3/12/2009

The Beauty of Mercury Glass....
My Newest Treasure Find!!!

Hello my friends!
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Last week while shopping at Hobby Lobby and I came upon the prettiest Mercury glass goblets! Of course, you know me...I very rarely buy anything at full price...these little beauties were marked down to just $4 each (they were originally marked $20 ea.) What a deal!!!
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I did a little research on Mercury glass, I was curious about it's origin and how it was made. According to Wikipedia, Mercury glass is the common term for silvered glass, which describes glass that was blown double walled, then silvered between the layers with a liquid silvering solution, and sealed. Although mercury was originally used to provide the reflective coating for mirrors, elemental mercury was never used to create tableware. Silvered glass was free-blown, then silvered with a solution containing silver nitrate and grape sugar in solution, heated, then closed. Hmmm...very interesting! I would love to see how they do this!!!

"Mercury" silvered glass was produced originally from around 1840 until at least 1930 in Bohemia, now the Czech Republic, Germany, and was also manufactured in England from 1849-55. Companies in the United States, including the Boston and Sandwich Glass Co., New England Glass Co. and the Boston Silver Glass Company, made silvered glass from about 1852-80. Vases, goblets and all form of tableware were decorated with a variety of techniques including painting, enameling, etching, and engraving. Silvered "mercury" glass is considered one of the first true "art glass" types, that is, glass that was made for display and for its inherent artistic value, rather than for utilitarian use.

Now looking at these goblets, I wonder which process of "silvering" that they used? I'm not sure if they were etched, enameled, or painted...I'm pretty sure that they aren't engraved! Nevertheless, I just love the beauty of "silvered glass"!!!

These newest little "treasure finds" found a home on my dining room buffet. I already had four silver candleholders displayed there and thought that the pretty mercury glass goblets would look nice added to the vignette! Voila!!! Here is my dining room buffet.
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My little country french girl also resides here. I found her at Hobby Lobby last year on sale for only $6 (if I remember correctly...old age, hehe!). She was sitting on the shelf...all by herself...marked down 90% in the garden dept. at the end of the season! I had been shopping for a french bust and when I found this little beauty...and for only $6...I let out a hoop and holler and did the happy dance...hehe!!!

I made the floral arrangement sitting behind french girl. It's a little hard to see but I found this decorative pedestal bowl with fleur de lis on it...also on the 90% off rack at Hobby Lobby...for only $4!


My silver teapot, sugar, and creamer...hmmm, they're needing another polish! Honestly, I like them a bit on the tarnished side!

See my buffet lamps? I got them from my dear friend Vanna from "Delusions of Grandeur". Thank you, Vanna...I just adore my lamps!!!

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Close-up of the mercury glass goblets!

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Well there you have it...an up-close and personal look at my newest "treasure find"! I'm really lovin' these pretty mercury glass goblets...hmmm, I feel the beginnings of a collection...wink!
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Thank you for stopping by today...please leave me a comment and let me know that you were here! I love hearing from you!!!
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Have a terrific Thursday, my friends!
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Love ya'll,
Chari




25 comments:

Gone said...

Oh...Oh...I love it ALL!!! The mercury glass, the french girl bust...the fleur de lis...oh...oh......the lamps!!! Just beautiful!!!

;-)

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

GM Dear friend...now girl you know I love thos glasses...My granddaughter did the reserach thing for me at Christmas because I kept seeing so much of it..Now you know I love Busite there ha ha!! your side board looks wonderful girl..hugs you have a wonderful day...hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

Miss Laura Lu/RMS4291960 said...

Good Mornin Chari! Your buffet is really beautiful but I think you need to move....I'm kidding! LOL! Everything is perfecto! Your lady is so pretty! Don't you just love it when you find just the thing you've been looking for but even better and then the price is more than right?! It's like God said "Okay, I understand your passion about decorating so here you go!" I've never seen those glasses and I shop Hobby Lobby all the time! They really add the perfect touch! and those lamps! It's beautiful Chari! You done good! God Bless you today! lauralu :)

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Chari! I love your new goblets...what a find! Of course, your little French girl is a favorite...so cute! Everything looks so wonderfully frenchy!! Love it...hugs...Debbie

Salmagundi said...

Good morning Chari! The goblets are charming - I haven't seen anything in mercury glass in that shape. I keep wondering where you shop - is there a Hobby Lobby between you and
Denver? Sterling? Or do you go into Nebraska? It just seems that you are much more isolated than Mary & I are. And sometimes, I feel like I live in the boondocks!!! Have a great day. Sally

Cyn said...

I love the goblets! I'd love to have you come decorate my house!

We survived the blizzard and may have temps in the 40's by the weekend!

Melissa Miller said...

Hi Chari, ~WOW~
You are the official queen of finding great deals. That is amazing!

