Antique...

...not quite yet!
But I'm halfway there.  I celebrated my fiftieth birthday last weekend and received some lovely gifts which I would like to show you here. 



One of my gifts was this lovely antique decanter box with beautiful burr walnut and rosewood banding veneers and a brass (?) and mother of pearl inlay on the top.  The box originally held six bottles and glasses, but due to a family feud, those were divided amongst the heirs, and the box was left empty and sold. 

I'm sure many of you would have loved to have the box with filled bottles ;-) but not me!  The box will be the home to a lovely miniature scene sometime in the future. 


 I was also given these two 19th century miniatures, painted on ivory.  I took them out of the frames to have a good look at them, and they are very finely painted!  They will look wonderful in the bedrooms of my new Canal house. 


I took a few close-up photos of the miniature paintings, and in one of them I noticed I could see my reflection in the glass.  The other photos don't have that, but I thought it was rather fun even though the portrait can't be seen very well. 


I was given another miniature painting, this time not an antique, but painted in the 17th century style by Dutch artist Jaap Wijtenburg.  Jaap never copies existing paintings directly but works ' in the style of '.  I love this painting of a Dutch interior with a distracted teacher and his pupil.


The painting came with the original oil sketch.  I love having that with it as you can see how the painter 'builds' his work.  In the sketch we only see the teacher and his pupil, in the finished painting we see the distraction in the form of a pretty girl added to the composition. 

Jaap works with oils on linen which is stretched on wooden stretcher bars.  The frame is made of ebony. 
I love Jaap's work.  He also paints miniature portraits on commission, something I would love to have done of my whole family one day!

Comments

  1. Magnifique boite en bois de ronce et les peintures superbes !

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    1. Merci Catherine, je suis entièrement d’accord avec toi!

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  2. Wishes for your birthday, even if that day is not!!!

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  3. Gefeliciteerd nog met je verjaardag Josje.
    Wat een prachtige kado's heb je gekregen.

    groet Heleni

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    1. Dank je wel Heleni! Ik ben je nog steeds niet vergeten hoor, maar nog steeds niet de juiste gekregen...

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  4. Firstly, I wish you a very Happy belated Birthday....the gift you received are amazing, such precious items, they are in good hands!!

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    1. Thank you Linda! I'll try to give them a good home ;-)

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  5. nog Gefeliciteerd Josje
    Ik vind je kado,s erg mooi.prachtig die schilderijtjes.
    groetjes adrie

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    1. Hoi Adrie, dank je wel! Ik ben ook erg blij met mijn kado's.

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  6. Happy Birthday - I liked your reflection in the miniature very much! Hope you had a wonderful day!

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    1. Thank you, yes I had a lovely day! I liked the reflection too, even though the portrait is not that clear in this photo.

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  7. Hello Josje,
    A Very Happy belated birthday! I wish you all the best and your hearts desire!
    What beautiful gifts, I envy your collection and that chest is spectacular.
    Big hugs my friend, and a very merry unbirthday to you!
    Giac

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    1. Thank you dear Giac for you hugs and well wishes!

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  8. Gefeiliciteerd met je verjaardag!!
    En prachtige cadeautjes!!

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  9. A Happy Belated Birthday wish for you Josje! Lovely that reflection of you in the glass. Your gifts are all so unique! Thank you for sharing them with us!

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  10. Happy birthday!
    The gifts are fabulous! Nice to meet you in the reflection of the glass.
    Bye Faby

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  11. Just had to wish you a Fabulous Fifty, Dahhhhhhling! Absolutely Fabulous! :) You look amazing, just like how it was when we met! :) Your gifts are beautiful, alas, they are not as beautiful as you! Celebrate the whole year, Josje. We are 50 but only once ;).

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    1. Wow thanks Susan! Yes, 50 is the new 20, haha! Thus you are just a babe ;-)

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  12. Happy Birthday Josje!!!

    Your paintings are all beautiful. I love the ones on ivory. How lucky that the frames they came in are perfect for your new house. The painting by Jaap Wijtenburg is every bit as lovely as the antique ones.

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    1. Thank you Catherine! Yes I was thinking yesterday that maybe I should make a few casts of the frames, they are rather nice.
      Jaap's painting is a very different style from the other two, but painted with such flair and conviction! Like I said, I love his work :-)

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  13. Happy Birthday!!!!!!
    Your gifts are so wonderful and unique!
    Mona

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  14. Happy belated birthday Josje!!!Your gifts are very lovely and exquisite .Can't say which I like more, because everything is special. I'm very curious to see the little scene in the decanter box,it's a wonderful idea :-). Jeannette

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    1. Thanks Jeannette! I am not sure about the scene yet, but it won't have anything to do with drinks ;-) I have been collecting sewing accoutrements, so I think it will go in that direction...

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  15. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Josje! I LOVE everything that you have received for your Birthday. Your family has exceptional taste! The paintings are so incredible. New and antique! I am like you and love walnut burl wood. It is such a beauty! Wish I was 50 again!!

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    1. Thank you Patty, also on behalf of my family ;-) I hope you will stay young in your mind Patty, that's more important than the number, right?

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  16. Happy Birthday! Your gifts are gorgeous. Enjoy your new treasures.
    Hugs

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  17. What incredible gifts, Josje! Amazing!

    And a very happy birthday to you! I'll be your age at the end of summer. It's wonderful to be the same age as someone who has such skill and passion.

    Be well!

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    1. Thank you Shelley! '62 must have been a good year ;-)

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  18. Dear Josje,

    Happy Birthday for last week end. A very special birthday indeed, and judging by your reflection and other photos I have seen of you you REALLY don't look 50.What special gifts, I really love the idea of your miniature seen inside the box. The tiny paintings are beautiful and so expertly crafted. I too am envious of your collection.

