Hunting for Antique Household Items | England
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Bernadette’s philosophy reminds me of a William Morris quote…“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
I live by that philosophy, but that gives me a little problem. I have a visionary view on things, means: When i look at something, i see potential and possibilities where others see trash. For example, i crochet, knit, sew, weave, etc a lot and for many reasons i always use natural fibers. And i keep everything leftover. Even a 5 mm thread piece. Because i know that they can be used for something else later on (for example, i have a little box of of cotton, linnen and wool threads and fabric scraps at the size of 5mm to 5cm, which one day will be enough to use it as stuffing for a cap that my husband can wear under his viking helmet, for protection and comfort). I have a bunch of old jeans that are unwearable anymore, but i keep them cause i want to make an upcycle jeans bag from the bigger parts and use the smaller parts to mend the jeans pants i am still wearing. And so on. So yeah, lotsa useful stuff in my home piling up.
It gets complicated when you live with others, or inherit boxes of items from others, or have items from childhood that you don't want but don't want to throw away. For example, those little plastic McDonalds Happy Meal toys from when I was a child - they're still in perfect condition, I don't want them in my house but feel bad sending them to landfill. Dilemmas! Definitely a good philosophy to live by going forward in life though :)
@@chizzieshark I think when it comes to items like those, ones you don’t want, can’t give away and can’t sell, it’s something you just need to get rid of. Keeping it creates clutter, and I know it’s kind of sad to throw out, but sometimes that just needs to happen!
@@olgahein4384 the main idea to not having that end up as a mess is to use it as you can, so patching up jeans as you notice holes with that stash, making that bag as soon as there is enough material, etc. So that the scraps are only there for a short while and not clogging up your home. I do this with all my tiny cabbage scraps, I have one stuffed small pillow that has a pinned closed opening, whenever I work on a project I just directly put the treads and scraps into it that are too small to be used to make other things! Good luck with all your projects!
Such philosophy can end up in a lot of divorces... :/
I love how I could spot 3 candlesticks in the background when you said "I have a particular weakness for candlesticks" 😉
I'm glad as well that I finally realise that I'm not the only one obsessed with candlesticks😅
there were 6... 2 candelabras
SAME
Now you'll be looking for them in every video.
The idea of being a caretaker of items instead of a consumer is actually so beautiful and I've never thought of it that way
I love this idea!
I had watched another video recently and was trying to communicate it to the lady talking (of course, she couldn’t hear me… 😅)
It is so good when someone on KZhead doesn't just buy, buy, buy senselessly but advocates for conscious consumerism.
i wish i had that idea when it comes to axe heads. But I see them all as useful items that i want to see live a longer life as they still have a few centuries worth of life in them.
@@DuriensBane I have my deceased father's little hand axe that I've named Mr Choppy. I'm a 66 yo female, but love my Mr Choppy. The last thing we tried to chop was a root. Alas, I had to get the big axe.
Bernadette: "I'm banned from buying candle sticks this trip. Hold me to that." Me, munching on chips: "I'll try, but... *gestures to computer screen *"
I came looking for this comment.
Its been a bad day but this comment made me laugh. Thank you.
But actually... hahahahaha
At least it was a practical candle stick XD
The best part was that the zoom in on her face showed not one but two fancy candlesticks in the background.
I like to 'think' I'm a minimalist and want a clean, peaceful space, until I go to an antique store, or thrift store or garage sale and I become an absolute crow trying to collect all the shiny, pretty things 😅. Thanks for taking us along on these little adventures in time travel
I feel this on a deeply personal level. 😅
SAME.
Same! Am older now and after 20+ years of regular antiquing my house is basically a museum and you would be hard pressed trying to find modern things in it, except for the indispensable appliances. Everything I use on a daily basis is antique, from my 17th century farm table to my 19th century Cantonese teapot that keeps warm in its little wool lined basket. Antique china and cutlery, antique brass bed acting as couch, antique art supplies such as my turn of the century Winsor & Newton watercolor bijou box, antique French tiles used as coasters...and about a zillion old tin boxes for all uses.. I adore every single item but got to admit it can look quite cluttered😅 how many more Napoléon III candlesticks do I really need? 😊 Yet I cannot stop bargain hunting, and I especially love finding a suffering object, giving it a lot of TLC and bringing it back to its former, shiny glory🥰
Yes!
Ahhhh...I feel called out as well. Minimalism is great in theory...but really, I like 'things' too much, to stick with it 😄
This was beautiful! The hair in the microscope reminded me of when I was a kid, helping my father do some remodeling in our ancestral 1790's farmhouse. We stripped down 100 years worth of wallpaper to the horsehair plaster and discovered a large crack in the plaster. Wound up and stuffed into the crack was a newspaper from 1906 with a mailing label on it addressed to my great, great grandfather. But the most spectacular part was the long blonde hair that I found twisted up in the newspaper, most likely my great grandmother's. Discoveries like this one growing up on our farm are what led me to become an archaeologist, and a caretaker of my own lovingly gathered antiques.
Too bad hair testing doesn't tell us a whole lot. Would be interesting to see what that little strand could tells us.
