I think that what we bought the other day might surprise you.
I know some of you had an idea about what it might be, but believe me, I gave no hints in yesterday’s post. We bought something that I might not have noticed had it not been for Don, who pointed it out to me. As we stood there and stared, we found we couldn’t take our eyes away from it. We’d leave that particular area in the shop and then we’d circle back, together and individually. We took photos.
We knew right where it would go, where it had to go.
There it is, above the piano. It’s a chromolithograph of the Aquitania, circa 1913, one of three ships in the Cunard Line, ships that crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the heyday of transatlantic travel.
These chromolithographs were given to travel agencies to hang on the wall, extolling the wonders of ocean voyages. This one is in particularly good shape. The Aquitania was launched in 1913 and was part of Cunard’s ‘grand trio’ of ocean liners, along with the SS Mauretania and the SS Lusitania. The Aquitania’s nickname was ‘Ship Beautiful.” It was in service for 36 years and held the record for the longest serving Express Liner until into the 21st Century when the Queen Elizabeth 2 became the longest serving liner. The ship also served in both World Wars.
We both love the ocean and Don spent a lot of time on the Pacific Ocean in his youth. The ocean still calls to him. There’s something glorious about the vivid red of the funnels, the choppy seas, the smoke pouring from the funnels, the cloudy skies. I’ve tried to capture its beauty in these photographs.
We can’t take our eyes off it. It’s also highly collectible and a good investment, but that’s not really why we bought it. We bought it because we love it and we wanted it to be a part of our home.
You understand, I know you do. Something touches you, you can’t stop thinking about it. You know, deep within you, that you have to find a way to make it yours.
It is made for this spot above the piano. For the first time, the piano makes sense where it is. I’ve always had a bit of a problem with this massive piece in our little living room, with its dark mahogany finish. It takes up space, and though I love it very much, I struggled with how to make it work. Somehow, this lithograph with its intense colors and its dark frame, makes it all come together.
Some rearranging of the McCoy singing birds and the McCoy vase had to be done. I took away everything but the birds and the vase, then Don and I eyed the whole thing and this is what we ended up with.
Two on one side.
One on the other.
I love the way the lithograph changes depending on the light. It gets dark and moody at times. Then a burst of sun through our windows changes it yet again.
We are more than a little in love.
By the way, the Miss Keyboard sign has been moved to its new home, above the picture window in the den. I can’t get a good shot of it yet because of the light from the window, but I’ll work on it. I was a bit worried about where we would put it, but it actually looks even better there than it did above the piano.
There you go.
Happy Monday.
Just wanted to tell You I just read several of Your posts and enjoyed them very much.I also love the hunt for treasures and red comfy shoes,those were darling on You esp. with the jeans.I also have several McCoy and love the birds . The older I get the more I do enjoy birds.Denise
Me too, Denise – I love birds!
Hi Claudia, I love the picture there also. The birds’ colors go so well with it. xoxo,Susie
Thank you, Susie!
Perfect!
Thanks, Cindy!
The ship has found his home. Beautiful. Doris
Thank you, Doris!
What a magnificent piece Claudia! The icing on the cake is having it be a piece both of you are so smitten with. She was made to hang above your piano, and has been patiently waiting for you and Don to find her and bring her home.
Aw, thank you, Debbie – it was made for us, I think.
Beautiful picture, Claudia!! It looks perfect above your piano and the two birds also compliment it!! Very nice find!! Enjoy it!! Francine
Thank you, Francine. We are enjoying it very much!
The picture looks perfect above your piano, Claudia!! I am so happy you were able to find something that you both love!! I do love its colors!! The two birds, one on one side and two on the other look perfect there!! Enjoy!! Francine
The birds are looking up at the ship!
That painting fits perfectly above the piano, Claudia, like it was always meant to be there!
I know what you mean about art “speaking” to you. I’ve mentioned in other comments how I love spending time in the Berkshires. On many trips back home to NYC, we’d stop in Sheffield for an art students’ league show. I’ve always spent time wishing I had a little house in the Berkshires, and one summer I found a watercolor of just such a house at the show. I kept walking around, admiring other works of art, but always came back to this one. It now hangs in my bedroom, and I just love having my little house in the Berkshires to enjoy in my apartment in Queens!
