tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459855272056019222024-02-20T18:36:16.731+08:00Mimi's AlcoveSpecialising in handpicked vintage crockery, decoration, jewellery and accessories, all lovingly sourced from around the globe.Mimi's Alcovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204839819554891448noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445985527205601922.post-68643650285301559992012-09-24T14:17:00.002+08:002012-09-24T14:17:31.906+08:00More, more and More! <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve been terrible at keeping up w<var></var>ith my expenditure on vintage items recently, it just keeps piling (and so is my inventory!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s just some stuff I’ve accumulated in a mere three weeks: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3 Peranakan metal filigree bags</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 complete vintage china teaset from Czechoslovakia (22 piece)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span> </span>An opaque milk glass vase</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 vintage silk cushion covers </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Several antique brooches</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have yet to catalogue them, yet alone take pictures and write!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So many things to do, so little time…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mimi</span></div>
Mimi's Alcovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204839819554891448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445985527205601922.post-33926403181050701652012-09-19T12:43:00.000+08:002012-09-19T12:44:08.701+08:00What do you mean when you say, 'Silver?'<span style="color: black;">From the shine of bangle bracelets to the polished
gleam of formal sterling tableware, who doesn't enjoy the elegance of silver?
Second only to gold as a precious metal, silver has been mined for over
5,000 years to provide utensils for religious and household use, mediums
of exchange, and jewelry to adorn both sexes.</span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Today, the purchase price off a piece of silver
can range from a few dollars for a simple plated napkin ring right on into
the stratosphere for a hallmarked teapot, handcrafted by a famous 18th
century silversmith. Eliminating the rare and costly items that you are
unlikely to find outside of a museum, there still remains a confusing variety
of silver types and prices.</span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">The value of the metal itself, along with workmanship,
age and rarity, determine the asking price for a piece of old silver. Most
pieces are marked to indicate the percent of silver used (in its pure for,
silver is too soft for practical use), with items of higher silver content
generally being the most pricey.</span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;">If you patronise a knowledgeable dealer for an
occasional silver purchase, you'll find silver items clearly marked for
content. On the other hand, if you enjoy browsing through flea markets
and love the pursuit of a garage sale bargain where prices are lower because
of few guarantees, you should know about silver types. Here are a few you're
most likely to encounter:</span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Sterling is the American and British standard
for silver, used to produce most elaborate and costly pieces. The sterling
standard is 925 parts of silver to 75 parts copper in every 1000 parts
sterling silver. Pieces manufactured in the United States are stamped Sterling,
occasionally followed by 925. British sterling pieces bear hallmarks, symbols
and letters indicating maker place of origin, and year of manufacture,
as well as the sterling mark, a standing lion (Lion Passant). While other
marks vary, the sterling park appears on all British sterling except for
pieces manufactured in Scotland, which bear a thistle mark instead of the
Lion Passant. (These thistle-marked pieces are exceedingly rare on the
local market).</span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Coin silver was manufactured prior to the acceptance
of the sterling silver in the US (about 1960). Most manufacturers in the
early 1800s stamped "Coin Silver" or "Pure Coin" on pieces to indicate
the quality- 900 parts silver per thousand.</span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Sheffield Plate is a confusing term: the city
of Sheffield, England remains a major centre for the manufacture of sterling
and plate, although true Sheffield Plate is no longer made. Sheffield Plate
is a silver and copper 'sandwich' with the less precious metal in the middle.
It was rolled into thin sheets and used in silverware manufacture at a
price far lower than that of sterling. By the mid-1800s, however, the electroplating
process made silver plate an even lower priced alternative, and the manufacture
of Sheffield Plate was discontinued.</span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Electroplate is a process of plating a base metal
with silver after an object has been manufactured. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">The base metal is usually
indicated in code on the piece: EPNS Electroplate on Nickel Silver (most
common today); EPBM Electroplate on Britania Metal; EPWM, Electroplate
on White Metal; EPC, Electroplate on Copper.</span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">German Silver is another misleading term. It is
not silver at all, but an alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc. Nickel Silver
is another term used interchangeably with German Silver.</span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">The following are some tips on buying silver:</span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Check marks carefully on silver. If it does not
say sterling or bear a hallmark, it is either of foreign manufacture or
it is probably not sterling. Prices of sterling silver items generally
run higher than other types of silver, at least about twice that of silver
plate.</span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Many Victorian items, such as figural napkin rings,
were made only in silver plate and today command high prices. Other antique
place pieces are charming and far more collectible than run-of-the-mill
modern sterling. If you feel you must have a piece replated to enjoy it,
however, be sure to gauge the price accordingly. Professional silverplating
is expensive.</span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Hallmarks can be confusing. All British sterling
is hallmarked and some British plate (notably Sheffield) is hallmarked.
