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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. 
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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) March Madness is back! Not just for the throngs of college basketball fans across the country, but also for antiques and collectible fans around the world. The two-week antique craze known as Round Top Antiques Week, like the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, is now in full swing. Upwards of 100,000 designers and decorators, pickers and junkers, and collectors and hoarders are descending on the tiny Texas towns of Burton, Carmine, Round Top, Warrenton, La Grange, and Fayetteville through April 3rd to experience the spectacle that’s Antiques Week.  Round Top Antiques Week Map ©Lolo French Antiques
"So this is Christmas, for weak and for strong. The rich and the poor ones, the war is so long... A very merry Christmas and a happy new year, let’s hope it’s a good one without any fear." These well-known lyrics from John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1971 Christmas song ring true once again. We're fighting a different battle now for sure, but it's a battle nevertheless. And though much has been cancelled throughout 2020 and this holiday season because of Covid-19, Christmas has not been cancelled. We may have to celebrate in different places, different ways and break with some traditions this year to keep healthy and safe, but we can still celebrate Christmas in ways that promise yuletide cheer, laughter, and time well spent with loved ones both near and far.  There's something so magical about Christmastime... when treetops are glistening, lords are leaping, and chestnuts are roasting on an open fire. We may not be mixing and a-mingling in large groups this year, but we can still create plenty of magic for ourselves and our families, for no magic lasts longer than that which we create together. 2020 has certainly been frightful, so we're here to help make your holiday season a bit more delightful!   1. Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Style Carved and Painted Hall Tree by Louis Chambry 2. Nina's Paris L'Original Marie Antoinette Loose Leaf Tea Tin, 3.5oz and Nina's Paris Fete de Versailles Loose Leaf Tea in White Gift Tin, 2.82oz 3. 19th Century French Restauration Period Walnut Settee or Bench 4. Les Anis de Flavigny All Natural Lemon Mints and Ravissant Organic Honey and Beeswax Lip Balm by Apis Cera 5. Antique French Louis XIII Style Bleached Oak Normandy Buffet 6. Favols Strawberry Marshmallow Jam, 9.2oz and Favols Apricot Jam with Lavender, 9.2oz 7. Famille Perronneau Maritime Lavender Honey, 4.4oz 8. 1930s French Art Deco Period Walnut Armchair or Lounge Chair 9. Large 9-Light French Painted and Parcel Gilt Two-Tier Chandelier 10. Laguiole Jean Dubost 3-Piece Boxed Cheese and Wine Set 11. Herbs de Provence Tea Towel by Torchons & Bouchons 12. Antique French Louis XVI Style Painted Medallion Back Side Chairs, Set of Four 13. Ambroise Handcrafted French Beeswax Pillar Candles from Provence, Box of 2 and Faustine 100% Organic Amber Candle by Apis Cera and Lucienne Hand Rolled French Beeswax Alter Candles from Provence, Box of 9 14. 18th Century Painted French Louis XVI Period Commode or Chest of Drawers 15. Aux Anysetiers du Roy Dark Chocolate and Pistachio Fondue 16. 19th Century Country French Louis XIII Style Walnut Side Table with Drawers 17. Famille Perronneau Orange and Lemon Honey Sweets 18. Large 20th Century Handmade French Artis Flora Tapestry Unlike the strictly decorative vases d'Anduze we discussed in the previous post (Part 1) that served no real purpose during the 17th and 18th centuries except to bring joy and beauty to the homes and gardens of those lucky enough to afford them, the famous earthenware jarres de Biot did in fact serve a utilitarian purpose. Before the beautiful earthenware jarres de Biot became popular as jarres pour le jardin, they were originally used to store grains and flour and were later used to preserve and transport olive oil.  Jarres de Biot, Cote d'Azur Villa
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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. 
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