Thursday, May 20, 2010

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner

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The mannequin all dressed up is looking at the traffic from the window of Ritché's on Avenue Road, a bridal dress shop in Toronto.

As soon as my son announced his engagement on New Year’s Eve, the wedding plans took on their own life. Following tradition, my husband and I decided to host the rehearsal dinner in honour of the bride and groom. Because the wedding is taking place on Canada’s east coast, I needed to book a venue I have never seen, in a province I’ve never visited. I am reluctant to ask my son’s future in-laws for help because they have a whole wedding to plan.

I am quickly coming to terms that some services we take for granted in a large city, just aren’t as easy to obtain in a smaller city. I might need to live with the colours of the tablecloths that are already there, and since they don’t provide floral services, I will have to find a florist at a long distance. On the other hand, the menu sounds wonderful. It is refreshing to see the menu offerings with “real food” choices. It’s not comfort food but food that is elegant and at the same time not too precious. We will also have the option to give our guests five main course choices including some local food options. The appetizers and desserts are also just right. The menu has not yet been finalized, and I welcome any menu suggestions.

From what I have heard the venue has a wonderful view. Although it is close to the city, apparently people sometimes see moose crossing the green. I hope we do see a moose or two; even one would be a treat.

Choosing just the right invitations was an event in itself as my husband and I leafed through all the beautiful choices in a large Crane catalogue. I chose these because they are not too formal and are not wedding invitations, and because the colours co-ordinate well with the tablecloths on the tables.

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We will have white and yellow daisies with low candles on the tables. To go with the yellow theme, I think I will wear yellow. Do you think my daughter, the groom's sister, will too? I must ask.

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The wedding isn't here, but if you're getting married in Toronto, Grace Church-on-the-Hill seems just right.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

This Week's Events May 16 to 22, 2010


The Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Show is still on until May 16th in Brimfield Massachusetts. By all accounts, this is proving to be a great success for antique connoisseurs. There are hundreds of vendors offering their treasures for sale. The show is a field of tents right in the heart of a region rich in Colonial history.
Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Show

Christie's is having an Important English, Continental and American Silver Auction on May 19, 2010 at 10 a.m. in New York at the Rockefeller Plaza. Viewing is at Rockefeller Center on the following dates:
May 15 10am - 5pm
May 16 1pm - 5pm
May 17 10am - 5pm
May 18 10am - 5pm
Christie's May 19th Auction

The ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) is on now at the Jacob Javits Center in New York until May 18th. Over 550 American and international exhibitors are displaying contemporary furniture, seating, carpet and flooring, lighting, outdoor furniture, materials, wall coverings, accessories, textiles, and kitchen and bath for residential and commercial interiors at the Javits Center. Members of the general public are welcome on Tuesday, May 18.

One of my Twitter and Facebook friends, Maybelline Te (@maybellinete) is at the ICFF to unveil her brand new furniture line, Snug Furniture.
ICFF

You might enjoy Drawings and Prints: Selections from the Permanent Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, on until July 4th. This exhibition has a selection of European works on paper spanning the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries. Included is a group of eighteenth-century German and Austrian designs for altarpieces, as well as designs for the highly sculptural altars that framed these paintings.
Drawings and Prints 15th c to 20th c

If you're lucky enough to be near the Winterthur Museum in Delaware, you might enjoy Lost Gardens of Brandywine, on until to July 25th. On display are rare early colour images and garden ornaments featuring the private, historic gardens of the Brandywine Valley.
Lost Gardens of Brandywine

Family Matters: Love, Marriage and Maiolica in the Italian Renaissance is on at Toronto's Gardiner Museum to July 4th in the Focus gallery.  This exhibition of Italian maiolica (brightly painted, tin-glazed earthenware produced in Renaissance Italy) shows its significance in Italian Renaissance society.
Maiolica in the Italian Renaissance

Still on until August 29th, in Toronto at the Royal Ontario Museum, is Wedgwood: Artistry and Innovation. Classic design and changing styles are featured in this beautiful exhibition of nearly 100 of the finest Wedgwood wares in Canada.
Wedgwood: Artistry and Innovation

You can discover Toronto's past from May to October by going on one of the Heritage Toronto Walks. These neighbourhood walking tours are free of charge, and no reservations are needed. They tell the stories of Toronto's people, landscapes and historic buildings. On May 16th, there are two walks. One walking tour goes through Agincourt Village at 1:30 p.m. The other walking tour, Atop the Davenport Hill in the 1920s, is also at 1:30 p.m.
Heritage Toronto Walks



Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Hallmarks on British Sterling Silver

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Hallmarks on sterling silver cannot be properly deciphered without learning some of the historical logic behind the coding and consulting a good reference book. This sounds difficult, but just taking a few minutes with some pieces of English sterling and a reference book will help you de-code the places and dates of origin on the hallmark stamps. I hope the background of the dating system in this lens will help get you started.

