Tea at Trianon: The Difference Between Vintage and Antique

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

The Difference Between Vintage and Antique

From Veranda:

There’s something really special about walking into a vintage or antique store—or even exploring one online—and snagging a unique piece of furniture or objet d' art. Plus, many times, you’ll find that vintage and antique items have been exceptionally well made, and can really stand the test of time. “Vintage and antiques are our records of cultural history,” says Ksenya Malina, principal at Time & Place Interiors. “They're often constructed better than modern furniture, which explains why so many of them have survived.”
While the words "vintage" and "antique" are often used interchangeably, there are some key differences between the two—not to mention, there are some instances when you may want to purchase one type of furnishing over the other. Here are a few things you should know about looking for the best vintage and antique pieces, straight from designers. (Read more.)