Austrian Stereotypes

Brocade

I stopped into an interior design shop yesterday to see what the latest trends in this area were. The shop owner had beautiful heavy brocade and matelasse drapery and bedding. The shop was refined, elegant and fascinating. The accessories were ingenious. The valances looked like they'd just come from the Palace of Versailles. And size, most everything looked like it was created on a grand scale. Thought and care were evident in the layout and selections.The predominant flavor conveyed to us was "this stuff should be in a castle". We were impressed.

Matelasse

When the owner approached and engaged us in conversation, we discovered he was educated in Austria and his name was "Wolfgang". Okay. Wolfgang. Wow! 

If you are like me, the only thing you know about Austria - this is where Hitler came from.  It was a teeny bit weird to be standing there talking to this incredibly handsome man, trying not to think of Hitler and trying not to imagine a little black mustache under his nose. Wow, where did that come from? I realized that without proper education or research, we all default to stereotypes. And I was guilty! 

Then my husband says something about Australia and I realize he's misheard the man and I'm off thinking about kangaroos. Wolfgang was quite nice about it.

AUSTRIA IN YELLOW BORDER

So I went home and looked Austria up on Wikipedia - mainly so I don't think of Hitler every time someone says "Austria". Here are some quickie facts I discovered. 

• Austria is bordered by 8 other countries and is the 12th richest country in the world (United States is the 11th, Canada is 9th, Luxembourg is 1st). 
• Austria is a neutral country and does not allow foreign military bases on its soil. 
• 74% of the land is part of the Eastern Alps. 
• The country gave birth to many famous artists and scientists including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sigmund Freud and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
• The Pez candy was invented in Austria - yay!
• Einspanner Coffee - A Viennese specialty of strong black coffee served with whipped cream and powdered sugar - something I am dying to try!

I also looked up the meaning of the name Wolfgang. Who names their kid that? Evidently a lot of men in Germany and Austria are so named! Wolfgang is in the top 100 names for baby boys since the mid 1950's. There are a variety of meanings for this name including, "wolf's path", "traveling wolf", "running wolf" and "wolf leading in victory".  Pretty cool! I'm thinking maybe I'll name my firstborn Wolfgang! 

Lastly I google his website...holy smokes!  You have got to see the drapery section. I'll let you discover it on your own...www.wolfganginteriors.com. Oh, and to top it all off, he's a television celebrity and never mentioned a word!

All this guy really needs now are some beautiful Stained Glass Fireplace Screens!

Floriography and a Decorative Fireplace Screen

FLOWERS HAVE MEANINGS?

Flowers are used heavily in stained glass art. Mostly we just look at the flower and think, "that's pretty" and then our mind goes on to the next attraction. I was struck recently when looking online at a decorative fireplace screen covered with flowers that perhaps there was a deeper meaning behind what I was looking at and sure enough there is something called the "Language of Flowers" or Floriography. I started researching this very fascinating subject and then I couldn't stop myself from checking out what message each of the stained glass fireplace screens were conveying.

A LITTLE HISTORY

Gaining peak popularity in the 18th Century, the language of flowers was a much needed boon to Victorian-era strict society. There were so many rules of etiquette that expressing one's feelings out loud was bound to result in undesirable waves of gossip. Self taught writer, the Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, introduced to the English court the concept of exchanging flowers with meanings to express what couldn't be spoken aloud. This started a boom of lists and dictionaries and a whole shift in fashion and communication. During their daily outings in the parks, ladies would display a bouquet given to them by a secret admirer, or a relative. Some would fasten to their hats a nosegay of flowers to convey regrets or acceptance of a rendezvous. The choices and messages were unlimited.

There was a hazard tho, if you didn't have the same dictionary as your secret admirer, some of your choices could be very unwise! 

SHORT BONUS POEM!

Here is a sweet poem commissioned by Edward W. Elgar in 1872, dedicated "to my sister Lucy on her birthday."  This shows some of the meanings of the flowers. It also shows creativity we've lost in language (due to television and other visual social media).

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

In Eastern lands they talk in flow'rs

And they tell in a garland their loves and cares;

Each blossom that blooms in their garden bowr's,

On its leaves a mystic language bears.

The rose is a sign of joy and love,

Young blushing love in its earliest dawn,

And the mildness that suits the gentle dove,

From the myrtle's snowy flow'rs is drawn.

Innocence gleams in the lily's bell,

Pure as the heart in its native heaven.

Fame's bright star and glory's swell

By the glossy leaf of the bay are given.

The silent, soft and humble heart,

In the violet's hidden sweetness breathes,

And the tender soul that cannot part,

In a twine of evergreen fondly wreathes.

The cypress that daily shades the grave,

Is sorrow that moans her bitter lot,

And faith that a thousand ills can brave,

Speaks in thy blue leaves "forget-me-not".