When in doubt, look for the Lion Passant.</span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Finally, don’t let a flea market seller tell you
that a piece marked G. Silver is the same as sterling (it's happened more
than once). G. Silver or German Silver, has no silver content, although
the piece can be highly collectible anyway, like this piece!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Next time you covet an appealing Victorian spoon,
or an Art Nouveau bracelet, at an auction or a garage sale, look carefully
at the markings. A little knowledge in this area can help preserve your
bank balance. -Barbara Williams Sackett</span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Taken From the very first issue of the Antique Quarterly,
Summer 1983</span>
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<br />
Happy Hunting<br />
MimiMimi's Alcovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204839819554891448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445985527205601922.post-89283733428337341622012-09-10T12:30:00.000+08:002012-09-11T01:04:28.141+08:00Find of the Day!I love embroidery, and while the craft needs niftier fingers than mine (alas!), that only<br />
makes me appreciate their delicacy even more.<br />
Hence, when I saw these lovely <a href="http://mimisalcove.blogspot.sg/p/embroidered-cloth-coasters.html" target="_blank">embroidered cloth coasters</a>, I just had to get them!<br />
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MimiMimi's Alcovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204839819554891448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445985527205601922.post-51061499606229544212012-09-03T11:30:00.000+08:002012-09-03T17:31:39.694+08:00Vintage versus Antique? Terms, terms, terms!Over the past few years, both terms are being frequently used interchangeably, but really, what are the differences?<br />
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Purist consider the term antique to only be used on items over 100 years old. However, nowadays items described as antique can be as young as 50-75 years old.<br />
<br />
Another way of defining an antique is through the use of generations. 1 generation more of less equates to 1 generation. Hence, an item which is 80 years old would be equivalent to 2 generations, making the item an antique.<br />
<br />
The use of the term vintage on the other hand, actually derived from identifying the year when a wine was made and the correct usage of the word vintage must be used with a year. I.e. This clock is vintage 1956.<br />
<br />
However, these days, the term vintage is commonly used to describe something that is deemed relatively old and can be as young as a few decades old.<br />
<br />
Hope that I made these two terms clearer for you!<br />
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MimiMimi's Alcovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204839819554891448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445985527205601922.post-39605952892398776782012-08-27T16:28:00.000+08:002012-08-27T16:28:32.253+08:00Cabochon? What’s that?Seen oval-shaped domes of glass or stone in broaches? That’s what you call a Cabochon!<br />
It’s a term used to describe a gemstone which has been shaped or polished instead of<br />
faceted. It results in the stone being convex at the top with a flat bottom.<br />
<br />
While the term is usually applied to opaque gems, many antique and vintage glass<br />
broaches were made to showcase the beautiful colours, artwork or texture within.<br />
The smoothness and the shape of a cabochon compliments outfits and highlight the<br />
uniqueness of the broach itself.<br />
<br />
I’ve just procured one and it’s simply lovely.<br />
<br />
MimiMimi's Alcovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204839819554891448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445985527205601922.post-50692444114753748122012-08-21T15:59:00.001+08:002012-08-21T16:01:34.032+08:00Fine china 101To begin with, it’s actually a fancier name of Porcelain, but with differing fineness of<br />
artwork, gilt and decoration, you can see why some are deemed ‘Fine China’ more than<br />
others.<br />
<br />
The term was derived from the fact that it was first exported from China to the European<br />
countries in the 15 century and the nobles there were entranced by their beauty. This<br />
trend grew over the centuries and to put it shortly, the other countries started to produce<br />
their own. Hence, you get ‘English China’, ‘French China’, etc.<br />
<br />
While I’m not a fan of the traditional ‘Chinese China’ (My, that does sound strange!),<br />
I do love the pretty and delicate designs found on the Japanese and English ones. The<br />
beautiful floral patterns with tasteful gilding are always a visual treat!<br />
<br />
When I saw this <a href="http://mimisalcove.blogspot.com/p/vintage-china-oval-serving-plate.html" target="_blank">piece</a>, my eyes…rested.<br />
<br />
