Charleston Silver Lady

Handmade maserpieces from the Black Forest

Posted 8/20/20

This masterfully handcarved dining chair is 1 of 6 expertly hand carved in the Black Forest of Germany.  The indigenous wood was fashioned into a suite of 6 dining chairs crafted circa 1850. …

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Charleston Silver Lady

Handmade maserpieces from the Black Forest

Posted

This masterfully handcarved dining chair is 1 of 6 expertly hand carved in the Black Forest of Germany.  The indigenous wood was fashioned into a suite of 6 dining chairs crafted circa 1850.  
The decorative motifs on these chairs were symbols of German culture. They feature fruit, grapes in particular, as well as beautifully carved love birds.  
One can conjure the image of German vineyards that could have easily inspired this use of these elements. You will notice the ‘barley twist’ supports that mimic the truncated form of age old grape vines. 
These handmade chairs were made at a time before mass production. The beautiful silk upholstery in what was once a bright turquoise color is also woven with leaves, grapes and vines. Their small , original wheels on the front legs allow them to be gracefully slid under a dining table.
These chairs have flat backs. When not in use, they would have sat along entry hall walls of a German castle. How beautiful they would have been to any visitor!
I have owned these chairs for over 30 years.  They came to me by way of Jackson Castle in Jackson, New Hampshire.  They were brought from Germany in the 1950s.
I bought them as I knew finding an original, intact set of 6 was rare. Many copies of these chairs were made as the appetite for such regional art forms increased. 
The German influence in Lexington is, as you know, tremendous. I have been fortunate to have had many recipes such as liver nips, mixed bread, ribble soup, German chocolate cake, rouladen, cabbage rolls shared with me over the years. They represent family and combine to create the context for a food culture unique to Lexington.
The recipe I am sharing today is an easy one.  We had this all the time in the summer. I did not realize until later that I was eating an age old recipe from Germany.  
Cold German Potato Salad**
6 cups of small red skin potatoes*
1 cup Duke’s mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup chopped homemade ‘icicle pickles,’
  sweet pickles or sweet relish 
1 tsp celery salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp prepared yellow mustard
Boil unpeeled potatoes until they are fork tender in salted water, about 15- 20 minutes. Check for level of softness. Drain and put them back in the hot pot they were cooked in, keeping them warm to encourage their skins to split open.
Mix together all other ingredients.  Add to the warm potatoes, using the pot as your mixing bowl.  The pot’s warmth allows everything to combine completely.  Lightly mash the potatoes as you mix.
In a container with a lid refrigerate at least 3 hours.  Garnish with celery salt or herbs of your choice.
I learned from fabulous German cooks in Lexington to add chopped boiled eggs, grated apples, chopped apples, red or green onions and/or chopped parsley.
If you cannot find small red potatoes, drive to Taylor’s Produce. They are behind  the best red tomatoes you will ever eat! 
In Charleston, we often added boiled shrimp turning it into a quick summer meal. We made it in the morning and put it in the refrigerator for the evening meal.
 

Black Borest, wooden chair, German furniture

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