AN AMERICAN HOUSE AT CHRISTMAS

UNE MAISON AMERICAINE A NOEL

We were invited to a yearly Christmas Brunch très americain this morning. The house is magnificent, our hosts are fun and very entertaining, the ambiance always warm and relaxed, the food delicious and plentiful, and the eggnog and Champagne flow and flow and flow ...but what is the most memorable every single year is the care, effort and artistry put into the Holiday decor by our host. You see, he is a SERIOUS collector of Christmas Antiques. He lectures about his collections and is forever on the lookout for a new exquisite piece he does not own yet. He is also, always, very happy to point out each stunning ornament or tree, its quirks, its history, its origin. This year he has surpassed himself! every corner, every mantle, every pedestal held yet another priceless treasure; I could not wait to share this with you; (Please forgive my basic photographic skills with my basic digital camera).

The entry hall

The rotating music box tree

all the trees are "feather trees" all horizontal branches and not much greenery

The vintage Christmas illustration

The living room

The "runway" with Santas in various color suits

You can stay for hours admiring each ornament in the perfect displays

the patriotic red white and blue tree a little bit 4th of July, a lot December

the quirky pipe-cleaner tree

the vintage holly desk ensemble (cigarettes? very vintage indeed..)

The dining room

The star at the top: very finely embossed gilded tole

Lucifer wreaking havoc in the serene mantle display

small tree large one-of-a-kind ornaments

The library

the wood village with windmill

The family Christmas tree

of course, just as special and refined as the "collection" trees

Thank you dear hosts, for the magical show and the wonderful time.

au revoir.