(And I really love those red shoes! Back in the ’70s, I had a pair of red stappy shoes that I felt so wonderful in every time I wore them. I think it’s time for a pair of red shoes again.)
What a lovely way to have a piece of the Berkshires in your city home, Sylvia. (I would also love to live in the Berkshires – one of my favorite places.)
Claudia, it is perfect and I can see why you both love it. The graphics and colors are just intriguing! It looks wonderful over the piano and the pottery compliments it! So happy you made this happen! hugs!
Thanks so much, Linda. We are really happy we made the decision to buy it.
Perfect! It looks as though it is meant to be there. Even the colors of the birds and vase bring out the colors more vividly. What a great piece and even better because you both love it.
Blessings,
Betsy
We do. Pretty neat Valentine’s Day gift, don’t you think?
It was meant to be!! Everything works so well together and looks as if it has been there forever. The pottery truly compliments the painting. The entire corner looks ….. charming! I guess that is the word I was searching for.
Oh thank you, Chris. Charming is a lovely word for it!
Perfection!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you, Bonnie!
What a find, I can see why you love it so. The moody sea is captured well –
That’s one of the things I really love about it – that moody sea. Thanks, Karen!
That is quite the picture…stunning! Love how the birds all seem to be looking up at it. Perfect Claudia! ;)
Thanks, Donna! I love those birds – they seem to like the new boat!
Yes they do…are those birds McCoy?
Yes they are, Donna.
It looks terrific, Claudia, bold and powerful. Besides, I seem to recall you mentioning that Don was not the biggest fan of the keyboard hanging; now, you’re both happy.
-Karen
Ironically, he likes it much better now that it’s hanging in its new home. I have to say I agree, it looks much better there.
Oh darn, I thought you’d go with the peacock lamp. Well, I like the ‘Aquitania’ even better – I have a small collection of vintage advertising myself and I like that your picture doesn’t have a lot of graphic text on it. So much advertising of that era really has a lot of it. Looks perfect above the piano too.
The peacock lamp is rare Majolica and it’s over $600! Much as I like it….no.
I love the brass ‘Cunard Line’ on the frame.
It is absolutely perfect and meant to be. Look how it fits exactly right over the piano. And how the frame matches the wood in the piano. And the McCoy birds bring out the blue in the painting. Stunning.
Those birdies love to sing and I think they are happy with this lithograph!
The picture is perfect in every way. This is why the piano is where it is. It was just waiting for this find.
I understand about art or something speaking to your heart. I have a figurine of a small young boy, he has look of innocence on his face, a news boys hat on his hear, and his hands in his pockets. He has been broken and someone patched him up. Not very well. He has chips around his hat. I don’t care. He was at a flea market, and i took him home immediately. The owner of the booth said she had had him for years and no one wanted him because of his condition. I believe he was waiting for me.
He needed to come home with you, Trudy. I understand!
Claudia, Breathtaking! Captivating!
I too am in Love -Judy A-
Makes me want to take a Transatlantic journey!
I echo everyone’s sentiment that the ship is perfect. I love, love, love it too. I would not have been able to leave without it either!
We tried, but it kept calling to us.
It looks perfect! You’re so lucky to have found a piece of artwork that you and your husband both like!
We generally agree on things and I think it’s nice to have something heavier and bolder in here to balance out the pastels. Adds a bit of masculine energy to the room.
Love the picture. I’m sure it’s beautiful in all forms of daylight! It’ll be interesting for you to see it on a dark and story overcast day! Bet you can’t wait for tomorrow!
Fingers crossed, Annette – we’re getting a lot of snow today.
Claudia, I really thought you had gotten a medicine cabinet! I truly expected to see a picture of one.
It’s on my list, but this won out!
Oh yes…that was a wonderful find…and good investment. I love it too.
Thank you, Sharon.
Wow..those colors are wonderful..what an amazing history the Aquitania has..It’s funny how we sometimes find things that are perfect for us that we didn’t even realize we needed or would fall in love with..Enjoy!
