Retelling the Past

I'm sure you may have bought a vintage or antique treasure in the past and have wished you knew more about where it had come from, who may have owned it in its past, or what stories it may be able to tell, if only it could speak...

I'm often found wondering about such things and would love it if more treasure came with little hand written notes about their past, or an indication as to whom they had belonged to...

Well, just for a change, that is exactly what happened recently when an old lady brought some bits and pieces into my shop which she wanted me to have (Yes, that was 'have' and not 'buy' - so sweet!!!...but I did give her payment for the items, as I am more than happy to offer them for sale in my little shoppe)

They included this rather tattered and unassuming brown box with the words 'Handmade in Belgium' on it...

Now here's the rather sad bit...

Can you imagine being willing to part with this little keepsake knowing of its story as to how it came to be in England? Here is the little hand written note that the lady included with it...

I asked her if she was 100% certain that she really wanted to pass on such a sentimental possession, particularly as she had kept it for so long...She replied 'yes' as she was downsizing ?!!... and would rather it went to someone who would love to own it...

Inside the box is this charming little purse covered in pretty sequins...never used and as pristine as the day her father purchased it.

Then there was this dainty little doily with another hand written message. Its story?...

Just three years on from the purse's tale...

I could weep!

Also in her pile of lovelies was this traditional silk dress of the prettiest pastel pink...

Accompanied by this little note:

(I've taken the dress to be dry cleaned and will add it to my shop's stock when it is looking its best.)

**

All lovely stories which will stay with the items to pass on the history to the next owner...

I suspect most of us own an old book or two with a hand written inscription inside the front cover, sometimes with a date which always excites me as it gives a definite moment in time that records the beginning of its life.

Occasionally I have also stumbled across an antique with a little more information to retell its past. For example this sugary pink box holds a sweet tale...

The outside indicates that this was owned by Violet Stokes...

On the underside of the lid are these words: 'Violet Stokes wore these at Daisy Storey's wedding Aug 7th 1891 when Brides Maid'.

Inside are the slimmest pair of pale blue silk shoes I have ever seen and are only 6" in length.

They are one of my treasures that I shall never part with.

I also have this heart shaped box that is completely made by hand from satin fabric...

Lift the lid and inside are these charmingly hand embroidered words: 'To dear Margo, Many Happy Returns of the day, Love Odette & Baby!'

I bought it many years ago and it was full of lovely millinery flowers. Now-a-days I use it to store a few keepsakes on my dressing table.

Finally, this little notebook was given to me by a friend on my Birthday last year.

On the first page is a message from its previous owner which reads: 'From my little sister May on my 21st Birthday (is that 1901 ?) 8th October, Gwen'.

**

As is more usual though, my latest finds do not include any indication of their past...For instance, I wonder who painted this wonderful rose painting?

And who wore this dainty wax orange blossom spray, or did it decorate a wedding cake perhaps?

I suspect I shall never know...

*

*

*

Thanks for stopping by!

****************************************

I'm sorry that I find so little time for Blogging these days...the sourcing and making of my shop's stock, not to mention all the constant paperwork to keep on top of, means time to think of my next post, or to comment and visit others, sadly has to be way down on the to-do list...

I'm also thinking about the next V&H fair, which isn't very far away now, so I will be sewing some goodies to take along to that too.

Have a happy Wednesday,

Niki x