In one of her last posts The Hostess of the Humble Bungalow discussed whether one should use a luxury good everyday or not.
It is such a difficult decision.
To use your finest porcelain each and every day - means: you have to wash it by hand. The other option: putting it on display in a cabinet, as my late parents did, allows to give the full number of cups and saucers to your children - but you very seldom felt the pleasure of finest thinnest porcelain on your lips.
(By the way: am I the only one who thinks that coffee tastes better in beautiful cups?)
Does one get weary if one uses something special every day?
I fear that might be so. The eye gets lazy, the mind gets lazy, even the heart might get lazy...
In the 19th century the servants living at the Rhine went to Court and won their lawsuit: the sentence confirmed that no master or employer was allowed to let them serve salmon more than twice a week.
Think of that!
If something is rare, people hunt for it. If something is there in abundance, people often say derisively: "Oh, that old thing!" or "Weed!" (I think of the utterly beautiful dandelion).
On the photograph above you see This Woman with "That Touch of Mink." Good value for very little money. The previous owner (wearing it in the Fifties? The Seventies?) must have used it very, very rarely - it is utterly well-kept, made by a fine furrier (Gerson International) - and has such a wonderful warmth that goes deep down into your joints.
Of course you can wear it only at very special occasions.
Not with jeans.
Come to think of it:
Why not?
14 comments:
This post has me thinking so many different things. I love the idea of something bringing wonderful warmth that goes deep down into your joints. I grieve at the implications of something rare galvanizing desire and something in abundance, disdain. Where is the true appreciation in a thing? Only in that we cannot have it? If so, how wretched in a way. No sense for the value of the thing in and of itself.
I don't know, my dear Britta. Much of this post hits vulnerable spots that have nothing to do with delicate porcelain and mink. But I love that, and how, you've written it, anyway.
Take joy in all things, as I know you can.
Dear Suze,
thank you for being so quick in understanding! And I think there is consolation: trying (!) to see things with new eyes. Just refusing to see them the grown-up way. Not taking things for granted (though I hate thinking every day of death to highten up the everyday life, as some Buddhist meditations advises.) I see beauty in so many things - and believe that we are given that to enjoy it.
How odd - I left a comment last night, but it hasn't appeared. I wanted to say that I think the little bit of mink is perfect with jeans and a luxurious sweater - and of course, really great boots.
Fine china and porcelain? I use it every day, change place settings and bring precious bits and pieces out on a regular basis. How else can children learn to appreciate lovely things if they aren't exposed to them?
I love that touch of mink!
Thank you for the mention Britta.
I would wear that with everything if it were mine....you must feel very glamourous with that wrapped around your shoulders.
Dear Pondside,
thank you! Of course I will wear it more often than the previous owner (first thing ever in 'clothes' I bought second-hand - except a pair of very old fashionable gloves) The right companions, as you suggested, will add to its glory - and you all know, I am not afraid of being stared at :-) You suggest to "bring precious bits and pieces out on a regular basis" - that is the old Japanese concept to change a picture roll from time to time (but only hanging one at a time). I like that! Then one sees it with new eyes and welcome in the heart. As to children: that is a great point. I use our Spode day by day (though the beautiful Rosenthal, from 1902, hand-painted --- oh my God, I sound like Hyacinth Bouquét! - only sometimes - though normally Husband does the washing up).
And the disappearing of comments: it happens so often! If I remember, I try to copy mines now first.
Dear Hostess,
thank you! Yes - it feels glamorous and cozy at once - so, in case of need (frenzy fur ennemies) I'll wear it in front of the TV on cold evenings. (But without tongue in cheek: I do now understand those old ladies in furs - when it is bitterly cold outside in winter, it seems to be the best way to get a bit of warmth into the bones. Though there "That Touch" won't be enough :-)
I tried on a vintage fur coat just yesterday. Had it not been so expensive, I would've bought it and worn it every time it was cold enough to wear it, with jeans and to the grocery store. Alas, for a vintage fur, it was too expensive for me. I see no reason to throw a fur away, that is wasteful. I think mink and jeans look fabulous together.
I don't have many really nice dishes, I used my best (which is not porcelain)every day.
Dear Debbi,
thank you! I hope that you will find the one that is just looking at you and say: Here I am. So it was in my case - I didn't even think of mink or other fur - it was hot and the Berlin Marathon Day. Sometimes things come as a real surprise!
Don't you look grand in that mink? I love the story of the salmon, too.
Dear Susan,
thank you! You told me that your mother is an E.F.Benson-Fan: she might be reminded of Mrs Wise MBE, the wife of Algernon, who wore her sable everywhere and always - even in the hottest summer - and came always in her Rolls Royce down High Street - 300m to the grocer's :-)
My dear Britta,
your Germany is amazing. I love the green you have and all is so clean! I love Munich and next time I hope to can visit Germany better!
Bisou, Babi
Dear Babi,
thank you! I appreciate your love of Munich - and hope that if you come to Berlin, (not quite as clean, but very green) I'll have the chance to show you beatiful sights here!
I know it's politically incorrect but I've never been as warm as I was when I had a fur coat. I just got tired of people yelling at me.
Your wrap looks lovely- so soft and warm. Wear it often!
I have mixed feelings about using nice things. We got Tiffany wine glasses when we got married 11 years ago and I finally took them out becaus I thought 'what am I waiting for?'. Now I feel special every time I have a glass of wine.
Dear Catherine,
I just found your comment (must have been a Google fur-hater who put it under spam :-) I always wonder why those people who protest with hatred do wear calf-skin shoes or bags - where is the difference?
Thank you for your words: I think it is worth to use that beautiful Tiffany wine glasses - they are made to enjoy them.
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