Design Happens

When I took HGTV.com’s new What’s my Style quiz, the results said my design style is Eclectic. That’s a fair assessment. My home is a mix of old and new against a palette that spans the color wheel. Over the years, my husband and I have collected a myriad of accessories that are – in a word – different. My mother knows I see beauty in things many others discard. On her most recent trip to the Judson home, mom arrived carrying gifts. One in particular stood out. When I first saw it, I thought, “What in the world is it? And where in the world am I going to put it?” She placed it on the kitchen countertop where it remained until this weekend when I decided to inspect it, play with it and find a way to integrate this unusual object into our home.

First of all, the color – opalescent baby blue – is the opposite of our aesthetic. The texture is knobby with a lovely ripple around the edges. The weighty object has four parts: a bowl and three fluted horn-shaped pieces that protude up and out from the bottom of the bowl. Upon further inspection, I learned that the horns are removable. Curious. It is in perfect condition. The object came from my stepfather’s brother’s wife’s grandmother, Marie Squibb. I imagine it gracing the top of Mrs. Squibb’s table or sideboard, but I want to know more. I’m hoping someone out there can identify this antique and tell me a little about it.

I’m told it might have been manufactured by the Fenton Glass Company, but I could not find a stamp of any kind on the piece. What was at first an oddity that I didn’t think would find a spot in our home has become my new favorite antique. Sometimes all it takes is a little creativity and an open mind.

My new serving piece – filled with fruit kabobs and nuts – is sure to be a conversation starter at our next dinner party.

Remove the horns and discover a serving bowl that turns simple popcorn into a snacktime event.

Check out this centerpiece! Filled with white, green and brick red flowers, the baby blue glass seems to disappear but at the same time makes quite a statement.

Do you like old things? Visit HGTV.com’s MarketPlace to browse hundreds of antiques and reproductions. For resources on how to determine the value of an antique, check out What’s It Worth on Fine Living Network.com.

If anyone can shed any light on my new baby blue accessory, I would appreciate it!