Scanning the  room ~ my eyes locked in on it.

Trying to resist the urge to run, I saw someone make a move from the corner of my eye.

I can take her I thought. But she was closer & was making a bee line for it.  

Just then I heard "Hello nice to see you…"

Ha! She was knocked off track by an acquaintance.  I sped along & picked it up in silent triumph!!

She was not getting "it ". The perfectly imperfect Florentine octagon 2 tiered table I spied from the entrance to the estate sale.

Divine isn't it ~ $20! And it is wood not resin.

This latest addition to my Florentine collection made me want to learn a bit about the style.  So...

Florentine 101 ~ accent pieces & furniture

Renaissance Florence Italy was renowned throughout Europe as a center of fine art.

An offshoot of this reputation was a strong crafts industry supplying tourists with small pieces of "art" they could take back home.  These crafts were particularly in demand in the late 1800's.

Ornate, gold, gilded frames, trinket boxes and accent pieces were wildly popular with the British Victorians.  These pieces would generally not be marked, but would be made of wood ( "it " is! )

In the 1960 the Florentine style came back into vogue.  

Picture canapés served on a resin Florentine tray. Swanky!

Most of the pieces made then are resin & include the sought after Florentine nesting table sets.  

Ok, I am not kidding you, I got my set at 3 pm at a yard sale. ( not prime time on the yard sale scene, as you well know ) Five bucks for the set.  Less than $1.70 a table!! 

Florentine furniture and accent pieces are darlings of the Shabby Chic & Hollywood Regency styles.  

Maybe it is just me, but I think Florentine looks fantastic glamming up my California cottage style as well…and so far the price has been right!

My nesting tables $5, the big bucket $4, the tray $1 ( I don't mind the crack ) and the priciest of the lot, the new table at $20.

Now don't feel bad for her. It is not like I tripped her or anything!  

In fact, we met at the cashiers table & she had a huge ironstone platter in her hand that made me swoon.  

We nodded a hello & acknowledgement that we're both players in this game. I scored today, but we'll met again on the estate sale circuit.  

I'll be sure to wear my running shoes!

Do you have any Florentine pieces?

** Kelly **