Tag: woodbury antiques

Did You Know?

Did you know that the lowly crowbar and the cabriole leg have the same origin?

Mill House Antiques & Gardens

Mill House Antiques Game Table

Did you that the lowly crowbar and the cabriole leg have the same origin?

Originally, the term pied-de-biche referred to the curved leg of a table or chair that ended in a hoof. The term literally means doe’s foot. However, overtime the term has come to mean crowbar and cabriole. In fact, at the start of the 18th century, cabinetmakers began to refine their craft by dispensing with stretchers and straight legs and introducing the cabriole leg with a plethora of foot designs from hoofs to ball and claw.

Take this exquisite George III game table, constructed of solid Cuban mahogany and inlaid with satinwood. Its highly carved and decorated cabriole legs ending in ball and claw feet are not only a superb example of the evolution of the cabinetmaker’s skills in the 18th century, it can only be discovered at Mill House Antiques. More than an ordinary experience.

Did You Know?

Did you know that the name for these fishing vessels is derived from an old Dutch word?

Mill House Antiques & Gardens

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Did you know that the fishing vessel known as a smack takes its name from the Old Dutch word smak, which means a sharp noise or slapping sound?  According to nautical lore, smacks were given their name for the sound the ochre colored sails made when the slack was taken up by the wind.  Did you also know why British smacks had the ochre colored sails?  This particular color was the result of a waterproofing that was applied to the cotton fabric used for sail making.

The image of fleets of these fishing smacks with their ochre colored sails must have been a sight to behold.  So too is this 19th century model.  Expertly constructed and outfitted with the tiniest of details, this model not only captures the uniqueness of these vessels but can also be discovered only at Mill House Antiques.  More than an ordinary experience.

 

 

Did You Know?

Did you know that French Morbier clocks strike twice on the hour?

Mill House Antiques & Gardens

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Did you know that French Morbier clocks strike twice on the hour? If you are not familiar with them, Morbier clocks were provincial clocks that had many hands in its manufacture. Various parts were often made by village farmers or idol workers during the long cold winter months and then assembled by a local clocksmith.

Though common in their origin, Morbier clocks had the unique quality of striking twice on the hour. Some say it was so that a person could catch the exact time on the second striking. Another reason put forward was to remind people of prayers. The story, which is far from religious or practical, is the double strike reminded lovers that they had just a few minutes to get dressed before the arrival of the spouse.

Whichever reason you prefer, you can also have your preference of Morbiers like these two fine examples at Mill House Antiques. More than an ordinary experience.