The term English Majolica is derived from the mid - 1400s “maiolica” earthenware pottery and is the precursor to Victorian majolica pottery. Originally made in Spain and the nearby island of Majorca, it was then often transported to Italy, where it was greatly admired for its artistry.
Which came first a Fern or a Dinasour? The answer is a Fern! - they have existed on Earth for between 360 to 400 million years. An exciting and complex plant species that originally thrived in swampy murky forests and reproduces via spores.
Velvet has existed for thousands of years; there are records of it in ancient Egypt and China from approximately 2000 BC. Kashmiri merchants travelling to Baghdad in Iraq introduced velvet around 800 AD.
The term faux bois (French for ‘false wood’) is used to describe certain garden antiques, often antique garden furniture - such as a bench or an antique garden table which was made from concrete, iron or plaster to resemble the stylised wooden branches and twigs of a tree.
The wonderful allure and lustre of stained glass goes back in time as far as civilisation itself –the earliest manufacture of glass probably occurred in Mesopotamia (the area known today as Iraq, Syria and Turkey) during the early part of the third millennium BC. The earliest glass found was [...]
The word chair is derived from Old English chaere, which in turn came from the Old French word chaiere. In Medieval times chairs were reserved for nobility or senior members of the Church. Seating was generally very rudimentary, consisting of simple benches or stools, and the occasional three-legged chair.
The technique of papier-mâché has ancient roots, and was used in several ancient civilizations. For example ancient Egypt used a similar substance to papier-mâché for making coffins and death masks. The Chinese, during the Han Dynasty, made decorative items such as ceremonial burial gifts but also warrior helmets [...]
French antiques include many wonderful examples of rustic pottery, but a particular favourite of mine are antique walnut jars.
Walnuts themselves date from 6,000 BC and originated in Persian, they were first cultivated by the Greeks.
Marble has been used to create antique treasures since the ancient civilizations of Greece, Rome, India and China. It has a long and varied history - used to create works of art and many decorative antiques (such as sculptures and statutes).
Antique garden urns have been used in gardens for centuries, in one form or another. Originating in the ancient civilisations of the Greeks and Romans, they evolved from utilitarian clay containers for holding water, wine and oil. Over time they became more decorative in nature and were used as [...]
The Fulham Pottery was founded in Fulham, London, by John Dwight during the reign of Charles II, in 1672. He is the earliest clearly documented maker of stoneware in England, (although immigrant Dutch and German potters were producing stoneware in England several decades before him). Stoneware is a process [...]
Origins of the Farmhouse Table
The earliest form of farmhouse table dates back to Medieval times, and was found in England and Europe - it was a simple trestle table. They were ideal for use in the Great Halls of castles, courtiers would gather around these long narrow tables to eat their meals, and then they would be dismantled and moved, so that the Hall could be used for other purposes.
The word apothecary originates from the Latin "apotheca", meaning storehouse. By the 16th century, it was commonly used as a term for someone who formulated and dispensed medicines. Many apothecary jars bore Latin inscriptions of their content and they were used for both storage and display purposes. Throughout most [...]
The history of pressed flowers can be originally traced to ancient Egypt, for example pressed laurels and garlands were found in the 3,000-year-old coffin of Tutankhamun's mother in Egypt. It was given the formal name of Oshibana (the art of pressing flowers in a way to create a [...]
Bird cages were used by most ancient civilisations, including Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, Greece, Rome, China, India and Babylon. Birds were often kept for religious or symbolic reasons but they were also a sign of wealth and status, the Romans imported African birds to their courts for this reason. [...]
The oldest known painting of an animal is of the ‘warty pig ‘, thought to be painted 45,000 years ago in an Indonesian cave. There are also paintings of humans with goats and horses which appear to be domesticated, dating from Babylonia 3500 BC. In ancient Egypt cats were [...]
Mercury glass was first used in decorative antiques about 1840, to provide a reflective coating for mirrors, and elemental mercury was used in this process. However it was soon replaced by silvered glass, which was easier to produce using silver nitrate instead. Known in England as “poor man’s silver”, [...]
The history of English antique samplers is fascinating. They were originally created in the 16th century as personal reference pieces to record designs and stitches before printing was available. During the 17th century they developed into teaching tools in which girls could practice their needlework and show their [...]
Antiques and interiors work well together and antique lighting is a good example. It establishes the mood of an interior and can be used to create a warm and bright ambiance with a relaxed or cheerful feeling or it can add a sense of size or be used to [...]
Paintings are a wonderful decorative accessory for your home! At Mist Antiques there is always a good selection of antique paintings for sale. I aim to provide a small but carefully chosen eclectic selection of paintings which will suit a variety of homes, whether you are looking for [...]
Aubusson tapestries and rugs take their name from the small towns of Aubusson and Felletin, located in Central France from where they have been produced since the 14th century. Their fascinating history began with production on looms in small family workshops and local weavers were soon joined by [...]
Garden antiques are a very versatile way of adding direction, focus, drama and charm to you garden. Use them however you like, they always add visual value! Be it in a traditional garden where beautiful antique jardinières full of flowering plants and shrubs draw the eye across a large [...]
At Mist Antiques there is a wonderful variety of antique dining tables and unusual occasional or side tables too. Sometimes it is possible to pair these with a chair, in order to create a snug corner for reading or for using if working from home. I recently acquired [...]
So many beautiful items spring to mind at the mention of the word ‘antique’, be it fine eighteenth and nineteenth century English and French antique furniture, vintage and decorative antiques, even old garden furniture now has its place in this eclectic group, but we must not forget antique [...]
Antiques are a fascinating way of connecting with people from the past. They enable us to travel back through time as we imagine the lives they have touched, from the moment they were first hand crafted, through the countless generations who have admired, owned and used them. Through [...]