Welcome to the Defining France Blog

BONJOUR ! We will be receiving a container the end of the week – Merchandise will be out on the floor the week of…

Did you know: The first napkin was edible? We can thank the Spartans in Ancient Greece for that. In those days, they ate everything…

Considered the gastronomic olive par excellence, the Lucques du Languedoc olive is one of the best olives available. Easily recognized by its crescent moon…

LAVENDER Southern France is known for its colors of the earth – one of those colors is purple lavender. The perfumed plant called LAVENDER…

HONEY BEES  It’s summer time in the US and in most of Europe.  With it, Summer brings flowers and the buzzing bee – fueling…

  THE FRENCH TOBACCO JAR – Whimsical, serious and beloved And, while we all know that tobacco has health risks….In France, smoking still has…

THE FRENCH CONFIT POT — CONFIT POTS come with and without lids and spouts — First, before I embark on the explanation of the…

Chicken is a staple for Americans and in a parallel view it is a staple for the French as well!  The French just seem…

FAUX BOIS Faux Bois  means “false wood” and the technique is a great example of an old world craft.  It refers to the artistic…

EMILY ALEXANDER TEXTILE DESIGNS TRUNK SHOW  WHERE:  CROWN AND COLONY ANTIQUE STORE WHEN:    MARCH 21, 2018    10 to 5 NEED MORE INFO: …

Welcome to Crown and Colony Antiques, Aubergine Antiques and RF Antiques – We are three unique shops under single ownership.  We specialize in French…

ANTIQUE OUSHAK RUGS from TURKEY – Aubergine Antiques Investment pieces for your home can run the gamut and you may think a rug isn’t…

Mardi Gras BEGAN IN FRANCE… The celebration of Mardi Gras came to North America from France where it had been celebrated since the Middle…

2018 Top Picks to make your home ready for the year ahead!    INTERIORS What we think  the hottest trends are right now in home furnishings! …

How’s the Weather?  A Brief History on Antique Barometers   The mercury barometer was invented in 1643 by Torricelli, a student of Galileo, in…

    Holiday Drinks for the cocktail hour are made special by incorporating regional aspects into the drink – Such as, Champagne or Prosecco!!…

 You know what they say… Paris is always a good idea. Parisian style, French furniture and French accessories are also a good idea!  Ever…

The French BuffetBuffets, credenzas and sideboards share a similar purpose in the dining room. These three pieces of furniture are all similar in function…

The FRENCH Watering Can Original “watering pots”, were terracotta and very heavy.  Popular in the mid 1800’s were French ones with one large handle…

Oui, Je manges des asperges blanches!! Yes, I eat white asparagus!   When we think of asparagus we think of typical green asparagus that…

Chatelaine (chain) The name chatelaine derives from the French term châtelaine – which means wife of the lord of a castle or a woman who…

THE BIRTH OF THE GREENHOUSE FRENCH CLOCHE European growers have made use of small-scale greenhouse methods since the early 1600s. The simplest forms of…

THE MONUMENTS MEN Ghent Altarpiece Did you know that during World War II, the Nazis executed the greatest art heist in history?  It was…

The Enchanting Town of AUBUSSON Aubusson is a commune in the Creuse region in central France where since at least the 16th century, Aubusson…

Market Days in Provence  Visiting the L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Sunday Market L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue means the island on the river Sorgue. It is the crystal-clear Sorgue which gave…

Ever dream of exploring wine country in France?      Exploring France in a different way allows you to see France as a real local.  Biking…

BISTREAU, from the French western dialect, meaning innkeeper. A bistro or bistrot /bi-stro/, is, in its original Parisian incarnation, a small restaurant, serving moderately priced simple…

Soupe Au Pistou A good-for-you French stew Low fat, flavorful — this soup will bowl you over. In France, where foie gras rules, this…

Imari Ware and its special connection with France The Japanese porcelain industry was actually pioneered by Korean potters living in Japan– Many of who…

ALTAR CANDLESTICKS Light is pure; it penetrates darkness; it moves with incredible velocity; it nourishes life; it illuminates and therefore it is a fitting…

The Staddle or Saddle Stone:  It is a low mushroom shaped stone arrangement of a conical bottom (cone like shape) with a flat or slightly…

Celebrating Easter in France is very much a part of the French culture, and many of the French Easter traditions directly relate back to…

The French formal garden, also called the jardin à la française, is a style of garden based on symmetry and the principle of imposing…

Fromage Getting to know French cheeses: 1st – GENUINE Brie France is famously known for having more cheeses than there are days in the year….

