Monday, July 18, 2011

cottage pine furniture & Little Women


I got this dresser at auction a while back and finally took it to the store. It was hand built, probably around 1830, and the paint is original.


I love the little mountain scenes. 

There's a bed too:


Last winter I visited Orchard House, the home of the Alcott Family (Louisa May being the most famous).  They were a fascinating family--transcendentalists, progressive educators, artists, writers, vegetarians, friends of Emerson and Thoreau... The youngest daughter, May (Amy in Little Women) was a talented and accomplished artist; she did some wonderful drawings right on the walls--that's the kind of parents she had. Anyway, May had a bedroom set of cottage pine furniture similar to this. I loved the whole house; it's simple and comfortable. I wasn't allowed to take pictures, but it's a house that sheltered a family who read and laughed and told stories and put on plays and drew on the walls. I hope this dresser and bed go to a family like that.
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6 comments:

  1. Rubye JackJuly 18, 2011 at 2:05 AM

    I would love to have them go this child woman that I am. It's a beautiful set.
    If only I could afford it.

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  2. Jane and Lance HattattJuly 18, 2011 at 3:57 AM

    Hello Jen:
    This is absolutely charming and something we should really love to have. The painted scenes are a delight.

    How wonderful to have visited the Alcott house. 'Little Women' was an absolute favourite with both of us as children. And wasn't there a sequel 'Joe's Boys' or some such similar title? When next in the UK we have planned a visit to Monks House, the home of Virginia Woolf, which is quite close to Brighton and to which some friends are taking us [no bus!!].

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  3. chasing lightning bugsJuly 18, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    i love a family that reads and tells stories and draws on the walls!!!

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  4. AnneJuly 18, 2011 at 11:35 AM

    What beauties! Those paintings are really tiny treasures. I'm sure they will be bought up by someone with a romantic heart.

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  5. UnknownJuly 18, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    its wonderful looking. wow..I wonder who the lucky gal will be to own it. Me and my three older sisters were alot like the little women gals. we often did performances for our doting parents complete with a white sheet curtain and record player for music. Great memories!

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  6. ElfReneeJuly 18, 2011 at 11:11 PM

    That's beautiful! I don't think I'd be able to sell it, I'd have to keep it!

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