Fine dining...

Last week I promised to show you the dining room I have been working on for several months.   It is a dining room designed in collaboration with A.Aardewerk Antiquair Juwelier after an eighteenth-century example, to display part of their collection of 18th century silver miniatures.  The roombox  was on display at the TEFAF Maastricht art and antiques fair last month.  


Apart from the beautiful antique silver miniatures, the roombox (including the fireplace, the mirror and the table) was entirely made by me. 










"The table is laid for six, with a rare, complete set of cutlery consisting of six forks, six knives and six spoons. Between the candlesticks in the centre of the table is an equally rare oil and vinegar cruet set and a pair of sauce boats."  (text by A.Aardewerk Antiquairs Juweliers) 






"The pièce de résistance is the wall fountain in the alcove, which can be closed off with two sliding doors. An actual fountain of this kind would have been filled with wine. Costly engraved glasses were displayed on the console tables around the fountain. During the meal, diners could take a glass and fill it with wine before resuming their place at the table. The set of six dining chairs around the table is exceptional. There is a silver fire back and a hearth plate in the fireplace."  
(text by A.Aardewerk Antiquairs Juweliers)






You all probably know by now I love silver and I felt so very privileged to see these exquisite antiques in this room.   No, they're not mine, but that's all right.  I am happy with these photos as well.  

Next week I will tell you a little bit about how I have made the room.  Until then, Happy Easter!


All photos © Emiel Aardewerk

Comments

  1. Simply superb!
    All the best
    Vivian

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  2. Wow! It is so beautiful. But that is quite unbelievable that there was a wine fountain during dinner! And diners would get up and fill their glass.

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    1. I didn't know this either Penelope. Interesting though isn't it? I do know the buffet alcoves would often have a vessel or fountain for rinsing the wine glasses, so to have a wine fountain makes sense. Different times...

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    2. Yes, a very interesting historical tidbit!

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  3. Wow, Josje, what an Awe inspiring room!!! The silver pieces are extraordinary! I can understand your pleasure in having the opportunity to create such a fine setting for such magnificent pieces! The table is gorgeous and so are the mirror and the fireplace! I look forward to seeing more details. Your building skills are obviously up to the required level for such an amazing collection! Well done!!!

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    1. Thank you Betsy! Even though I had seen the antique miniatures before I started building the room, it was extraordinary and marvelous to see it all complete.

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  4. Your room is so beautiful, perfect for this wonderful collection of silver. Love it---

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  5. Wow Josje, fantastic work, I love how the mirror gives a splash of warm color to the room. And I am curious to know if the molding on the back wall around the cupboard was bought or made by you. And your table turned out beautiful!

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    1. Thank you Elga! I like the warm colour of the mirror too. It balances out the cool silver and blue walls. Together with the wood floor and the box itself of course. I gilded the mirror and then aged the gold which gave it the warm colour it has now.
      Yes I made the molding around the alcove. I didn't buy anything for the room, except some of the materials ;-) Oh, and the wallpaper, that's from Susan Bembridge, although I did change the colour of it.

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  6. Impresionante trabajo!!! Unas piezas muy elegantes.
    Besos.

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  7. Wow! Congratulations, Josje, on another spectacular piece of work. What a wonderful commission, you did a perfect job. I particularly like the way you aged things like the panelling so its not so "new" looking.
    I can't wait to see how you did it.
    Happy Easter
    Si

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    1. Thank you Simon! It was a challenging job, but I am very pleased with the result.

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  8. Unas piezas preciosas y las fotos lucen muchísimo.
    Me ha encantado, espero ver la próxima, siempre es agradable ver estas maravillas.
    Un abrazo
    Maite

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  9. Wauw, ik ben ook gek op zilver, altijd smullen bij mensen als Jens Torp, maar dit is echt nog veel mooier om te zien. En heeft dit op Tefaf gestaan, wat gaaf! Daar zou ik best eens een paar uurtjes willen snuffelen lijkt me echt geweldig om te mee te maken. Complimenten wederom Josje!

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    1. Dank je Inge. Ja dit is een unieke collectie, echt schitterend. Het was voor mij ook heel bijzonder deze 250 jaar oude miniaturen te kunnen bewonderen.

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  10. It is a beautiful room and I love all silver miniatures there too!
    Hugs

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    1. Thank you, aren't the miniatures beautiful?!

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  11. Tous ces objets en argent sont magnifiques est votre boite en est un digne écrin. Je suis impatient de savoir les détails sur la fabrication de votre cheminée et votre miroir.
    cordialement,
    jean-claude

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    1. Thank you Jean-Claude. I will try to be quick with my next post ;-)

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  12. Josje, what an exciting display this made! With all that silver, it would be hard to balance the color in the room and keep it from being cold, but you have absolutely managed. The collection of silver is magnificent too!