PRAYER CHAIR or PRIE DIEU A prie–dieu (French: literally, “pray [to] God”, plural prie–dieux) is a type of prayer desk primarily intended for private…

ARRONDISSEMENT Thinking about visiting Paris? Find out what an arrondissement is before you go! Paris unlike other places is dutifully  earmarked by what they…

THE SUGAR KETTLE AND ITS FRENCH ROOTS… So, what came first?  The sugar or the kettle? The Sugar Kettle is a product of the…

JUST IN – February 2017 – French Container!! Please take a peek at our newest items under What’s New WWW.CROWNANDCOLONY.COM WHEN WE SHOP FOR…

  Wine and Cheese in France – It’s more than just eating and drinking…. Cheese and wine are absolutely central elements of the French…

  French Commodes and Italian Commodes – a short comparison. Italian classic and French classic, have distinct and unique features that set the designs…

Une Écritoire -French for… un scriban     un petit meuble Writing Box, Writing Slope and Lap Desk The writing slope is a wood box…

We have just received a new French Container!! Here’s a sneak peak of some of our merchandise —  These and all of the items…

The Wonderful French Dough Bowl When it comes to Christmas, the first thing we think of is home and all the smells that associate…

Like the Rue Monge market area in PARIS FRANCE, our shops are in full swing for the Christmas Holidays!  We received a new container…

SANTONS or “LITTLE SAINTS” What we Americans typically associate with Christmas might be a creche and the beloved Nativity Scene — in France, in…

  The Simplicity of  Trestle Tables trestle /?tr?s(?)l/ Dating back to the Middle Ages and beyond, sturdy and simplistic trestle tables have been used to host…

Champagne and Flutes For centuries, the great moments in life have been punctuated with champagne—French champagne.  But those moments also call for a special…

WOOD CARVED STATUES Woodcarving has been with us since the dawn of recorded history.  Wood carving is a form of woodworking by means of…

Compagnons du Tour de France and its connection with Timber Frames A Woodworkers Musings Timber Framing is “post-and-beam” construction.  A method of building with heavy…

  jardinières   Origin of jar·di·niere  1835-45;  French, from jardin (garden) It actually has four meanings: A Jardinier is an ornamental pot or trough for plants…

Victorian Spill Vases or Holders In very basic terms, a spill holder or “Spill” is a vase or other vessel used before the widespread…

Petrins and Panetieres go Hand in Hand!    Panetiere Petrine The French knew plenty about cooking with style even in the old days. At…

Bouillotte:  Game, Table, and Lamp   Some home furnishings were historically made for one particular purpose.  Such is the case of the French game, bouillotte (“BOO…

Then and Now…The Armoire  During the reign of King Louis XIV, XV and XVI, clothing of the wealthy lent itself to opulence.  Lots and…

JUST IN – February 2017 – French Container!! Please take a peek at our newest items under What’s New WWW.CROWNANDCOLONY.COM Crown and Colony 251-928-4808…

BAMBOO FURNITURE                                 BAMBOO AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO FRANCE The…

LOUIS PHILIPPE COMMODES The word “commode” comes from the French, & can mean “convenient” or “agreeable,” or it can mean a piece of furniture…

 Wooden Sailboats in Luxembourg Gardens Jardin du Luxembourg – Paris, France Before summer gets away from us all I really wanted to share a little…

La Boulangerie – The Bakery The French word for bread is pain, pronounced pan. Pain Baguette – The most well-known of French breads. A…

JUST IN FROM FRANCE  Our latest container of wonderful pieces of furniture and accessories! Peter and Ann Fargason are at it again – Now…

Happy Fourth of July

Claude Monet  Impressionist Painter  1840-1926 When you visit Paris, France it is sometimes difficult to image the calm, serene and grass flowered land that…

Anduze Pots Anduze pots originated “it is said”, in 1610 during the reign of Henry IV, in the Cevennes region of France in the small…

Macarons – The cookie of choice for the French! This is a French Macaron (?ma-ka-?roh) Delicate and airy, the French Macaron has an almond, sugar and…

Monstrances from France What are these beautiful and mysterious objects?   The word monstrance comes from the Latin word monstrare, which means “to show”….