@@xTashleyx DNA testing is forever improving. Maybe one day there will be a way to unlock its secrets and stories 🥰
I should say: I have a soft spot for plushies. When I see them in second hand shops, very used and usually damaged, I tend to take them home and restore them. I can't hold myself. That left me with a lot of soft toys, so I decided it was time to pass them to kids that wanted/needed them. And I donated all my plushies to the daycare of my town. Now I know they are used, loved and they will have an impressive life. A second chance. So I love the way you think.
This entire comment is absolutely delightful. Keep doing what you are doing!
That’s so beautiful ❤️
that's awesome
Your monologue about treating the things you own with respect/how everything “has an energy to it”/being a “caretaker” of the things you own made me realise how much people misunderstood Marie Kondo.
I thought of her as well!
Marie Kondo's sense of practical magic has similar vibes to Bernadette's.
Yes, I think it's a really good approach. I have OCD/hoarding and I find getting rid of things really difficult. Like it's just confusing and stressful and the more my stress level in life goes up the harder it is for me. Marie's system which is based on exactly that, having respect for the object, realizing it's not working for you or helping you and having a simple thing you can ask yourself "does this spark joy?" and having a simple method for getting rid of it "thank it and move on" really helps to clear my head.
So true!! Most Americans totally fail to “get” her because they don’t understand that Kondo practices Shinto, & an actual belief in animism underlies her whole method.
@@eikawithac I mean. I understood that and I still found that some of opinions and gestures she makes completely woo. It came across as you can only purge your items in her style and with each and every step followed otherwise it is WRONG. I got pretty disillusioned with minimalist ideals for awhile until I started manipulating the tenets into something I can actually live with.
Classical musicians often feel that they are caretakers/custodians of their instruments. It's not uncommon for violinists to do their degree on a violini that they then retain for their entire playing career, before passing it on to a favourite student.
My parents bought my flute from my older sister as a birthday gift for me as I wanted to learn having heard her practice growing up (it also gave my sister some extra money as she was starting uni). Now I don't play it so much, the same sister has requested to loan it so my nephew can learn. It is wonderful to be part of the story of this instrument and know its story is woven into this family 😊
this greatly depends on the instrument! With string instruments the tone quality and sound gets progressively better the more it is played, however with instruments that are made of metal they tend to deteriorate with age and how much you play them. -a flute player and music student
@@littlelethallollipop Completely agree. It's actually worse with clarinets tnan with flutes because in addition to the wear and tear on the mechanism over time you've also got the detrimental effect of moisture on the wood. But still there's something nice about string players being custodians of their instruments, rather than mere owners, in a way that mirrors Bernadette's original sentiment.
I didn't know about this even tho it makes sense But oh boy someone needs to make this into a book. Like the live of an instrument And the diffrent connection the "owners" had to each other
I bought a secondhand upright piano and I will protect it with my life
As a lover of tea, I've seen many a tea warmer, but never one this amazing! I can assure you that your excitement is neither unrealistic, nor ridiculous! THAT is an item that I would categorize as "I don't care if I have nowhere to put it, I'll FIND somewhere to put it, because I simply cannot live without it!" I'm so excited that you took it home!
“I like old things that time has tried, and proven strong, and good, and fine. I like old things, they have a depth unknown to anything that’s new.”
My grandfather who I’ve lived with my whole life passed away last month and this month I’m getting ready to move in for school. I’ve gotten my first apartment in the city and need furniture. My parents told me to take some of his things and I was feeling very down about it, even if I knew he’d want me to have them. But this video made me feel better about it! I’m carrying on the history of his items and I’m going to take care of them and treat them with respect. It’s much better than his stuff ending up in a landfill
Sorry to learn about your Grandad's passing, it sounds like the two of you were quite close. I think he would be very pleased know you thought enough of him to have some of his things in your new digs. A good practical new usage with the element of being touchstones too. One of my wife's nephews is going to be setting up his first, shared, apartment at uni come the fall. We gave him a number of surplus items including the breakfast table I grew up with. It's a number of years older than myself as I am the youngest, so this would put the table at around 70 years old. A classic '50's heavily chromed with stainless fluting. As I explained to him this was not a reproduction and very desirable piece and too not just curb it or give it away. When you have items with an emotional attachment it can be very hard to let them go. You wish could guide and control their use and life after you have finished with them, but of course generally this is not possible. Good luck on the next and new phase of your life.
I'm so sorry for your loss and also so glad you're going to take some of his things with you. In this, you will be honoring him and your history with him as you become the next caretaker of his items.
I‘m sure your grandfathers things will help you celebrate his life and your time together once the hurt of mourning a recent loss has mellowed. That said, if at any time you feel you are being held back in the past, don‘t hesitated to change them to make them all yours or give them away. You cannot give away your memories.
I lost my grandmother recently and there are so many things that I have in my daily life that remind me of her. My dishes, paintings she has done, and today I saw her number in my phone when I was pulling up a contact. Sometimes it makes me smile, sometimes it makes me sad, but it always brings up good memories of my time with her. I hope you can surround yourself with your grandfather's things and remember all the love and good times that you shared. He would be happy and proud of you.
I swear, If all of us in the comments met, it’d probably result in the most beautiful, & passionate conversations about the simplest of things.
