A life in antiques - A bathing beauty
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We have been looking to create a bathroom area at The Packhouse in Farnham for a while, but like my annual New Year’s resolutions, the plan had seemed unintentionally to go a bit off track! This was partly because I had simply not found quite the right piece to add a sense of drama to the scene I had created visually in my head.
However, all was to change when a surprise trip presented itself for me to join a group of friends on a hot air ballooning trip in The Austrian Alps. This was exciting enough on its own, but happened to also coincide with a local antiques fair, which had in the past proved a secret source of hidden gems!
Unwinding in the bath... I am sure, like me, you treasure the moment, especially in winter, when you can escape the hectic rush of the day by going home and unwinding in the bath. Unlike when I was growing up, the bathroom has become a haven of tranquillity; a room where functionality has combined with our desire to create decorative surroundings that are as pleasing to us as to those that visit.
It is with this in mind that I have been seeking out a piece for The Packhouse that would stir a sense of occasion in the minds of our customers and would help them imagine that same desire for pure indulgence as they wander through our bustling showroom.
We left at the crack of dawn to venture down the mountain to attend the local antiques fair. It was a glorious morning and the bustling market was alive with dealers setting up and unloading their wares.
Within five minutes of arriving, I stumbled upon a delightful miniature Biedermeier bathtub and felt as if I was a small child that had been let loose in a sweet shop! Covered in early morning frost, with sparkling icicles hanging from the frozen shower head, it looked as if it should have been on a stage set for The Snow Queen. It was, to me, quite spectacular.
Made from zinc, its charm is sure to inject an element of vintage surprise into our showroom and at some point into a treasured home. With a bit of flair, this piece could easily be combined with other styles and periods, and would create an environment that I know I would not want to leave for a while!
An interesting history.... Many Biedermeier designs owe their simplicity to the Georgian lines of the 1800s, as the proliferation of design publications reached the Germanic states and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Biedermeier style was a simplified illustration of the very influential style of the French Napoleon I empire. He was responsible for introducing the romance of the ancient Roman Empire and adapted this to create designs suited to modern early 19th century households. It was seen as the first style in the world that emanated from the growing middle class and preceded Victoriana in predominantly Germanic-speaking countries.
A treasure to be proud of...
Needless to say a few days later, on my return back to England, it did not take long for me to excitedly create a quirky bathroom corner that I am at last proud of. I left that evening, feeling exhausted from my travels, but thoroughly exhilarated with my find. And, at last, my completed display.
Treasures are always worth the hunt but when it also means that a plan finally comes together, it is twice as rewarding. As I drove back home that night, I knew my own bathing haven was beckoning, and I hoped that our friendly Packhouse ghost would also appreciate the splendour of our decorative Biedermeier tub in blissful solitude that evening.
Alison Hougham lives in a renovated Victorian ground floor apartment near Farnham. When not at home or at
The Packhouse, which is also in Farnham, you will often see her over the Surrey Hills piloting her hot air balloon.