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Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,056
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

Angela, at the Vintage Edit, loves all things vintage. 

 

Even though you can see in this shot, that she has an eclectic style that has a definite, clean contemporary element too:

 

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She recently showed how she integrates thrifted, vintage brass items into her home.

 

What a cute midcentury antelope ( or deer, not sure what! )

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On pullling back, we can see it complementing the signed art print of a quiet country lane, the midcentury brass tree candlestick, and the clear glass kerosene lamp from the 1800's.

 

 

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Do you like that combination?  I think they all look super together, with the picture's gilt frame echoing the tones of the brass.  Love that lamp!  Different eras working well together.

 

For her dining table's centerpiece, unmatched thrifted brass candlesticks combine with a crystal bowl, icy branches, and a pretty cutwork runner--

 

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On a shelf, a brass chamber stick rests on old books, next to a carved wood candle, and a brass and wood snuffer.  Wood and brass look so warm together, I think.

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On yet another shelf below is one of her most favorite treasures-- an antique octagonal wood tray, with brass insert.  With it, she has a round, textured modern vase, and a little majolica bowl with frogs!

 

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Side-tracking from the brass for a minute-- have to show that whimsical bowl closer up, along with her other majolica piece.  It has a duck, and turtle too--

 

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Back to brass.  Here in her entry, she has a welcoming, flamboyant peacock bowl, with candy, along with a lovely white vase and silvertone framed picture.

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Angela says she likes to mix metals, and puts brass with silver and with iron.

 

Finally, she found a brass lamp base, probably 1960's, and combined it with a modern linen shade in the spare bedroom.  Handsome!

 

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If you have brass, can you describe the ways that you use it?  And what is your favorite brass piece?

 

I like the effect of brass mixed with my milk glass.  Esp. in winter, the mellow metal lends warmth to the snowy glass.

 

Lately, I've used it also with my tiny collection of old, pressed glass.  For similar reasons-- clear, icy glass takes on a little borrowed warmth from the brass.  Fire and ice.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,484
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

@Oznell I like some of her brass pieces, especially the wood and brass tray and the lamp.

 

I have a small brass bowl on a table in my entryway and a small heart shaped brass dish I keep near a picture of my mom in my spare room.  My favorite brass item I have is a pair of antique andirons.that my parents had before I was born. I say they are antique because I have a picture of me at 2 years old standing near them by the fireplace. Since I am now 73 I think they qualify as antique - LOL!  Sadly I don't have a fireplace now, so they are stored in a closet, but I just can't bear to part with them. Too sentimental for me to give away.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,271
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

I like some of the pieces she has found.

Valued Contributor
Posts: 592
Registered: ‎07-05-2024

I really like all of these, especially the first little collection. I don't think I actually have any brass, but it would look nice in my home, I think (built in 1950) so I'll be on the lookout for some vintage pieces.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,269
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

I am beginning to like brass more and more. I haven't been a fan in years.

I think I have to start adding a few pieces to my home decor. I adds a warmth that I am really liking.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,056
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

@twinsister ,  I hear you about the treasured andirons!  I remember our brass andirons ( but not lucky enough to have them now), and there was a black metal mesh "curtain" I think, that went in front of the fireplace...

 

Oh, I wish you could use yours and enjoy all the time.  I've heard online of people repurposing them, using as door stops, flanking a long planter, etc.  If I had such an heirloom as yours, I might simply just bring them out and place them together almost as a 'sculpture', if I had the space.... 

 

@CarolinaGirl88 ,  and @DREAMON ,  neat!  Old brass is so affordably priced, found everywhere from thrift to antique stores to yard sales to flea markets, and brings such "soul" with it, as you rightly perceive.  Even just a pair of handsome candlesticks....  to start...

Honored Contributor
Posts: 22,347
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

I do like Brass, it adds warmth to me!!!

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,775
Registered: ‎04-17-2013

Re: PRETTY BRASS

[ Edited ]

@Oznell 

Nice thread. I like her lamp and peacock bowl best!

 

I have a few brass and brass-toned items and I thought it would be easiest to describe them by adding pictures.

 

My home is old (1950's) and simply built. My things are a mix of sentimental passed-down, flea market, Etsy & eBay finds, and new internet finds. Nothing has much value other than the sentimental value I attach to some of it.  

I enjoy surrounding myself mostly with vintage or vintage-inspired things, but anything has a potential spot, somewhere.   

A brass trimmed flea market tray. It is highly detailed and I have thoroughly enjoyed it the past few years.  

 

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The tray on my buffet, with 2 crystal pieces, my grandmother's old Avon glass cologne bottle, Valerie's (3) gold lotus faceted glass holders, a hobnail wax warmer, a hobnail Homeworx candle, all on top of a crocheted scarf made by my other grandmother.  This has become my default buffet setup when I am not decorating seasonally, and it is as sparkly as I get.  

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This is a brass-toned mirrored sconce by Linda Dano at QVC. I have two always in use and I still love them after many years. 

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Etsy finds: A pair of brass swans (one shown) on top of my simple handmade pine china cabinet.

 

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These are painted iron, not brass, but the color is similar.
Raz fluted metal taper candleholders from Just Jill Shop. Jill Bauer is closing her online shop 1/31 and items have been discounted, so I had to have them. Now I just need to choose tapers and decide where to display them. 

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This is a Shelburne Museum reproduction brass chamberstick made by Avon in the 1980's. I bought one (this is not my picture) on eBay and still have to choose a taper and decide where to use it.  

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I am sorry if the pictures are blurry. I had to reduce the quality to attach them. 

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,056
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

Re: PRETTY BRASS

[ Edited ]

Whoa, @SHOPR ,   thanks so much for adding your fab photos!   I love your pieces, and what you've done with them.

 

That gorgeous tray-- inlaid or painted?  With such character.

 

Your gorgeous buffet vignette, stunning sconces, swan, that weathered wooden tray with peacock ( but maybe it's not a tray?), your charming Jill B. candlesticks and brass chamber stick et al.

 

I love your refined taste, and deft incorporation of meaningful sentimental pieces!

 

I would have sworn your swan was brass, not painted iron. Looks great up there.  I have a midcentury brass swan planter, that's one of my favorite brass pieces, along with a swirled brass ginger jar that was my mother's and some elephant brass bookends...

 

Anyway, thanks again for letting us see some of your lovely treasures!

 

Edited to add:  Oh, you probably were saying that the Jill candlesticks were the painted ones, not your swan-- my mistake!  Both are great.

 

  

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,775
Registered: ‎04-17-2013

@Oznell 

Thank you for the compliments. 


Yes, the weathered peacock is a tray. 

You are correct that the swan is brass and the Jill candlesticks are not brass but feel like painted cast iron. 

The brass framed tray I think has some type of wood inlay because all of the individual flowers, etc. have different wood grain patterns. Then there is a glossy protective layer. 

I don't know anything about inlay. 
I just knew I had to have it because it was so pretty.  

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