The September Sale!


 
Bonjour from Paris!

The City of Light has been dormant for the past month for “vacances” but now Paris is definitely jumping again. Kids are back in school (thank God), restaurants are open again (merci Dieu), florist have re-opened their doors (hallelujah) and I am sure this first weekend of September the farmers market vendors and flea market vendors will have a fresh batch of produce and antiques (hot diggity)!

I always feel like September is the perfect time to regroup and… Decorate. At least that is what happens at our house. Decorate to get ready for the holidays. Call me crazy but this is how my mind works. I have even contemplated what tablecloth I’m going to use for Thanksgiving… And it’s only September. In case you are wondering, I’m going to use a thick antique paisley that I have had for years as the tablecloth. Now I just have to figure out how to find a Thanksgiving Turkey in Paris!

So here we are… September… and guess what? It’s time for another sale! This is a very exciting sale for me because I really think I have pulled some great pieces together for all of you. The September Sale starts Saturday, September 5, 2015 at exactly 10AM Pacific Standard Time!

This sale is all about collections. Adding to your collection or starting a collection. My mother always loves pairs and collections of three or five. I like collections of 15 or more. Why have one chinoiserie box when you could have 40?

This collecting enthusiasm is shared amongst some of the greats. Bunny Mellon was known for her vast collections including her circa 1775 Chinese “tobacco leaf” porcelain service. Jacques Garcia, the king of all collectors, cherishes his 18th-century “oiseau” Sèvres dinner service. Timothy Corrigan collects obliesks and French earthenware. Jackie Kennedy Onassis collected 17th-century animal drawings. The Duchess of Windsor had a charming collection of 11 needlepoint pug dog pillows. Martha Stewart collects… Well, everything but I’m particularly fond of her Fire King collection. Oscar de la Renta and interior designer Mark D. Sikes share the same glorious love of collecting blue-and-white.

Personally, I have always been drawn to chinoiserie… Boxes and trays mostly. There is something so chic about the black lacquer with the gold touches and the charming scenes. French and Chinese at the same time. Love! So for this sale, I have something for all of you. 19 pieces in all! Box collections, trays, scalloped dishes, even a candy box… All interesting shapes, sizes and beautiful scenery. One set even has a rare pink color. The chinoiserie tray is absolutely out of this world!

 
 
 


This was a particularly lucky month because I found a little treasure trove of my favorite 17th-century blue-and-white faience platters with the little basket center design from Rouen, France. As many as I sell to all of you, I keep the same amount for myself. One for you, one for me. :-) I plan on covering the entire wall of my kitchen or dining room with these platters. I just love the “much loved” look of these platters… The cracks, the chips and even the staples. If you want to start your collection, rest assured that there will be more of it in my future sales also. Every antique vendor within a 300 km radius is on the lookout for more of these platters for me because they know I just love them. There are three sets in this month’s sale.



 
A third little collection we are amassing for the sale are these darling dinner bells. I consulted with my friend Heather (lostinarles.blogspot.com) who is an expert in all things Provence and she believes that these bells are definitely from Provence but the ones with the hat could be from Brittany. What she does know for sure is that they are definitely peasants in traditional dress. All of the bells are in perfect order and I don’t think anything could be more charming. This is a great start to a collection. There are two sets of three.

 
 


Continuing with our collecting theme, I found these Provençal yellowware plates with handles. They are stamped “Dieulefit” which means “God made it.” If you remember from the last sale, I had the coffee and tea set. If these don’t scream “country French” I don’t know what does. I thought that they would be a perfect salad plate. I am definitely going to be on the lookout for more of this mustard yellowware.

 


When I saw these turquoise blue opaline vases, I almost had a fleamarketing heart attack. These are very rare and difficult to find a pair of. In fact, I’ve never even see them at a fleamarket before. So of course, I had to have them… For you guys. :-) Can you imagine flowers in them! Gorgeous.

