At the store, I discovered some amazing Transylvanian hand painted furniture pieces. One of my favourites was an ornate wardrobe, painted with birds, flowers and trees of life, which are an important symbol in Hungarian folklore, as the mythical tree was said to link the realms of heaven, earth and the underworld. The piece was made in Tara Călatei in Transylvania in the mid twentieth century, an area of Hungarian heritage which was known as ‘fancy country’ because of the highly decorated furniture. The store also had an ornate Transylvanian dresser made in 1943 which came from the same area.
My favourite piece of all though, and one that I hope will soon be a statement piece in my hallway, was the Transylvanian Wedding Chest which was commissioned for a wedding in June 1891. The piece was decorated with traditional Romanian symbols and inside an inscription recorded the date and the name of the bride, as chests like these were used to carry the bride’s possessions to her new house. Kitty told me that these wedding chests are one of her most popular pieces with customers and she regularly sources them as they are such a great way to own a piece of social history and an original folk art antique. If this particular one has gone before I am ready that Kitty assured me she will have other ones in soon.
If the furniture isn’t your style, then the store also has amazing folk art glass works as well as raffia pieces and quilts as well as delightful handmade fashion pieces.