Mint Juleps @ le château de Hopkins.

Mint Juleps @ le château de Hopkins. As I say farewell to my French friend David. I made him a Mint Julep a traditional Southern favorite.

Four-ingredient Classic Mint Juleps are a traditional Southern favorite.

Classic Mint Julep

Kentucky Derby is celebrated the first Saturday in May with visitors from around the world gathering at the race track and all over Louisville. As "My Old Kentucky Home" plays before the race, julep cups are raised high, bringing tears to many eyes. To Kentuckians, a mint julep is more than a drink; it's a cup of emotion, full of tradition.

The classic version is served in silver julep cups. These are filled to the rim with a refreshing concoction of the finest bourbon, simple syrup, fresh mint, and crushed ice. This drink is best made individually "to taste" using only the freshest ingredients. While Kentucky Colonel mint is commonly used, other varieties work well too. The ingredients remain constant, but opinions are as varied as the colors of jockeys' silks as to the proper way to make them. Many crush the mint and sugar together (referred to as muddling), while others insist that the mint should be smelled not tasted.

Always pre-chill julep cups or glass tumblers before filling with crushed ice. This prevents the ice from melting too quickly. "Wrap ice cubes in a thick towel or cloth bag, and hammer away until you have small chunks,".

Before tasting, insert a cocktail straw or coffee stirrer near the mint sprig. Inhale a deep breath, and slowly sip until someone says, "May I fix you another mint julep?"

La tarte au citron meringuée @ le château de Hopkins.

La tarte au citron meringuée @ le château de Hopkins.

My French friend David from Brittany has stayed with me for a week @ le château de Hopkins. To thank me for his wonderful stay he made for me my favorate French dessert La tarte au citron meringuée! The last time I had this amazing French dessert homemade for me was last October by my good friend The Baroness de Pontalba at her lovely home Le château de Mont-l'Évêque! I had mostly eaten this fabulous dessert from La pâtisserie all over France! But you are very lucky when you can have it homemade. I made sure I watched David make it so I can make it myself one day. Unexpectedly David cooked a whole French dinner to go with La tarte au citron meringuée! David needs to move into le château de Hopkins so he can cook his fabulous meals every night! It was absolutely delicious! I felt like I was transported to France eating it! I have so many good memories around eating tarte au citron meringuée!  

La tarte au citron meringuée

David cooking in the kitchen of le château de Hopkins.

The finished product 

On display at the table of le château de Hopkins.

Hand painted Old Paris porcelain dessert plates and Olive pattern coin silver ready for La tarte au citron meringuée. 

Circa 1800 Old Paris porcelain trumpet vase with Gerbera daisies. 

French dinner made for me by David, served on a 18th century Louis XVI Sèvres "bleu céleste" soft paste porcelain plate.

A wonderful display.  

David happy with his Dessert! 

Lunch at le château de Hopkins.

The 19th century inspired table setting for my lunch for two. 

Last Sunday I had a friend over for lunch at le château de Hopkins. I have known this person for over 10 years and have sold him fine culinary antiques over the years. Because of this I wanted my table setting to reflect fine 19th century Creole dining of days past! I love decorating and entertaining with elegant antiques.  The lunch not pictured was BBQ chicken, steamed asparagus, homemade coleslaw & mashed potato's.  

A table set for two viewed from the top. 

The 19th century French glassware used starting from the left, a 1840's French Baccarat crystal water glass, A 1830's French Louis Philippe wine glass and a small 1830's Louis Philippe cordial glass. 

The table setting includes a 1830's Old Paris porcelain plate from a dinner service originally belonging to a early 19th century New Orleans Creole family.  The dinner knife is 1820's English Regency carved Mother of pearl. The fork is French Empire fiddle and thread circa 1805. The dessert spoon over the plate is Philadelphia coin silver circa 1830's.  The linen monogrammed napkin is French mid 19th century. The kidney shaped dish is called a bone plate and is French 19th century Baccarat crystal.  The linen tablecloth is turn of the century. 

In the center of the table we have antique roses in a late 18th century Old Paris porcelain Neoclassical vase signed by the Locré factory circa 1780's. 

The desert setting, a Old Paris porcelain dessert plate circa 1830's. The shell shape gilt rim dish is French Baccarat. he dessert spoon over the plate is Philadelphia coin silver circa 1830's. With a 1830's Louis Philippe cordial glass. 

Dessert: Italian lemon ice served with fresh raspberries and a sprig of mint! Washed down with Grand Marnier! 

A 1850's American sentimental/mourning wreath made of hair.

Mid 19th century American Mourning wreath made of hair.

For the past few months I have been helping a friend in the French Quarter put items up on ebay and price there vast collection of antiques, In exchange for my time, I'm working for antiques in trade. A month ago the first item joined the collection of the le château de Hopkins. A 1850's American sentimental/mourning wreath made of hair. Hair is one of the most unique and personal mementos people can give of themselves. Although taking hair and weaving it into sentimental pieces has been done for hundreds of years as a way to remember a loved one, it was the Victorians who took the idea and crafted it into an art form. Since I was a child and saw my first woven hair wreath in a museum, I have been fascinated with them and hair jewelry.


A mourning wreath could be made up of one member’s hair or a composite of an entire family. As family members died, hair was saved in a “hair receiver.” When enough was accumulated, the hair was fashioned into flowers and leaves by twisting and sewing it around shaped wire forms. A family hair wreath was a way of telling about the family and its history; the same way a family tree indicates who members of a certain family are and their relationships, today. The open-end at the top of the wreath symbolizes the deceased’s ascent to heaven. Wreaths were then placed in shadow boxes and displayed with the open end up, like a horseshoe. This wreath has handwritten names and number that corresponds to the different family members.

Sometimes they come back to you. The interesting story of a 19th c oil portrait.

Mid 19th century oil portrait of Joseph Patterson age 27 in the collection of le château de Hopkins 

In the Summer of 2009 while surfing ebay for 19th century oil portraits I came across the portrait of Joseph Patterson, although the sitter was not identified at the time. The listing was in New York city and if memory serves me right I believe the listing price was $1,500.  or $1,600. The global financial crisis of 2008 was a bad year for antiques, items that were worth lots of money went down in value and to this day many antiques are still down in price. Although I loved the painting I did not feel comfortable spending that much for it.  

The seller listed the painting many times on ebay from the Summer of 2009 until the winter of 2010 without any luck of the painting selling. We exchanged many emails about the portrait. I first offered $1,000. for it and my last offer for $1,200. was turned down. From day one of email exchanged, the New Yorker was very rude like some people are known for above the Mason Dixon line. She thought the person in the portrait was Southern without any proof other then thats what she was told when she bought it. 

My friends have nicknamed the person in the oil painting "Ashley Wilkes" after the fictional character in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind and the later film of the same name. 

Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes in the Gone With the Wind.

In January of 2010 I had decided to move from Baltimore, Maryland back to my birth town of Mobile, Alabama. Before leaving Baltimore I sold a lot of my antiques and bought a lot of antiques for my home in Alabama, In the back of my mind I could not stop thinking about the handsome portrait of the blue eyed blonde haired gentleman. I contacted the rue seller one more time. I upped my offer from $1,000. to $1,200. Plus I would ride up to New York and pick the painting up, that way the seller did not have to worry about packing it. I was still refused by the seller. 

The portrait is in it's original Victorian ornate Rococo Revival frame. 

5 years latter in January of 2015 I jus got back from my month long vacation  in France over Christmas/New Years. I'm surfing ebay for 19th century oil portraits and see a photo of the same portrait I feel in love with over 5 years ago. List not in New York city but outside of New York city. At the starting low bid of $299. without a reserve price. Wow I was amazed and worried! Did the same crazy rude woman still own this lovely painting? This time I was not letting the painting get away from me. But I had burning questions about the portrait and it's whereabouts over the last 5 years. 

First I found out the person listing the painting was a man that owned a Antiques shop specializing in antiques paintings. In careful email exchanges with him I asked where did he get the portrait and how long did he own it? He replied he bought it at a estate sale and had owned it for two years. I pieced together that the rude woman must have died and the painting was purchased at her estate sale for pennies on the dollar of what she thought it was worth.  Now next was to try and bid on the painting to own it. I was not going to let it slip thru my hands a 2th time. Biding the last 10 seconds I won the painting for $550. Have of my highest offer 5 years ago. Sometimes patience does pay off, even if it takes 5 years. 

The pieced together old label that came with the painting. 

After winning the beautiful portrait I became impatient to receive it. I won it in the middle of a big snow blizzard in New York, The painting could not be shipped off until 2 weeks after the auction was over, with me messaging the seller every day to see if he could ship it. It was held up for two weeks in New York and a week of shipping it, almost a month. It finally arrived at the château de Hopkins. I was very pleased and happy to see him after all of those years, I notice in the bottom of the box he came in old pieces of broken paper. After retrieving them and putting them together it turned to be part of a old typed label identifying the sitter as "Joseph Patterson" age 27 when the portrait was painted. I was surprised to find the label as the ebay listing did not say anything about a label. After contacting the seller again he did not know about the label. The only thing I could think about was it must have been hidden on the back of the portrait and fell out when it was being shipped to me. 

"Joseph Patterson" AKA Ashley Wilkes, decorated for Creole Christmas 2015 at le château de Hopkins. 

The key to a well painted portrait is the eyes will follow you around the room no matter where you are in a room.  

Today the portrait of "Joseph Patterson" AKA Ashley Wilkes has a high position in my home over a 1825 Federal Philadelphia pianoforte. He is very well painted with soft skin tone & hair, Salmon colored bow tie, white shirt, Ivory vest and black jacket. One hand holds the top of a gold tip walking stick. Red drapery with tassel hang on the left side of the portrait. 

