|
During Christmastime in France, like in the United States and elsewhere, festive sprigs or balls of mistletoe (known as gui in France) are seen hanging above doors or on beams and light fixtures, inviting anyone passing beneath to share a kiss. But why do strangers and lovers alike kiss beneath the mistletoe? Especially the French, who kiss on both cheeks when simply greeting one another. They don’t need mistletoe as an excuse to kiss. But in France, hanging mistletoe is more often a symbol of peace and a promise of good luck throughout the coming year than a reason to s'embrasser sous le gui. And, French people often give mistletoe to friends as a porte bonheur or good luck charm for the New Year. 
0 Comments
'Tis the season for gifting, and here at Lolo French Antiques, we love helping bring the magic of Christmas to your home! Our dreamy 2022 Holiday Gift Guide is sure to fill you with l'esprit de Noël when you imagine the sparkling eyes and oohs and ahhs of your loved ones as they find something French and fabulous under the tree on Christmas morning. Lolo's jolly elves have gathered a selection of unique and interesting gifts to suit every person on your list, so come along with us on a festive quest for the perfect gifts that are sure to bring magical moments!  1. 19th Century French Louis Philippe Style White Painted Four-Drawer Commode 2. 19th Century French Spelter Table Lamp Stags Under Tree with Shade 3. Fine Mid-20th Century Maison Jansen French Louis XVI Style Ebonized Bureau Plat or Desk 4. 18th Century French Louis XVI Period Cherry Lyonnaise Enfilade Buffet 5. Jeannie Luxe Crystal Table Lamp 6. Large 19th Century French Louis Philippe Style Giltwood Mirror with Crest 7. Jeannie Luxe Crystal Table Lamp 8. Italian Sunburst Mirror with 19th Century Painted and Giltwood Fragments 9. 1920s Porte-Jambon or Ham Holder on Marble Base 10. Aux Anysetiers du Roy Herbes de Provence in Stone Crock 11. Maxim's de Paris Fondant Chocolate Scented Votive Candle 12. 19th Century Antique French Hand Blown Glass Garden Cloche 13. Vintage 4-Piece French Stainless Steel and Deer Hoof Carving Set 14. Rare Small 19th Century French Pot de Confit or Confit Pot with Green Glaze and No Handles 15. Grand 18th Century French Directoire Period Walnut Draper's Table with Marquetry Band 16. Mid-19th Century Antique French Cruche Orjol or Water Jug with Rare Green Glaze 17. Rare 19th Century French Confit Pot or Egg Pot with Lid and White Ironstone Glaze 18. 19th Century French Terracotta Tian Bowl with Honey Yellow Glaze 19. 19th Century Spanish Backless Leather and Velvet Louis XIV Style Bench 20. Antique French English Setter Hunting Dog Five Piece Fireplace Tool Set 21. Large Antique 19th Century Spanish Semi-Glazed Terracotta Olive Jar with Green Drips 22. 19th Century Large Open Sided French Boulangerie Willow Baguette Basket 23. 19th Century French Painted Trestle Dining Table 24. Grand 19th Century French Handblown Dark Green Glass Demijohn or Dame Jeanne Bottle 25. Early 19th Century French Empire Period Walnut Longcase Clock with Eight-Day Movement 26. Collection of 9 Early 20th Century Italian Herbiers from Florence, Italy Set in Large 9 Paned White Window Frame 27. 19th Century French Empire Period Walnut and Bookmatched Flaming Walnut Commode with Marble Top
Ever wonder whether it's a Rococo or Régence? Louis XV or Louis Philippe? A Bergère or Fauteuil? Each week, we will highlight a word, term, or phrase to help identify antique furniture, periods, and styles.  ACANTHUS
a·can·thus [uh-kan-thuh s] noun [uh-kan-thuh s] 1. Plants. any shrub or herbaceous plant of the genus Acanthus, native to the Mediterranean region but widely cultivated as ornamental plants, having large spiny leaves and spikes of white or purplish flowers. 2. Architecture. a design patterned after the leaves of one of these plants, used especially on the capitals of Corinthian columns. Origin: 1610–20; New Latin, Latin < Greek ákanthos bear's-foot For centuries shutters have adorned everything from small pied-à-terres in Paris to the Maison Bourgeois of local villages. Opened or closed, solid or louvered, these colorful painted shutters known as volets or volets battants (to distinguish them from roll down shutters called volets roulants) remain a defining feature of French architecture — adding beauty and charming details to the windows (and doors) of homes and buildings in villages and cities from the North to the South of France.  Rue de l'Abreuvoir, one of the oldest and most historic streets located in the Grandes-Carrières district of the 18th arrondissement of Paris
