A Bridge to the Past
The 1930’s in Southern California continued to produce the Spanish influence of its historic past in homes and furniture. One such piece found its way into my home after a long and unknown past. I came to have the piece after a neighbor passed away; she had told her family I was to have certain pieces. Happy to have a bit of memory of my old friend, but now wishing that I had some history to go along with the bequest, I’m left to my imagination.
The piece is a low tile topped bench with chunky legs and a hand carved and painted stretcher bar. The tile is plain and utilitarian. Actually the most decorative part of the bench is its painted stretcher bar; it looks like an iron cross and a few other very simple markings. The bench is clearly handmade and well fitted as testament to its longevity. It’s simple, plain and was probably used in the home as a bench by the fireplace; a place for the occupants to warm themselves on cold California nights. The craftsman was probably proud of his handiwork and couldn’t resist a bit or ornamentation, hence the carving and painting.
As I have mentioned before, old pieces can find new homes and different functions with a little imagination. While a bench is limited in its function, it can find many uses and should not be easily discarded. After all in the 30 plus years I’ve had it, it has served as a non-descript place to set an old TV; big old hulking tube TV, no less. It has served as a coffee table in the TV room once a more functional piece was found for the television. The plain little bench sat in front of the window with a handmade bird cage my father built.
I have enjoyed and used this little bench for many decades, loved it for its usefulness and memory of a good friend. I always found a good use for it, but I felt the time had come for me to part with it. I can find another small stool to hold the bird cage; now it seemed as though the little bench should come full circle and be joined again where it probably originated, a small 1930’s Spanish styled house. To my delight my daughter was thrilled to be the next custodian of the little bench.
The little bench looks right, like its finally home again.
The piece is a low tile topped bench with chunky legs and a hand carved and painted stretcher bar. The tile is plain and utilitarian. Actually the most decorative part of the bench is its painted stretcher bar; it looks like an iron cross and a few other very simple markings. The bench is clearly handmade and well fitted as testament to its longevity. It’s simple, plain and was probably used in the home as a bench by the fireplace; a place for the occupants to warm themselves on cold California nights. The craftsman was probably proud of his handiwork and couldn’t resist a bit or ornamentation, hence the carving and painting.
As I have mentioned before, old pieces can find new homes and different functions with a little imagination. While a bench is limited in its function, it can find many uses and should not be easily discarded. After all in the 30 plus years I’ve had it, it has served as a non-descript place to set an old TV; big old hulking tube TV, no less. It has served as a coffee table in the TV room once a more functional piece was found for the television. The plain little bench sat in front of the window with a handmade bird cage my father built.
I have enjoyed and used this little bench for many decades, loved it for its usefulness and memory of a good friend. I always found a good use for it, but I felt the time had come for me to part with it. I can find another small stool to hold the bird cage; now it seemed as though the little bench should come full circle and be joined again where it probably originated, a small 1930’s Spanish styled house. To my delight my daughter was thrilled to be the next custodian of the little bench.
The little bench looks right, like its finally home again.
Posted by Designs Refined Tips at 5/9/2009 10:50 AM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: designs furniture antiques refined
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: designs furniture antiques refined
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