Saturday, March 6, 2010

WHAT IS PRIMITIVE?

A week or so ago Lauren of Pugs and Hugs posted her collection of spice cabinets. I was much taken with this collection. A lovely display of things of the past. I know that many of you furnish and decorate your house with what is lovingly referred to these days as "prim." So I asked myself "what is prim?" According to the dictionary it is "something made by an artist of olden times."

My house is furnished in a more formal fashion and yet according to the dictionary I have many prims in my home. I thought you might like to see a very small portion of one of my collections. This is the one that brings out the child in me. I have a "thing" for Red Riding Hood and here are a few examples of my collection. This piece is a Conta & Boehme porcelain depicting Red Riding Hood with the wolf in bed. One of my favorites.
This is an early staffordshire piece and the largest piece in the collection. Notice the wolf peeking in her skirt.

Origin of this piece is unknown. It is Parian, a type of unglazed porcelain and is most likely continental.


Another Staffordshire piece interesting because her cape is orange instead of red. The wolf is also peeking at her leg.
Another Conta & Boehme piece know as a "three spot trinket box." Very colorful.
All of these pieces were manufactured between 1820 and 1910 so I guess that I also collect "prim." They certainly were made by artists of an older period of time. Anyway I hope that you enjoy this smattering of a much larger collection of early porcelain that I enjoy in my daily life.
Just goes to show that I am interested in something besides hooking! Speaking of hooking, I have been working diligently on my scraps rug and am about to start the border. I have been feeling that I must get some of my already started projects completed. Too many loose ends in the hooking room.
I am going to drop in at the Boonsboro meeting of ATHA today and then am joining my family for an afternoon luncheon that always ends up with lots of fun and laughter. Hope to see you in Gettysburg on Monday or in Chambersburg next Thursday. Until then happy hooking.
Doris





3 comments:

weaverpat said...

Hi Doris,
What a lovely collection! I love the dainty little Riding Hook in the soft orange cape. She looks so innocent.
Obviously this is not a collection for people who live with cats! Cast iron is a better choice. LOL!!! I'm sure Eloise is a perfect little lady and never breaks things!

I'll see you on Monday!

Anonymous said...

Doris, Thanks for sharing, I love your collection of Red Riding Hood figurines. My house isn't primitive either, I have more primitive things at the shop. But I love it all, that can be a problem! Hope you and El are doing good. We have to be on the lookout for those cast iron collectibles for Pat. I think I might have some at the shop to start her off, you look too!!!!Besides, the cast iron collection will keep "Zip" on his best behavior, not meaning that men can be tedious or anything like that. (Zip is really one of my favorites)shhhhhhhhhhhh!

Joanne said...

Great collection Doris - I happen to agree with Pat - if RIley lived at your house - all I could say is "poor red riding hood"