Friday, July 23, 2010

FOR SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY:Cobalt Blue Objects Are Easy on the Eyes


Cobalt blue glass is hardly a new kid on the block. It's been around for a very long time, 2700 years before Christ, as a matter of fact. 

When researching the history of cobalt blue glass, it's noted that George Brandt, a Swedish chemist, is said to have discovered the mineral cobalt.  However, pieces of the glass have been found in archaeological sites in Egypt, China, Italy, and Persia, dating before Christ.
While blue has never been among my favorite colors, cobalt blue is appealing and attractive to look at. Recently, we did our kitchen over in blue and yellow and it's a look I actually have come to love.

Yellow daffodils in cobalt blue vases; a blue platter for fruit or red tomatoes; Italian casseroles with fitted tops; and bright, deep blue glasses have all joined a stash of household treasures around here.

Thrift stores, yard and estate sales, and second hand shops have been the source of virtually all the cobalt blue pieces in our house.







Sometimes, cobalt blue makes me think of the ocean or the infinity of the sky.
























My own childhood remembrances of seeing cobalt blue glassware do not date to before Christ but I do remember an aunt using the skin cream Noxema. It came (and still does) in a cobalt blue container. The difference is the original contain was made out of glass. Nowadays, it's plastic.

 As kids, our Mom rubbed us down with  Vicks Vapo Rub when we had chest congestion  and that, too, was in a cobalt blue container.





Cobalt blue, while it's been around a long time, will, no doubt, continue to add beauty to the world for centuries to come!

DO YOU LIKE COBALT BLUE GLASSWARE?

Be sure to hop on over to Cindy's blog, My Romantic Home, for more Show and Tell Friday items. Allot as much time as possible as there are so many wonderful blogs to visit there!  (See Cindy's blog on the sidebar.)

23 comments:

Michelle@ A Full Cottage said...

Thanks for stopping by!!

I love the yellow sunflowers in the blue vase that is stunning!
I also remember my grandma using Noxema in the blue glass jar every night. i didn't know that it was still around.

:) Michelle

Sewn With Grace said...

Hi Susan! So glad you stopped by today. I so loved your comment. I have never heard the name Leokadie before or after I came to know her. I enjoyed your post today. I was just at a nursery where they took cobalt blue wine bottles and put them on stakes in the garden, so very pretty with the sun shining on them. My mother was a huge fan of noxema and vices vapor rub to everything from sunburn to the "croup". I have seen those jars many a time. I still enjoy the smell of noxema and sometimes buy some just for the memories. Have a blessed day!

Donna said...

Susan, that blue is just gorgeous! Especially on the windowsill with sun shining through it! Oh my gosh, I remember using Noxema ALL the time in the sixties ... I can smell it right now! I can smell the Vicks, too... Isn't it funny, I associate the Noxema with the cobalt blue, but not the Vicks, but you're absolutely right!

As you can see, I am a night owl, too - it's 12:24 a.m. and I'm wide awake! haha... Donna
P.S. Wasn't it GORGEOUS today? So nice without that humidity!

Bella's Rose Cottage said...

Hi Susan, You have a very nice collection of colbalt, It is always striking how rich the color is! Your photos on the windowsill are gorgeous and showcase it perfectly:-)
Bella

Hootin Anni said...

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, how very pretty! I have some pieces and love to see the light filtering through them near the window!!

For your convenience: My Show n Tell Bargain Link. Hope you can visit.

Blue Ridge Altered Art said...

Thank you for your history of cobalt glass. I have a whole wall full. I have it in an open shelf that the sunshines thru. I have one of the old cobalt vicks jars, oil lamps and many cobalt rose bowls.

Susan Roux said...

I love colored glass. I have it all over the house in the windows. Blue is one of my favorites. Not only is it in the windows, its also all over my mantel. I didn't realize it was around for so long. Amazing...

Lovely photos. Its beautiful with yellow flowers!

Victorian1885 said...

Good morning Susan
Cobalt blue glass has always been a favorite of mine..thank you for the background history! You can never go wrong with yellow & blue together..great post!

Wanda

Doni said...

What beauties! Love your cobalt blue and the bit of history you gave us about it. I have a nice collection too...including a number of the Vicks Vapo Rub jars and even a glass Noxema! Those were the days!
Blessings, Doni

Bookie said...

Very interesting and yes, I love blue cobalt. Have several bottles sitting around among my Blue Willow. Enjoyed seeing your pictures!

Claus said...

I like cobalt blue, especially when combined with bright yellow, such as those sunflowers above. If you've gone to Mexico, you might have seen that this combination is rather popular. Mexico and Central America share a use of bright and bold colors in textiles, wall painting, art, so I'm rather fond of all colors really, especially when one decorates with local pottery and creations.
Lovely color!...and lovely glass!
have a great day!

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

I love cobalt blue glassware. I don't have any, but keep saying one day I will buy some pieces. Right now, I have mostly green glassware, just from collecting through the years. I have, literally, run out of room. :(

Susan said...

Hi Everyone! I am LOVING reading all your comments. So much fun. So glad you all liked the cobalt blue collection. Please, PUL-LEESE come back to visit, okay? Love, Susan

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I love cobalt blue glass!! I have some depression dishes in cobalt and some other items I have picked up here and there. Such a gorgeous blue and with yellow....perfect!!

Anonymous said...

yes Susan! it's the Noxema bottle colour! I love the smell of that stuff...takes me straight back to my childhood days...my mother used to use it all the time!

this is gorgeous...and from this point on...whenever it is that I see some cobalt blue glass I'll think "Susan"....!!!

ciao bella
creative carmelina

diane stetson said...

My daughter, and two sisters especially one I'm thinking of LOVE cobalt blue glassware...I'm sure they would covet all these pieces..xo

Dianne said...

Beautiful glass... I have 2 lovely cobalt vases with clear crystal stem bases...I love them...

Susan said...

Welcome to this blog's three latest Followers: Homesteading Apartment, Gayle, and Doni. Do you know how WELCOME each of you is? Thanks for following! Please come to visit often.

Sincerely, Susan

Martha's Favorites said...

Hi my friend! I love how the colbalt blue looks in your kitchen. It is so funny, it is not one of my favorite colors either, however, my kitchen is done in the blues and pinks and I love it. Maybe were are twins and we just don't know it! Hugs, Martha

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Hi Susan, love the cobalt glass -- and the combination of blue and yellow is always dazzling. It's what I do my kitchen in. :) I've never stayed at a B&B -- but it is certainly on my list of things to do, one day. We are in OH now. Got back from NY yesterday and on the road again today (got a speeding ticket today -- boo!) My mom, an uncle and two aunts are here. We are visiting until about Wednesday. Hard to find computer time these days. Best wishes to you and yours, Tammy

Ann @ makethebestofthings said...

Love cobalt blue? Laws yes!! I've finally had to say enough since my windowsills, baker's rack and shelves are full, but still it tempts me. No other glassware grabs me like this beautiful blue. Your photos are wonderful, thanks for sharing.

Chatty Crone said...

I love the cobalt blue glass - I love the way you put the yellow flowers in the vase and I think the red tomatoes will be beautiful in it.
♥sandie

BECKY said...

Hi Susan! Gosh, I seem to be a few days behind in visiting your blog again! My apologies! I love cobalt blue, too...and of course, the Noxema jars! It takes me back to my childhood, too! I always think of sunburns, though. My mother rubbed it on our poor little sunburned shoulders. It was very cooling but I didn't particularly like the smell of it!! Love your pretty blue vases!

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