Napoleon Bonaparte and Joséphine de Beauharnais
~ One of the Greatest Love Stories in History ~
Vintage Postcard, dated 1908
Napoleon and Josephine were married March 9, 1796.
It's no secret that Paris has long been my favorite
destination, and over the years I've collected
my fair share of Napoleonic memorabilia.
my fair share of Napoleonic memorabilia.
Kathryn Crisp Greeley's new book,
THE COLLECTED TABLETOP,
advocates using one's collections to set a special table.
I decided to do just that when I selected
Napoleonic Memorabilia
as my topic for a CAMEO meeting.
I'm passing along this tip for
Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable.
When you host your next dinner party, gather up a collection
to use as a theme. I found it fun to see my pieces grouped
together, and your collection will no doubt spark conversation.
Those of you who follow HFTS might remember the post I shared here about CAMEO, a small antique club of which I'm a member.
CAMEO
Collecting Antiques and Memorabilia
and Educating Ourselves
The structure of our small group is such that each member is responsible for presenting or arranging a presentation on a topic of interest to share with the group at one of our monthly meetings.
~ Collecting Napoleonic Memorabilia ~
My topic of choice last spring.
Napoleon's famous N and bee motif
show up in many of these pieces.
The pottery pieces you see in the photos
are mostly French faience produced in the
last part of the 19th century or the first half of the 20th century.
Small Bust of Napoleon, CA
Dinner Plate, HenRiot Quimper
Teapot part of Garden Buddies Tea Service, unmarked
Napoleon Ivy ~ As Used By Napoleon At St. Helena ~ 1815
Wedgwood Etruria England
I only have but one demi-tasse cup and saucer in this lovely pattern, though I long to add more pieces someday. It is Kathryn Greeley's #2 choice in her Top Ten China Patterns. Now retired, this pattern was that which Napoleon used while in exile on the south Atlantic island of St. Helena.
Vintage Bronze Souvenirs of Paris Aside a
Vintage Avon Bee Skep Cologne Bottle
Vintage Letter Openers Atop 1900 Edition of L'Aiglon,
A Play In Six Acts Based On The Life Of Napoleon's Son
Performed At The Knickerbocker Theatre
New York, October 1900
Serving a light brunch, I used the opportunity to follow Karhryn Greeley's advice: "Mixing antique collections with contemporary tabletop pieces adds drama and the unexpected." With my collection as the central focus of my tables, I could easily pull select pieces to share with the group as I presented my topic.
Empire by Walbrzych, Poland,
A lovely ribbed and scalloped plate with gold verge and trim was
a thrifty Goodwill find. With a name like Empire
I thought it most appropriate in homage to Napoleon.
A lovely ribbed and scalloped plate with gold verge and trim was
a thrifty Goodwill find. With a name like Empire
I thought it most appropriate in homage to Napoleon.
The golden bee textiles are from William Sonoma.
Petite Forks by Sabre of Paris
MacKenzie-Childs Flower Market
and Courtly Check Enamel Ware
Salmon Spread with Crackers
Recipe here
Seasonal Berries and Melon
with Onion Walnut Muffins
Recipe here
The drink table featured
items with the bee motif.
items with the bee motif.
Petite French Faience Vase, CA
Napoleonic Bee Vintage Silk Fragment, c1880
Napoleonic Bee Stems,
La Rochere of France
For The Dessert Table
~ A Touch of Josephine ~
~ A Touch of Josephine ~
The stack of plates are Sarreguemines transfer ware c.1890-1922, and each feature a different Napoleonic military scene. These were ironically found on a CAMEO field trip to Fredericksburg, TX. One never knows where treasures will be discovered.
The red toleware jardiniere is a contemporary piece.
Pair of Revolutionary Commemorative Plates, PBx, c1880.
Sweet Little Souvenirs
Chateau de Fontainebleau, 2011
Chateau de Fontainebleau, 2011
Vintage Tiara ~ A Gift From My CAMEO Friends
If you enjoy historical fiction and the subject is of interest, I highly recommend reading Sandra Gulland's trilogy about Josephine. It's a new look at this fascinating character of French history.
