Distinctive-Decor.com Blog

Christmas in July Collectibles and Tableware

  

It is hot here in Oklahoma with no promise of lower temperatures any time soon, but that doesn't stop us from getting into the spirit of Christmas in July.  We have a number of Christmas and holiday-themed items that are ideal for Christmas in July.

As always, our Mr. Christmas Gold Label Music boxes are Christmas favorites. Whether you are looking for Mr. Christmas animated music boxes like the Nutcracker Ballet animated music box or a music box of a mouse that plays a piano called Maestro Mouse, Mr Christmas has a music box that will get you into the holiday spirit.

Department 56 Possible Dreams Santa Clothtique Collection is always a favorite.  The collection celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.  The collection features Santa in a variety of poses and outfits.  Each Santa figurine is a combination of sculpture and stiffened fabrics that makes each Santa look more realistic.  There is a Department 56 Possible Dreams Santa for almost every lifestyle like Born to Give Santa on a motorcycle, Bird Doggin' Santa and more traditional Santas like A Taste of Winter Santa and Jingle All the Way Santa. Department 56 Possible Dreams Santas are wildly popular and collectible.

Jim Shore Christmas ornaments and figurines continue to delight the Christmas collector with collectible santa figurines, snowman ornaments and the always popular Jim Shore Nativity set.

Spode Christmas Tree has been a front runner in Christmas-themed tableware for years, but Spode Christmas Tree Grove tableware also has its admirers due to a more formal border.

Portmeirion Holly and Ivy Collection Tableware features holly berries, holly leaves and other floral motifs.  The holly and ivy pattern continues to attract those wanting a festive Christmas table.

Andrea by Sadek has introduced a number of new patterns this year for the holiday season.  The Poinsettia collection features red, green and white poinsettia-shaped plates, bowls and serving pieces that can be mixed and matched together for a beautiful majolica holiday table. The Andrea by Sadek Holly Berries and Holly Leaf and Stripes collection features bright, holiday coloring and Christmas tree and holly leaf shaped serving pieces.

For the bird collector, Sadek has produced Holiday Chickadee and Cardinal tableware consisting of a cake server, dessert plate, mugs and covered mug. Andrea by Sadek has also introduced a holiday pattern featuring a pineapple surrounded by a garland of holly, holly berries and other fruits.  The pattern is named Holiday Jubilee and consists of a cake server, dessert plates, mugs, pineapple shaped creamer and salt and pepper shakers shaped like pineapples.

The most intricate and delicate collection is the Franz Holiday Classic Porcelain Collection. It features lifelike poinsettia flowers that have been sculptured in porcelain in a process call "undercutting."  This collection is breathtaking.

Maybe the most surprising development has to be that Royal Worcester is back with their more formal Holly Ribbons dinnerware. This beautiful dinnerware features a gold bands around the rim with holly and a red ribbon.

 

Match Italian Pewter | What is Pewter and What is Pewter Made From?

Not all pewter is created equally.  Pewter is an alloy of three metals: tin, copper and antimony--a flaky blueish-white metal.  For pewter to be called "pewter" it must contain at least 92% tin.  Pewter is considered a semi-precious metal due to its tin content.  Did you know that tin is the fourth most expensive metal next to platinum, gold and sterling silver?  It's true, and this is why you should demand high tin content in the pewter that you buy--whether it is a figurine or a pewter ice bucket.

Higher qualities of pewter alloy like the alloy Match Pewter uses is 95% tin.  The higher the tin content, the higher the quality of pewter and more handsome the appearance of the pewter. A higher tin content produces a beautiful luster and superb finish.  While the best pewter has a high tin content, you need to be assured that the tin used is of the highest quality, also.  Stick with manufacturers who are up front about this. Sure, they will probably sell more expensive pewter, but you know that you are getting an heirloom-quality piece.  Many label their product as pewter and use a number of white metals like aluminum to give their product the pewter look, but what they make is not pewter.

When we went looking for a line of pewter for the kitchen, table and home we had to educate ourselves on who makes the best and safest pewter.  We found Match Pewter to be the company who is forthright with their pewter alloy recipe, has the best Italian pewtersmiths making the product and arguably has the finest pewter designs in the marketplace.  All Match Pewter is FDA approved, lead-free and 100% food safe. Match Pewter founder David Reiss, a Rhode Island School of Design graduate, is committed to making the highest quality pewter bowls, chargers, vases, centerpieces, flatware, stemware and tableware. To do this, he contracts the the best pewtersmiths in northern Italy who use age-old techniques to make Match's pewter.

If you already have a piece of Match Pewter or are interested in purchasing a Match Pewter piece you will notice that there are stamps on it.  A stamp that will always be present is the "95" stamp denoting the content of tin in the piece.  You might also have an "M" stamp present, which stands for Match. There may be up to two more that indicate in what region in northern Italy your piece was made and the workshop where it was made.  All pieces will have at least two imprimaturs or hallmarks on them. Some pieces are classic designs with historical references.  These pieces are cast directly from molds made from original antiques.  When you see symbols and initials on the front of some Match Pewter pieces they have been picked up from these molds.

