Monday, February 14, 2011

I heart HEARTS!




I was poking around my stuff yesterday...thinking about dusting, just thinking...

 and I realized that I have never shared
my collection of antique hearts with you.

Don't you think Valentine's Day is the perfect time to do that?

All of these were found by me at local Estate Sales over the past 20 years.



This first heart was handmade by a very talented carver.  

The interlocking wooden crown of thorns and everything else you see was carved from one piece of wood.  That split you see in the crown on thorns is from the wood drying out over the years.




This is the backside of the heart.  The carver used what he had around the house.  

This is a litho paper label probably from an old fruit crate.  

As you can see he didn't even bother to carve the heart right side up on the label.

The Sacred Heart was then hand
painted and stained.  It is 5 by 5 inches.  I found it with the jelly jars
in a basement.




This German Cookie Mold is a much bigger piece at 18 inches high by 9 inches wide.

But again it is a homemade piece.  Very rough, imperfect and charming.




The backside shows a first attempt.  Turned it over and started again.




This heart love token is dated 1/18/55.

Again the carver, probably Ward, was showing his skill by carving the heart and the two rings
from one piece of wood.

I hope Marge appreciated his efforts.  I do.




This especially artistic heart is also hand carved.  It was attached to something
in the past... You can see the 4 nail holes.

This heart carving is 6.5 inches high by 6 inches wide.




It is amazing to me that someone could make wood look and feel so 
beautiful.




This Sacred Heart is my latest find.  It was hanging next to the front door
of a darling beach cottage in Illinois' chain of lakes region
 a couple of weeks ago.





That is all fabric under the curved glass dome.  Probably commercially made,
but I have never seen one like it before. 

It has a metal back and is 5.5 inches high and 4.5 inches wide. 

If anyone knows anything about it please leave a comment or email me.


I hope you have enjoyed seeing my little heart collection.
AND
Happy Valentine's Day, Everyone!



I do have some other hearts from my collection for sale
 at anythinggoeshere.etsy if you are interested.






16 comments:

  1. These antique hearts are fabulous! What a great day to show them off :)
    Happy Valentine's Day to you!
    Becky C

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  2. Amazing, beautiful and truly unique! Thanks for sharing Happy Valentine's day! ~ Angela

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  3. Your heart collection is beautiful!!!! Love them all, they are all unique and so interesting....I never realized that there would be so many different hearts out there!! What a gorgeous collection, thanks for sharing....Happy Heart Day!
    Hugs,
    Margaret B

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  4. A beautiful collection, thanks for sharing with us.

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  5. WOW!!! What a Beautiful collection of Hearts.
    Thanks for sharing!
    HAPPY VALENTINE"S DAY!!!
    sandraallen260@centurytel.net

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  6. Absolutely the best hearts and so heart warming...think of the love that went into the carving. Thank you and happy valentine’s day.!

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  7. So beautiful, especially the first one. It's a masterpiece of love.
    xoxo
    Pam

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  8. This is the best Valentine post! Love the heart by Ward! So sweet. XO and Happy Valentines!

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  9. I have a passion for hearts too! Love your collection! Perfect day to share them!
    Happy Valentine's Day!
    Tammy :-)
    JUNK WILD

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  10. What a wonderful collection of Hearts ~ and what better day to show them to us than Valentines Day ~ Ally x

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  11. Hi Joan~Wishing you a chocolate heart kind of day!

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  12. I heart your hearts!! I think things made out of wood are so charming and have such great texture. You do have a wonderful collection!
    Annette

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  13. What a great collection Joan, and I really hope that Marge and Ward are still together!
    Happy Valentine's Day!
    Carol

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  14. What a great collection. Makes me want to rush out and find treasures! I think that your first heart isn't "chains". I think that it is a crown of thorns woven around the heart. Love it regardless.

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  15. Oh my, they are all so wonderful. Now that is real craftsmans work - old school. Especially the first one that was literally carved from the crate and he left the label on the back - right?My fav is your latest find though. I love that sacred heart! I reminds me of a Last Supper domed picture I once had, with some of the same styling! Really awesome! Thanks for the show and tell. Maureen :D

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  16. Hi Joan,
    I adore the carved wooden hearts with Marge and Ward! How darling! How big is it?
    What a find. I love heartfelt hand made gifts of true love, and they are RARE! You have a nice collection.
    Thanks for sharing.

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