MimiMimi's Alcovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204839819554891448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445985527205601922.post-10156260920494475222012-08-17T14:58:00.000+08:002012-08-17T14:58:21.112+08:00Vintage clothing- Should I or shouldn’t I?I have some lovely pieces of which, sadly I can’t fit into. Should I keep them for posterity<br />
or put them up so someone else can enjoy them in this present day and age?<br />
<br />
MimiMimi's Alcovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204839819554891448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445985527205601922.post-77257173594143861082012-08-12T14:25:00.002+08:002012-08-12T14:31:35.288+08:00Damascene…what’s that?Damascening is the art of inlaying different metals into one another—usually gold or <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">silver into a darkly oxidized steel background—to produce intricate patterns on jewellry </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">and ornaments. This term comes from a perceived resemblance to the rich tapestry </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">patterns of damask silk.</span><br />
<br />
Handcrafted by master craftmen, the beautiful, decorative designs make them highly <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">desirable collectibles.</span><br />
<br />
If you appreciate this artform, then you will certainly love these <a href="http://mimisalcove.blogspot.com/p/gorgeous-vintage-gold-and-black.html" target="_blank">cufflinks</a>!<br />
<br />
MimiMimi's Alcovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204839819554891448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445985527205601922.post-76831113860036329382012-08-06T12:34:00.000+08:002012-08-06T12:34:26.521+08:00Restoring is hard workNot everything I found and collected was in pristine condition during the time of<br />
discovery. Many a time, due to age and wear or just poor storage and care, the items had<br />
their varnishes gone, were dirt-encrusted and rust had settled in. I’ve lost track of the<br />
number of hours that I’ve spent polishing, re-varnishing and restoring. But it’s all worth it<br />
when I look at the finished piece restored to its former glory.<br />
<br />
I guess you could say that hard work pays off.<br />
<br />
Happy Shopping<br />
MimiMimi's Alcovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204839819554891448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445985527205601922.post-33420943028974585662012-07-30T01:19:00.003+08:002012-07-30T01:19:42.604+08:00The thrill of the huntPart of the reason why I got hooked into collecting and showcasing vintage items is the fact that searching for quality vintage items is incredibly addictive!<br />
<br />
The searches have taken me everywhere, from your local thrift shop, yard sales, to auctions. These include in Singapore and overseas as I find the variety better when you don’t limit yourself to geographical boundaries. And really, you never know where the next gem might turn up!<br />
<br />
Yes, it can be time-consuming and one must have a good eye to be able to discern the true vintage from the trash, the excitement of spotting something beautiful hidden among or behind other trinkets and novelty items is indeed something to revel in.<br />
<br />
As they say, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure! You never know what you’ll find!<br />
<br />
MimiMimi's Alcovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204839819554891448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445985527205601922.post-5189571211686986702012-07-23T13:04:00.002+08:002012-07-23T23:35:13.804+08:00How the Alcove came to beMy journey of collecting vintage ‘stuff’ began several years ago when my grandma gave me her prized antique silver and glassware. They were absolutely stunning and I fell head over heels in love with their look, quaintness and quality.<br />
<br />
In a bid to upsize my newly-started collection, I started going to vintage and antique shops, garage and estate sales to source for more treasures. And my goodness, such treasure! From vintage fine china plates with gorgeous floral designs, delicate glass cut bowls to mosaic and handpainted lamps and enamel broaches, my collection has grown astoundingly over the years!<br />
<br />
Finding that a lot of modern-ware and accessories pale in comparison to vintage items in terms of craftsmanship, look and elegance, I decided to set up a shop to showcase and share my love of all things vintage.<br />
<br />
This shop was borne out of my passion and so do feel free to contact me should anything catch your eye!<br />
<br />
Happy Shopping<br />
MimiMimi's Alcovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204839819554891448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3445985527205601922.post-85295181774043613042012-07-14T03:32:00.004+08:002012-07-14T04:06:34.132+08:00Grand OpeningWelcome One, Welcome All.<br />
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More stuff will be up soon and hopefully a proper interface for all.<br />
<br />
<br />
Happy Shopping<br />
MimiMimi's Alcovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204839819554891448noreply@blogger.com0