This world is probably not built to handle the level of wholesomeness that would undoubtedly ensue. 😌
Either wholesome or rant about the injustice and misportrayal of corsetry
@@admiralduckshmidt2248 and pocket rants 😏
@@admiralduckshmidt2248 or we can all rant and /or lament upon the size of female pockets or maybe how people don't take care of things the way they should 😄
@@bernadettebanner Yes but the level of the world would be heightened a little and that would be a good thing. I love your found treasures.
If I ever found a kettle and stand like the one you have I would probably die. It is gorgeous AND functional! I wish my whole kitchen was full of copper pieces like an old estate kitchen.
I wouldn't want to clean all that copper though!!
Im slowly but surely replacing all of my pots and pans with copper ones but our bank account tells me it will be a SLOW ROAD🥴😅🤣
Just don't cook anything acidic in a unlined copper container :[]
There's definitely a level of appreciation for second hand things when you grow up poor. Even though I'm not AS poor as I was as a child, I still choose to look for previously owned things, because often they cost less and still work fine, it's just that someone has gotten bored of it and "upgraded".
I think that is a mighty fine sentiment especially in our society of wasted resources. if someone can't/won't use something anymore then instead of throwing it away, give it another life with someone else.
@@benzaiten933 It can be especially tricky these days because things are literally made to break/wear out sooner, so it's even more important to take care of your things to get as much use out of them as possible before replacing them.
my family isn't poor, but i still prefer to go to thrift shops or garage sales. i even get excited when i see boxes on the sidewalk labeled free haha i just find it so much better than buying brand new things. like i'll be at a store and see something a bit expensive, and i'm like "I could easily find this at a thrift shop for so much less!"
@@torpid5092 yeah i was genuinely shocked the first time i walked into a target to see shirts for $30 as ive been brought up on shirts less than $5. and plenty of goodwill shirts are from wild fable which is a target brand i believe, most will still have tags on them.
Actually, this beautiful microscope is not missing a part. A glass slide goes under the clamps, and glass slides haven't changed for at least a hundred years. The hole is uncovered to let through the maximum of light. I am pretty sure (as I, or rather my grandpa, had a very similar one) that the optics could prove superior to a lot of the modern plastic lenses you find in USB microscopes.
Agreed! Far better than plastic. The middle school I went to had half of their scopes as electric lighted ones and half with mirrors. I tried the electric light one, and found that I prefer the mirror type. You can adjust the mirror for different light levels and get some really cool effects on what you're looking at that way. XD
I was thinking the same thing when she said she thought the plate was missing; I thought it was supposed to be open.
Yes - I agree. We had microscopes with mirrors at school and the glass slide goes directly over that hole, held tight by the clips. The microscopes we had weren't as handsome as this brass one, though!
I am a recently retired research tech and ALL of our microscopes are open below where the slides go. The illumination sources have changed, some very specialized slides are plastic, and most scopes are now binocular, but I would KILL to have a scope like the one Bernadette found. And yes, I would use it.
I'm a biologist and we still use mirror microscopes when we teach the first years at university for selected classes. A glass lens always gives the best image, that's why I love them so much.
I have a terrible weakness for old books, teacups/sets, ceramic/cast iron cookware…my very lovely husband takes me around “The Circuit” (what we call the small collection of antique stores within an hour’s drive) once a month and buys me all the little pretties that beg to come home with me. He calls them my Treasures 🥰🤣
He's the real treasure.
That is so sweet. Your husband is definitely a keeper.
Awwww!
THIS is love no one can convince me otherwise
I wish they had special husband medals for guys like him.
I’m studying to be an herbalist, and Victorian apothecarycore is EVERYTHING!! 😍
Your “caretaker” approach is so refreshing to hear. It makes me wonder if the heavy “consumers” are also the ones that adopt dogs and then dump them at the shelter when they require work/ are no longer convenient
Seems a bit harsh and unreasonable to assume that the way people approach inanimate objects would also be the way they approach actual living creatures. I'm sure that's that's case for some, and I totally agree with Bernadette that we should take good care of the things we have, but to some people an object is just an object and a living creature is a living creature. Not everyone is going to view those things as any where close to comparable.
@@Lisa_Flowers I didn’t mean that everyone treats things and living things alike. I just meant that there *may* be a parallel to the carelessness of both. I’m sorry if you misunderstood!
@@aimee241 "I'm sorry if you misunderstood" is not an apology. That's like saying "I'm sorry you felt that way". Next time, try saying "I'm sorry if the what I tried to explain, did not transcribe."
@@CherryCowgirlNo. I meant it exactly the way it’s written. I didn’t say anything mean, and I’m not apologetic that somebody wanted to misinterpret my comment. I’m sorry that they misunderstood.
@@aimee241 I think blissing me means you shouldn't apologize on behalf of the other person's misunderstanding. It comes across as condescending. "I'm sorry for the misunderstanding" works better because you're not coming across as pointing fingers.
