Antique Crystal Wedding Cake Chandelier

Elegant European Crystal Chandelier - Grey Gardens Style – Decorating With Light

I have always been passionate about chandeliers. Walking into a room with antique crystal chandeliers is always so warm and adds so much to the decor.  Light truly influences the mood of the home and I have purchased a few chandeliers and they have transformed my home.

Rachel Ashwell inspired me to have more than one in my home. I enjoy her books and met her on two occasions. I adore her style and although Grey Gardens chic is a bit different, I enjoy some of the same fabrics,ironstone, paintings,and lighting fixtures as Rachel does.

There are many different styles of crystal chandeliers- each with their own charm.  Some have more lights, others are more subtle, but they all have the potential to enhance the decorated room or make it more appealing.

This is the first time I am offering a chandelier plus sconces on my website. I fell in love with these  pieces and thought you might share my opinion. This chandelier is available for purchase on the Grey Gardens Collections website here.

Above is a photo of a magnificent late 19th to early 20th century multi-tiered wedding cake crystal chandelier, the top crowned with a cascading crystals attached to a central frame, which supports 5 arms that end in alternating lights and crystal prisms.

Another lighting accessory in the same category are wall sconces.

Antique sconces on wall

To the left you see a photo of a similar pair adding a great look to the room. Photo courtesy of  Nextstepantiques.

The photo you see below is actually a pair of crystal sconces that match the style of the wedding chandelier.  They too are lovely and will accent any room.

Email:contact@greygardenscollections.com

Elegant and simple antique crystal sconces

What a gorgeous set of Marseille faience! This is from New French Country by Linda Dannenberg.

The caption reads:

Rosaline Bacou’s superb collection of 18th century Marseille faience, adorned with characteristic florals, is displayed at the Abbaye de Saint-Andre in Villeneuve-les Avignon.

Both the first and second editions of the book can be ordered online here at Greygardenscollections.com. Each book is signed by the Eva Beale.

And check back at Grey Gardens Collections. We’ve got new products coming very soon!

Fine Living: Invite a socialite’s aesthetics into your home

By PJ Bremier
IJ correspondent

THE LATE EDITH Bouvier Beale, or “Little Edie” as the world would come to know her, was a popular New York socialite and daring style icon of the 1920s and ’30s, not to mention one of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ most famous cousins.

Eva Marie Beale, though, knew her as the family showstopper. The Mill Valley resident first met “Little Edie,” the subject of two hit films and an inspiration to fashion designers and a legion of fans, at her wedding rehearsal dinner to Little Edie’s nephew, Bouvier Beale, in 1980.

“She was beyond all my expectations,” Beale recalls. “She was the life of the party. She spoke to all of the guests and was really extroverted. She loved stealing the show and was very good at it.”

Since then, Beale has published several books on her charming in-law: “Edith Bouvier Beale of Grey Gardens, A Life in Pictures” (2008) and “I Only Mark the Hours That Shine: Little Edie’s Diary — 1929″ (2010). A new book of “Little Edie’s” poetry is due to be published this year.

Read the rest of the story here:

Eva Marie Beale of Mill Valley founded the Grey Gardens Collection, an online store selling wares such as these ironstone pieces that capture the aesthetics of her relative, the late socialite Edith ' Little Edie' Bouvier Beale. E Beale Grey Gardens Collections

 

Eva Marie Beale of Mill Valley founded the Grey Gardens Collection, an online store selling wares such as this fabric that capture the aesthetics of her relative, the late socialite Edith ' Little Edie' Bouvier Beale. E Beale Grey Gardens Collections

 

Eva Marie Beale of Mill Valley founded the Grey Gardens Collection, an online store selling wares such as this brooch that capture the aesthetics of her relative, the late socialite Edith ' Little Edie' Bouvier Beale. E Beale Grey Gardens Collections

The late socialite Edith ' Little Edie' Bouvier Beale. the late socialite Edith ' Little Edie' Bouvier Beale. Provided by Eva Marie Beale

 

 

On September 14, 1929 Edie wrote  about “Mother’s party” in her diary I Only Mark the Hours that Shine (recently published and available at Greygardenscollections.com and one  can imagine the fine table settings, and how things looked at Grey Gardens set up for the dinner with 18 guests!

Grey Gardens Style Table Setting

Look closely at the linens – beautiful off-white antique linens with Edie’s initials: EB!

