my mother when she graduated from nursing school in 1967. She still works as a nurse; 43 years later. There are other little doodads up here; a miniature tea cup, a small gold hinged box, a  portrait post card from 1901. The cabinet card of the wedding couple my mother bought in Prague. She knows I collect cabinet cards, particularly wedding couples, so she bought me this one when she was there for my collection.

This cameo egg is actually a music box. It plays Gymnopedie' No.1, which was one of three short piano pieces composed in 1888 by French composer and pianist Erik Satie.(It's a pretty song, so I added it to my playlist if you'd like to hear it.) The angel figurine is a Seraphim Classics called "Autumn Beauty". She carries a sheaf of wheat, for autumn. (I was born in October.) I think I bought it in 1997. The baby picture way in the back is me. That's my "official" hospital photo when they used to do the first baby photos with the baby in the bassinette in the nursery. They make them much more fancy now, it seems.

I don't collect these kinds of plates, but I had to have this one because it shows Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara in the dress she wore to Ashley Wilkes' birthday party in the movie Gone With The Wind. I thought it was the most beautiful dress ever! Gone With The Wind was my favorite book as a teenager ( and still is one of my all-time favorites!). I think I bought this plate in the early 1990s.

Vintage high-topped boots.

Vintage ladies' gloves.( I wish I could wear these, but they are really small!!)

I don't know why I couldn't get a picture that wasn't blurry........anyway, this is another music box. It turns on it's base and was a birthday present from my mom some years ago. This music box plays Tales from Vienna Woods, by Strauss.

My wedding bouquet is on the bottom shelf with some vases.

The front has this fold-down writing desk. Inside I keep my calligraphy pens, nibs and ink along with my practice book for Spencerian writing. I also have my monogram seals, melting spoon and wax beads for making wax seals.

Thanks for stopping by! I'm joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday!