February 4, 2011

Winter Light: Knobs and Handles



A tracery of shadow on the green wall of my bedroom balances the larger form of porcelain fixture and its dangling switch. Sharp light encourages me to notice details often overlooked, like the twist of old cloth, poignantly worn, wrapped around the hanging chain.




An old porcelain knob, with a centered screw, is the handle which opens a closet door.




The old kitchen hutch has nautical brass latches and a wooden door pull.




This beautifully formed handle, touched with blue paint, is on a large antique crock which now holds dried marjoram.




Here is an old repair on an original door latch in my kitchen. The keeper must have broken, so a piece of wire was used to hold the latch. I find evidence of this thrifty care so very touching, and I love the sense of time and history it brings to my surroundings.

8 comments:

  1. You've have such a caring heart, it shows in your respect and love of old. :O)

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  2. thank you so much, wetoilpaint. I do love my house. I think, though, that my online persona is more calm and patient than I am in real life.

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  3. These are the small joys that only the person living in the space day in and out notices. Just perfect little moments; thanks for capturing them and sharing.

    (Mark, who never comments, said what a great photographer you are when he mentioned this post and told me to be sure to look at it.)

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  4. Thanks to you and to Mark, Linda. It's been a treat for me to work on this series, at a time of year for indoor looking.

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  5. this light is so melancholy and severe, so winter, so suggestive. of course we have the same light here, but it's not quite the same.

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  6. It's interesting, rappel, that you say the light is not quite the same. I think some of it has to do with physical surroundings: here I have small windows in small rooms, perhaps making the light more pointed with deeper shadows. Perhaps..

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  7. The blue color used for decoration on stoneware is cobalt oxide glaze which can withstand the especially high firing temperature of a stoneware kiln. Designs were painted on turned vessels after they were air-dried prior to being placed in the kiln. When the kiln reached temperature, a shovel full of salt was tossed in which vaporized and was deposited on the surface of the wares leaving a clear, glassy orange-peel texture and making them impervious to liquids, including acids like vinegar. That vessel was called a jar. Filled with meats or vegetables for pickling, a piece of cloth was draped over the top and tied with rope or twine around the rim which is shaped for that purpose.

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  8. Thanks for the detailed description of the salt glaze process, Richard. I have two of these jars, the one pictured above, that has a lovely floral design painted on it, and one that is plain.

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