Friday 29 July 2011

Limousin cattle.

Group of Limousin cattle, an ancient breed that flourish in South West  France, - Haute Vienne, Correze, and Creuse. Here the temperature can be extreme but the fields are nearly always green.  

Tuesday 26 July 2011

Dressers with display of early pottery bowls and dishes.

17th century French dresser made of chestnut wood, showing part of a collection of early continental plates and bowls.

19th century continental pine dresser showing Scottish spongeware plates, early jugs, and tiny antique figures and animals.

Saturday 23 July 2011

House in France

Typical 18th century stone built house in South West France.    Front door only 5' 4" high, built for a small French paysan/paysanne  with walls more than 2' thick  it is cool during the hot summer and warm during the cold winter. Bats can still live between the ancient wooden window surrounds and the stone, and there is room for lizards to live between the natural house stones.

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Dusty shelves

French shelves full of small antiques,......... and dust.  Lovely.

Thursday 14 July 2011

Hermes Baby, 1950s portable typewriter made in Switzerland.

This is the Hermes Baby portable typewriter. Made in 1954.
This the Hermes Baby in its compact case.

Wednesday 6 July 2011

French prize books, 1852 and 1859

 Two French children's  prize books, Therese with pale pink and gilt paper card cover, Limoges 1852, and Les Deux Maries...... with pale green and gilt paper card cover, Tours, 1859.

Red Boat moored at Berwick-upon-Tweed


















Red boat with tyres,  moored at Berwick -upon-Tweed., Northumberland, England.

Tuesday 5 July 2011

Collection of seaweeds in album 1858

Pages from a young girl's album containing some poems and a collection of seaweeds, 1858. The album was presented to Magdaline Beaumont by her brother Alfred.

Monday 4 July 2011

Cul Noir, French antique pottery.


















2  French cul noir platters, c1790 to 1820.
Made of robust heavy pottery, they are called cul noir because they have a dark brown base. With a pale blue or white glaze  their designs are simple and charming. This pottery is highly collectable.

Saturday 2 July 2011

Life in the Wild by Tessa Bennett

'Life in the Wild', small book 22 drawings of wild flowers found in French hedgerows. Drawings by Tessa Bennett.