Category Archives: Antiques

Blue and White Ginger Jar Amazingness

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What is it about blue and white ginger jars that are so awesome??  They are a little bit asian-inspired, a little bit traditional, and for whatever reason they are absolutely stunning in every single space.

Sculptural.  Check.

Classic.  Check.

Beautiful.  Double check.

My mom has some beautiful planters in a similar pattern, and her dishes – the Blue Danube pattern – have always been a favorite of mine as well.  Something about the royal blue and crisp white, combined with the ornate details (whether it’s floral, or a whole Japanese garden scene), makes them so lovely, and elegant.

Isn’t this just gorgeous filled with those ruffly full peonies???

They of course look right at home in traditional spaces – flanking an antiqued console (below), or displayed in a large collection like this formal dining room (above).

But they also look lovely in more contemporary spaces – it looks just as natural and pretty next to a piece of abstract art, and a coral lacquer box…

I’ve read about people finding these lovely vases and lamps at thrift stores, but while I’ve had my eyes peeled for a long time, I have yet to stumble upon one myself.
A collection of blue and white ginger jars is on my “one day” wish-list, but for now, I’ll probably just continue to admire them from afar.

Federal Style and a History Lesson

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It started with this picture from Blue Label Bungalow…

This room is a bit more traditional and masculine then I would choose for my own home, but there is one piece in particular that caught my eye in this space… can you guess what it is??  (No not the lamps, although I DO love those too…)

Maybe these other pictures will give you a hint…

Still don’t know??  Here’s a few more hints…
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Yeah, I know it’s totally obvious… I was just totally indulging my obsession with the ornate, old time-y Federal Mirrors that I seem to keep noticing EVERYWHERE. In college I double majored in Sociology and History… BUT… I am a complete novice when it comes to spotting and identifying period pieces.  All I know is that these mirrors are cool, and I want to know more about them…
I dug up a little info on their origin – The Dumbarton House talks about where these mirrors originated:
Our nation’s early years, when the Federalist Party led the American government between 1790 and 1828, generally defines the Federal period. During this time, a strong sense of nationalism was born and many government leaders, like Thomas Jefferson, looked to the classical past of Greece and Italy for inspiration in forging the identity of the new American democratic Republic.

Thanks Thomas Jefferson… and I guess Greece… because these mirrors are FAB!!  What makes these mirrors “Federal” style are the concave mirror (which is cool on it’s own), the eagle embellishment (so “Americana”) and a brass frame (with an awesome antique patina).

What I do NOT love about these mirrors are the price tag on them… for a legitimate Federal mirror, you’ll be paying in the thousands… easily.  Dang it!
However Google saves the day again, and after a few random searches, I learned that these were all the rage in the 1950’s, and a company called Syroco became famous for their molding technique where they were able to churn out exact replicas of these “eagle mirrors”.  I’ve also learned that they can be called “Bullseye Mirrors” as well… which helps when searching eBay and Etsy for replicas.
Seems like all the mirrors in the larger size I want will run between $60 and $150 which compared with thousands, is a steal!
I’m imagining this over our bed (like the first photo here) or even in an entry way – although a convex  mirror is not ideal for the last minute hair fixing before running out the door…
What do you think about these beauties?? Are you as into them as I am?