Saturday, January 23, 2016

New Lady of the House

Hello everyone! A few weeks ago my mom and I took a trip to one of my favorite antique shops in Quincy, Illinois in search of matching antique oval frames for mirrors in my bathroom. I did not find those but found this instead and knew I had to have her! You know how that goes right, you go to get one thing and come home with something totally different. But one must remember, the time to buy an antique is when you see it!


The frame is so beautiful and I thought she was too, but my hubby informed me that she really wasn't. So I guess she won't be the new lady of the house after all. But in my minds eye she will be. :)


I think if she were smiling we would see the beauty instead of the harshness. But I think if you look closely you'll see a sense of gentleness about her, an "I want to smile but better not" look. I do think she is smiling with her eyes though.

(Back in the day one didn't smile while being photographed because of the length of time it took for the photo taking process and if they moved at all during this time their end result would be a photo that would look ghostly or streaked looking in the area that had  moved during the process.)



Just look at the detail, the lacy collar, the brooch, her gold dangly earrings and after some cleaning I discovered the red plush chair she is sitting in, her black buttons and the black shawl around her mid arm area. You have to look closely for that though.


I believe she is from the 1850's or 60's. I do not know anything about her or the life she lived. One can only imagine. Don't know if I'll name her or not, any suggestions? My friend Janice over at Curtains in my Tree suggested Cybil. Who do you think she looks like?


Since she is the new lady of the house, she has her place of honor right in the middle of the living room and parlor area, where I can sit next to her while in my recliner.


Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

I am joining the joining the following parties with this post...
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy
BTTCG with Bernideen
NO PLACE LIKE HOME with Sandi
TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME with Maria Elena
LET'S TALK VINTAGE with Jillian
VINTAGE CHARM with Sharon
SHARE YOUR CUP THURSDAY with Jann
HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY with Kathy
HOME SWEET HOME with Sherry
SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY with Cindy

28 comments:

  1. Dear Gina:
    I heard somewhere that they didn't smile for paintings, etc back then. She looks like Agatha to me! Ha! Very stately. Your living room is very love like a Victorian Parlor!

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  2. Oh Gina she is a pretty lady
    I was thinking of another painting I guess when I said she was ugly LOL sorry
    I think she cleaned up very nice and like seeing the chair in the background and got my magnify glass to see her pretty cameo brooch,I hadn't noticed the earrings till you mentioned them. I can't wait to see her in person
    You got such a wonderful deal on her also. I can't wait to go to Quincy with you

    They didn't smile in pictures back in that time however she has a very pleasant look to her. Her lips are so pretty, it's a beautiful painting and frame

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  3. Oh wow, what a great painting! Such a beautiful frame and the painting looks to be in wonderful condition. I'm not sure why they didn't smile in their paintings and photographs but I like to look past that and see what their eyes are saying! I think her eyes are saying kindness. She is wonderful!! To me she looks like a "Sarah".
    Michele

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    1. Hi Michelle, Thanks for your visit and comment. Please let me know if you ever get a blog going and I'll leave comments there. :) Back then, at least for photographs, they didn't smile because of the length of time it took to take a photo that if they smiled or moved during the process their image would appear ghostly looking or smeared looking. Sarah is nice, thank you for your suggestion. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  4. If you look at just her eyes, she has a sweetness in them. She just has her mouth pursed maybe because of her teeth. She is pretty and she looks like her name should be Aunt Grace. I love your sitting area, cozy and warm.

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  5. What a fortunate find. To me she looks like an Emma, yes definitely Emma.

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  6. She looks like an Agnes or Mona to me! She does look like she has a hint of softness about her. The frame is stunning!

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  7. Hello Gina. So glad you found the new lady of the house in the beautiful frame. Well, to me she looks like Prudence. There is a slight gentlenesa about her but I think her life is pretty difficult so she doesn't smile openly. Susan

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  8. She's a lovely painted Lady inside that gorgeous frame. Beautifully painted portrait. Am curious if this is a woman in mourning and since she has lace on her clothing she might be into two and a half years of mourning a loved one. Not sure. Still a gorgeous addition to your Parlour. Blessings, d

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  9. You know, for painted portraits people didn't smile in the past, but I too think she is so pretty; I love her eyes and she looks perfectly at home in your lovely parlor.
    I just followed your blog, and if you haven't followed mine, you are welcomed to.
    Have a happy week.
    FABBY

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  10. She looks to be a gentle woman with dignity and common sense. I like her very much!
    Amalia
    xo

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  11. Your antique painting is very nice! I always like to make up stories about people in paintings, if we don't know anything about them! Very beautiful frame.

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  12. Dear Gina:
    Be sure and check your emails as I responded to your question right away via email! So glad you shared your lovely lady!

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  13. I think your find is fantastic! I'm so sorry this lady's family didn't know enough of care enough to keep her with them but you've given her a home and she'll be cherished! She fits in nicely.

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  14. What a gorgeous portrait. So often the portraits of the past reveal nothing of the subject. She---you have to name her--and her eyes are soft and smiling---and I bet she would blush if you chided her to smile. Love this and the frame is marvelous. What a find, Sandi

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  15. I think she is stunning. A perfect addition to your amazing home. Have a great week. Blessings, Martha

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  16. Gina, what a wonderful array of comments you received about your lady. She looks right at home in your parlour. It's true, they didn't smile for portraits back in those days. I think you will come up with the perfect name for her but she looks like an Elizabeth to me. ;-) Thanks for sharing and enjoy your day.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  17. I think Margaret. Her face is a little of a contradiction, isn't it? Sternness, gentleness, kindness, sadness. I think there's a story there you could write. She is a beautiful addition to your parlor.

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  18. Very nice and proper, looks like she belongs in Downtown Abbey.

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  19. I was watching Gosford Park the other night and was struck by the hairstyles. And now I look at her hair. It is so interesting to see the styles.

    And, thanks for explaining why they didn't smile.

    Thanks for Sharing Your Cup!

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  20. What a neat find!! I think she looks like a sarah or a joan!

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  21. Wow! Very stately and elegant! I think she is a Beatrice or a Mary. :)

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  22. Great find Gina, she is beautiful! I've always wondered why in many of the old photographs seen in antique shops most of the adults and children aren't smiling and heard that one reason is because their teeth weren't in good condition; lots of decay and sometimes black.
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  23. I can see why you were enamored! A perfect lady and probably named Maud.

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  24. I love her. I agree with another comment, she looks like Maude. She's probably a librarian. She looks intelligent and sensible. I have a large Victorian lady in a round frame. I named her "Aunt Violia." My kids have had a lot of fun telling others she is their aunt and who I inherited all my antiques from. I do love your style..:)

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  25. I forgot to leave a name "Clementine".

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  26. The lady of the house is lovely. If she was smiling she would be very pretty, she has such beautiful skin and eyes. So often in old photographs and painting the subjects are not smiling. Thank you so much for joing me at Vintage Charm and hope to see you back this week.

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