    I said before, I love the doors and alcove for wine display. So unique and special! I look forward to your post on the how tos!

    Doug

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    1. I agree with you Doug. The silver can be quite cool, but I think the wood, the old gold of the mirror and the splash of red from the chairs balance it out. I will start on my next post soon!

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  13. Wat een mooie presentatie van het miniatuur zilver in jou schitterend gemaakte kijkkamer, Wat een prachtig geheel met die mooie zilveren miniaturen.

    Fijne Paas,

    Xandra

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    1. Dank je Xandra. Wat is dat zilver mooi he?! Ik vind het ook een plaatje zo alles bij elkaar!

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  14. Prachtige kijkkamer met zoveel mooie zilveren miniaturen, Josje!
    Fijne Paasdagen gewenst.
    Groetjes, Ilona

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    1. Ja mooi he dat zilver! Jammer genoeg niet van mij ;-) Dank je wel!

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  15. Gorgeous silver collection and wonderful room.

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  16. A wonderfull piece you've made to display these precious silver antiques.
    I really like the silver bits on the dining table looking forward to read how you made this project.
    Happy Easter.
    Jeffry.

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    1. Yes the table setting is fantastic. Something to aspire to. Well, maybe in time we can make our own (haha). I will try to hurry up writing about how I made it all.

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  17. Exquisite! It simply takes my breath away. Thank you so much for sharing.

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    1. You're welcome Suzy! Now breathe in, breathe out....

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  18. Hi Josje, Truly remarkable to have that assembly of antique silver in one small roombox. What a gem of a display..
    thank you for sharing it with us.
    regards Janine

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    1. You're welcome Janine. It is a very special and unique collection. Pieces like these are hard to find. I was very privileged to be able to see and handle them!

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  19. Absolutely amazing and stunning! So many treasures in one room!
    Geneviève

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  20. Exquisite, absolutely beautiful! I especially like the shaped archway of the alcove, and the herringbone wood floor.
    Bravo!

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    1. Thank you Philip! It was more work than I care to remember, but worth it in the end.

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  21. Your dinning room is gorgeous! I love the fact that you made everything in it except for the silver. The mirror is beautiful. They must have bee delighted with the way it shows off all their lovely silver.

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    1. Thank you Catherine. Yes, they were very pleased. As was I. It was a real pleasure to see it all together and it all looking so beautiful.

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  22. Heel mooi!! Hoe groot is deze kamer? Ik zou hem graag in het echt zien! En dit jaar waren we niet op de Tefaf, vorig jaar wel..

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    1. Dank je wel Emce. Jammer dat je de kamer niet hebt kunnen zien! De maten zijn: breedte 48cm, diepte 29cm en hoogte 36cm.

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  23. The silverware is exquisite and your beautiful room is the perfect setting for it. Absolutely adore the mirror and fireplace!

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    1. Thank you Norma! I will show how I made the mirror and fireplace in my next posts.

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  24. Absolutely wonderful silverware and absolutely divine setting. Your works compliments the beautiful silver pieces exquisitely
    You are a true artist
    Rosanna

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    1. You're very kind Rosanna! It was a good collaboration with a wonderful outcome!

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  25. What a stunning display, the silver is superb, how I would love to buy some. And your room displays it perfectly, great detail, the silver feet on the table are perfect.

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    1. Ah yes Margaret, so would I! Maybe one day I will be able to buy a beautiful antique piece like the ones in the photo... Thank you!

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  26. wat mooi Josje,en de kijkkamer erg mooi gemaakt.jou site word aangegeven als niet veilig haha gr adrie

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  27. erg mooi gemaakt Josje,prachtig om te zien.als je naar jou site wil geef hij aan det die onveilig is weet jij dat?groetjes adrie

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    1. Dank je Adrie! Onveilig? Bedoel je mijn website josje.bouwt.com? Nee dat wist ik niet. Wat voor een beveiliging heb jij? Niet dat ik dan weet wat ik eraan kan doen hoor, maar misschien kan ik het uitzoeken.

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  28. het is je blog,ik heb Norton.gr adrie

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  29. Dank je Adrie. Vreemd. Ik kan me herinneren dat ik een paar jaar geleden ook zoiets had met mijn blog. Althans, een paar mensen kregen een melding. Dat bleek aan een foto of link of zo te liggen. Iets heel onschuldigs. Nadat ik een volgende post geplaatst had was het over. Ik heb geen idee waar het dit keer aan ligt. Ik heb niets vreemds gedaan hoor! ;-) Ik hoop dat het snel weer over is.

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  30. Beautiful fireplace!

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  31. wow, wat een prachtige kamer Josje en wat een eer om zoiets te mogen maken voor zo'n bijzondere collectie!

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    1. Dank je Monique, het was zeker iets bijzonders. Het is inderdaad een eer om te weten dat die mooie miniaturen in het door mij gemaakte kamertje staan!

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