    Have a wonderful week,

    Fi x

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    1. Aww thanks Fi! I think people in general are looking younger than they used to 20 years ago. And I don't mind at all!! ;-)))))
      I too love the box and look forward to making a miniature scene inside it. I hope I'll have time to work on it soon....

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  19. Happy Birthday!! Absolutely beautiful gifts---

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  20. Hope you have a lovely Bday

    From Tyla @ http://obscurecreationsbytyla.blogspot.ca/

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  21. Hi Janine, I love your idea of the artist painting me, I didn't think of that!
    I haven't had time to be in my garden either, although I desperately want and need to! It is so beautiful now. The plums are blossoming, the apples are nearly there, fresh you leaves everywhere and I still need to do some pruning! Unfortunately most of my roses did not survive the cold weeks we had in February. Such a shame. But the rest of the garden looks great. I hope you and I will have the time to spend in the garden soon!

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  22. Retrospectively all the best for your birthday.
    So many wonderful things that you've got.

    LG Alexandra

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    1. Thank you Alexandra! I love my gifts as well!

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  23. What a beautiful box and such exquisite miniatures...it always amazes me how delicate the artwork is on ivory.
    Thank you for your lovely comment, I agree, some furniture should certainly not be painted, especially period pieces.
    Happy belated birthday....
    Julie x

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    1. Thank you Julie! Yes, I had to take the miniatures out of the frames and use very strong magnification to see whether they are painted or printed. But they are definitely paintings! Especially the faces are painted very finely.

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  24. Too early, ánd too late...
    Hie-per-de-Piep!!
    Hoera!! :D
    *roltoetert nog een keer*

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    1. Well that balances it out nicely, haha! Thanks again Debora!

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  25. Josje, los regalos son preciosos, la caja me ha encantado. Besos y felicidades aunque con retraso.

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  26. Happy Birthday "Girl"! You've been spoiled with wonderfull gifts how wonderfull.
    And I see you've got your first painting by Jaap! His work is just perfect.
    But you know how I feel about his work and him as a person ofcourse.

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    1. Thank you my dear! I found your comment in the 'spam' folder, odd huh?
      I know you love Jaap's work (by the way, this is my second Jaap...) One day I'll have him paint something like you had done, not a dandy obviously ;-)))))

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  27. Happy Birthday, you are halfway to being an antique! You look very youthful in your reflection, and some lovely gifts you received. I cannot wait to see the amazing room box you will create in that amazing antique decanter box.

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    1. Thank you Margaret! In the reflection you can't see any wrinkles, haha! In my had I am thinking of what I will build inside the antique box, that's part of the fun!

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  28. hey Hello Josje,
    What do jou have beautiful acquisitions.
    Cngratulations on your birthday.
    The chest is gorgeous.
    I have an antique Cabinet ever received from my mother-in-law, where formerly girls put their dolls clothes in.
    I once have the plan to create there a cabinet of.
    I believe I have a lifetime too short.
    My dollhouse hobby and my garden pfff.
    Also the portraits are very very beautiful.
    Have you ever been on the collectors market in Utrecht?
    There you can also find enough on miniatures.

    You have chic antiques.

    What Mr. wijtenburg makes is magnificent.

    I think it's fantastic how you reconcile everything.
    Greetings, Alexandra.

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    1. Thank you Alexandra! Gosh yes, the same here. I really need those other fifty years before I become an antique myself to even do half of the things I would like to do.
      My husband always goes to the collectors market in Utrecht. Some of my gifts I am sure came from there ;-)

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  29. Belated birthday wishes from me!

    I'm intrigued by the idea of the mini in that lovely box and the miniatures are lovely - just your style.

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  30. Happy Birthday!!!! Love all the gifts you received, you sure got spoiled!!!

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  31. Thanks Elga! Yes I did get spoiled, but I don't mind, haha!

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  32. Belated birthday wishes from me too jose :) you received some beautiful gifts but your decanter box is just superb! your idea of giving the interior a miniature theme is perfect for such a wonderful piece and i cant wait to see it evolve.
    Best wishes Tony.

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    1. Thank you Tony! I'm a bit short on time at the moment to start work on it, but that way some ideas for the interior can evolve in my head before I start work on it :-)

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  33. Absolutely beautiful gifts!!! They look just amazing, and I can't wait to see the miniature scene you put inside the decanter box!

    New follower here too,
    and I've joined the revolution, reading back through your posts, I didn't even realize I could turn off the verification... so, it has been done!

    Your work is just beautiful too.

    http://majokkoshop.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you Heather! And welcome hereon my blog. The scene inside the decanter box will take a long time I'm afraid, but I will post updates of the process once I have started of course...

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  34. Lovely, lovely gifts! :) May I wish you a late "happy bithday"? :)

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  35. Alsnog gefeliciteeeeeeeeeeeeerd!
    Yeah right, 50, maak dat de kat wijs...

    Stevige knuffel,
    Hellie

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    1. Heeee Hellie! OK je hebt me door, 35 eigenlijk, maar ik vis graag naar complimentjes hahaha! Of dacht jij 60? Dat kan natuurlijk ook nog ...maar dan krijg je geen knuffel terug hoor! ;-)
      Leuk even van je te horen, ik heb je al lang niet gezien. Rheda misschien?

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  36. Hehehe.
    Blijf even tijdje thuis, beetje op zwart zaad zitten. Helaas...

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    1. Jammer! Dat zwarte zaad verspreid zich als onkruid helaas, ik ben druk aan het wieden ;-)

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