Just a quick note about Match Pewter flatware.  Match has created beautiful flatware using pewter for the handles.  All food surfaces are made of high quality 18/10 stainless steel.  The knife blades are actually forged with the handles creating a very solid knife; the blades are not simply stuck into a pewter handle.

Pewter requires little in the way of care, but it can discolor if you leave something acidic in it.  If your pewter does discolor it can be cleaned up easily with a good metal polish or "0000" steel wool.  Caring for and cleaning pewter is not as hard as some might lead you to believe.

Match Pewter creates an entire line of pewter for the desk, kitchen, bathroom and bar.  They offer pewter picture frames, vases and centerpieces, candlesticks, candelabras and lamps, pewter chargers and platters and bowls.

Franz Collection Porcelain Inspired By Van Gogh

Franz Collection has done it again.  They have surprised me with one of their newest collections--the Van Gogh Collection of vases and jewelry. I mean all of their fine porcelain sculptures are second-to-none, but this collection takes the cake in my opinion. One look at them and you know what and who inspired them. 

Each vase is substantial and carries a slightly heavier price tag than other Franz items, but they are breathtaking. Franz has taken inspiration from Van Gogh's botanical paintings and have incorporated them into this collection.  There is a vase featuring sunflowers, irises, almond flowers, white roses and red poppies.  Each vase stays true to Van Gogh's paintings, using similar shapes, colors, lines and brush strokes.  There are also 3 porcelain necklaces: sunflowers, irises and almond flowers.

Each vase and necklace charm is made of fine porcelain that is sculptured by skilled Chinese artisans from Jingde, China--the oldest capital of fine porcelain sculptors.  They use the Chinese undercutting method to create three-dimensional art on a canvas of porcelain.  Each piece is hand-made and hand-painted.

It is needless to say that most of us cannot afford a Van Gogh painting, but for those who want to be inspired by the great impressionist, a beautifully crafted vase or necklace just might do--until we win the lottery!

 

Spaceform London Glass Keepsakes

I am always looking for a unique gift to give a loved one or friend and it is hard to find items that are truly unique enough to be appreciated by the receiver.  I think I have found a solution in Spaceform London.  They make brilliant glass tokens, picture frames and paperweights. They are affordable and high-quality.

Ok, I can hear you saying, "Arrgh tokens, paperweights?" Hear me out before you dismiss this.  These really are different from others that I have seen.  They are brightly colored, made of highly polished glass and have heartfelt sayings on them. You can get one for any relative, friend or loved-one.  

Spaceform has been around since 1994. It was started by Christina Greenhalgh and Jane Glibbery, both from London. They wanted to get their contemporary, highly-polished glass in the hands of a wider audience.  Since that time they have created a large assortment of glass paperweights, tokens, picture frames and much more.

Franz Collection and Lanvin Introduce Porcelain Fashion Mannequin Dolls

Franz Collection, a maker of fine porcelain, has partnered with the Lanvin fashion house (Paris) to produce Franz Lanvin fashion mannequin dolls. As of now there are 13 dolls in the collection and all are limited edition pieces.  Only 800 dolls will be made in each style.  The porcelain mannequin dolls range in size from 8-1/2" to 11.5" tall with suggested retails between $210 and $375. (Our prices will be between $160 and $270.

The Franz Lanvin porcelain mannequin dolls are chic dolls wearing fashionable clothing. Their bodies are very slender and their arms are long and graceful. Each doll stands on a black pedistal that reads "Lanvin."  This collection will be sought after by collectors due to its uniqueness.

Have you purchased your Mr. Christmas music boxes yet?

The Gold Label Collection is the flagship line of music boxes from Mr. Christmas. Mr. Christmas brings their highest level of quality and workmanship to the Gold Label Collection of gift items. When we began selling the Gold Label music boxes from Mr. Christmas several years ago, we were surprised by the number of customers ordering music boxes to be used as Christmas presents in the early Spring. Many of the customers were afraid that they may be ordering too late to receive these in time for Christmas! These determined customers had waited until the Fall to purchase music boxes in past years and had found selections to be limited. Unfortunately, we did not learn from these early customers and did not not preorder enough merchandise that year. We sold through every music box we could get our hands on and swore that we would not make that mistake the next year.

While we would like to think we have preordering music boxes down to a science now, it is inevitable that we will run out of some of the more popular models before Christmas. If you have decided on a particular model you would like to purchase - please order now! We are fully stocked and receiving new shipments weekly. The most popular items for 2006 (so far) include: The Nutcracker Suite, Maestro Mouse, Teddy Takes Requests, Really Dancing Santa and Matchbox Melodies.