Wednesday 25 September 2013

Rekindling old flames


By sheer coincidence, my buying the expensive fake candle, 'My New Flame' corresponds exactly with me buying this fake candlestick - proof, if it were needed, that I was not lying when I said I had a paradoxical love for all things pastiche.

Well, to be honest, I bought this stick in the slim hope that it might be an original Dutch, 17th century one worth about 100 times more than I paid for it, but the seller was not lying either when he described it as an early 20th century copy made as an electric lamp.

I had already made up my mind to be honest about it's restoration if I thought that it had been made in around 1920, and now I am rewiring it (using a couple of yards of rather expensive, silver cloth-clad retro flex running through the original Bakelite grommet) and fitting it with one of those flickering light bulbs that I (for some reason) love so much.

My clients hang on every word of advice I give them about good taste and classical decor, but I wonder if they would ever see me in the same light again if they happened to see this little interior decor project.

Tasteful, or just crass? What (as Molly Golver would ask) do YOU think?

25 comments:

  1. Two things: Heron need not answer this (rhetorical, for him) question, and John Gray may - if he wishes - view this post as revenge for him boring the shit out of me with a review on a TV cookery program.

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  2. I thought that I had been very restrained, over at Cro's, and had given a very intelligent answer !! ..... I shall never be rude again.
    .... and, regarding your candlestick { oooops } ..... I like it. I was never one for bad reproductions but, they are often done so well nowdays, that it can be classed as tasteful. XXXX

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    Replies
    1. Well this isn't a bad one, and it was made about 100 years ago. Be as rude as you like - it's what I admire you for!

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  3. Replies
    1. Did you mean 'rubbish', or have you all become horribly Americanised over there in Ireland?

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    2. OK just for you and in Irish 'BRUSCAR'

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    3. I put the bruscar out this morning - I now know.

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  4. Nice Bakelite grommet and the silver wiring is genius. Can you find a nice authentic plug? But the whole affair hinges on the setting of the little flame.

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    1. Yes, we are awash with authentic plugs over here, but I am not trying to be too authentic with this thing. Whatever works is what I will go for, and I don't want a brown plug.

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    2. Just push the bare wires in a socket, hold each in place with a match stick & bob's your uncle.

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  5. The idea of flickering light bulbs sounds absolutely awful to me Tom - sorry.

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  6. Oh bleeding hell...the candlesticks have reared their ugly heads again

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  7. I refer you to my previous comment regarding thespian fake candles....

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    Replies
    1. I made a Jewish candlestick as a theatrical prop once. It was the best bit of plumbing I ever did.

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  8. Moll would say that in her opinion - it's tasteful. I like everything about it.

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  9. I'm not the one to be asking any kind of "class" question. If I want flickering lights I just set my horses tail on fire and yell Giddy Up. Which is why you are I may be blog friends but we'll never really sit at the same table together.

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    1. I would too, but there isn't enough room for that in our little apartment. I'm not sure I would be comfortable sitting at the same table as someone who sets fire to horses anyway (or votes Republican...), so that's probably for the best.

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  10. You'll be buying a Lava Lamp before long!

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    1. I don't even like lava lamps now that they have attained some sort of spurious kitsch value. I do have certain standards, you know.

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