 
When my mother and I were sourcing antiques in France for our shop, the very first thing that we bought was an entire set of this green faience. When we brought it back to our shop in Santa Barbara, we opened our doors for our premier party and the dishes were bought within five minutes. They were the star of the show. A few months later, the interior designer who bought them displayed them at the Greystone Showcase House in Los Angeles and then, voilà, they appeared on the cover of Veranda magazine. Our very own dishes! So you can imagine how pleased I was when I saw this beautiful platter. I will definitely keep my eye out for more of these, so we can build a collection.

 
 


You know I always have my favorites and this month I have three. My first favorite piece for this month’s sale is a French manifest printed on a silk scarf. A wonderful piece of French memorabilia that will add instant charm.

 


My second favorite piece is this Art Nouveau bonbon jar. It is in perfect condition and I just loved the hand-painted gold with little flowers and a bee. Wouldn’t black licorice look stunning in this jar? I also thought it would be chic at your bar filled with ice for cocktails.
 

 
My third favorite piece is this sailboat painting. I just thought the colors of the sailboat and the sky were dreamy and you know this girl loves her paintings!

 


Fancy-ing things up a bit I found these chic black and bronze French Empire sconces. I would use a candle but they are also capable of being wired.

 


Continuing our hoity toity theme, look at these beautiful Art Nouveau bronze candlesticks. Love!

 
Getting back to our Provençal roots, one of my dearest items on the sale is this vintage French wicker glass bottle. Why is it so special? I started collecting these bottles when I first saw them at my favorite interior designer’s shop. His name was Dan Marty. I believe he was hands-down the best California style interior designer and has inspired me since I first saw his shop in Newport Beach, California when Gracie was in kindergarten! Unfortunately I just found out that Dan Marty passed away. A legend and a true gentleman has moved on. The interesting thing about this bottle that it was used in the 1940s to carry holy water from Lourdes, France. Love it!



Dan Marty Design. See the wicker bottles!
 
There is definitely something for everyone in this upcoming sale with every price point. I will be doing some sneak peaks on my Instagram so be sure to follow me HERE.

The sale starts Saturday, September 5, 2015 at exactly 10 AM Pacific Standard Time. Tell your friends, your neighbors… So fun so fun!

Illustration by Elisha.


27 comments:

  1. ellie i went to that veranda showcase house at greystone manor. the dining room was one of my favorite rooms. i remember standing in there forever taking it all in. i can't believe the plates came from you! the whole house was so amazing...x

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    1. Wasn't that room amazing? Barbara Wisely did it I think. Can't remember but it was great. I love the Greystone showcase house every year!

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  2. Well you know I won't judge you re early holiday planning. I got my thanksgiving table all sorted in June! I never know what kind of curve ball (I have no idea what a fucking curved ball is?) will be thrown at me around the holidays, so I say organize as best you can as early as you can. from snowstorms to random members of the red hot chili peppers, I'm prepared. Also, plan on making my fav holiday drink: sprite zero + cranberry relish + gin. Absurdly easy and delicious. I love love September too, for the exact same reasons. It really is the time to shoo your friends off your patio and nest.
    I wish you wouldn't have brought up Martha's Fire King jadeite. I had a HUGE collection I gathered from the time I was 10 (just a normal red blooded American boy) to about 20, when I sold it for a down payment on a very stupid BMW. Waaaaah I want it back. Some wounds never heal. As always, I'm excited to see your next sale!

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    1. I used to have a jadeite collection also! I forgot where it is now. Probably in a box somewhere. Have I told you lately how much I adore you?

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  3. Looking forward to your next sale. So sad I didn't snap up that cafe au lait bowl in your first sale. Very sad to hear about Dan Marty. I have those very chairs in the photo--sourced at the long shuttered Les Interieurs in Newport Beach. Mine have golden linen cushions. I love them dearly. My man loathes them . . . says they are god awful uncomfortable. Of course, he'd only be satisfied with a lazy boy recliner and that is NEVER going to happen on my watch.

