Woman in Real Life

As I mentioned last week, I have begun another 4-month purge of all things excess in our home. So today, rather than sharing a thrifty purchase, I'm taking a closer look at one of my most prized decorative possessions - this antique metal bronze-look chandelier. My parents were kind enough to give us this lighting fixture after they sold the house I grew up in. This chandelier was in the tall entryway of our 1971 raised ranch house for as long as I can remember, and now it's in my dining room.



I just love this lighting fixture - its finish, its imagery and even the faux dripping candles underneath the bulbs. I can't quite figure out what type of soldier the man in the helmet represents. Is he Medieval? Is he Roman? Is he English? Spanish?

I called my mom to find out what more she could tell me about this lighting fixture. Here is some of the dialogue that followed:

Mom - We bought it in an antique store, it has to be - you're 44 - so it had to be in the first year or two we were in the house {we got the house when I was an infant} - but that's all I remember. Wait a minute I'll ask Daddy. I think it was an antique place in Grimsby (Ontario).

Dad (from his recliner in the background) - I think it was an antique place.

Mom - But what did you say about it - did you think it was a German piece or Scandinavian?

Dad - It's pretty old - I have no idea. (muffled words)

Mom - Peter's saying maybe German. It was really old when we got it - it was sold as an antique and antiques had to be a certain age and that's over 40 years ago we got it. I think a year or two after we got the house we wanted to replace whatever was there - it was just a simple, cheap light.

Me - How much do you think you paid for it?

Mom - We didn't have much money so it had to be under $100.

Me - What do you think it's made of? It looks kind of bronze.

Mom - Maybe brass?

Dad - If you've got a magnet, you can check - maybe brass wouldn't be magnetic. (At this point I call to my husband to take a magnet to the chandelier.)

There were also a couple of questions from my dad in there about why I was inquiring and a bit of yelling from Mom to get Dad to understand (he doesn't like to wear his hearing aids). There were also a couple of interruptions from my daughter, despite the fact I had sent her to her room to put clean clothes away so that I could quickly talk to my mom.


My husband found that parts of the lighting fixture are magnetic. I googled and discovered that there isn't enough (or maybe any) iron in brass to make it magnetic. There is some iron in bronze so it could be somewhat magnetic. But there's also a finish on the piece so who knows really?

You would think I would dust my antique lighting fixture before taking a photo for the blog, however, you must understand that dusting is my LEAST FAVOURITE of all household cleaning tasks. (And I'm not in love with any of them.) I will absolutely leave dusting to last every single time. Plus, don't you think the dust and cobwebs kind of add to the vintage appeal?

I know that the lovely women who join in for Vintage Bliss Tuesdays are more knowledgeable than me about thrifted and vintage treasures. So - any ideas about the imagery, age or material of my prized lighting fixture? Any input is appreciated!