It's summertime! Wedding season is back in full swing once again, and getting married in France is a dream of many couples. I’m in the midst of helping plan my son Cole’s wedding to his beautiful fiancée, Marissa. It's in November, and though the wedding won’t be held in France, both the wedding and reception are being held at our store, Lolo French Antiques. Since wedding fêtes in France are not taken lightly, we’re hoping theirs will be filled with both Southern and French traditions that they’ll cherish forever! If you're dreaming of a French wedding but can’t actually tie the knot in France, this series of posts on the customs and traditions of French weddings (before, during, and after the "I do’s" are said) will give you a few ideas to add a little (or a LOT of) French flair and joie de vivre to your own nuptials. Let’s start with the trousseau and armoire de mariage.  Bastille Day, formally la Fête Nationale or the National Celebration, is a French national holiday that celebrates the anniversary and symbolic victory of the storming of the Bastille, a grand medieval fortress turned state political prison, on July 14, 1789. Much like America’s Independence Day, le quatorze juillet or le 14 juillet (as it’s commonly referred to in France since they don’t use the term "Bastille Day”), is a holiday filled with cheerful revelry... it is France, after all... and celebrations of French culture and national pride.  Ever wonder whether it's a Rococo or Régence? Louis XV or Louis Philippe? A Bergère or Fauteuil? Each week, we will highlight a word, term, or phrase to help identify antique furniture, periods, and styles.  BONNETIÈRE
bonne·tière [ buhn-tyair; French bawn-tyer ] noun, plural bonne·tières [buhn-tyairz; French bawn-tyer] French Furniture. 1. a tall, narrow wardrobe of the 18th century, found especially in Normandy and Brittany. Origin: <French: literally, hosier Ever wonder whether it's a Rococo or Régence? Louis XV or Louis Philippe? A Bergère or Fauteuil? Each week, we will highlight a word, term, or phrase to help identify antique furniture, periods, and styles.  CHARCUTERIE
char·cu·te·rie [ shahr-koo-tuh-ree, shahr-koo-tuh-ree; French shar-kytuh-ree ] noun, plural char·ct·te·ries [shahr-koo-tuh-reez, shahr-koo-tuh-reez; French shar-kytuh-ree] 1. cooked, processed, or cured cold meats and meat products, originally and typically pork products, as sausages, pâtés, hams, etc. 2. a store where these products are sold. Origin: 1855–60; <French; Middle French chaircuterie, equivalent to chaircut(ier) charcutier + -erie-ery Mother’s Day is just around the corner. In two weeks we’ll be celebrating all the wonderful mothers, mother-in-laws, and mothers-to-be in our lives by letting them know just how much they’re loved and appreciated. Finding the perfect Mother's Day gift that fully shows your love and appreciation might seem more difficult this year. If you’re not quite sure where to start and need a helping hand, take a look at Lolo’s Mother's Day 2021 Gift Guide. It’s full of gift ideas — with a French twist — that are as unique and thoughtful as the important mother figures in your lives. With gifts ranging from inexpensive to luxe that will both surprise and delight, we hope to make your job of selecting the perfect present easy breezy. Our 20 picks include gifts for every mom — from green thumb gardeners to gourmand goddessess, and even the wonder women who already seem to have it all.  1. Large 18th Century Rustic Country French Cutting Board or Chopping Block with Well 2. Early 20th Century French Country Guillotine Style Bread Cutter with Board 3. Mini 19th Century French Alsatian Terracotta Kouglof Bundt Cake Mold 4. French Art Deco Period Ladies Mirrored Vanity 5. Faustine 100% Organic Amber Candle by Apis Cera 6. L'Ami Provençal Savon de Marseille - Traditional 7. 19th Century French Rococo Style Red Tortoise Shell and Gilt Bronze Footed Vanity Mirror 8. 19th Century French Terracotta Amphora or Olive Jar with Green and Yellow Glaze 9. 9th Century French Pot de Confit or Confit Pot with Light Green Glaze 10. Champagne Colored Six-Light Murano Chandelier 11. Vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian Lounge Chair and Ottoman 12. Nina's Paris Fete de Versailles Loose Leaf Tea in White Gift Tin, 2.82oz 13. Nina's Paris L'Original Marie Antoinette Loose Leaf Tea Tin, 3.5oz 14. Small 19th Century French Terracotta Biot Pot or Jar 15. Fine 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Mahogany and Fruitwood Tea Table with Removable Tray. 16. Vins de France Tea Towel by Torchons & Bouchons 17. French Jacquard Herbs or Aromates du Jardin Tea Towel by Coucke 18. Herbs de Provence Tea Towel by Torchons & Bouchons 19. French Art Deco Period Bistro or Cafe Table with Marble Top 20. Antique French Painted Iron and Marble Top Bistro or Garden Table
Ever wonder whether it's a Rococo or Régence? Louis XV or Louis Philippe? A Bergère or Fauteuil? Each week, we will highlight a word, term, or phrase to help identify antique furniture, periods, and styles.  CABRIOLE
cab·ri·ole [kab-ree-ohl; French ka-bree-awl] noun, plural cab·ri·oles [kab-ree-ohlz; French ka-bree-awl] 1. Furniture. a type of furniture leg, a curved, tapering leg curving outward at the top and inward farther down so as to end in a round pad, the semblance of an animal's paw, or some other feature: used especially in the first half of the 18th century. 2. Ballet. a leap in which one leg is raised in the air and the other is brought up to beat against it. Also called cabriole leg. Origin: 1775–85; < French: from cabrioler to caper, leap like a goat; so called because modeled on leg of a capering animal (see cabriolet) |
Mimi Montgomery
When this self-described Francophile is not reading or writing about all things French, she's dreaming up charming new ways to showcase Lolo French Antiques et More or traveling to France with Lolo to buy delightful treasures for their store. Mimi, Lolo, and their new French Bulldog, Duke, live in Birmingham, AL. 
Archives
December 2022
Categories
All
SHOP ALL
|
RSS Feed
