Time for a Visit

Finally my sister Sylvia and brother-in-law Bill came for a short visit to see our house and they brought very interesting gifts. One of my favorite is this dinner gong.
During the 19th century, it was customary to have an aperitif in the drawing room before dinner. Ladies and gentlemen always wore formal dress for dinner, even if it was just an ordinary affair of five courses (soup, fish, meat, sweet and savoury courses). When the dinner gong was sounded, the ladies and gentlemen would rise and file into the dining room in a previously-arranged pattern of precedence. Each gentleman took the arm of the lady who would sit on his right, the host and honoured female guest entering first, the hostess and highest ranking gentleman last.

How the times have changed! What's fascinating to me about some antiques is how they have become obsolete yet retain a certain aesthetic that add interest in modern times. We think we have found useful ways of using these gifts that seem to fit the house well and yet don't add a feeling of clutter. Here is a Victorian hat stand, an ornate plate holder (holding the dish Andrea), and the very pretty, strange table is now a makeup vanity in the bedroom.

Thanks for wonderful gifts Bill and Sylvia and we'll see you soon!

ganda