My jaw literally hit the floor when you pulled up the microscope. As a student of both science and history, I was absolutely in awe of that lovely piece of history
Honestly same, the smile on my face she pulled it up was indescribable XD
I fangirled so hard when she showed that it used a mirror for lighting lmao
Ikr it’s so cool
Me who actually uses such a microscope in the school lab : 👁👄👁 . ( it's not the exactly the same but it sure is old )
My reaction too
I love what you said about being a caretaker of items. My grandmother has gifted me her china tea set that she got in Germany working as an army nurse in the 1950's. It honestly makes me proud to know that she trusts me with this precious gift because she knows I will take good care of them. In a more poetic note she also gave me her old bandage scissors and hemostat that she used as a nurse, and I currently use now working as an RN. Not to sound too sentimental, but it gives me confidence just having these tools that such a wonderful nurse before me used in her own care.
"why not play into the charade that there's actually something going on in that side of the room" is literally my motto for life.
my jaw LITERALLY DROPPED when i saw the microscope 😭 as someone who loves science and old things, it is absolutely and utterly perfect
What you said about being a caretaker of items resonates really strongly with me- and others, going by the comments! It's a beautiful and accurate way of putting it.
Is it just me who lives in York and see the things that Bernadette saw on a daily basis and thought of as magical.
Completly agree, it is such a magical thing When you find a beautiful antique or secondhand item that you can use and will use When bought to your home, it's like finding a friend Whom will be there to help you
That "I made a list... Actually, I ALWAYS have a list" deeply resonate within my own soul.
I tell my children the list is in my head and they laugh.
Bernadette: Head Steward of Used Magickal Items I have always liked historical clothing but historical objects haven’t always captivated me… Needless to say, now they do! My dad got me a pair of ~very fine~ pinking shears that in time will become a family heirloom. This video inspired me to be the start of their legacy!
I absolutely adore secondhand shopping because each object I pick out has to “speak” to me. It’s something rather magical about the object that draws us together, so I can become its caretaker
Bernadette: "I'm banned from buying more candlesticks." Candelabra's on Mantle: "No! We... need more friends."
*angsty Lumiére noises*
As a Museologist, listening to you go on about objects that have a life, caring for them and passing them forward is *chef's kiss*. I adore your perspective on history
The taking care of items is exactly how I was raised and currently live. My grandmother gave my mother rag rugs that she made about 40 years ago if not more and they are currently in my bathroom and I will check them every year and mend them if I need to. Thank you for reminding me I'm not alone in that.
Rag rugs??
@@RedRose1010100 yes
I love the idea of being a 'caretaker' of an item, and I've never thought of it that way before. The antiques I own have always stood out to me amongst all the other things I own, and I think it's because they have that history to them. They're not just some mass produced item that I bought for convenience, they are beautiful and have been used for decades and sometimes even centuries by people before me. Now I get the chance to love them as much as their previous owners.
your little monologue about respecting items and letting them "serve their best purpose" has me itching to clean this tarnished silver teapot i got from my nanna…
Doo it !
please do!!
I would argue that touching the cherished object might be pretty memory enhancing as well. Prepare for feels!
I know this was 2 weeks ago but, soaking it in water with baking soda and salt dissolved in go a long way to cleaning up silver
when Bernadette mentioned ‘victorian apothecary’ i realized that i needed that to be my aesthetic. i’m a sucker for old medicines bottles and other medical things.
One of my favorite ASMRtists Moonlight Cottage has a series of apothecary videos that are absolute magic. It's not like watching ASMR where someone is tapping on objects, but more like a movie. All her videos are like that.
Growing up my Grandma only used Watkins vanilla which comes in an almost apothecary style bottle, even though it's plastic. My older sister and I baked with her often and would have to take turns using it because we thought it was so much fun pretending to be like Mary Poppins. lol
Pharmacy student panic 👩🏻🔬❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
@@prapanthebachelorette6803 ...but you would know exactly what every label means and how/what the contents were used for. For some of us that would be fascinating. I can see regular people's eyes glazing over though. Lol. Interesting vases, containers, sock drawers...
As a pharmacy student, same! I like learning the history of medicines, and the Victorian era is when things got interesting!
I love the phosphoric acid vessel. I wonder how much she realizes she's literally demonstrating alchemy.
Moving into my first own flat in a week and I am excited to bring some antiques into my space. There are two that I am absolutely in love with: One is an old Chinese tea box I got from a friend who had it passed to him from his late father. The friend does not particularly favour the aesthetic, but he knew that I love it and that I, being half Slavic/Tatar, am a biiiig tea drinker. The other is a wooden wedding chest from 1706 from one of my ancestors. She was the mother of the people who went to America and founded the American branch of our line. Being one of the last Germans of our line, this chest makes me think about all the people who came before and came together to, ultimately, result in me.
My grandmother passed along the same sentiment that you expressed: “Lovely things are meant to be loved.” What lovely finds! I’m so so happy you take such pleasure in them.
Can we just stop a moment and appreciate Bernadette's perfect swirl of hair? We can and we shall.
Absolutely! I had to pause for a moment just to admire it. (And possibly lament my unruly hair. Most of it would stay in the swirl, but about a third of it would be off doing its usual Medusa imitation... 😂😭)
I did, and it was worth it!
@@warriormaiden9829 I love her style and clothing
i thought it was so silky looking too!
And her black nail polish. I've always wondered when is she going to put on nail polish.