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    1. Wasn't his Newport Beach shop just the greatest thing you've ever seen! And I loved those chairs!

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  4. Very dear friends invited us to dinner Saturday night - I declined as we are in a different time zone and I would miss the start of the sale.... It all looks fabulous! Can we pre-order or get you to source items Ellie???? Just a thought.... Cheers Ann

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    1. That is so funny! Tell your friends that I'm sorry. Yes you can preorder and I can source things as well. I love doing that. XOXO Ellie

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  5. Yay! Yay! Yay! Can't wait to see the chinoiserie boxes. I was lucky enough to get on of your boxes a few months ago. Love it! My favorite type of chinoiserie is ghost like, where the patttern or paint is faded, sometimes so faded that it is hard to detect. My house is very modern but with some antiques thrown in. (They warm up modern.) I'll be ready to pull the trigger on Saturday so bring it on!!! PS- the packaging on the box you sent me was awesome. That box would have survived a nuclear blast it was packed so well. ������

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    1. I love those ghost boxes also! Didn't think anybody else would because they are so faded but I just love them. I will get some for the next sale. How funny is it about how well my caregivers package everything. They are used to taking care of me. You should see how they wrap me up to go outside! :-)

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    2. So, I ended up with two very cool items as gifts! But I decided against the (gorgeous) chinoiserie boxes this go round (and they sold seconds after I scrolled past them!). I am very interested, however, in faded chinoiserie if you come across anything in your outings. I find the faded patterns to be so interesting. Had a great time looking today and I can't wait to receive the things I bought as Christmas gifts! xoxo

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  6. Oh! Love every piece! But that bonbon dish has my name on it...if I had some money...any money at all! But I'll tune in on Sat and hope for the best. Will that be 7 pm French time?

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    1. Isn't that the cutest bonbon jar! Yes 7 PM, French time. XOXO

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    2. Sigh...love that bonbon jar...♡

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    3. Missed it, natch, but I've no doubt it went to a good home! Xoxox back, dear Ellie.

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  7. What a wonderful collection of goodies! Saturday will be an exciting day. Love that sailboat painting and the green faience platter. Love you too.

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  8. Ellie! Love it all, especially the wicker glass bottle and the French Faience sconces!! Well the blue and white platters as well. You are the best at coming away with theses fabulous finds!!

    I can't wait to hear what you have planned for the weekend!

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena
    Featuring Sharon Santoni

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    1. Thanks Karena! I am following you on Instagram! So glad you like everything.

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  9. Ellie,
    I am covetous of EVERYTHING in this sale!
    L

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  10. I want everything! Thank you for always transporting me back to one of my favorite cities in the world especially since I had to cancel my trip last December :( xo

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  11. Loved Dsn Marty and his store too. Rumor has it that Big Daddy in LA purchased his estate.

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  12. It is TODAY!!!

    And oh my, here we go, yet again I am going to ask: how do you do it? Seriously, how?

    I have been living and antiquing in France for FOURTEEN YEARS and every single month you find better pieces than I have in all of that time.

    But this month, you outdid yourself. I cannot wait to see the rest and watch the little sold sign flip up.

    For Ellie's readers: I actually consulted with a real expert (but thank you Ellie) about the dress on the series of bells and even he had never seen anything like them before. I truly hope those girls go to a good home. They deserve no less... :)

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  13. PS. I just showed Remi everything - of course he thought it was all beautiful too - but added that the manifest on the scarf is from or at least about the French Revolution!

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  14. I AM NOT getting your EMAILS!!!!!!!!!!!STUPID COMPUTER!
    WE think a like.......why have three when WE can A MASS MORE!Thats my problem ................
    Good to know you sell one and keep THREE?Thats how I seem to OPERATE!
    OMG.......your plates on the COVER of VERANDA...............THATS IT!YOU HAVE LIVED GIRL..........YOU HAVE ARRIVED!
    XOXOXOXO

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