Oh Those Sweet Antique Bird Books!

This grand, oversized, antique book is entitled "Songs of Bird Life" and is fully illustrated with full-page engravings by the famous avian illustrator, Hector Giacomelli. He was very well known for his sweet bird drawings, and the 18 inside this book are captivating.

The book details the life of birds, from nesting, birth, first flight, and more. The illustrations are really quite remarkable, beautifully executed with superb artwork details. Inside there are endearing plates with baby birds nesting, snuggled in their nest, newly-hatched, as well as other baby birds begging for food and discovering their environment. Opposite each engraving is another page with a floral cartouche, and inside is prose about bird life. The dark green cover has silvered embellishments depicting flying birds chasing a butterfly.

This hardbound book has beveled cloth boards, about 55-60 pages, and 18 full page engravings. It dates to 1885, and is quite large at 9.25 x 12 inches. The boards show minimal wear, as is customary for a piece this old, and the inside is very clean, without writing or foxing, with a Campagna art label on the front flyleaf. This book has gilt-tipped pages. I'm limited to how many photos I can show on Ruby Lane, so please ask for more photos. There is a plate of birds chasing a butterfly, just like the cover image. A fine and special gift for Mother's Day and birthdays. Do visit our shop for other wonderful antique books, and yes, book layaways are available. Scroll down for more views of the fine engravings inside. You can find this book via this link: www.rubylane.com/shop/victorianroseprints

Cupids at Victorian Rose Prints on Ruby Lane!

Everyone loves cupids!  I suppose it's just those chubby little bodies that delight the senses, and baby cupids in art are a sure favorite. Scroll down to see these selections, especially the "Mer-Cupid" at the bottom!  You can find these, for sale right now on our Ruby Lane antique website: www.rubylane.com/shop/victorianroseprints

More Spring Favorites...!

I was just posting some great items to my Ruby Lane shop, and thought I'd also let you know about them!  This first one is a gorgeous vintage rose print by Jean Baptiste Robie, who is famous for his renderings of old roses.  It's a lovely study in a wood and gesso rose barbola frame.

This next one is by the artist, Charles Chaplin (French), and is entitled May Flowers.  The little flower girl with her basket is just darling.  I love how she gazes directly into your eyes.  This one's from the 1880's, an engraving.

And of course, a lovely study of lilacs by the brother of the Victorian artist Paul de Longpre.  Raoul de Longpre's studies almost always include his signature lilacs, and this one is captivating.

Mother's Day is coming soon, so click on this link below to view items in my Ruby Lane shop.  Looking for something??? Please ask!
www.rubylane.com/shop/victorianroseprints

Oh Those Spring Flowers!

Lilacs are some of my all-time favorites. After all, who can resist their sweet perfume? They have such a delicate scent, and are exquisite in vases.  My favorites are the deep purple blooms, but again, the creamy white flowers are also quite beautiful.  Check out this early print by F. Shauns.  The lilacs are just magnificent, and the artwork superb!

Another sweet Victorian print has lilacs around a cartouche, or open blank area.  The opening could be used for advertisements, or better yet, the Victorians added their favorite cabinet cards. Whatever your favorite flower, there is surely one in each month of the year to delight the senses.

The Victorians also had a huge love of social norms and convections.  Goodness, if you didn't follow the guidelines, you were shun from society, and probably wouldn't make a good marriage match! There are many books on these laws of etiquette, and here are a few in my Ruby Lane shop right now:

They are a hoot to read, and quite the coffee table conversation piece.  And, they are delightful gift for Mother's Day and birthdays, or better yet, treat yourself!  You can find all these items in my Ruby Lane antique website shop:
www.rubylane.com/shop/victorianroseprints

Gorgeous Arched Barbola Frames with Rose Prints!

OMG! These are quite a fabulous set of rose prints! They are both in a grand, arched, barbola style, with ornate embellishments. And, they have that antique convex glass that makes the art just pop!

The frames are antique and the reprints come from paintings in our personal collection. You can find both of them on our antique website at Ruby Lane. Here's a link below. We will also be posting more great antique items on that site in April, just ready for Mother's Day! Think ahead, our antique etiquette books (which are quite a hoot!) go real fast, and they make great gifts for Mom! We also have layaway so you can buy now and hold items for that special day!www.rubylane.com/shop/victorianroseprints.

Sweet Baby Chicks for Easter!

Oh goodness! What could be sweeter than dressed chicks doing people things?! This set of four circus chicks has endearing scenes that are sure to please, and oh so cute to boot! We not only have this set, but two other sets of 4 scenes, one that has baby chicks in an office setting, and another of baby chicks cooking and baking! Scroll down to see a sampling.

Another set of six photograph chicks (5 shown below), are from the early 1900's and have baby chicks posed in very sweet Easter scenes. All of them are just darling! You can find all our chicks on our Etsy site by clicking this link: www.etsy.com/shop/victorianroseprints

Spring is on It's Way!

Ah, the arrival of Spring! It's not long off, and to celebrate and renew your vigor, try decorating with some of our inexpensive reproduction prints. They are all made from the 1890 oldie's, and are quite affordable. You can find them on our Etsy site by clicking this link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/victorianroseprints Lilacs are always a favorite, and this basket of overturned lilacs by Paul de Longpre is gorgeous! Another vertical study by Catherine Klein is below.Violets were always a Victorian favorite, and of course, they symbolized the virtue of "Faithfulness". Their tender sentiment makes them all the more endearing. The potted violets are by Paul de Longpre, and the vase of violets with the ribbon is by Mary Hart, sometimes known as "the violet artist". She painted several yard long violet prints, and most of her studies are indeed violets. Alice Chittenden also favored violets, and here is one of her paintings in a slightly more wispy Impressionist style.