Sunday, February 15, 2015

Victorian Shadow Boxes

Hello everyone! Friday I was off from work and it just so happened to be the day an antique auction was happening, so off to the auction I went.
And home with these shadow boxes I came!


All three shadow boxes are from the mid to late 1800's so they all needed a little TLC and that they received, and after trying to decide what will have to come down and what will need to go in order to have some where to hang these, here is where they hang.

The oval hair wreath went above the Library table where great grandma used to be (she will go in my bedroom now).


A closer look at the hair wreath, although it looks more like a hair posy!



And this seashell shadow box found its way on this wall, over the Victorian sofa, in the corner of the parlor across from the brides shadow box.


And I believe it is my favorite, I just love anything and everything with seashells. I like the way it looks in this corner too.





Here is a closer look at the top portion. Notice the two birds and there is even a butterfly in there, right above the flash reflection.


And upon a closer look at the bottom portion you'll see a very cute dragon fly in the left corner. And there are just so many different kinds of flowers, and everything is made out of seashells (and wire)!



Okay, now back to the other hair wreath. It is kind of interesting. If you look closely at the ladies hair you will see she has a braid fashioned in to a bun on her head, well I believe that is the same braid as the one laying on the bottom of the box! My daughter thinks it is quite gross and wants it out of the house.


So lucky for her I do think I am going to sell it off, it is not my favorite. Although if I don't find a buyer I will be stuck with it and I'll be sure and hang it in my daughter's bedroom!! lol



I have quite a thing for Victorian Shadow boxes and now I guess you could say I have a collection of them. Let me show you my other ones.

Below is a 5 x 7 size hair wreath that I got several years ago.


A wool flower wreath with a cross inside a church shape. This piece was found in my grandma's house after her death so I'm not sure it it was a family piece or something she bought at an auction. Yes, my grandma went to auctions too! :)



And the bridal shadow box ...


with a wax orange blossom head piece and the lace veil that the bride is wearing in the photo.


This one has a convex glass over the scene to hold the seashells and seaweed so I guess it could be called a shadow box too. This is from the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and is the Manufacturers Liberal Arts Building.


AND, I even have shadow boxes in the doll's house! Two hair wreaths and a seashell beach scene.


Here's a closer look at the two I made.
                         


and in the miniature antique shop is this cute little wreath shadow box...


and I have these two bakeries hanging in the dining room.


and last of all, is this 1980's shadow box that I just recently bought at a flea market. I keep my favorite minis in here and I even have an empty spot just waiting for that perfect mini!


So that is it! I'm sure you are all shadow boxed out by now but thank you for hanging in there with me!
Have a wonderful week and thank you so much for visiting!

I am joining the following parties...
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy
A RETURN TO LOVELINESS with Kathy
INSPIRE ME TUESDAY with Marty
TUESDAY'S AT OUR HOME with Maria Elena
LET'S TALK VINTAGE with Jill
VINTAGE INSPIRATION PARTY with Betsy
WHAT'S IT WEDNESDAY with Patti
HOME SWEET HOME with Sherry
SHARE YOUR CUP with Jann
SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY with Cindy

14 comments:

  1. You did get a haul! Those hair boxes are getting rarer and rarer. You hardly see them for sale anymore. And when you do, they are out of sight! Love the bridal one -- what a keepsake for a family. Too bad the family had to sell it off!

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  2. Those are very unusual and hard to find. You have a great collection of them. Amazing what the Victorian's could do with their spare time and talent.

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  3. You really have some special collections and I'm tickled to see that even your dollhouses have special shadowbox collections too! That bridal box and Chicago World's fair are so wonderful.

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  4. I love hair wreathes! What a wonderful collection. I have my grandmother's Victorian hair locket...but she trained to be a nurse in England around 1900 and removed the isenglass and took the hair out because she thought it unhygenic! Ah well.
    Ruth

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  5. I laughed when I read what your daughter said,, is funny also about if you can't sell it you would hang it in her room.
    I think they are all great finds , very rare finds and I like them all.
    Betsy

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  6. Gina,
    What a fantastic collection, and you know I love the minis ;-)
    Teresa
    sugar, spice and whatever's nice

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  7. Gina
    Love your new finds !!The old hair one was such a find ,well guess all of them was a good find and love seeing where you are hanging them in your pretty Victorian house.
    The brides shadow boxes are always so pretty to me.
    I sure enjoyed seeing all your shadow boxes

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  8. WOW! You have some real treasures! I've always been interested in the hair wreaths, but don't own any. The closest I have is my great-grandmother's switch (is that the right word?) It's a 14" length of her hair that is secured at the top with stitches to be used to augment a hair-do. I was grossed out as a child, but they gave it to me anyway because it was the exact same color as my hair. Interesting stuff!!! Sally

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  9. Gina, I am practically drooling! I LOVE those shadow boxes with the hair. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for me it is the essence of Victoriana! Gorgeous grouping, real treasures.
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  10. Hair wreaths are so interesting. It just amazes me the art that they created with hair. Not a collector, but I do admire the talent! You really have a beautiful collection and those mini's are fabulous Gina! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  11. These are fascinating! Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home!

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  12. Very interesting collection. It fits your home perfectly. I like that you do authentic decorating in your Victorian Style Home. And the hair art was a part of the past.

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  13. Your home is more and more fab every day. Come visit me and Buddy anytime. Give me warning and I throw a party or something

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  14. Happy Sunday Gina!
    Your shadowboxes are exquisite... the Victorians had such an interesting way of preserving things.
    Enjoy your day...

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