The plates are a display of beautiful flowers – tulips, roses, and dahlia’s – with a pink and gold trim. They are of the finest – on the back it is marked “P.T. Bavaria Tirschenreuth, Decorated in Own Studios” – these are rare and beautiful and in perfect condition. They are hand painted and really have a great look.

Table Setting on Fine White Linen Tablecloth

You can mix and match and really make your table sensational. For example, these dishes are really high quality porcelain and mixed with the country style ironstone works! It really has a nice look. Start collecting  ironstone as you find a piece you like and mix it with some of your favorite china.  Eventually you will end up with a great collection!

Mix and match with fine porcelain and white ironstone

Now I have added a French pattern “Luneville” to the table and mixing with the ironstone is very appealing.  The old wicker basket painted in “Grey Gardens Green” brings color to the table and it works!

Table Setting featuring plates with French "Luneville" pattern.

I am always hunting for new plates for Greygardenscollections.com, so visit the website often to see if any work with your collection!

- Eva

The first painting is beautifully done and also framed in a heavy silver wooden frame. The colors are unusual and subdued and the style of the painting is slightly impressionistic. The painting is oil on board and is signed by the artist, which appears to be Florence Viccetti.

Sailboat Painting on board by Florence Viccetti

The painting below has a completely different look, but I was drawn to it because of the colors and style of the painting. This is a vintage painting – as you can see the style of boats in the picture and also the look of the painting. This artist, William Ward Jr. has  signed the work.  He died in 1935 so my hunch was right about this one being vintage.  William Ward Jr. painted landscapes and seascapes and he is listed for his works. The frame is simple- but charming. Again – slightly impressionistic style – and the colors are great.

Oil Painting of Sailboats by William Ward Jr.

The painting below appears to be a very old painting perhaps done in Morocco or the islands somewhere.  Hard to say – but the colors are really alive – and beautiful.  The sails have deep red and blue from the sunset. This artist signed the painting “ Loraine.” There is no date but it is a vintage piece.

Sailboat painting signed "Loraine"

The next painting is European – and has a completely different style than the ones above. This is a Renaissance style painting – and it is well done.  Original frame with some wear – but this one has the gallery look!  I am sure at Grey Gardens – in the 1920’s one could imagine art work like these in one of the rooms! Decorating with artwork is amazing – you can really create a great look.

Renaissance Style Oil Painting

Paintings are available for sale at GreyGardensCollections.com.

I first noticed ironstone at an antiques show in East Hampton. I remember walking by Martha Stewart just after I had been admiring the beautiful ironstone collection at a dealer’s booth. I bought my first piece about 20 years ago at a large flea market and the vendor told me she was born and raised in East Hampton, and I immediately connected the ironstone with the original Grey Gardens house. Knowing that during the 1920s and 1930s, Edie and her family had the best of everything, I could picture ironstone on the table at the Beales’ home at Grey Gardens back in the early days.

White Ironstone at Grey Gardens Collections

I have been collecting for years since and I get great use out of my collection on a daily basis. Ironstone is so utilitarian as it is very sturdy and only comes in one color — white. I think that the simplicity of these white plates, platters, pitchers, and tureens is the reason why so many people love to collect it. You can always spot ironstone, and the older the pieces, the better. The older ironstone from the late 1800’s has a very slight blue tint and you can tell the older from the newer by this characteristic.

You will find different markings on the bottom of the ironstone. Some are so old and the stamp has worn away – but very often it can stilll be recognized. I recently contacted the White Ironstone Association at www.whiteironstonechina.com, as I was curious to know what certain markings meant. (You can go to the website or call 203-938-3740 and learn about your pieces.) I called about a recent purchase – a soup tureen and was pleased to learn the details about it – the markings when compared to a chart revealed the date it was created and the name of the pattern.

Ironstone Pitcher with Hydrangeas

Decorating is easy with ironstone and there are many ways to use it. One of my favorite decorating ideas for a dinner party or event — or just everyday use – is to fill an ironstone pitcher with any kind of floral bouquet.  Or take a pedestal bowl or a tureen without the top and fill it with seashells or lemons or any other decoration. Your guests will take notice without a doubt!

We have a wonderful selection of ironstone at Grey Gardens Collections, including a perfect soup tureen with the ladle and cover. There is not a single chip anywhere and it is in pristine condition. Coffee pots and vegetable bowls are also become available, and I post them as I find them.

Ironstone goes with everything — and the best part is that you can use these different pieces very often. The displays you can make with ironstone will add to your style — just as you see these in photos – ironstone stands out from the ordinary china.

Ironstone Collection courtesy of Country Living Magazine