Then gather a wreath from the garden bowers,

And tell the wish of thy heart in flowers.

Forget Me Nots

ANYWAY...

Flowers have always been a girly sissy thing to me until I discovered the language of flowers and how to communicate subtle little digs and compliments! I would encourage you to spend some time using these online floriography lists and compare them to my decorative fireplace screens to get some practice on learning the language of flowers.

LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS DEFINITION LINKS

WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT WIKI! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_of_flowers

SPARSE BUT GOOD http://www.santamonicaflowers.com/pages/floriography

GOOD LIST http://www.laflowerdistrict.com/flower,floriography.asp

NEED QUICKTIME http://www.victorianbazaar.com/meanings.html

CAN ALSO PURCHASE http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/features/vanessa_diffenbaugh//flower-dictionary/

BIRTHDAY FLOWERS http://www.merrymorphosis.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Birthday-Flowers.pdf

Taking Stock of your FireSpace Decor

Stained glass is making a comeback in home décor. There is a sweeping new artistic movement in stained glass that transforms the traditional designs into a more modern sleek presence. This article is going to give you some direction on how to incorporate this new and exciting art form into your home and hopefully your heart!

The Visual Vantage Point

Step back to the wall facing your fireplace and take a visual sweep of the entire space. Is it cluttered? Is it well lit or dark? Are there bookshelves flanking the area? Is it bland, boring, colorless? What material is the surround made of? Are there windows that affect the lighting or dimensions? How wide is the mantel? Is there a television or artwork mounted above the mantel?

Some fireplaces look grand all on their own, and some need a little help. A general rule of thumb in Interior Design is to make the fireplace the focal point of the room and from there decorate outwards (except in bedrooms or kitchens).

Without seeing firsthand what your space looks like, we’ll be offering suggestions, ironically, that coincide with the products on our website, www.StainedGlassSpark.com.

WHITE FIREPLACE   If your fireplace is white and your walls are white, you need a pop of color either flanking the chimney or guarding the fireplace opening. We’d suggest wall sconces, pendant lights, or artwork for the sides of the fireplace.  The hearth would look rich in texture and color with a stained glass firescreen, or firesafe hearth rug.

MANTEL DÉCOR   You want a focal piece over the mantel, something that suggests your family pride, philosophy or heritage.  A large family portrait, a shadowbox collection of the husband’s fishing lure collection (those are colorful!), or a special piece of artwork or objet d’ art.

NARROW WALLS   It’s often hard to find something to fit onto a narrow wall especially as they always seem to be in a high traffic area. We’d suggest an ornate mirror, thin tapestry or some flat piece of beauty. There are many, many stained glass windows, mirrors and hanging panels that would be perfect. Remember, stained glass does not have to have light behind it to look fantastic!

MANTEL TELEVISION  We’re not fans of televisions mounted over the mantel.  Historically, fireplaces are the common meeting place for family and guests to sit and talk, and a looming television screen is, well…distracting. We suggest placing it in the family room - not over a mantel.

FIREPLACE WINDOWS   If you have windows on either side of the fireplace, arrange a collection of plants surrounding a stained glass panel hanging in the window or a stained glass room divider. The muted light creates color, interest and is good for most plants.

FIRESIDE BOOKCASES   Bookcase corners beg for cozy little private reading areas, a stained glass pendant light hanging above a plush armchair invites family to open those dusty tomes. If you have an end table in this area, place a stained glass lamp there with adequate wattage!

DOME CEILINGS   If you are building a home ask your contractor how much more it would cost to install a dome ceiling that will support the weight of a stained glass ceiling medallion. These are incredibly beautiful and elevate your home décor beyond elegance!

SKYLIGHTS  are desirable for the amount of light they let in. However in some areas the light is too direct and intense. A textured stained glass window will soften the direct light while allowing brightness in. Plus, it gives a pop of color to your ceiling and draws the eyes up.

WAINSCOTING    Instead of wainscoting, consider recessing fluorescent lighting horizontally along the walls where wainscoting would normally top out. Then flush mount a thin (4”-6”) strip of stained glass that encircles your room. This transforms your space into The Room. It brings color, warmth and dimension into a bland space. This can also be done just under crown moulding – breathtaking.

FIREPLACE HEARTH  One of the most phenomenally beautiful yet comfortable views you will ever see is in watching a flickering fire behind a firescreen made of stained glass. The shadows and light dance unpredictably against textures and colors on the glass. Everything becomes special, necessary and your room suddenly turns into a sacred spot you don’t want to leave. Times this by two if your fireplace is stone!  Natural settings are enhanced by stained glass.

Please tell us your tips and suggestions on how you've used stained glass in your home!