Hang it on your wall or light it on fire
Or maybe both!
Welcome to the Witch House, where a vintage-obsessed maximalist librarian who physically cannot keep herself from spending hours on etsy instead of sleeping eight hours like a healthy human shares some of her new obsessions, favorite finds, and yes, dog pictures.
Every week or so I’ll pick etsy searches that have led me down weird and wonderful rabbit holes and give you a peek into what I found. I ask only one thing - if you buy something based on what you read here and don’t send me a picture of it in your home or on your person, I will know it deep in my bones and it will make me weep anguished tears.
This week, get ready to hang things on your walls and light things on fire! Sometimes, both at the same time! Today we sally forth into the wonderful worlds of Still Lifes and Candleholders. (Yes, I looked it up, it is definitely Still Lifes and not Still Lives. And again yes, I agree that both seem extremely wrong.)
Hang Things on Your Walls
You may have noticed that I like a well-filled wall.
And while I love a landscape, or a funny character study, or oh boy do I love a good piece of textile art, right now I’m deep into the study of art objects that study other objects. I spent yesterday putting up wallpaper that I chose because it makes me feel like I’m stepping into one of those Dutch Golden Age still lifes where a riot of flowers that look like they’re right on the edge of rot pop off a black background.
So I’ve got Still Lifes on my mind, and I want you to have them on your walls! If you’re looking for that classic Dutch look, I love the shape of this tall, dark painting. A faded antique frame, naive style art, AND painted on tin? It speaks several of my languages. If you’d prefer a classic antique painting in a very different style, this golden explosion of dahlias, lilacs and marigolds may tickle your fancy. Want a nice fruit or vegetable? I adore these shining radishes, or for a more affordable option that would look great in a kitchen, these sweet apples tossed around a bowl. If your still life tastes run more to the table object, may I recommend a watercolor trio of ink bottles or a French coffee grinder in an eye-catching frame?
As much as I want to cover my house with old paintings where you can imagine the life of the artist who had their hands all over the very object you have on your wall, if you want a good full wall (which I CLEARLY do) an old print in a cheap frame can deliver on charm. I love the colors on this floral lithograph, and it comes mounted so you can toss it in any frame from the thrift store. I am completely captivated by this folk art bowl of fruit with a mysterious knife on either side. This sweet begonia print may not be quite as cheap, but a thick old wood frame with gilded beading always calls me by name. For something a little more modern and graphic, I love this colorful ‘70s vase bursting with flowers.
When I’m not looking for stuffy Victoriana, I’m probably drooling over either some seventies-feeling wicker-and-brass nonsense or some good old Scandinavian midcentury lines in bright colors. And I am in love with this truly enormous serigraph of baskets on blue. So clean! But also so many textures! How did they even??? The lines on this bright, modern coffeepot would catch every eye in a kitchen, as would the colors on this gloriously graphic collection of bottles. I love a decorative plate, and the late ‘60s/early ‘70s colors on this baby are gorgeous. Prefer cheap and kitschy? How about some crewel? You have your choice of snack - coffee and donuts or a big bowl of popcorn!
And while I gravitate to the old and musty, etsy is of course full of artists selling their own amazing work. This breakfast spread is so inviting, I absolutely want to sit down at this table! And any baker would appreciate this lovingly painted pound of butter - which I hope is in reference to the marvelous Antoine Vollon painting above. For a floral option, this charmingly graphic vase of flowers uses some of those seventies colors. And in one of my very favorites, the muted greens and blues in this kitchen print of figs, wine, and a orchid are spectacular.
I’ve saved my favorites for last - if I were going to splurge on a still life today it would be one of these two. I love an over-the-top ornate frame, but not every piece of art can stand up to a really good one. And this twining vining frame covered in blooms is such a good marriage with the bright, slightly naive-style explosion of flowers it holds. For an even more naive folk art stunner, the lines and colors on this 1930s pot of flowers on a little table in a wallpapered room absolutely SEND ME.
Light it on FIRE!
But wait! We’re not done! We’re deep into that part of the year when it’s dark by 4:30 and the only possible reaction is to light teeny tiny fires all over your house! I love a candlelit room in the middle of winter, and unless you want eight thousand warring smells you’re going to have to supplement your fancy scented candles with some tapers and tea lights. And those need someplace to go!
I am a sucker for a classic barley twist in all things, and they work so delightfully as candleholders. Slag glass is another thing I could absolutely fill my house with, and this bright blue swirled with white is just so sweet. For that (I hate this word but it’s here now and I surrender to it) boho feeling, a good brass enamel looks so warm in the candle light - try this pair of candlesticks, or this sweet leaf-shaped option. And forgive me if you become as obsessed with these as I am, but here are some very good and very expensive ceramic candleholders that I cannot stop looking at: a speckled pink pair from Red Wing, and truly some of the most glorious deep green and gold art deco beauties I have ever seen, my god I want them I need them.
For tea lights and pillar candles, using some beautiful old glass to change the quality of light delights me every time, whether it’s amber or purple or what have you. Or a cutout to throw little patterns - little crosses or tiny circles are so charming dancing on the wall! For ceramic options that don’t destroy the bank like the ones above, I love these sweet fat little cauldrons or this incredible German lantern.
I promised you something you could hang on the wall AND light on fire, so we’re closing out with something near and dear to my heart. That’s right, SCONCES. If I say one thing today let it be this: cover your homes in sconces, my friends!!! Scandi sconces with silver that will reflect the candlelight! Crossed arrow sconces! Hideous, perfect lily pad sconces! Brass starburst sconces! Enormous, ridiculous grapevine sconces! Get a sconce in your life!
Until we can all throw ourselves back into the thrift stores and antique shops again, I hope you enjoy traveling through the backroads of etsy with me. And if there’s a particular rabbit hole you’d like to see me throw myself down, please do let me know!
With love from the Witch House,
Laura