I reviewed each book in the links below.
For those of you still with me on this
lengthy post, I offer you some sweet treats.
~ Napoleons ~
Layers of Mille-Feuille and Vanilla Cream
Topped with Fondant
Bee Sugar Cookies
Vanilla Meringue Bites
Perhaps this post will inspire you to begin a memorabilia
collection of your own on a theme that interests you.
Joining
What a marvelous collection -- and how beautifully you've displayed it! I know your CAMEO friends were delighted to see it and learn about it. The sweets you served looked wonderful and delicious! Thanks, too, for the link to Kathryn Greeley's blog. I have The Collected Tabletop, too, and love it.
ReplyDeleteOn my way to Amazon to order The Collected Tabletop. Napoleon and Josephine are an endlessly interesting couple. I always thought that she either had to be quite desperate or incredibly patient. Perhaps both. The vignette for your table is stunning. You set a high benchmark for the rest of your CAMEO group. I loved Fontainbleu...what an amazing place. I was fascinated by the incredible abundance of motifs/patterns applied to every surface. As impressive as it is, I did think that if I had to live there, iall the patterns would give me an incessant headache...I'd always be looking for a reason to leave the chateau for the day. Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay
ReplyDeleteOh dear, that TIARA! And not to mention the scrumptuous treats and history to boot! I am in good company then, since today, March 6th is my 31st wedding anniversary!
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah! It is wonderful to see you at my blog post. I was originally going on a flight to California, but I had to cancel my trip, so I have returned from my break. I hope spring is blooming for you; we had many inches of snow yesterday!
Happy day, Anita
QUE DESCUBRIMIENTOS CON TU POST!!!
ReplyDeleteGracias amiga por compartir; tu reportage es precioso, lo he disfrutado mucho.
UN ABRAZO :)
Conxita
You have blended your marvelous collection with the table setting beautifully. I love all the bees-especially the cookies.
ReplyDeleteThis is just stunning! I love the collection and how you have used it in your table displays! What a lovely theme and so fun! I would enjoy reading the books about Josephine I'm sure! Your attention to detail never fails to amaze me. Like I said, stunning! hugs, Linda
ReplyDeleteWow! This is stunning what a marvelous collection you have. I've never seen anything like them. Thanks for sharing the recipe and your beautiful setting.
ReplyDeletefondly ~Lynne~
Really impressive ! And very interesting story! Thanks for sharing, I truly enjoyed so much ! Sweets looks delicious , mmmm!
ReplyDeleteGreetings
I am in love with your collection..Not in a covetous way:)
ReplyDeleteIt's just so special... that you can FEEL the collecting~the search~ the joy~at finding such unique and precious items:)
Years..I see years..and memories..and souvenirs..and love.
Not just things.
And the backyard? So pretty!
Lovely post Sarah. I'm loving those two pbx plates.
ReplyDeleteI have one piece of Napoleonic faience a beaker/mug without handle. Unsigned but believe it's early Quimper .
You have some very nice pieces their .
Hi lovely lady.
ReplyDeleteI love your collection so Beautiful. I hope you have a wonderful week with your family.
XXOO Diane
Sarah, I love this post. A love story, France, gorgeous dishes, what's not to love. The photos were super. I may have to put a table together a with a fun collection, if I can.
ReplyDeleteOh Sarah....What an amazing collection all beautifully displayed and offered for your antique club to enjoy! I'm hard pressed to choose a favorite among all your treasures! All your bee accessories are perfectly wonderful and your MC Flower Market is making me hyperventilate! I had to scoot over to Amazon to see this book. Thanks for sharing this including your recipes~ what a treat for me and your club!
ReplyDeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteMagnificient collection!!!
I'm sure your CAMEO groups was equally impressed as I to learn of your many pieces to this exquisite collection!!!
I adore your tablescape! The mixing of other pieces enhances the collection immensely! Makes me want to have a Tea and invited a close group for an enjoyable pre~Spring Day!!!
So inspiring, dear friend!!!
Fondly,
Pat
what a lovely way to use this collection. Seeing the bee stemware,
ReplyDeleteI decided to add them to my collection.
