Tag: butterflies

beauty · life curation · luxury

Embracing Natural Beauty When You Can’t Leave Your Home

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Last week, I shared a post about how I’m enjoying the natural beauty around my home. I’m fortunate to live in a suburb where I have a yard, beautiful plants, and a climate that is conducive to growing the kind of plants I enjoy.

For those that aren’t able to walk outdoors and take in natural beauty (either because of strict quarantine measures or due to living in a “concrete jungle”), I wanted to share some links to websites and YouTube channels that highlight natural beauty around the world.

My current favorite is the Keukenhof Garden in Holland. With millions of stunning tulips bulbs planted, the garden is a feast for the eyes. I’m thrilled that I can take in all of this natural beauty from the comfort of my home.

 

There is also the US Botanic Garden (located in Washington, DC). This incredible garden used to have many fascinating public events and was a wonderful resource for anyone interested in learning more about botany. At this time, however, you can do a virtual tour as well as many online programs. You can even do “yoga in the garden” online every Saturday during the pandemic.

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(A double flowering lenten rose, from the US Botanic Garden website)

Another lovely garden that I used to visit regularly during my workday was the Enid A. Haupt Garden. This stunning pocket of serenity was my perfect place to “get away” when I needed some time to relax away from the office. I always walked around the “parterre”, though this was only a small portion of the garden.

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(A photo of one of the urns in the Haupt Garden Parterre)

In my hometown, there is an incredible botanical garden. At Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, it is also possible to do a virtual tour. These gardens are particularly special, because of their stunning annual butterfly exhibit.

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(Elegant butterfly featured on the Lewis Ginter Botanic Garden website)

If your city has a public garden or other outdoor space, you can probably do a virtual tour (a quick Google search should let you know if virtual tours are available). Do you have a favorite garden to tour? Let me know all about it in the comments below!

 

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The Perfect Gift for a Butterfly . . .

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While browsing the lots for Christie’s upcoming Rockefeller auction, I came across a partial set of dishes owned by Napoleon I, the legendary emperor of France. The set was beautiful on its own, but I stopped cold when I saw the detail on these dessert plates:

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This is the ‘Marly Rouge’ Service, a porcelain dessert set made sometime around 1807 – 1809. This set is in outstanding condition, with the colors and gilding just as vibrant as when it was first presented to Emperor Napoleon. The write-up for this offering can be seen under the “Highlights” section of the Christie’s page featuring the Peggy and David Rockefeller Collection.

Aside from the flawless condition, I marveled at the detailing. Are you all seeing the gorgeous butterfly variety on these dishes? Of course the Bronze Butterfly noticed it and swooned. I need these dishes, now!

The sale occurs in May 2018. I doubt that I’ll have a spare $150,000+ to invest in this set (I remain hopeful!) but I plan to look for a set of similar design and high quality. If I find them (and, since I’m good at locating things, I’m sure that I will), I’ll post to this blog and give you all details. Until then, you’re free to drool over the Marly Rouge with me.

 

 

 

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Perfect Art for a Butterfly

MstldelanoLeave a comment

Happy Tuesday, loves! Over here on the Bronze Butterfly blog, it goes without saying that I identify with the butterfly, both the insect itself as well as the metamorphosis it undergoes in order to become a beautiful winged creature.

While looking at the Christie’s Paris Instagram account, I think I found a perfect piece to adorn my walls. It’s collectible, it’s antique, and it has butterflies!

The translation of the caption is, “The Dutch Golden Age (1587 – 1702)  was a period of economic prosperity and artistic “outpouring” [I think this means artistic expression] in the Netherlands. Pieter Withoos (1655-1692) was an illustrator that represented [drew/sketched/captured] nature, particularly for albums. Here, the painted uses charcoal, ink and watercolor to realize [recreate] these butterflies and insects that will be on sale on January 30, 2018 in New York.”

If you want to see more about this drawing/painting, you can view the lot here. This sale is accepting online bids, so if you want to gift this to your favorite Bronze Butterfly (hint, hint), you have until January 30th to make it happen LOL! While you’re viewing this lot, go ahead and check out a few of the other items being offered through this huge sale. For those interested in learning more about the Dutch Golden Age, I found a free online course on Open. edu. The course, titled “Dutch Painting of the Golden Age“, even offers a statement of participation when you complete it, as proof of your knowledge. It’s a great opportunity to learn something new!