Mary

"Did you have a good weekend, Jane?"

"Morning Jane, do anything nice over the weekend?"

These were just some of the questions put to me this morning when I arrived at school. And my answer?

"Absolutely wonderful, thank you! I did many, many hours of gardening, (got through 320 litres of compost and I'm still yet to plant up my second lot of sweet peas in my 'new' enamel tin bath,) wasn't the weather lovely?  I went to 3 car boot sales as well which was pure bliss!"

(...and I spent my Saturday night scraping paint off of Mary and Baby Jesus...you know.. like you do on an average Saturday night...!)  I didn't actually say that but it was true and was one of the best parts of the weekend. I'm very excited about my new find at Saturday morning's car boot sale.  (Incidentally, for those of you who are wondering and have asked, a car boot sale is when a large group of people meet in a field, car park, race course etc and sell their unwanted items, usually from the back (boot) of their car.)  I nearly didn't buy it as I thought the family might really think that I had lost my marbles this time, but I did buy it and I'm so glad I did. So glad, and for £2 as well.

Brace yourselves...

...meet Mary and Baby Jesus

They are a bit damaged and have had paint flicked all over them, but I just love, love their faces, especially Mary's who looks so incredibly sad.

 

These are the before pictures. Who would let paint splatter all over such a beautiful chalkware statue? I'm afraid the 'after' pictures don't look that much better. I'm not sure if I should try and touch up the blue splotches or just leave it.

Recently I have become quite a fan of what I call 'flea market style.'  A eclectic mix of styles that seem to be quite fashionable at the moment (just take a peep at 'Flea Market Style' and 'Cheap Chic' by Emily Chalmers.)  I don't have a problem recognising pieces that fit that look but I do have a huge problem with cowardliness! Yes, I'm struggling big time in letting go of my safe colour co-ordinated schemes. I'm just not brave enough.  So when I saw the statue I thought how 'flea market' and then, how will I get this past the rest of the family! But I have and as soon as I placed her on the mantlepiece it just looked right. So good in fact. Good enough to take anyone who visited on Saturday to see her, including Tom's 19 year old friend Richard, who kindly indulged me and didn't visibly flinch.

So my transition to flea market style has begun...if I'm brave enough!

Comments

[Maddonna]

Jane, I just love Mary and Baby Jesus. Once you can manage to break away from the colour co-ordinated and venture into the aclectic it can be so liberating.Be brave and enjoy. x

[nanette]

Mary is so compelling. Its like she knows something deep in her eyes and its not just about her baby. Very interesting. I love it too. I can see why you were drawn to it. Usually I'm not much for statues but its wonderful.

[Dede Warren]

Oh Jane we are HUGE fans of "Flea Market Style" here in the states. As a matter of fact over the last 6 months "it" is a style featured almost monthly in several magazines. And... in my honest opinion I would DARE touch up the paint on Mary and Baby Jesus, they are perfect in their tattered state.
Just my two cents...

[Bobbie Lynn Duran]

The statue is beautiful and I would leave it "as is".

[Darly]

This is divine. I collect these types of old chalkware religious icons and figures. The faces and especially the eyes on this one are some of the nicest Ive ever seen. Wonderful!
smiles,
Darly

[lily boot]

Oh Jane she's beautiful! I wouldn't touch up the paint - her shabbiness adds to her whimsy. I have always wanted a statue of Mary (apart from the glow in the dark ones they used to award to good children at primary school assemblies!) but have never found one at a reasonable price. They became very fashionable here in Queensland after a prominent designer put a life size one at the head of his clawfoot bathtub! You've inspired me to keep looking!

[tammyCA]

It is a lovely statue, sweet faces & sad that it was splattered with paint!

[barbara]

Thank you SO MUCH for explaining the boot sale! I thought that's what it was but wasn't quite sure. (And one just appeared in the book I'm reading.) Now if I can just get a grip on monkey puzzles, fairy lights, sponges and jumpers. (I do read too many British novels, don't I?)

[Stephanie]

Seeing the Mary and Jesus figurine, makes me think of that song "mary did you know?"

[Alicia P.]

Wow, Jane. I really needed to see that today. Thank you.