Sarah, did you make the bee cookies, and if so, where did you get the cookie cutter.
Since my nickname (hubbies) for me is Bee, I need one!
Isn't sad, that the great love story did not have a great ending.....
Sending you hugs,
Evi
Sarah, omg.. I am now kicking myself, I should have sent you all the french ephemera that I still had from teaching French! I can highly recommend that you rent a car and follow the Route Napoleon through France! I am now very very homesick. Hoping to hop over the pond and go visit my brothers who like in Tours and Grasse.
ReplyDeleteYour table is stunning. Well all of them. I would have loved to have been in that group.. CAMEO, a perfect name. And a wonderful topic. The MC pieces are so timeless and go so well with your bees and Napoleonic treasures. I must invist in the Greeley book. I love her style. Thank you for sharing all this with us. xo marlis
Oh Sarah, I enjoyed seeing your collection so very much!! That's the great part of blogging...all the sharing of treasures and information. I'm sure your CAMEO group was enthralled by your presentation. I certainly was!!! I loved the idea of grouping and also adding modern pieces to the old. The Ivy Napoleon pattern is so pretty and being a tea lover, the bee teapot was adorable. What a deal on the GW dishes and your trip to Fredericksburg produced some other lovely plates. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletep.s. The food looked great, too
Sarah:
ReplyDeleteThis is such an amazing post, I don't know where to begin. Your collection is amazing and all of your information is tremendous, but how you pulled it all together is just out of this world.
I truly believe this is my all time favorite Hyacinths for the Soul post.
- The Tablescaper
Sarah, WOW~! and again WOW!!!
ReplyDeleteYou have totally outdone yourself with these gorgeous tables. That should be in a magazine!!! The thought and care you took to make such a thing come together is amazing. I have really enjoyed reading this post and have delighted in each new picture! I think those cookies must have tasted WONDERFUL!! And the details of each piece put together made a whole lot of wonderful and interesting photos.
Thank you soooooo much for sharing this wonderful post with us for my party!!! I'm just delighted to have you come by!
Blessings,
Doni
What a wonderful collection and a beautiful way to use it!!! This was amazing and thank you for sharing your special pieces!!!
ReplyDeleteThis whole entire post is STUNNING. As I have told you so many times over the years, you have such beautiful treasures of all kinds...and you have the talent to use them to really REALLY show them off....
ReplyDeleteWould you let one of the little adorable bee cookies fly out to West Texas to have with my hot tea this morning?
Oh Sarah...what an incredible collection & how beautifully you've set things out for display! That had to be the most delightful visit...wish I could have been there.
ReplyDeleteI know I've said it before, but I'm saying it again, I never fail to learn something every time I visit your beautiful blog. Well done, my friend!!
fondly,
Rett
p.s. No, Ms. C. would not wear a matching Irish step-dance dress. *sigh* She is now into "Justice" clothing. *double sigh*
My jaw literally dropped open, when I saw this post. I was a history major in college and have a former French teacher daughter and we both love French and English history. Your collection is incredible and I truly have never thought about looking for treasures like these, when I have been in Paris. Wow! What a delight to have had a peek at all of these beauties. I imagine your friends were floored, when they saw them, too!!
ReplyDeleteSarah, I enjoyed this post so much. I love your themed collection. I'm also fascinated by Josephine! I made a presentation about her at school when I was young. Did you know that she preferred wearing black pearls because it made her look fairer? She was Creole, and her skin tone embarrassed her. So my grandmother bought me some black pearls home from Hong Kong when I was in high school.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this post, and your collection is fantastic, Sarah. What a nice presentation for your meeting. I know everyone loved seeing your collection and enjoyed the snacks!
xo,
RJ
Wow! You have an amazing collection of Napoleon and Josephone memorabilia, Sarah. I only have one, a set of demitasse tea cups and tray showing their pictures. I really enjoyed seeing all the details on this post, so much education too. Thank you! Beautiful presentation!...Christine
ReplyDeleteYes ma'am, that table would prompt plenty of conversation. There is so much to enjoy there. Love those bee cookies. You take table setting to a whole new level!