Bernadettes house is honestly like someone living in a museum like we all wanted to as 11 year olds after our first school trip.
I'm binge-watching all of your videos before my English literature exam so that I can write my passages more eloquently.
I like this explanation of clutter bad energy being due to disrespect--makes a lot of sense to me. 💖👏🏽💪🏽
All I can think of is my porcelain doll that I've had for years. My husband has watched too many horror movies and is convinced it's haunted. He won't let me display it, and it currently sits lying down in a cibicle shelf.
I love this explanation as well! It makes complete sense to me. Another thing that resonates with me is her explanation of why she likes antique items; they have a history and story to tell. As an empath, this resonates with me.
It's good stewardship of the world
@@sarahluchies1076 Your husband is a controlling paranoid. (If he really believes that, he needs counselling, and if he does not and still makes you hide it, he needs a good hiding)
The hem marker brought back a flood of memories, of my grandmother who was a dressmaker, and had to return to that vocation after my grandfather died. Her dressmaking room had one of those, and I remember watching her use it when altering dresses. It was not far from her dressmaking form, which she named Susie. My grandmother was born in 1893, and I have her little leather notebook where she listed the items in her trousseau, all of which she made prior to marrying in 1915. I have a gorgeous piece of her wedding dress, a bit of the yoke, heavily embroidered and beaded. I worked it into the gown of my Christmas tree angel, whose porcelain head is made from her doll, and the rest from bits of lace and tulle from her inventory. I have a piece of an afternoon gown from the late twenties, an ambery orange silk georgette, with moss green velvet deco flowers. I intend to cover a lampshade with it, and I wish you were here to help me! Sorry to ramble, and thank-you!
Don't worry about rambling, I do it too. I also saw the hem marker and went, "Oh my God! I know what that is!" Mom did her own sewing. By machine. She would tell me sometimes that she envied my ability to hand sew. I envied her ability to sew by machine. And her ability to alter patterns to tailor them to the person she was sewing for, before cutting the fabric. I have to do a mock-up first, and puzzle it out from there.
I would've never thought of reusing sentimental fabrics in a Christmas angel dress! Brilliant idea!
❤❤❤
I for one loved reading your rambling. Thank you for sharing that with us🧡
Thank you for sharing--how wonderful you can carry these pieces of your grandmother with you... Wishing you well!
It is crazy and overwhelming that every bit of everything, spoon or blade of grass, has a back story. But it is also lovely. A person with imagination is never in want of a story to uncover.
Do I sew? Do I craft? Have I ever thought about watching or having any sort of interest in historical dressmaking? The answer to all these questions is a flat outright no never before in my life, then I stumble upon this channel and I have been hooked and fascinated by the most amazing craftsmanship and skill that evidently goes into creating these beautiful pieces of clothing and I now understand why historically fast fashion didn't exist and why these beautiful garments are made to be worn for many years. Having watched many of your videos has been a wonderful way to pass the hours and I can honestly say that its been a worthwhile use of my free time because it has made me really think about my consumption of fast fashion and the wider implications that this modern phenomenon has and the fact that I could make a difference, usually I would say its pointless what can I do as an individual that is going to make any difference... but then I thought about being part of a mass movement of society doing their own bit is worthwhile and does have the potential to effect change. Thank you so much for the important message that you spread as you've had the ability to entertain,educate and inspire someone who isn't your usual subscriber viewer and that is something pretty impressive xx
Getting a thrill from finding second-hand/antique items that belong to us is so much better than the thrill of buying new stuff - while the latter is just empty, sort of weightless potential, the Old Things have roots and an actual history (even if it’s unknown to us most of the time), which is like a kind of magic. I also have a strange feeling with very old things, like they take some kind of weight off my shoulders, because they were here before me and might just as well be here after me, so they are making space for me in their lives, it’s not I who is doing that. Please excuse the philosophic rant, I feel very strong feelings about this.
That is such a magical thought process. ✨
Nice perspective
A lovely thought.
Yes, this is exactly how I feel about second-hand/antiques. Very well said! We just purchased a 1910 Birdseye Maple bedframe to replace a modern bed that was too big for our house. After a little TLC the antique bed glows with beauty, age, and sturdiness. I felt so relieved that we didn't cause any trees to be cut down by buying a "new" bed. Our modern too-huge bed was responsibly taken to a furniture charity where I hope it will give someone (with bigger rooms than ours) many years of comfort.
I so agree; objects/ buildings of the past absolutely have an “energy” and deserve our utmost respect. I live in a 600 year old cottage in the English countryside, and feel immensely privileged to be the “caretaker” of this slice of England’s history. Let’s hope that others, in centuries to come, share our passion for preservation!
That's amazing! I feel the same way about our Craftsman American Foursquare, even though it's only 100 years old. We try to respect the spirit of the house.
@@AmythefirstA That’s brilliant, I’m so glad to hear it.
That's amazing! 😱
Antique things (sigh)--they also inspire some memories. My stepfather's mother (born in 1909) had a (Singer?) sewing machine that looked almost exactly like your pedal-operated one, but it ran on electricity. She taught me most of what I know about sewing using that thing. And I wanted it. One summer, when I wasn't looking, she replaced it with a brand-new one that just didn't feel right. In 1978, I also briefly knew a lady deep into her 80s, briefly who made all her own clothes by hand. I was in awe: Small, perfect hand stitches on every seam, perfect details, all even on very fine fabrics. I believe she inherited some of her tools from her mother. I wanted those, too--but she took them with her when she moved to a senior citizens' residence.
