WEDNESDAY'S WORD OF THE WEEK: TORSADE

TORSADE

tor·sade [tawr-sahd, -seyd]

noun [tawr-sahd, -seyd]

   

1.  Furniture. refers to the twisted column that was a chief element in furniture design during the reign of King Louis XIII.

2.   Clothing & Fashion. an ornamental twist or twisted cord, as on hats.

Also called barley twist from barley sugar twist.

Origin:

1880–85; < French: from obsolete tors twisted, from Late Latin torsus, from Latin torquēre to twist.

Torsade or Barley Twist Leg 

In French design, the spiral shape known as a torsade became a major element of the Louis XIII style. The shape dates back to 333 AD when Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, brought back a pair of helix shaped columns from Jerusalem to be used in the altar of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. According to tradition, these columns, known as Solomonic columns, were originally used as structural pillars for the roof of the Temple of Solomon.

Gianlorenzo Bernini's Baldacchino in St. Peter's Basilica. 

A new basilica was constructed in 1506, and the same spiral columns were preserved and 

used in the new architecture. They still stand, built into the supports of the church across from Gianlorenzo Bernini’s Baldacchino (one of the greatest examples of Solomonic columns), and are viewed by the millions of visitors to the site every day. 

Church Altar Front                                                                         Church Altar Back

The twisted columns gained popularity in the Catholic regions of Europe and became a feature of the Baroque style. They were often used in altars, on the dial case doors of late 17th and early 18th century longcase clocks and the legs of French, Dutch and English furniture. 

Louis XIII Style Barley Twist Desk

Barley Twist Side Table

Louis XIII Barley Twist Hunting Buffet

While English collectors and dealers often refer to the twisted shape as barley sugar twist after the sweet barley sugar twist stick candy that resembled the 17th and early 18th century leg, the French prefer torsade or barley twist.

1.  Louis XIII Style Barley Twist Dining Chairs  2.  18th Century Louis XIII Style Walnut Armoire 
3.  French Louis XIII Style Side Table  4. Rare Louis XIII Open Barley Twist Writing Table

It's easy to add a French Twist to any decor!

À Bientôt!

Lolo & Mimi

C'EST UNE HISTOIRE FAMILLE (IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR)

Lolo and I are excited to introduce you to Cole Brock, my son and our newest employee. Cole graduates this summer from The University of Alabama with a bachelor of arts degree in history. His plans were to attend law school until I asked him to help at the store one Saturday while Laurent was out of town. Little did I know what an effect that would have on him. He couldn't wait for Laurent to get back so he could talk to him.

Cole on his official first day at work

Cole's always loved history and has collected "things" for as long as I can remember. Our home was filled with art and antiques, so scouring the stalls of flea markets from New York to Paris as a child was exciting and fun for him. He enjoyed the thrill of the hunt during these adventures and developed an appreciation for antiques and their history. 

Cole getting his portrait done in Montmartre before heading to Les Puces

But it's Laurent's work ethic, passion and love of antiques that has inspired and motivated Cole to want to learn not only the business but the fine art of furniture restoration that Lolo has mastered. He wants to experience the same satisfaction and joie de vivre Lolo experiences doing what he loves. 

Lolo, Mimi and Cole

Only history will tell if he stays on the same career path that Lolo chose over twenty years ago! In the meantime, he'll be happy to assist you with any inquiries you may have. He has a lot to learn, but Lolo says he can already tell "Cole feels it." And Lolo knows!

À Bientôt!

Lolo & Mimi

JOYEUSES PÂQUES

Joyeuses Pâques

Lolo & Mimi

SWEET TREATS FOR OUR VALENTINES

Lolo French Antiques et More is serving up some delicious "sweet treats" this Valentine's Day! 

We have a fabulous selection of chocolates for your Valentine this year — like this "burled brittle infused with orange liqueur dusted with chestnut shavings"

French Louis Philippe Side Table

and this "caramel truffle with a milk chocolate ganache infusion of borbon vanilla and sea salt"

French Art Deco Leather Club Chair

 and especially this "dark chocolate praliné, coated with roasted and caramelized almonds, enrobed in dark chocolate."  

French St. Antoine de Padoue Statue

  

Chocolat, whether it's the color or the candy, is a great gift for your sweetheart on Valentine's Day.

 One of our favorite chocolate candies, the truffe au chocolat (chocolate truffle), is synonymous with luxury and decadent indulgence. 

Truffes au Chocolate, La Maison du Chocolat, Paris

The chocolate truffle is a chocolate confection created by a pâtissier named Louis Dufour in the picturesque, mountainous region of southeastern France known as the Savoiea. While preparing Christmas sweets in the city of Chambéry in 1895, the French chocolatier realized he was missing some basic ingredients. Too proud to purchase supplies from a competitor, Dufour decided to blend crème fraîche, vanilla and cocoa powder — creating what we now call ganache — the traditional center of a truffle. To make his creation more appealing, Dufour rolled small amounts of the ganache into balls, dipped them into melted chocolate, and then dusted them with more cocoa powder. The irregular shaped chocolate confections looked a lot like the fancy mushrooms known as truffles, hence the name truffle was used to describe them. They were an instant success! 