I’d never heard of it before this – now I’m fascinated by the ship’s history.
I LOVE that ! I know how the right piece of art can bring such meaning and enjoyment. Having grown up in St. Louis, I have a particular fondness for the old boats that used to dock at the riverfront and finally found the perfect print of the Mississippi river. It’s amazing how just looking over at it can bring such contentment and pleasure. GO ART! ;-) (the Right art)
The right art makes all the difference, Tracy!
I worried about where you put your other piece since it was so appropriate for that spot, however, the new piece looks like it was made for that spot, It is beautiful and I’m so glad you got it! Enjoy!
Judy
We will, Judy!
Very nice! The McCoy is a good choice for under it. The colors are so much alike. The frame and piano also go together good and not wash one or the other out. I love the whole grouping. I bet you are just so thrilled with how everything worked out! Happy for you. Do you get your mattress tomorrow?
Hopefully. We’re getting lots of snow here today, so I’ll believe it when I see it.
It’s gorgeous, Claudia and looks perfect above the rich varnish of the piano and the McCoy vignette. How amazingly well it complements the floral fabric on the bench, too. I love the story of how both you and Don kept finding your way back to it in the antique shop. The voyage to your cozy cottage, where it has anchored, is sure to be an adventurous one!
xo
Poppy
I hadn’t thought about the fabric on the bench, but you are right, Poppy! Thanks for pointing that out to me.
I love it too. It is wonderful over the piano with the McCoy birds singing to it.
Thanks so much, Olive!
http://www.susanbranch.com/2014/02/same-ol-same-ol/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SusanBranchBlog+%28Susan+Branch+Blog%29
Claudia… scroll down the Susan Branch Blog post and you will see what I think is a reference in a book to the same print! Or very very similar.
I’m headed on over there, Karen.
NO, I went back.. and it’s not exactly the same, but boy it sure looks almost identical :-)
It’s awfully close, but it has 3 funnels. There were lithographs of other ships done around the same time – I’ve seen several of them online. I wonder if this one was painted originally by the same painter that did the original of the Aquitania? His name was A.F. Bishop. Sure looks like his style, Karen.
I am beyond smitten. It makes my heart ache to just look at it, Claudia. I know that you and Don will love it forever-it is that kind of picture. xo Diana
It is, Diana. It’s nice to know you are as smitten as we are!
Claudia, that is a wonderful find. It is absolutely perfect over your piano. xo Laura
Thanks so much, Laura!
What a beautiful lithograph, Claudia! I love all of the details, especially those churning waves~~~~~
They are pretty incredible, Susan.
I love it Claudia and you’re right, it makes the piano make sense. I have a picture in my guestroom that does the same thing. It’s amazing the effect, isn’t it? xo J
Totally amazing. Who would have thought?xo
It’s a great find Claudia and since you both love the ocean it is a perfect reminder of it. I love that you both were drawn to it. That makes it even more special.
sending hugs…
We’ve been admiring it all day, June!
Great find! And I love how you’ve arranged your McCoy pottery on top of the piano. I think it is just perfect!
Brilliant! Noble and I are looking at your ship and think you made a stellar choice. Just perfect. It was waiting for you.
Beautiful! It looks perfect there, and I love the new arrangement of the birds. It all looks just lovely and that comes across in your photos. Enjoy!
Love the colors..What a find..Looks something like the Titanic..Enjoy
perfection! the size, the colors! completes that wall for sure. I can see you playing with the perfect colored birds. I may start a new collection.
I love it! I’m glad you found such a good home for this grande dame of the sea.
It’s gorgeous and looks perfect above your piano. Doesn’t it feel good when you find the perfect spot for something that you both love. I’ve always been intrigued by vintage ships. It’s funny, how an item or picture just feels right where you place it. I love when that happens. You guys found a beauty!
Oh, that’s perfect, Claudia!! Just so beautiful, and in just the right place. I love the way your McCoy picks up the blue-green of the waves, and the frame complements the wood of the piano. Perfect! Perfect! What a wonderful treasure to have and love. Wishing you years of enjoyment!