Earthly Limoges Boxes

Earth is a wild and exciting place.  At any given moment somewhere on the planet, storms are brewing, winds are howling, lightning is striking, fires are raging,  and floods are rising.  We do not often think about it, but our world is always moving and pumping with energy and life.  Most of these events depend on where are world is at that moment in its rotation.

Our planet from one view looks like a simply perfect ball, like the Limoges Box below, but it is made up of three basic layers, the partly liquid hot metal core at the center, the fleshy layer of semi-molten rock called the mantle, and the thin rocky surface skin, known as the crust.

Taking a look inside Limoges Boxes are always a world of fun!



Every twenty-four hours, our earth spins like a top.  While it is day on one side that faces the sun,it is night on the other.  The earth also travels on a 23.5 degree tilt which cause the seasons.  In the Northern Hemisphere, we experience summer when the earth is tilted toward the sun and winter when it is tilted away fromthe sun.  The opposite is true for the other side of the world -- so, always when one side of the earth is basking in summer, another part is shivering in winter.  This is why so many people choose to buy their "summer homes" so they can always escape their least favorite season, and enjoy the opposite weather at the same time in another part of the world! 

Limoges Boxes like this are great gifts for those who like to pack up and move about the globe!





I love maps, but find that globes are my favorite way of viewing the earth at a glance -- being able to do the old "spin the globe, close your eyes, and use your pointer finger to stop the globe to select where you will vacation next" technique of trip-planning is always a favorite of mine.  Plus, with Limoges boxes like these ones, I always feel powerful, as I can open up my own personal earth to look inside, then store something that means the world to me.

Having A Ball With Limoges Boxes

Golf is a popular sport played in a green, serene, and earthy environment.   The game, first called "the gouf", originated on the east coast of Scotland five centuries ago.  Initially, golf was little more than a pastime with virtually no organization, restricted to a relatively limited number of players.  These players consisted mostly of the gentry, who could afford the high cost of club-making and more particularly the very high cost of the balls of the time.

The most dramatically developed instrument of this game in the golf ball.  The very first golf ball, played with until 1848, was quite feathery, being made of a fragile leather pouch with boiled goose feathers. 


The next ball, created in 1902, was a rubber-core "wonderball" refered to as a rubber guttie.  It was made from a substance obtained for the tropical percha tree, as was much easier to produce.

Today, the standard gold ball is 1.68" in diameter and 1.62 ounces.  It was created in 1921 for the purpose of  instituting conformity, as the game of golf was finally coming to a place of uniformity throughout the world.  The Limoges box below shows an example of the ball we use today.

Requiring great skill and patience, many people gather for tournaments all over the world, to watch their favorite players focus intently and perform under pressure.  Whether you like to enjoy the game at home from your TV, live at official events, or simply on your own on Saturday mornings, these Limoges boxes makes a perfect gift for any "gouf"-affectionado!

Collecting Limoges Boxes -- Decorating With Objects of Sentiment

It is commonly known that beautiful surroundings make for a better life … and everyone has a different way of making those surroundings beautiful.  No matter your style, the beautifying process is quite satisfying, and requires both knowledge and restraint.

Collectors of French Limoges boxes know that they have items that are both beautiful and valuable, just like those who adorn their walls with classic paintings or those who fill their mantels with antique pottery.  How one displays these items can cause others to either appreciate them as well do or to see them as a meaningless conglomerate of knick-knacks.  This is where presentation is key.

The most formal and contained way to display your Limoges boxes is to place them behind glass of a hutch or armoire.  When doing so, make sure to space them apart, 6-8 inches, enough for each piece to be appreciated, and keep like objects together, either sorted by color, shape, or size. 

Another way to display Limoges for personal daily viewing is on a nightstand or dresser.  Good pieces for this would be Limoges boxes that reflect a happy time in your life, like an icon from a memorable vacation, or a box that reminds you of a special occasion such as a wedding or graduation.   Set these pieces together remembering that for each spot less is more – in this location these items should add a splash of color or serve as a centerpiece to be appreciated.

A location in your home to display Limoges for more public view is at your front foyer or entryway, lining pieces up that make your guests feel invited or pieces that immediately communicate the mood of your home’s décor. 

For example, you could set your Limoges boxes up thematically, like creating an indoor garden feel, by displaying your colorful flower pieces...


...or setting up a shrine of sorts for your beloved sport pastime.



You could even display famous landmark pieces, as a timeline marking places you have visited.
 

However one chooses to display their beloved Limoges art work, they will undoubtedly make the atmosphere more cheerful and are always nice conversation starters.