ReplyDeleteLiz
I just HAD to stop here when I saw the name of your blog. "Hyacinths" has been one of my most favorite poems since I first read it. I quote it whenever there is something I really, really would like but know there are other places to spend my money. Once in a while we DO need to feed the soul and surround ourselves with the things that bring us joy, happiness and peace. Enjoyed viewing your collection, thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteOh Sarah, this is beyond gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteSarah, I have only scrolled back-and-forth through this post about 20 times, just drinking in all of these treasures. What fun this meeting must have been! Of course, all of the faience stole my heart, but all of the collection is spectacular. What fun food, and the favors are adorable. I can't imagine where you found those. Great post! laurie
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah! What a neat post! You have a beautiful collection and you've tied everything together so beautifully! The food looks delicous, and the decor and setting is just lovely! I'll have to check out that book as well! Thanks for sharing this! =D
ReplyDeleteDear Sarah,
ReplyDeleteyou are unbelievable. What a gorgeous buffet you have set. Not only the wonderful collection but also the matching food. Bees cookies and so on. You are so ingenious! Thank you for sharing. I wish I could attend the party. Wish you lots of fun together with your friends.
Best greetings, Johanna
An amazing, beautiful collection!! And you put it all together so wonderfully. Sally
ReplyDeleteDelightful! Thanks so much for sharing your inspiration! ~Kristie
ReplyDeleteOh my.how delicious these sweets look. What an incredible display! Lovely and I am so pleased to shared your link with Open House.
ReplyDeleteWow! What an amazing collection, Sarah! I love it all! Now I need to head back to Paris and revisit a few places! :-) I love the way you always display your fabulous finds! now I'm off to catch up...lots of babysitting as usual!...hugs...Debbie
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely not 'short' on your Napoleonic collection! Love the bees!
ReplyDeletexo
Cathy
What a fabulous collection -- loved the tour and history you shared.
ReplyDeleteSARAHSARAHSARAH!!!! Your collections are breathtaking; I don't know what to say! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteNancy
Oh Sarah, Your Napoleon and Josephine themed brunch has inspired me to add to the few pieces I have. This is such an amazing post, just beautiful. You have such a fabulous collection, the pots with lids are my favorites and of course the Revolutionary plates are my other favorite! Such a beautiful presentation and I love everything, the bee glasses, flatware and the souvenir dolls. The food looks amazing. I'm sure your guests were delighted.
ReplyDeleteJim and I toured Chateau Malmaison on one of our trips to Paris. It was amazing. As we entered we passed a delightful gift shop. As we ended our tour I couldn't wait for the gift shop and choosing gifts for family and friends at home. They had just closed! :(
I've enjoyed your brunch!
~Emily
The French Hutch
I'll say it again. You have the most fabulous collections of everything!
ReplyDeleteOh, Sarah! Your collection is just amazing and so beautiful. What lovely pieces you have and you've really set up a pretty table. You haven't missed a beat! I'd love to see where you store all of your treasures! :)
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Good grief, Sarah...this is a FABULOUS collection!!! I mean, you've got it all from soup to nuts!!! If anybody could appreciate this, your CAMEO group sure could! I'll just bet they were tickled just as pink as those pretty dianthus in that cool Faience vase! I love the mix of vintage and contemporary. I have "The Collected Tabletop", and I agree...it really makes the table quite interesting to have a thoughtful mix of styles. Onion Walnut muffins??!?!?!?! I will have to look at that recipe. That is a REALLY different combination! The bee cookies are SO cute! My hand is not quite steady enough to pull that off! And, of course, you HAD to have Napoleans for dessert, too! :-) People have often said I have "Napolean Syndrome" because I am short but walk really hard and purposefully. Maybe, too, because I'm like a bee in their bonnet! :-) :-) :-) Have a great weekend!!!
ReplyDeleteWow Sarah!
ReplyDeleteLike super wow, so many things here that are just gorgeous!
Your collections amaze me.