Today, truffles are filled with everything from ganache to caramel to liqueur, 

and decorated with everything from cocoa powder to sea salt to coconut.

We hope you and your Valentine indulge in some decadent chocolate today!

Bonne Saint Valentin!

Lolo & Mimi

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

MERRY, MERRY

Merry Christmas!

Lolo & Mimi

FA LA LOLO LA

'Tis the season to add some FA LA LOLO LA to your home.
Take a look at our Holiday Picks and deck your halls for many seasons to come! 

Happy Holidays!

Lolo & Mimi

BE THANKFUL!

While enjoying time with family and friends this Thanksgiving Day, we are reminded of our many blessings. As a friend so eloquently expressed, "Nothing is asked of us but a moment to recognize our gifts and blessings. No shopping, no presents, no expectations. Just an invitation to open our hearts in order to find some space that allows us to share ourselves with those around us. It’s when we dare to look beyond ourselves and into the eyes and needs of others." 

Thank You

and

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lolo & Mimi

GATHER 'ROUND THE TABLE

Friends and family will soon gather together to celebrate the holidays. Our tables will be filled with merriment as we savor good food and fine wine.

Set of 8 Louis XIII Style Dining Chairs

 Italian Dining Table

Set of 8 Louis XVI Style Dining Chairs

 Washed Oak French Trestle Table

Os de Mouton Dining Chairs

French Monastery Table

French Refectory Table with Barley Twist Legs
Set of 6 Os de Mouton Dining Chairs

Set of 8 Henri II Style Leather Dining Chairs

Set of 6 Directoire Style Dining Chairs

Why not pull up a chair and gather 'round one of the beautiful tables Lolo found and enjoy some laughs, share old memories and make some new ones.

À Bientôt!

Lolo & Mimi

TO MARKET, TO MARKET

To market, to market...but not to buy a fat pig! Lolo was looking for buffets, bergerès and bonnetieres. 

Period Directoire Buffet

Period Empire Enfilade

Louis XV Buffet

Country French Buffet

Louis XIII Enfilade Buffet

Louis XV Bergère à Oreilles (with Ears)

No bonnetieres at this market, but baskets, benches and bedside tables were plenty.

Boulangerie Baskets

Louis XV Bench

Louis Philippe Chevet

Louis Philippe Chevet

Louis Philippe Chevet

And though he didn't buy a fat pig, it seems he did get the fat hog! 

Period Louis Philippe Bibliothèque

So it's home again, home again jiggety-jog!

À Bientôt!

Lolo & Mimi

A HARD DAY'S WORK

"Where do you buy your pieces?" is one of the first things customers ask when told Lolo is in France on a buying trip. They're always curious about how and where he shops. Many follow up with, "I would love to go with him!" They are under the assumption he stays in four star Parisian hotels and sips fine French wine while eating pâté and foie gras in between sights! Granted, his maman's house is worthy of four stars and he does eat delicious meals of crab, oyster, lobster and the likes while he's "home." 

Fresh Oysters

La Cotriade d'Armor (Breton Fish Stew)

But you won't find him strolling the banks of the Seine. He's too busy crisscrossing the French countryside in a 24 foot truck, lifting and loading furniture, heavy furniture.

Pair of Louis XV Bedside Tables

Drop Leaf Table

French Art Deco Period Coffee Table

Set of 6 Louis XV Cane Dining Chairs

Washed Oak Louis Philippe Buffet

Louis XV Music Stand

Louis XV Buffet

Louis XV Desk

And when he arrives home after a 16 hour day, everything has to be unloaded and put in storage before he starts out the next day. It's not glamorous and it's hard work. But it's his job, a job that he loves.

Louis XV Armoire

Set of 8 Louis XVI Dining Chairs

Inside of Warehouse

He loves the thrill of the hunt, never knowing what he'll find or who he'll meet. He loves having a laugh and a joke and maybe an occasional glass of wine with a stodgy old dealer. He loves stumbling across what many would consider a piece of junk, an armoire or buffet in such disrepair that nobody wants it, knowing he can restore it to its original beauty. He loves being able to spend time with his family in France. And ever so often he'll get lucky and fill his truck early and enjoy the afternoon visiting a beautiful botanical garden or 13th century abbey.  

Jardin des Plantes

Family Outing

His joie de vivre is most evident, though, when he arrives back home (Birmingham, AL) and animatedly tells a couple about the piece he stumbled across in the back corner of a little shop off the beaten path. He realizes, as they both begin smiling, that he found exactly what they were looking for, making all his hard work worth it. 

You can let Lolo do the hard work for you, also. Just "Let Lolo Know" and he'll find that Empire armoire or ten foot farm table you've been wanting. You'll be the one smiling then.

À Bientôt!

Lolo & Mimi