French and English container just in!! We are so pleased to have yet another successful unloading of our containers – what a big job!…

Tea Caddies & Tea – French and English A surprising fact!      When we think of France certain things come to mind, such as:…

PIQUEPOUL  White Wine

PAPIER MACHE Papier-Mache From Victorian Days Is Back In Demand Papier-mâché  is French for “chewed paper”.   That’s because – you guessed it – it…

In a half shell, here’s everything you need to know about ordering and eating oysters in France in a very local way! Many countries…

  Mirrors are a must in any home, whether they are a Louis Philippe, a Trumeau or a simple Starburst – no home should…

  The Louis Philippe Mirror       The “Louis-Philippe” period (when Louis Philippe mirrors were crafted)  was during the reign of Louis Philippe I,…

CONTAINER DAY has arrived again!  New April Container arrived yesterday!   We are so excited!  So many wonderful goodies in from many areas of…

VELLUM BOOKS The above selection of vellum books are found at Crown and Colony Antiques – All shapes, sizes and price points.  Beautiful to…

Antique of the Month ~ Country French Buffet Deux Corps The word “buffet” comes from 16th century France and referred to the manner in…

  Ring In Easter With Flying Bells, Bunnies and Chocolate Fish….  Pâques (Easter) simply has to be one of the most enjoyable holiday celebrations…

Sardine Pots:   A Commonality Between Italy & France The sardine fishery is the most important fishery industry of France.  However, the Mediterranean sea…

French Taste-Vin One of the most peculiar and compelling objects is a small, shallow, saucer like bowl, which sometimes has a dome shaped bottom…

  Aubergine Antiques-A proud carrier of French Salt.  Call us for more information about purchasing 251-928-0902  The Guerande salt marshes and their history: The…

FRENCH BEE HIVES – A COUNTRY’S TREASURE The History of the Bee Symbol The ubiquitous Provencal bee has its origins in the old 1st…

CONTAINER DAY Today is an exciting day!  Crown and Colony has been unpacking the latest antiques shipment and transforming the shops with treasures from…

Palissy Ware / Majolica          ‘Palissy Ware’ was launched in great reproduction efforts in 1849 and is a term for ceramics produced…

Confit Pots      Confit is the French word that means “to preserve”– the mustard and green pots were used for storing cooked meats and…

Early history of the absinthe drink Absinthe was first created in 1792 by Pierre Ordinaire, a French doctor living in Switzerland. His intention was…

Harvesting to make wine and champagne begins with the collection of grapes. Grape production serves as a major agricultural output in France. The harvest…

  Champagne anyone?      How do you think French champagne gets its wonderful taste and crisp, clear, bubbly look and feel….It starts with…

French Glazed Herb Pots — These little beauties are abundant in France and are used still today to propagate herb seedlings.  Once the herbs…

French olive jars originated from Biot, France -A small potting village in the south of France – “Jarres de Biot” are made from hand,…

Happy New Year 2016 from France – Crown and Colony, Aubergine and RF Antiques!!                    …

     A quick “history” of the origin of the Trumeau      The trumeau is a mirror (pronounced troo-mo) set into tall wooden…

French Tian Bowls are basically mixing bowls made of earthenware.  The tian style bowl is originally from Narbonne, France near Spain; however, they can…

French Onion Soup:  A  French  Tradition Legend has it that the first Onion Soup or “soupe à l’oignon” in French, was created by King Louis…

Scenes from the DaVinci Code were filmed in St. Sulpice.  It’s a beautiful church that has huge matching genuine clamshell holy water fonts at…

  gorgeous 11 acre piece of property in Americas, Georgia. This is the main home named Cuthbert. This gothic revival cottage also has elements…

In France and some other French-speaking countries, a réveillon is a long dinner, and possibly party, held on the evenings preceding Christmas Day and…

The best olives and oil come from a fresh and slow process of curing the olives with brine for at least six months.  Once…