And those bee cookies...the cutest ever!
hugs friend,
Cindy
Oh my word, this is totally amazing, I am in awe, such a great collection. You've presented everything so beautifully, I am sure your friends loved it all. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteOh Sarah this is great collection of Napoleon. thank you so much for your lovely comments on my blog.Hugs
ReplyDeleteBlessing
Isora
XOx
:-)
Being of French heritage I found this a very interesting post, Sarah...and such an unusual collection. The pottery pieces are so pretty.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your many collections.
oh that was FUN! i was just enchanted with all your busy bee treasures! first, i have to say the cookie stopped me cold, i was doing great until i saw that, then i was kinda stuck, like up to my ankles in honey, i just didn't want to leave!
ReplyDeleteyou have so many wonderful things, how fun to lay them all out in such a pretty way. what a wonderful spread and collection.
i see you love to travel, but its nice you found something just as rewarding worth staying home for, happy anni to sadie! hope your hubby is feeling better soon and thanks for all the eye candy, such a treat today~
I am a great fan of Paris and love your Napoleon-abilia. Merci, bien!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful collection.Going through your post is like visiting a French museum....Awesome post...Thank you:):)
Sarah, Your collection of Napoleonic memorabilia is fabulous. So many beautiful pieces, and I love how you mixed them with the Courtly Check. Love your choices of special food dishes for your guests..yum. I'm checking out your salmon spread recipe, and how cute are the bee cookies. Well done, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing post Sarah!! Don't know where to begin everything is just gorgeous and the theme is wonderful! Your collection of courtly check and all the Napoleon pottery and statues are exquisite! Your guest must have been blown away!! The salmon spread looks fantastic...we love salmon!! Love the bee cookies and honey bee pots and accessories...simply gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteMiss Bloomers
What a fabulous table this is! I really enjoyed looking at your lovely collection, and the nicely paired treats. I couldn't agree more that collections should be seen and used. What a great challenge to all of us for future table settings.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at what people collect....I didn't know Napoleon was so popular a collectible, but I like it!...those sweet cookies look great...and I will take Napoleon please, they are one of my favs!!
ReplyDeleteSarah, what a wonderful collection you have! I just showed my husband, and we looked carefully at each piece. We are both jealous that you can entertain outdoors at this time of year! We skied in the mountains today ;o)
ReplyDeleteThis was such a beautiful and interesting post to read, Sarah. Your Napoleonic memorabilia collection is fabulous! I have some George Washington memorabilia, as he is my favorite historical figure, but I'd need much more to amke a fascinating vignette like yours. I have to look for more as you've inspired me!
ReplyDeleteYour lumcheon looked beautiful! I have the same bee topped tea pot as you do. Love your bumblebee cookies!
Sarah this is absolutely amazing! Marvellous collection. What a wonderful party you have planned. Each piece you have collected is so special. I hope you find more Napoleon Ivy Wedgwood. To think he sipped from the same china. I love that.
ReplyDeleteKaren
Ya Know!? You have an amazing collection and such a gift with your party tables. I have a couple of tablescaping books already but I might just need this one too! :)
ReplyDeleteSuper FUN Post!
Happy St. Paddy's Day!
~Liz
Sarah, I know that I have previously left a comment here, but I just have to state, again, how incredible your collection is. I may never get over this post!! Your collection and the way that you have used it here may end up being my favorite blog post of all time. Love, love it!! Am I gushing enough, yet? :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful collection adn such delicious recipes.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing.
My goodness what an impressive table! And what a good idea for sharing your collection. I love this presentation. I have to go back and look it over again. How perfect to end with Napoleons for dessert! I'm sure everyone was dazzled! (I didn't know about Napoleons's dishes!) Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteGreat to have you at SEASONAL SUNDAYS!
ReplyDelete- The Tablescaper
Oh, Sarah! What a great collection you have. I love the bee theme and never would have thought how well it suits Napoleon. Great post. I enjoyed how you displayed this!
ReplyDeleteSherry
Oh be still my heart! Viva la Napolean and Josephine!
ReplyDeleteWow, you have such a gorgeous collection and food served on them were equally tempting! Thanks so much for your lovely comment on my blog...