OMG! I used to have that exact hem marker which I used on an almost daily basis when I had my couturier. I passed it on to a friend when I closed down who still uses and loves it. I hope that yours gets all the years of loving use (and then a happy new home) that mine did!
I'm SO glad the Little Lord gets plenty of veg!
Just a thought : perhaps you can gently sand the external layer of that chalk that has hardened with age to reveal softer, usable chalk underneath? As an avid antique collector I've done this a few times especially with hardened dry art supplies such as charcoal and it worked!
Bernadette: "I'm banned from buying candle sticks this trip. Hold me to that." Me: I'll try but who's gonna stop me from buying the candles.
This episode is my favorite episode. My first love was teaching. My second love was fashion. My third love was history. This episode, for me, was the culmination of them all. I feel like I'm taking a historicity class; and that is a high compliment. You speak with knowledge, eloquence , and passion. I want to develop that level of relationship with my belongings, and with the subject which I devote the majority of my time. Thank you!!
Little Cesario munching on veggie scraps at the end was the happiest I've ever been watching an ad ♥️
I actually came here to say the same thing
plot twist: the items are once hers back in old days. time travelling means travel, in general, so you have to give up some things for a lightweight luggage 🤫. and now, she wants it back LOL.
i got a heart YAY
Bloody brilliant.
@@mandie3049 thanks ❤️
Thank you for making me feel better about my miss matched collection of china acquired from various female relatives. I don't have room for full sets, so I just keep the serving pieces--sugar bowls, creamers, covered bowls, gravy boats, coffee and tea pots. My mother called me a hoarder this weekend.
Oh my! In older novels, some one is always making tea on the spirit lamp. Now I have a visual of that! Thanks! Also, for practical purpose items, I treasure an antique Staffordshire spill vase with three swans. Glad to have found the corner of the net that appreciates that way of thinking.
What some see as a "slightly idealistic approach" to consumerism, I just see as someone trying their best to be ethical to the best they can in an unethical system. It's kinda actually super punk if you think about it that way! Basically, Bernadette is an Edwardian punk is my thesis. Oh my lord, yeah, I can see why you were so excited about the last thing you showed! That's legit super cool!
Yes! I very highly agree. When she said “rather a caretaker of these items for this portion of their life until I pass them along to a new caretaker” i FELT that, it’s such a mindful and appreciative way to view things in your home/life and really resonated with me. Very Edwardian Librarian Caretaker Punk 🤣
I accept this headcanon 😁
Edwardian punk is my new thing. Thank you.
I think it's super punk that you left this comment without spoiling what the super cool last thing is going to be . You rock!
@@brandielee7971 And now I also aspire to be Edwardian Punk. RARELY do I find word combinations so awesome.
"Building an estate" is how my husband and I refer to our acquisition of household items. We carefully consider if things are worth buying, based on the likelihood of passing them down to our kids, as much as need, and want.
This is so unspeakably lovely.
@@thedarkdane7 It is!!! I think I'm keeping it. Thank OP for commenting it!!
Sorry for being so melancholy but I wish my family passed down items. Most of the time it never happens and even then it's nothing special. Le cry.
@@Mysticmoon62 I had my great grandmother’s wedding ring and it got stolen. It’s been 3 years and I’m still crushed.
@@Mysticmoon62 Well, you could start the tradition! Or ask about it and build something together ;p
This video reminded me of a recent article I read regarding heirloom china that people inherit from their relatives. In short, the china was always stored in a cabinet and never used. The people who inherit the china started using the dishes, and the older relatives were horrified. The point of the article is that china was originally a status symbol, but using it as actual dinnerware is more respectful than tossing it out or never using it. 😊 As a big fan of LEGO, I firmly believe that everything can and should be reused and repurposed.
I totally get what you’re saying about special objects, finding homes for them, etc. you’re whole philosophy resonates with me.
While watching this video, i was thinking about how this channel is sort of a moral guide to me. I noticed that since i watched the video about the ripoff of the medieval gown, i almost completely stopped buying fast fashion, which i never really thought about before. And now i guess ill declutter my room soon and start appreciating what i have more. I genuinely think this channel has made and is continuing to make me a better person.
I agree - I stopped buying fast fashion and now I’m making my own clothes, all because of Bernadette and other historical costumers
Fun fact: the ruins starting at 2:30 were actually a monastery that Henry VIII had shut down after his split with the Catholic church. They took most of the building apart block by block to use the stone elsewhere. Your explanation of how you see yourself as a caretaker of the items you acquire is beautiful and inspiring!
I'd love to have a Victorian microscope! I study biology and we usually have a history lesson in each subject, but microbiology and chemistry antiques just have that charm that no other historic artefacts of other sciences have
I am so inspired by your ideology of not consuming items but rather being the caretaker of them while they’re in your possession. I am an impulse buyer and I like to collect things (some may say hoard 🤷🏻♀️) so this is definitely something that’s made me reconsider that. I do love and cherish all of my belongings but I can definitely see how adding it to the clutter is disrespectful. Thank you for this insight!
