We have a home that is about 70 years old and we often fill it with period décor and furnishings. But we are also fans of “true antiques” and do our best to find older items. We rarely purchase pieces for their intrinsic value, but more for what we like and what fits in. The comment “very eclectic” has been heard quite often from guests.

On occasion, I have found items that are contemporary and it takes a little creativity to make them fit with the ‘old stuff.’ Let me give you an example. I fell in love with this 1920s garden table as it was being pulled out of a van in front of an antique store. The dealer was just bringing it into her booth. I asked the price while she had it in mid-air, not wanting this to hit the show-room floor! I know, I know, you should never appear to be anxious or the price can easily escalate, but I knew this would have appeal and plus, she already had a tag dangling from one of the legs. That pretty much locked in the price. She showed me the tag and then offered a very generous opportunity. It turns out the mall was having its semi-annual sale in the coming weeks and she had planned to put her booth on sale for 20% off. She kindly allowed me to buy it for the reduced rate! It was quickly a done deal and as we loaded into MY van, I thanked her profusely. I have continued to shop in her booth and will do so whenever possible.

I just adored its look – green metal curvy legs, glass that has been painted and somehow treated to look wavy and look at those marvelous stone feet! Hubby helped me bring it into the house and we proudly set it in our sun-room. We have numerous items from the ’seashore’ and although we put some shells and figurines on it, nothing seemed to do it justice.

As luck would have it, my daughter and her friend asked me to join them on a trek to Cedarburg, Wisconsin. This is a charming, historical town, not far from Milwaukee. It is just filled with boutiques, art studios and antiques. If you ever get the chance, check it out! Well, we walked into an art gallery, and there it stood. An egret in mid-flight, quite large and dramatic, but brand new. Would it work with this old table? I’ll let you be the judge, but somehow it looks like the bird is coming in for a landing.

Another example of the old/new concept is in our kitchen. Another of my addictions is old copper. It is so warm and inviting and while I have stayed away from the copper molds and kettles, the teapots, chafing dishes and plates have drawn me to them. The item on the left is a copper sink sieve.

While at our favorite antique fair, presented by N.L. Promotions and held in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, I found another must-have-item. This piece of art glass is so elegant. The dealer told me her mother had purchased it at an art fair in Racine, Wisconsin in the 1990s. She recalled her mom saying the artist was present at the show. I knew it would work with my old metal pieces and held my breath, asking what she wanted for it. To my great surprise (and delight) she gave me a price of $5.00! I did not even ask if she could take $4.00, that’s how excited I was! Somehow this truly fits into our kitchen with the antiques.

It just goes to show you that you should not limit yourself to one style or time-frame. You can mix and match and let your possessions do their own thing. Wishing you happy hunting for your next treasure be it old or new.

 I purchased my first Icart print about 15 years ago. Quite frankly, I bought it because we had a West Highland White puppy named Windsor and this beautifully framed picture had some dogs from the terrier family. Several Westies and a Scottie dog too. It also featured a very sultry lady. They were resting on a fainting couch, the lady with long legs and the dogs gathered in song. I love whimsy and dogs and vintage prints so this was a ‘no-brainer.’ I found it at an estate sale and the lady was quick to point out that it was not an original! No kidding! Had this been the real thing, it would have been in the thousands, not $50! It was proudly hung in a hallway and all who viewed it commented on its charm. Our Westie was non-committal.

When we moved to our present home, we did a room in ‘art deco’ and naturally hoped to add to our Icart collection. But, alas, these are not easy to find in good shape and if they are, the cost can be pretty high. A local auction house sent us a flyer with a picture of an Icart print soon to be auctioned off. It was from 1926 and entitled “Smoke.” It, too, has a seductive lady, this one wearing not much but a smile and a lot of strategically placed feathers. She rests on a bed of fur. In her hand is a smoldering cigarette. Her expression is confident, very sensual, bordering on the aloof. I held off on raising my paddle for numerous other items so that I could place a significant bid on this picture. And win it I did! She is on a wall in our déco room and other than a young granddaughter who is not fond of ‘nudies’, she is appreciated by guests and family alike.

A recent visitor to our home commented on the pictures and asked what we knew about the artist. I had to admit, not a lot. So I went to our ‘library’ of collectible books and found that Louis Icart worked in Paris from 1907 as an employee of a post card company. He then started printing magazines and fashion brochures and in 1910, he created a series of etchings. These were of fashionably dressed women. His later prints were often of blatantly erotic females, often surrounded by fur – either in the guise of a sleek canine companion or a lavish bed covering. I’ve seen some especially desirable pictures with Borzois!

I “Googled” the name Louis Icart and learned he was born in 1888, passing away in 1950. Not all of his art was ”erotic”, however, and we found one called “The Arrival” that showed a rather demure lady leaving her coach. A fantastic print and suitable for any room or style preference!

Another one is called “The Accident” and features a lovely lady in an elegant gown. Her back is turned to us, quite curvaceous! Her playful kitten has been pulling on the threads from the dress, causing it to unravel and ultimately fall apart. Suggestive, yes, but just so adorable. Wish we could find that one!

The art deco period officially began at the 1925 Paris World’s Fair – the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratives et Industriels Modernes. That’s where the term itself derived. Its seeds were sown well before the 1925 Expo, however, perhaps as early as the last years of the 19^th and first years of the 20^th century. It is characterized by linear, geometric designs. Furniture, decorative arts, jewelry, book bindings and even games were designed in this style. Art deco items are highly sought after and hard to find at reasonable prices, but we never stop our search for them.

While Mr. Icart’s pictures are suggestive with numerous nubile young women displaying their wares, they are definitely elegant and classy! I wonder what he would think of the depictions of today’s ladies and their show-all pictures. I may be old-fashioned, but I’ll take his stylings any day!