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February 2005: Cultural Differences, Ancestral Customs, Traditions and Antiques, Our 1st Anniversary in Wayne

Bonjour, Hello all:

Cultural difference have always been a constant source of interest to Guy and to me. The *faux ami,* the changes in meaning of the same word when it changes languages, can bring some quite unexpected surprises. Calling the traditional French wax-finish on furniture *French waxing* was my first faux pas, never thinking of body hair removal! And you could go hungry in a restaurant in France if you order only an *entree* - an appetizer - without following this with a *plat principal* - the main course. Black tie events in France require an evening suit called simply a *smoking,* having nothing to do with cigarettes. *Eventuellement* in French means*perhaps,* not something which will happen in the future. So now, before going abroad, Guy and I read the travel guides on cultural behavior. So far, many Western European countries have reached economic wealth while holding on to some ancestral customs. In the U.S., our traditions are less ancient but not less interesting. To appreciate their uniqueness, we need to compare them to other cultures.

Garage and house sales are unique to the U.S.! We had never seen anything comparable prior to our moving here in 1984. This specifically American custom inspired Guy to begin cleaning and polishing - and got us started in the antiques world. This tradition does not exist in France, because French families take their furniture with them when they move. I must add that people there move much less often than we do in the U.S. In recent years, attitudes towards antique furniture and family possessions have evolved. People recognize that antiques have a lasting economic value, that they can be repaired, and that a small restoration can go a long way, saving them the expense of buying something new that might not resist the test of time. Nevertheless today I still see people who just moved in an empty house after selling everything! Starting from scratch can be a burden, as I have learned while setting up new displays in our shop or in antique shows. If interested, Guy and I share our ideas for starting from scratch here:
http://french-corner-antiques.com/newsletter/archives/2002/12/december_2002_n_1.php

In April 2005 Guy and I will celebrate our first anniversary at The Antique Store in Wayne, and the 20 years since we left Paris for Philadelphia's suburbs. As each day keeps bringing new words and new cultural references, we feel fortunate to have had this opportunity of learning another lifestyle. Being exposed to different ideas and customs have enriched us to a point we did not anticipate. So when students leave for a year abroad, we encourage their parents: if they lose some academics, they will enrich their lives and expand their horizons immensely.
As far as French Corner Antiques is concerned, Guy and I are enlarging our center of interest in the antiques world too. Please see below our latest additions of Continental, Asian and American antiques:

Fine side table with floral inlays, American or Continental:
http://french-corner-antiques.com/detail.php?iid=217

American antique slipper chair:
http://french-corner-antiques.com/detail.php?iid=159

Detail of the slipper chair's back:

Antique faux bamboo affordable shelve:
http://french-corner-antiques.com/detail.php?iid=158

Pair of Biedermeier style brackets:
http://french-corner-antiques.com/detail.php?iid=225

BIEDERMEIER STYLE
Biedermeier style furniture developed in Germany from 1815 to 1850. Its characterized by simple forms, and sibdued decorations with large expanses of veneer. The grain of the woods, and the striking contrast of wood colors, provide the chief decor. A Biedermeier revival arose in the late nineteenth century, which lasted into the 1920's.

SLIPPER CHAIR
A small high-backed upholstered chair, with a fairly low seat. It is mostly used in bedrooms.

BAMBOO
Bamboo furniture is made out of a hollow, woody stem of large grass. Bamboo has been used in furniture-making wherever grasses grow abundantly. In India and China, it was intended for outdoor use and was highly valued. The term *faux bamboo* applies to any material painted to look like bamboo. In England and France, the fashion of *Chinoiserie*, followed by *Japonisme* generated a craze for bamboo furniture and faux-bamboo painted objects. See here the use of faux-bamboo in French antique majolica:

For a more complete Glossary visit our page
http://french-corner-antiques.com/glossary/

Enjoy your antiques, and call us if you have further questions.
A bientot!
Guy and Daniele Veroli