A beautiful sterling silver object has intrinsic value as well as aesthetic value making the collection of fine silver objects the prime choice of many collectors. Well-made old silver of good design will last forever if handled gently. Gently polished old silver develops a rich patina over the years adding to its beauty. Becoming familiar with the hallmarks and what they mean adds pleasure and more meaning to having a silver collection.

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Hallmarks on British Silver Pre-1975

Full British hallmarks are the four marks that include the mark of origin (assay), the standard mark (depicting the sterling standard), the maker's mark, and the date mark, not necessarily always in that order. In addition, between 1784 and 1790, a duty (tax) mark was stamped on silver objects depicting the head of the current monarch. In Ireland, the duty was imposed from 1807; and, in Scotland, 1819. There were sometimes special commemorative marks added to celebrate the occasion of a coronation or a jubilee.

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In 1300, the sterling standard of 925 units of silver per thousand was established. The same standard was used in objects and in English coinage. A craftsman could not sell his silver objects until they had been tested or assayed and marked with a punch depicting the assay office. The earliest assay office was London depicted by a leopard's head. Soon other assay offices were established in England, Scotland and Ireland. Most offices had their own mark of origin. In 1363, each craftsman had to add a maker's mark. From 1478, in England, a date mark needed to be added to the hallmarking. In Scotland, a date mark was introduced in 1681; and in Ireland, in 1638. The earliest sterling standard mark was the leopard's head also used as the London assay office mark of origin. From 1544, after the silver coinage was debased, the sterling standard was identified by the lion passant, showing a full figure lion looking over its shoulder and waving. After 1544, the leopard's head became known as the London assay office mark of origin.

In 1697, another standard called the Britannia standard of 95.84% purity was established. The Britannia standard marks are the Britannia figure and the lion's head erased. From 1720, the sterling standard and the standard mark of the lion passant were re-established, although objects of the higher Britannia standard continued to be marked with Britannia and the lion's head erased.

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Hallmarks on British Silver from January 1, 1975 to December 31, 1998

The British parliament passed a law effective January 1, 1975 governing the remaining four assay offices of London, Birmingham, Sheffield, and Edinburgh. All silver items weighing more than 7.8 grams must be hallmarked before being described as silver. There are four hallmarks in total: the registered maker's or sponsor's mark, the standard mark, the mark of origin (assay office mark), and the date letter.

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London, Birmingham, and Sheffield still use the lion passant as the standard mark. Edinburgh uses the lion rampant. All four offices use the Britannia mark on silver meeting the Britannia standard. By 1975, London still uses the leopard's head as its mark of origin, Birmingham uses the anchor, and Edinburgh uses the three-towered castle. Sheffield uses the York rose replacing the crown it had used for over 200 years. All four assay offices use the same style date letter, which is now changed on January 1 of every year.

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The correct dating of an object can be determined by referring to a good reference book on the subject. The shapes of the marks, the letters and the order of the hallmarks all need to be taken into account to establish an accurate date. The assay office marks and the standard marks can also be found in a good reference book.

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Hallmarks on British Silver from January 1, 1999

The Hallmarking Act, effective from January 1, 1999, changed hallmarking of precious metal to three compulsory symbols, the maker's mark, the metal and fineness mark, and the assay office mark. The fineness or purity mark is a millesimal number contained within a shield depicting the precious metal.

Reference:
Anna Selby & The Diagram Group, Antique Marks (Glasgow: HarperCollins, 2004).

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Saturday, May 8, 2010

This Week's Events, May 9 to 15, 2010

This week, I found these events to be particularly interesting.


The Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Show is scheduled for May 11th to 16th in Brimfield Massachusetts. This is sure to be a great success for the antique connoisseurs who will attend. There are often hundreds of vendors offering their treasures for sale. The show is a field of tents right in the heart of a region rich in Colonial history.
Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Show

At the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Vienna Circa 1780: An Imperial Silver Service Rediscovered is on exhibit from April 13th to November 7th. The display of a superb silver Sachsen-Teschen Service is
in the Wrightsman Exhibition Gallery, European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, 1st floor.
Vienna Circa 1780

Ignaz Josef Wort Pair of Wine Coolers 1781

The Winterthur Museum in Delaware is featuring Flower Power: Floral Artistry until October 31st. This exhibition shows how Henry Francis Du Pont chose colours, specific flowers, and vases when he created the floral arrangements for his home.
Flower Power: Floral Artistry at Wintherthur

The Antiques and Gardening Show at Bryn Du is on in Granville Ohio, May 14th to May 16th. More than forty dealers from twelve states will offer a variety of antiques from period furniture to silver and jewelry.
Antiques and Gardening at Bryn Du

In Toronto, at the Royal Ontario Museum, until August 29th, you can go to Wedgwood: Artistry and Innovation. Classic design and changing styles are featured in this beautiful exhibition of nearly 100 of the finest Wedgwood wares in Canada.
Wedgwood: Artistry and Innovation

The Gardiner Museum in Toronto is featuring a special exhibit on contemporary ceramics in Israel. This is running until May 9th. If you go, make sure to make time visiting the permanent collection too. This small museum is a treasure in itself. It's worth spending the day.
Contemporary Ceramics in Israel

You can discover Toronto's past from May to October by going on one of the Heritage Toronto Walks. These neighbourhood walking tours are free of charge, and no reservations are needed. They tell the stories of Toronto's people, landscapes and historic buildings. On May 9th, the walking tour goes through West Toronto Junction.
West Toronto Junction


Tuesday, May 4, 2010

The Right Vase

One of my favourite places to go early on a Saturday in Toronto is Avenue Road and Davenport.

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On the west side, four flower shops all in a row have a large varied array of fresh cut flowers. These shops are open every day early in the morning ready to welcome their devoted customers who are always ready for the challenging task of finding a parking spot to buy a bouquet or two.

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If we are entertaining or even for no reason, I like getting a few cut flowers to freshen up the house. In the spring, the special draw is the tulips. I enjoy their faint fresh scent and simple lines.

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Last Saturday was a mild day just right for making the trip to buy fresh flowers. Although I planned to buy just a few tulips, my emotions took over when I noticed the cherry blossom branches and the peonies. I purchased a small bunch of pink tulips, two small cherry branches, and two peonies. Because I was not planning to entertain anyone but my family, I never gave a thought to how I was going to display them.

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I have a collection of vases. Some are decorative on their own and some are utilitarian. Flowers can go into any container. Sometimes I use a vase of fine porcelain or crystal and sometimes I use a bowl, old jug, or cheap florist’s vase. The style, size and where the flowers are displayed are important. Imagination is important.

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Flowers will last at least a week if purchased from a good flower shop. To keep the flowers fresh, a preservative can be added to the water. I always have a bottle of Star Fresh on hand for this purpose. Although cut tulips stay looking fresh, they tend to bend over in a day or two. A teaspoon of gin added to the water will help delay this.

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Saturday, May 1, 2010

This Week's Events - May 2 to 8, 2010

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English sterling silver gravy boat

If you're near Stamford Connecticut, you might enjoy Keno Auctions Inaugural Sale held May 1-2 at the Marriott Stamford Hotel. The catalogue is available for viewing online. If you are not near Stamford, you may consider bidding online.
Keno Auctions

The West Palm Beach Antiques Festivals are held monthly at the Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Dealers from all over the country attend. You might enjoy going on May 2nd.
West Palm Beach Auction Festival

The Winterthur Museum in Delaware is putting on display historic automobiles that graced the Wintherthur estate long ago. Each Saturday in May will feature a special display. On May 8th, the Jazz age is featured.
Winterthur Calendar

The Gardiner Museum, the ceramics museum in Toronto is featuring a special exhibit on contemporary ceramics in Israel. This is running until May 9th. If you go, make sure to make time visiting the permanent collection too. This small museum is a treasure in itself. It's worth spending the day.
Gardiner Museum

You can discover Toronto's past from May to October by going on one of the Heritage Toronto Walks. These neighbourhood walking tours are free of charge, and no reservations are needed. They tell the stories of Toronto's people, landscapes and historic buildings. On May 2nd, the walking tour goes through Thistletown.
Heritage Toronto Walks

Not this week but scheduled to run from May 11th to 16th is the Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Show in Brimfield Massachusetts. This is sure to be a great success for the antique connoisseurs who will attend. There are often hundreds of vendors offering their treasures for sale. The show is a field of tents right in the heart of a region rich in Colonial history.
Brimfield Antique Show

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Reticulated sterling silver bowl