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Thursday, March 18, 2010

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!

6 comments:

Bella's Rose Cottage said...

Hi Katie,
Your secretary is so Gorgeous! and loaded with tons of gorgeous what nots:-)
I read and loved Gone with the Wind as a teenager too (still love it)... I'm just thinking maybe that was a big part of were the victorian obsession began or it at least fueled the fire:-)
Bella

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Katie,
The secretary is wonderful and so is everything in it. I wish I had one just like that and then the room in my house for it. I chuckled when I saw the pic of your Mom. I have a similar pic of a Nursing School grad in her cap......ME!!! I graduated in 1978 and I am going on 32 years of working full time as a nurses!! I think they should have let me retire after 30!! LOL!!
Debbie

Katie@LeBeauPaonVictorien said...

My mom is finally thinking about retiring...or at least semi-retiring!

I wish nurses still wore those hats! I always thought they were cool!

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Oh, wow! What a beautiful piece of furniture! I love all of those wonderful vintage goodies, too! Happy weekend!...Debbie

Tallulah's Antique Closet said...

Those are cool shoes in your collection of goodies. And a beautiful seceteary. Julian

Doni said...

HOW BEAUTIFUL! That is an awesome secretary, and a wonderful thing to have. Love your antiques...thanks so much for sharing this!
Doni