It's rather brilliant how you use Cesario in your sponsorship sections to turn ads into adorable content.
I'm so pleased that His Lordship Cesario received his own HelloFresh meal. THAT is the level of celebrity endorsement that has me ready to buy!
I've just been repairing an old patchwork quilt from 50 years ago for my mum. It is a very important thing as her mum (my grandmother) got it as a wedding present, and she sleeps with it every night. Now I feel like a tailor! :D
You’re a textile restorer :D
The chalk should still work..m you just need to chip off the top layer. Also I get super excited when people visit York and the surrounding areas as apparently one of my forbares was a stone mason on York cathedral 😁
I just love that you consider yourself as the caretaker of your items. What a lovely way to look at things. That teapot is perfect! As soon as you pulled it out I was hoping you got the stand too. I’m so glad we get to come along on your little quest to find items for your new home. 💚
Eco friendly squad meeting here
"There is also that particular thrill of hunting for something that you know is not manufactured" just spoke to me! I just bought a 1947 McCormick-Deering cream separator for my small (goat) dairy. I've been searching for months and months for a cream separator, and two weeks ago, I finally found a complete one. Best gift to myself ever, hands down!
'filling your space with items that have practical uses' My how life has been built around this Idea. I knew there was something special about this channel!
The cinematic frame ratio is :chef's kiss: and the haul is most amazing!!!
I have a weakness for tea cups. Going to an antique fairs feels like going treasure hunting. I love the idea of being a caretaker of items.
I once left an auction with 27 kitchen chairs 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
I have a weakness for broken teacups that have been self-repaired. My mom doesn't understand it, but I love that someone loved that teacup enough to try fixing it themself.
@@LaRocheSews Take a look at kintsugi. I think you'd like the philosophy. :) I would LOVE to have a collection of antique Victorian porcelain that had been repaired in that method. Don't care if it all matches. I NEED it in my life. 😆
@@warriormaiden9829 AHHH I thought I knew what it was and I looked it up and I was right!! It’s such a pretty way to repair and keep using things that adds even more history and art to the repair. Having Victorian items repaired using kintsugi is such a beautiful idea
Estate sales are a very affordable alternative to antiquing if anyone here is on a budget and wishes they could have old and pretty things!
We don't have estate sales in the uk, in fact if you went to something called an estate sale here it would just be a house for sale. It annoys me constantly I wish we did I keep seeing amazing things found at the ones across the pond.
@@meandjd we do have house clearances but you do have to know the right people for that sort of thing
@@meandjd Aw that sucks, how about eBay? I’ve gotten a lot of cool biscuit and tea tins from the 1900s with King Edward and Queen Mary’s likeness. I use them to store my sewing notions. Love little pieces of history.
I have a collection of antique pyrex that I use regularly. Some people think I should just display them, but they're dishes! They're made to be dishes. They're in perfect working condition, so they should be doing their work.
I treasure the things I bring into my home. I look after them and as I age, I worry about who to pass them on to. Its actually nice to know someone else feels the same way. Things have energy.
I work in archaeology, and I really like the idea of being caretakers of objects. Objects carry the stories of previous people. There are pieces of pottery thousands of years old that have the fingerprints of their maker. It’s fascinating and beautiful to think of these stories and people from the past, consider your own story, and think of future generations through these objects.
I’m obsessed with chatelaines and think they should be more commonly used today! I currently have mine on my sweatpants as I sew a neck binding
Thank you both for the history lesson! I'd never heard of a chatelaine so I promptly searched the internet and spent several minutes reading about them and looking at very pretty pictures. :)
They embody "tasteful clutter" so fabulously. I love them!
I have a circa-1907, Mabie Todd Swan chatelaine fountain pen. The cap has 2 tiny chains linked with a tiny ring, to be clipped to a chatelaine. The pen has no filling mechanism; instead, you unscrew the barrel, and fill it with an eyedropperful of ink. When I use this pen, I wonder about the lady who originally owned it. Who was she? Did she buy it herself, or was it a gift? What sorts of things did she write with it? Was she a housewife, or did she work in a high-end office or store or gallery? The pen has a solid gold band on it, so it certainly wasn't for a working-class woman.
@@lovejoy5774 I wear mine as either a necklace or hanging from my skirtwaist - I have one that is thistle themed, one is Oak and Roses - they each have scissors, fitted thimbles in cages, beeswax holders, needle holders, and tussy mussies. They are sterling and made by thimblesforyou. Then I have three antiques, one was a housekeeper's - scissors, paper, pencil, magnifying glass, and beeswax.
I have one with scissors, a pin holder and a reusable notepad. I think it's themed after Athena.
From 4:20 on: THIS monologue implies so many thoughts I had last year, while we were clearing out the house of my deceased grandmother. She was a sweet, humble and deeply religious woman, who knew war and hunger and lived in times of self-sufficiency, but was confronted with consumerism and materialism later in life. So she became some kind of hoarder. We found piles of handmade antique textiles, but also cheap towels from the 80s in the original packing. Much of the textiles were damaged because of the improper storage (mould stains, moths,...) So I realised I couldn´t keep most of the pieces, if I wanted to honour the pieces and our grandmother. I kept only a few things (of which I can take care, have a place and function) and gave away the rest. It was hard work, but I wanted for the pieces to find happy caretakers.
