Last week I participated in the burning house project hosted by Paula, and I thought it might be fun to share with you the back story of my chandelier, which is my favorite item in my house.
For the past few years, I have had the pleasure to head to France several times, and love to shop the flea markets and brocants for treasures. For as long as I've gone, I have searched for the perfect chandlelier to put above my farmhouse table in my eating area. One that wasn't too big as our ceilings are only 8 ft. high, but not so small as to get lost in the space. I wanted it to have that vintage look (no mass-produced look please!) with a distinctly European flair.
For 3 years I looked, never finding something that was the perfect size and price. It seemed like something was always wrong. Then, last year we were in Turin, Italy when we walked into an Antique shop. The lovely shop keeper didn't speak English, and I don't speak Italian, however we both spoke passably good French. So we had a lovely visit and I bought some brooches and pendants for jewelry making. As I was getting ready to leave the shop, I asked her, in passing, about one of the chandeliers she had hanging in the shop. As she started talking about it, my heart sunk as I made out 1930 (which I assumed was the price). It was only as she continued speaking that I realized that she was telling me about the providence of the light and not it's price. Surprisingly, she named a price which I found to be fair and after Rick saw the look on my face, he said "let's buy it".
I was so nervous about getting it home in one piece, but the shopkeeper offered to box it up safely, and she did a fabulous job. It came home in checked luggage with the airline and believe it or not, not one crystal broke on the journey home ☺ The shop owner and me • In front of the store
wow! this is so beautiful! and i am fan of those things that have a special story behind.
Posted by: Evgenia Petzer | October 05, 2011 at 03:57 AM
It's gorgeous, like a jewel! - I love chandeliers too, could put them in every room, but being the only woman in my house I kindly limited myself to my scraproom ;-))
I admire your patience, but I guess it was worth waiting so long!
Posted by: Oliwiaen | October 05, 2011 at 04:25 AM
I love your chandelier, it's gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Jennifer Rizzo | October 05, 2011 at 06:26 AM
That's a beautiful chandelier–so glad you found such a treasure!
Posted by: NancyC | October 13, 2011 at 05:32 PM