[Binny]

Hi Jane!
Your statue is simply beautiful. I've never heard of 'Flea Market Style', but am looking forward to seeing your progress!
Take care,

[Sabine]

This figure is so beautiful, and I would leave them like they are. It´s a bit of shabby, but I think that not everything must look perfect. They are "perfect" the way they are now!!
Thanks again for showing us those lovely things!!
xSabine

[Kathy]

Hi Jane,
Oh I do love your statue. The faces (Mary's in particular) are so sweet. I've been wanting a statue like that for some time, but the ones I've seen have been in antique stores and sooo expensive! What a great price you paid. Religious art seems to be getting quite collectible. I'm still interested in that pretty little mirror on you mantle. Can you tell us something about it?
xxKathy

[Kathleen]

Jane, Your treasure is beautiful...I would have bought it too! Mary's face "speaks" to me....How lovely and I am so glad she is yours~

Kathleen from North Dakota

[Nonnie]

Ooh I love it. I love that flea market style too although I'm not sure I'm brave enough to carry it off. Having just moved into my lovely boyfriends house, I'm struggling even to assert my normal style, never mind introducing him to flea market style. It's a case of taking it very slowly and before he knows it he'll be living in a country cottage! The statue looks great on your lovely mantlepiece.

[Lucy@Attic24]

I have just read the Emily Chalmers book, I got it out the library....I love elements of the style very much but think its possible to mix it with other styles too to create something unique to you. I don't see why you can't integrate it with what you already have, maybe don't analyse it too much? Your natural sense of stye is incredible Jane, have faith!
Lxx

[Jen]

Oh she's just lovely. And I'd leave her as is as well. I did have a giggle at your penultimate sentence though. Richard sounds like a credit to his parents, ha ha ha!

[Daisy Steiner]

Beautiful statue.

[Brigitta]

I love her Jane, if I'd seen her, I'd have bought her myself. Haven't been able to find such a nice piecer over here yet.

[Mignon]

Well, I agree with everyone here. And I think your style is beautiful, refreshing and peaceful. A perfect place for Mary and babe. I use to thrift shop but then it got to be more and more junky. But after reading and seeing all the neat item's, I just will have to start again.

[Lisa the book sniffing librarian]

...wow Jane, as you said, the expression on Mary's face just draws you to her!

The book you talked of is one of my all time favourites, I especially love the pictures of the kitchen shelves (so high a ladder is needed) filled with many, many plates and bowls "..cherry picked from a Brussels market over the years."

There's something about certain statues I think. Did you know Freud used to have statues and figurines that "spoke to him" all lined up along his desk? I was lucky enough to see them during an exhibition in Leeds last year, it inspired me to look out for similar, y'know; things that are so lovely to us that they help us to think?

All the best, Lisa x

[Dawn Gahan]

You were soooooo right to have bought this; it is beautiful. Had you not, there would have been a big bout of "just let it go" to work through, that horrible, nagging feeling of not being able to forget about what you didn't purchase.

Can't wait to see where your brave jump into Flea Market style takes you . . . .

Dawn
The Gahan Girls

[Marilyn]

Stephanie posted: Seeing the Mary and Jesus figurine, makes me think of that song "mary did you know?"

I thought the same thing, as if Mary knows the amount of pain and suffering in her future. The paint spattered on her seems to add even more emotion to the statue.

Marilyn (in Dallas)

[Alexa Lett]

Loved the story....I just recently attended my first car boot sale in Scotland. It was fantastic!!! If you are curious pop in my blog and go back a few days....I was fascinated by the experience, and took home some great finds! ove the statue!

[Hazel]

If you like flea market style check out what Yvonne's selling at the Yvestown shop. Very cool Jeu de Paumes books from Japan. They have a real flea market feel - especially the Parisian ones.

[knitsational]

I wouldn't worry about touching it up. Kinda adds to the charm. Lovely though.

[FleasKneesStudio]

Here in the USA we call boot sales "flea Markets". They are great. Your statue is wonderful. Have you considered wiping it down with a bit of brown glaze to tone down the white spots and make it look even older? Just a thought. Linda S.

[Beata]

She is very beautiful despite her flecked look... I just recently purchased "Bazaar Style" by Selina Lake - have you seen this book -- very much flea market style -- just like your Madonna.. (Selina Lake has a Flickr site where she showcases a lot of great photos from the book) Anyhow Jane, I think you should go for it!! With your eye, I'm sure the result will be fabulous!

Beata

[PG]

They are so gorgeous, I have always wanted a plaster Madonna. What a travesty to splatter paint over them, but how fortunate that you rescued them.

[Tatania]

Your Mary and Jesus statue is beautiful. Its a shame someone let her get into that state. She does look wonderful and as if she's meant to be there on your mantelpiece.
Very nice.

[claire]

A lovely statue, you can see why Jesus is called the light of the world. I've got quite a few battered religious statues and they are so calming to gaze upon. I think a bit of damage just adds to their charm. A few posts back on my blog you will see my treasured chalkwareangel.

[paula luckhurst]

Amazing beauty! How wonderful!

[Amy Wagner]

Oh Jane I am so glad you rescued that sad Mary. It is a perfectly wonderful piece. I would leave the spatters as is because it is part of the history and charm of the found treasure. The faces are beautiful!

I would feel right at home in your home :)
Amy