{ FOUND } Meiji Era Handmade Treasures

March 3 is the traditional Day of the Doll Festival in Japan, where treasured dolls of historical significance are put on display and honored.

This pair of Meiji era Emperor and Empress dolls dating from about 1868 were made in the far provinces of Japan.. probably Shimune prefecture where dolls were made from Washi paper and wood.. unlike the city of Kyoto where dolls were made from fine silks and bisque... all completely hand made..utterly charming, their faces are placid and happy always...

The lovely pair stand tall at about 17" each... and still have their original packing boxes .. they are very fragile and I have adored them since I bought them for my antiques shop in 1998 (I was always a little relieved when interested parties ended up not buying them!) 

The last time I was antiquing in Paris I spied a very similar pair at an upscale antiques shop near the Louvre and had to look twice. I rarely see these and I find them captivating. I love their slightly rustic, ephemeral quality... very wabi sabi... imperfectly perfect.

Yesterday my talented young neighbor Katie Felong and I photographed the dolls .. thought you might enjoy seeing them now.

Enjoy!

What do you think of these gorgeous dolls? 

Would you display them in your decor?

I have used them for events, have integrated 

them into my home, and now they are

carefully packed away.

***

Consider joining us in Provence... 

you need this, cherie!

Download

more information about 

Chic Provence Design Tour 2013

nearly sold out!

{ found }

Bonjour a tous! Hope your Monday morning is off to a lovely start! Here are some rustic chic little Provençal treasures I found at the brocante...for your enjoyment!

download the brochure here  

download registration forms here 

We still have a few spaces available for this spring... let me know right away 

if you want to join us for this incredible Chic Provence Tour! You need this, cherie!

questions? 

email me

skype me: kitgolson

call or text me:  650-302-6883

A Flea for Another Reason

Sometimes you go to a flea market because it's been five long weeks since you've seen your daughter, and she really wants to go. So on a chilly, drizzly Sunday morning after a delicious breakfast of eggs benedict (her treat!), off we went to our favorite little flea, the scrappy little Alemany Flea Market below the intersection of 101 and 280 in San Francisco.

While the rest of the northern hemisphere is suffering a broiling heat wave, once again here in San Francisco on an August morning we donned our sweaters, scarves and sturdy shoes for tromping around the flea.

There was kind of a "take it or leave it" mood at the market Sunday.. nothing compellingly forced its way into my drifting and dreaming mind, heady with steady chatter with my darling daughter... but even my subconscious mind was able to spot some truly wonderful little bargains and I snapped them up without even skipping a beat in our conversations!

my finds for the day: a vintage record cart in blue; a beautiful
carved wooden bowl and a wonderful calcite

the little escutcheon on my wonderful vintage 50's record album stand

I am a sucker for anything in this gorgeous translucent blue-green and
this calcite at $5 made my heart sing!

ok people, this is a real steal! for another $5, this wonderfully
etched rustic wooden centerpiece bowl came home with moi!

a girl cannot have enough St. Emilion 1955 vintage wine boxes in her collection; nor enough
vintage April Cornell table cloths for summer outdoor evenings

the Alemany Flea just below the row of yellow green houses on the hillside in the south of
San Francisco... other days this is the site for a fabulous farmer's and fish mongers market

I let this Japanese warrior armor go.. even though it really appeals to me for some reason!

also let these jade birds go, and the pretty covered bowl..

still can't believe I let these wonderful fish molds go, or
the beautiful handmade 50's pottery...

a very cool vintage French cheeses poster also languished at the market waiting for its new home...

perfectly aged wrought iron garden pieces... somedays you let things go
because you just can't fit them into the back of the Soul!

a pretty perspective on the entrance to the Alemany Flea.. on a very
cloudy, chilly, gloomy and drizzly day in August!

a chilly, drizzly Sunday in August...
the Alemany Flea Market is always smaller (and the deals are better)
on the first Sunday of the month, which is when the much,
much larger Alameda Flea Market happens across the Bay.. a real
project to attend since it is huge and generally far more expensive

***

Thank you to everyone who was so very supportive over the last month while I was away helping my Mom... she is doing remarkably well. She is feisty, nimble and quick; she danced around the floor when we brought her home from Rehab. She is back to her old tricks: staying up until the wee hours watching old movies, sleeping in until 11 am, having her leisurely breakfast and lunch, then burning her chicken dinner! Good to have you home, Mom!

And it's good to be back home, and back to at least a blog post or two! Hope your summer has been going spectacularly!

Thanks so much for visiting!... Kit