I do love your new mercury glass goblets.
They look so elegant on the buffet with the crystal lamps.
One thing I also noticed was the huge stunning tassel hanging in the center.
I love it!

Beautifully done my friend.
~Melissa :)

Melissa Miller said...

I'm not sure but I think I've said to you before but that fringed runner is spectacular! :)

Anonymous said...

Oh Chari I just love mercury glass and wow you found a great deal on those!!

That buffet is just perfect- did you put all that scrolly work on the front? I am sure you did a blog on that but I can't seem to remember.

Well- Im off to the big city- hope to go by Hobby Lobby and some thrift stores while were there along with the million other errands on the list!! It is always a FULL day when we go!

blessings
mary

Lori said...

Well my dear you have done it again. You find such great things. I love all of your stuff. I wish I had more stores closer to my house. I have to travel about an hour just to get to Target and Hobby Lobby. Have a happy Thursday.

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

Fabulous finds!!! How I wish we had Hobby Lobby here in sunny southern California. Sounds like you find some spectacular deals there. I love your buffet & how everything is arranged. You do a great job!!!

lvroftiques said...

Chari you SUPER SHOPPER YOU!!! Oh girl I sooo love your new mercury glass! Me wanty too!! And how perfect it looks on your wonderful buffet! I'm so glad you still love your lamps! They do look fab!! I really wish we had a Hobby Lobby in my neck of the woods! $4-$6 I could almost afford! *winks* Vanna

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

Glad you came by today.. you always leave the sweetest comments. I loved your post! gf, I am going to have to start shopping with you! I thought I was good at finding the deals, but your great! I love the bust, I bet v/b wanted to steal that one from you. Have a great night!

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

Glad you came by today.. you always leave the sweetest comments. I loved your post! gf, I am going to have to start shopping with you! I thought I was good at finding the deals, but your great! I love the bust, I bet v/b wanted to steal that one from you. Have a great night!

Tomarie said...

The lamps are so beautiful Chari! And now your Hobby Lobby finds...just gorgeous!! And I'm glad to know a little more about Mercury glass. Oooohhhhh I feel such pain that I'm not near a HL...my most FAVORITE store in the world!!
Love your version of "At Last"! :-) L~

Tomarie said...

Oh I am so sorry about your little girl...16 is so young. But I certainly know what you mean. Pain and suffering is only for here on earth. So I am relieved for her. I will think of you tomorrow.
I just posted my youngest son. :-)))) L~

Sue said...

Thanks Chari! It's gonna be so nice to have a pantry, now if I could just get a dishwasher I'd be a happy camper! I'm not sure about cabinet color, but I'm leaning towards a darker green. I haven't forgotten your tag, I'll get to it soon! Oh and I just love mercury glass, especially Christmas ornaments. I gotta get to bed, TTYL sweetie!! xoxoxo

xinex said...

I just got home, Chari, from contributing to our economy, LOL! Anyway, I got here as fast as I can! Your mercury goblet is a beauty! I often wondered why they called it mercury since I know they wouldn't really use mercury b/c of its toxicity so I appreciate your research and info. I can't believe all the deals you are getting at Hobby Lobby! How come I never get deals like that? I love everything on your buffet...Christine.

Susan @ The Good Life! said...

I haven't been to Hobby Lobby in a while. I believe it time I went back! Love the mercury glass and I have a tea set that needs polishing too!

Bo said...

Hi Chari...I think you must have "good deal radar" or something...LOL... I never find good deals at Hobby Lobby...or I'm too late... Those goblets are gorgeous & look right at home on your sideboard... ;-) Bo

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Hi Chari,
Great deals! I love it, it all looks beautiful. I love Hobby Lobby 90% off, can't beat it! Cindy

Anonymous said...

Those goblets are gorgeous and $4.00.wowow.What a deal.I love your entire vinyaette.It's truly grand.
I am really doing so much better now...This new 'toy"has made my life so much better.You just would not believe...Ann

Anonymous said...

A quick HI to you while I am here at work! I did get my wallpaper paste while in town yesterday. We leave tomorrow for a week so (boo hoo) not finishing it this weekend!

I found some of those lovely mercury glass pieces yesterday. I would so love to keep them but they will go to Bill's sister for a birthday gift. Hope she enjoys them as much as I would have!!

Came home to Jesse our dog having gotten sprayed by a skunk! He is traveling with us so Bill is working at scrubbing the smell off him- poor dog is going to be hairless by the time he is done!! Actually we have an ozone machine and left him and the machine in the basement all night and it did a pretty good job- just a little whiff still here and there.

Well friend I probably wont have time to check in much so we will see you when I get back!

blessings
mary

Nicole ~ said...

Those are really beauties, and at such a bargain price. You got the deal of the day! I just love your buffet vignette, it is gorgeous.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the ideas. I found the best mercury glass items at Ballard Designs.