I hope to one day be about to get more info on Joseph Patterson. As he looks like a interesting person. 

This is not the first time this has happen to me in the antique world. It has happen a few times when I don't get something I really want. Although some items have taken over ten years to come to me. Has something like this happen to you? If so I want to hear all about it. 

The Kentucky Derby @ le château de Hopkins!

We are getting ready for the Kentucky Derby @ le château de Hopkins!

Ginger Flowers @ le château de Hopkins.

Ginger Flowers @ le château de Hopkins.

Happy May day from le château de Hopkins.

Happy May day from le château de Hopkins.

Spring flowers at le château de Hopkins.

Spring flowers and Old Paris porcelain at le château de Hopkins.

Spring flowers at le château de Hopkins.

Spring flowers in a late 18th century Old Paris porcelain Neoclassical vase signed by the Locré factory on a 1820's English Regency silver tray at le château de Hopkins.

The Locré and Russinger porcelain factory, one of the many which set up in the city of Paris during the final quarter of the 18th century. Jean-Baptiste Locré was a businessman who invested his fortune in building the factory at La Courtille. He invited Laurentius Russinger, a porcelain specialist and sculptor who had worked at the Höchst factory to work there in 1772 and in 1777 appointed him as manager. By the late 1760s the right kind of clay (kaolin) to make glassy Meissen style porcelain, had been discovered in France at Saint-Yrieux, near Limoges. This was used by Russinger to produce a hard-paste porcelain similar to Meissen that could withstand boiling water, which was an important selling point for the factory's wares that they used in their advertisements. The factory also adopted the mark of a pair of crossed flaming torches, reminiscent of Meissen's crossed swords mark. Sometimes known as 'La Courtille' after its location in Paris, the factory is also sometimes referred to as Locré, Russinger and Pouyat - François Pouyat was a porcelain dealer in Limoges who supplied the clay. The factory owed him so much money he became one of its partners and eventually he and his three sons took over.

According to Régine Plinval de Guillebon, this factory ranked among the three most important porcelain works in Paris by 1779, the others being Rue Thiroux and Clignancourt. They made the same type of objects as the famous (but much more expensive) Sèvres factory: a wide range table and tea wares and useful items such as writing sets, toilet articles and tobacco-related items. A variety of painted and gilded decoration was used from simple floral sprigs to elaborate Etruscan, neo-classical or other fashionable designs. The factory excelled in biscuit sculpture, not surprising perhaps as this was Russinger's speciality. They produced many different mythological, allegorical and family groups as well as individual subjects.

Gardenias to brighten my day!

Gardenias to brighten my day @ le château de Hopkins. 

It's Creole Coffee time @ the Château de Hopkins!

It's Creole Coffee time @ the Château de Hopkins!

Late Winter fresh cut citrus decorating le Château de Hopkins.

Fresh large Louisiana grown Meyer lemons decorate a circa 1800 Neoclassical gold decorated round Old Paris porcelain platter with a cut glass cheese/butter dome in the center. 

At the end of Winter a good friend and neighbour invited me over to her house to take away the last of the blood oranges and meyer lemons from trees in her lovely garden, knowing I also like to put fresh greeny in my 18th & 19th century vases she also invited me to cut fresh ginger leaves! I could not wait to get all of this home to decorate the front Salon of le château de Hopkins. During the 18th & 19th century Winter greenery was often placed in a home to bring a cheerful look in anticipation of Spring and Summer. 

On top of the 1825 Philadelphia Federal piano are ginger in a pair of Rococo Revival Old Paris porcelain vases and fresh citrus in a Old Paris porcelain center piece.  

A early 19th century Federal period Pittsburgh cut flint glass footed bowl holds fresh cut Louisiana citrus.  

I could not resist making fresh squeezed blood orange juice with a splash of vodka, served in a early 19th century English Georgian cut glass!

A view of the Meyer lemons from the top. 

Meyer lemons displayed in a early 19th century Old Paris porcelain vegetable dish. 

Louisiana citrus in a Jacob Petit Rococo Revival Old Paris Porcelain Corbeille atop the piano. Over the corbeille is a dated 1837 Paris engraving titled the Bridesmaid in it's original gold leaf Louis Philippe Neoclassical frame.  

Citrus in a early 19th century Pittsburgh cut flint glass bowl next to a ebony and gold gilt ormolu Louis Philippe 1830's portico clock. 

The Meyer lemons made some of the best lemonade I had ever had. Served out of a dated 1859 Old Paris porcelain presentation pitcher on a Neoclassical English Regency silver tray. 

A corner of the piano with ginger filled Paris porcelain vase! I was very pleased with the overall look of the room with fresh citrus and greens. 

Here at le Château de Hopkins I like to keep fresh flowers and greenery in cut glass and Paris porcelain vessels all year around. What kind of flowers and cut greens do you like to use in your home?