Loved the whole video but seeing Cesario so excited for his vegetables and run over to the food bowl made me melt with happiness!
Bernadette would be a great museum curator! As someone who works at an art museum that's exactly our attitude towards purchases and gifts. We need to know we can care for the piece before it is accessioned into the collection and recording the history of how it came into the collection is provenance which is extraordinarily important to telling the story of an object.
Our local museum actually can’t take a piece if we can’t source the province of it- either the donator has to provide as much as they can, &/ or we do internet research based upon what we see, & what info we are given; I was excited to work on a (still filled) medical bag, used between 1925-71 - the cotton wool & bandages were Johnson & Johnson, which led to me researching when the company started in Australia- I had to try & translate the fading writing on the bottles, looked into the company shown on the surgical silk package (Archibald Turner)- the ‘Vaporole’ aromatic ammonia, & the syringe that was also in the bag - we did a photo layout for the display, & what was damaged- we added images from Google search, noting in the reference to the syringe that it was _similar_ to the actual artefact. I’ve also been working on two general displays, to accompany a couple of other artefacts...
There is just something about glass bottles that inexplicably brings me so much joy
The sentiments in this video are everything. These are the same thoughts that pass thru my mind as I purchase items to decorate my home. Is it useful? Will it last a lifetime and can I properly appreciate it? What will become if it when I no longer have a use for it? You found some absolutely beautiful items and I'm genuinely excited for you!
It never occurred to me that one might be able to find copper cookware at an antique mall, but hey, foodies and chefs watching this video, go to your local antique malls and antique fairs! You’ll probably find some gorgeous copper pots and pans for your kitchen! Also I bet you could get that burner for the kettle to work if you used one of those butane/kerosene canisters that go under buffet trays. I assume that back in the day you’d scoop some coals from the fireplace inside and use that. And if you want to make use of your fireplace without lighting a fire inside, you could do what my cousins did and put a candle centerpiece inside and fill it with scented or unscented candles of your choice
you can get the burner to work for your copper kettle. it needs a wick, and likely uses paraffin. Growing up my mother had one, which we used at teatime when we had guests.
But it may need to be relined to be able to drink the water boiled in it, and I'm not certain how possible that is for a kettle due to the shape.
The outrage when you realise your parents have lived in Wetherby for 5 years and they never thought to mention there was an antiques fair
Bernadette, I love your purchases. I've spent countless hours in search of items I just had to have. Mainly sewing notions and kitchen tools. I always kept my sights finding Victorian buttons, which are beautiful works of art. I've collected so many items and now at the age of 75 my love for each item has not diminished and I even remembered what I paid for each, includes lace bundles, trims, tape measures. I even own a Victorian sterling silver cocaine vial. It never ends ...
How marvellously explained by Bernadette, her opinion on 'objects' and 'things'!
I love the history and story of old items as well. It's not that old, but I love thinking about all the meals my 1950s stove has cook, everyday meals, birthday cakes, Thanksgivings. For some reason this video also made me think of mudlarking on the Thames, which I have always wanted to do. Finding little scraps of the past that have been tossed away seems so intriguing. And that they can be as old as the Romans blows my mind.
Mudlarking is most definitely on the bucket list! 😁
There is a wonderful, fascinating book called "Mudlarking," well worth looking for. (I found a copy in a LA public library, so probably much easier in the UK)
Correction! The actual title of the book I mentioned is - "Mudlark: In Search of London's Past Along the River." It is Wonderful.
Oh my gosh, mudlarking looks so much fun! I started watching a bunch of mudlarking videos on KZhead when the pandemic started. My favorite channel is Nicola White -- Mudlark.
this video was specially crafted for us with little crow brains that like to collect the most wonderful things
yes my goblin/crow brain is like :0
"Here is a literal piece of history you can have"-- what an excellent and succinct way to sum up what antiques are and why they're so fucking cool, all at once.
The hem marker reminds me of my dear departed grandmother. Bless you.
this is one of the reasons I love the arts and crafts style of home decor: Function+beauty=the perfect home
The key to getting me to pay attention to an entire ad read is to include the "little lord of the manor." 🥰
I feel the same way about "things". I use antique and vintage in my home everyday. They are not only useful, made well but also beautiful. Everything was made to look nice as well as have a neccessary function.
You are the consummate romantic. I appreciate the distinction you have made between being a consumer of things and being a caretaker. Thank you for your positive and refreshing content.
I wish more people had this approach to things. You really articulated something that I have though for some time but never have put into words.
I love Bernadette’s philosophy on us being the caretakers of the objects we own, particularly as it relates to the protection and preservation of our architectural history, whether it be the grandest of civic buildings or the quaintest of cottages.
You have perfectly captured the excitement and love I have for my authentic Edwardian Petticoat that I got for my 17th birthday. I absolutely fell in love with her, and still love and wear her to this day. (I've had her for just over 7 months now, and wear her often)
the way she describes owning an item is so beautiful