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible collection! And the way that you have displayed it is truly amazing!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for inspiring me today!
karianne
Oh Sarah, that TIARA just calls my name!
ReplyDeleteThank you dear heart for coming to visit my post. It means a lot to me that people would read my poem and leave a comment; I purposely left out a lot of photos to just highlight the words.
I hope March is dripping away where you live! Anita
What a beautiful post. Your collection is so lovely and so impressive. What a lovely spread you were able to present for your friends and I just know that your topic was presented with grace and a wealth of fascinating information on this historical period.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Ginger
Sarah, I have to admit I always love your tablescapes, but this one is over the top gorgeous. I love the details and your trips to Paris must be so much fun. Not to mention the memories associated with each piece, I am sure. Oh and the food, you made me hungry. But there is nothing in my fridge that compares.
ReplyDeleteHave a beautiful day.
Karen
such an amazing post Sarah. I loved all that I learned here tonight. The Napoleon bee has always been a favorite of mine. I painted a small side table not too long ago with the bee on it.
ReplyDeleteAnother fabulous collection, Sarah! The way you pulled it all together was amazing. I am sure your guests were overjoyed to partake in such a lovely brunch!
ReplyDeleteWhat an AMZING collection of FABULOUS things..each and every piece is SWOON!!!!!! Oh dear Sarah, I wish I was at that brunch extravaganza, with such yummy food as well. Thank you for your visit, it always makes my day! Hugs,
ReplyDeleteFABBY
Paris is on m bucket list next Sara. One destination at a time for me:) What a gorgeous Collection you have. I am really excited to do a little shopping in Ireland myself.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting collection you have, Sarah, and I love the tablescapes! Thanks for visiting my blue and white post. ~Zuni
ReplyDeleteOh Sarah - what a gorgeous collection - and how beautiful it all looks as a table scape!!!
ReplyDeleteEye candy - I'd be happy to just sit and stare at your table - wouldn't need to eat LOL
XOX
Hi Sarah, you certainly have some beautiful collections, and display them with style! I can see we are both fans of Harlequin, it works well with so many pieces....first visit, but not my last, new follower, N.xo
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, you certainly have some beautiful collections, and display them with style! I can see we are both fans of Harlequin, it works well with so many pieces....first visit, but not my last, new follower, N.xo
ReplyDeleteI love an eclectic collection. For me, the best part is the MC Courty Check. It goes with anything and I am in love.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness - what a fabulous collection! I have never seen anything like it and your gathering is just gorgeous. Of course I especially love your sweets - the little bee cookies are precious! Hope you can stop by the enchanted oven.
ReplyDeletexo,
Lisa
What gorgeous pieces! Looks like a lovely brunch!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh Sarah, this is amazing! Your collection is fabulous and I love the pop of black and white checked. I too love gathering things together for a fun tablescape. I love Napoleons and wish I had one right now to satisfy my sweet tooth. lol! the bee cookies are too cute! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Your Napoleon and Josephine collection is extensive and fabulous.
ReplyDeleteThe foods you selected are perfect, like the bee cookies. I think a museum would be honored to house these handsome pieces of history.
I would love to start my own cameo group , could you please elaborate how the group works?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Kelly
WOW - totally fabulous! I have a set of Madame Alexander dolls of Napoleon and Josephine from my childhood. They were always among my favorites!
ReplyDeleteHow did i miss this post, Sarah? My father is a great admirer of Napoleon. When we were younger, he would take my brother and me to Les Invalides, in Paris, and pay our respects to "L'Empereur" with a minute of silence. My younger cousins told me years later that he did the same with them :-) My brother lives in Rueil Malmaison, in the Western suburbs of Paris, where Josephine de Beauharnais lived for years in a beautiful château Napoléon purchased for her. There is a lot to say about their stormy relationship, and your arrangements and private collection of artifacts do it justice! Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
ReplyDeleteOkay, I LOVE every detail! This is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteOkay, I LOVE every detail! This is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteOh Sarah I am just in awe of your wonderful collection! I can't wait to show my cousin this post.
ReplyDelete