Religious Art And Artifacts Spaces - Holiday 08

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arepeoplewho spendtheir holiday energystringing colored lights, ing yardsnowmenand singingcarol carolabout Santa,sleighsand presCandy, colorsand kitschcompetefor in theirhallsand on their lawns. thereare also folks who let the focus theChristmas season-the birth of their centerstage.In fact,their homes carryaccentsof churchall yearround. Religious art and artifactsabound in City.Altarsticks,paintings,iconsand areamonga widevarietyof objects to add a soulful depth to your iors."Theyare certainlyprevalentin

pieces,includinga life-sized Madonna.My grandmotherhad a similarpiece in her

gazeduringmy childhoodvisits.Don and Rickalso havesomesaintlygardenstatues

Morning GloryAntiquesreferringto the

guest bedroom that she rescuedfrom a churchrenovation.(Who decidesto ditch

that wouldgracefully fill a barespotby the stoop,perhapsprovidinga bit of calm dur-

shops on State Line. He and co-

the Motherof God?)It waseerie,but also

ing the holidayhustleand bustle.

Don Fieldscarry severalreligious

soothing,to drift off to sleep under her

neighborhood," saysRickBumgardener

Just down the street, BarbaraFarmer

Numerousminiofuresond poinfingsore displogedsolon stgle in Noncg McGeet home. llanging upper right is on ovol miniofure on porceloin ofter Rophoel'sModonno. Centeredjusf obove the chesi is o Mexiconretoblo in o tromp art t'rame.And in on ontiquebrossreligiousframeon the chesf is o miniotureon porceloinof on ongel. of Parrin & Co. has a lovely selection of religiousartifactsthat complimentthe pre-

a church.A dove with outstretchedwings, it could take the place of a small painting

dominantlyFrenchpiecesin her shop.Many

during the Christmasseason

religiouspiecesare painted with deep, rich

Christopher Filley makes a point to

jewel tones and either silver or gold paint

carry religiousicons. Originatingin Russia,

or leaf.She has a lovelycollectionof ltalian

ic ons ar e t y pic all ys m a l l p a i n t i n g so f s a i n t s

triptychs and small boxes depicting Christ

or holy figureson wood. While some larger

and the saints.Farmerbelievesthese were

pieces grace churches, icons are usually

mostly decorative obiects created in the

right at home on a wall or tabletop. Icons

1950sand 60s and remembers fondly her

emerged as a part of religious practice in

mother's own collection. She also has a

t he O r t hodox Ch u r c h a s e a r l y a s t h e f i r s t

gold-leafHoly Spirit plaque that was likely

century.The Orthodox Churchwas stringent

used over the head of a religiousfigure in

in its control of the content of icons.Artists

restricted to paintingreplicasof estabthemesand often grew frustratedin lack of freedom. Again, rich jeweled andgold leaf make the icons dramatic

But believersdo not see iconsas display. ratheras a directconnectionto holyfiguredepictedon the piece Otheritems that I found particularlv at Christopher's are the incense ntricatebowls suspendedfrom chains that would be stunning aloneor in groups.Theyarean engagmixof old-worldfunctionand verystylEasternaesthetic. Acrossthe street at Portobello Road.

,{.";;/z&7;ft;;,t copies of larger, recog-

ludy Robertshasa strikingholywaterfont, angelholdinga large a beautifulfair-haired A stunningdisplayon her own, clamshell.

nized paintings.TheYoffer a

sophisticated accent

she would be a distinct holidaydecoration holding the boxes of chocolateor ornamentsthat you are givingyourdinner

Another dramatic Piece at Webster House is a lgth-centuryFrenchpelmet. craftedand Gothicin detail,it Beautifully

displayedon a diminutive easel or hung on a wall. A collectionon the mantel,scattered

guestsas PartYfavors. District A quick trip to the Crossroads JoeHaasof offersfurtherreligioustreasures.

of a holiwouldbe a stunningcomponent needingonly a low bowlof daycenterpiece,

rable indeed.

tour WebsterHousegaveme an enthusiastic WebsterHousehasa variof theirselection.

foliageor flowersin the center. Continuingthe hunt, Mission Road No AntiqueMallwaschockfullof treasures.

booth, surprise,Cwenand Teri McClure's compelling some Frenchby Design,offered pieces.You could easilycreatea dazzling brass theyhad pairsof lgth-centuryEnglish rustic and rich l8th-century displaywith their selectionof ivoryprayer candlesticks, andcrosses. crucifixes books,rosaries, with originalpaint candlesticks Portuguese

that are ety of altar sticks,tall candlesticks usuallygildedor brass.WhenI stoppedin

lustaroundthecornerat NancyMcGee's and a pair from Francein a gorgeousgilt portraits bronze.Myfavoritewasa pairof unbelievably booththerewereseveralminiature popular were candleholders of holy figures.Miniatures beautifulltalianl8th-century while that formrightangles,astheyweredesigned duringthe lTth and l8th centuryand portraits, others were some were actual to gracethe cornersof an altaror table.

just above the stockings,would be memoMccee has a few Pieces of religious art in her home. One piece in particular,a Mexicanretabloof a saint,"holds a surprise every time you look at it, " says McGee The late lgth-century painting on tin is subtle. "She'sholding a dove,but you might not see it if you weren't looking at it closely." Whether you choose to make religious art and artifactspart of your daily surroundings or not, adding them to your holiday d6cor certainly makes for a sophisticated evolution from Rudolph and Frosty. If you are going over the top, you might as well take your cue from a higher Power' I