Thursday, September 22, 2011

BEAUTY PUT OUT TO PASTURE


I have noticed these doors leaning outside against a building for quite some time. They are old yet their craftsmanship is excellent. Sometimes we put the best old objects out to pasture and treat poorly produced new objects as priceless.  

14 comments:

  1. I think you need to rescue them, Barbara, they need a new home!

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  2. Hello Barbara:
    We entirely echo your sentiments. Here in Budapest we constantly see skips full of the most wonderful doors and windows removed from old apartment houses and, usually, to be replaced with modern ones made of pvc. Ghastly!

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  3. You're quite right. Preferring the new is an effect of our capitalist system. If you are content with the old the manufacturers of the new won't sell as many products. Our values are not conditioned by tsste and true value but by advertising. "New and improved" sounds good but isn't necessarily true. I'm glad blogs give people like you a platform on which to show the value of older objects, even things as humble as a pair of doors.

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  4. What a shame! They have such much character and probably a lot of use still left in them.

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  5. Jayne -- I wish I could but I have no place to put them. I spot so many old objects that I wish I could rescue but I would need a big barn to store them all. Thanks for the comment -- barbara

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  6. Jane and Lance -- the "throw away society" reaches all parts of the globe I guess. The wood in old doors, at least in this area, is usually virgin timber, something one would have difficulty finding today. I cringe when I see them being thrown out -- headed for a landfill. -- barbara

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  7. June -- All your words ring so true with my feelings. The capitalist advertising alters people's thinking which results in buying inferior products. I know everyone in there middle years or older are disappointed with items breaking or being defective soon after buying them. Younger people might think this is natural for items to have short life spans as they are not familiar with the products that were once turned out in the U.S. Thanks -- barbara

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  8. Mama-Bug -- I took a close look at them and they do have a lot of life left in them. I do know that Habitat for Humanity does take old house castoffs that are in fairly good shape. But Habitat for Humanity stores are not located in all areas. They go by the name of RESTORE. Thanks -- barbara

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  9. Barbara, I was just going to mention RESTORE. We have a few around here. We also have a few antique dealers who specialize in building parts such as doors and windows. Not cheap! And failing that, I know of a few gardens that have doors incorporated into pergolas or archways, very striking. But many are still wasted and destroyed. Those two doors are nice.

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  10. Barara, I thought I left a message yesterday, but I don't see it here.

    I forgot what I wanted to say, except I am happy when I have something old in my house. I have a little cupboard I bought from Sundance that was made from the floor boards of an old farm house. To me it has an aura reflecting the many feet that trod on it over the years. I love it. Save that door, you never know.... Dianne

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  11. It is sad to see such fine quality out to suffer from the elements. It makes for a great photograph though.

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  12. Dianne -- Your little cupboard sounds very nice with the old floor boards. My daughter lives in Utah near the Sundance store -- it is very interesting -- turquoise and silver jewelry, hand made pieces of furniture, funky clothes and beautiful textiles. I too like pieces that reflect the character marks from years past. Sorry your first comment didn't go through. Thanks for resending the comment -- I appreciate it -- barbara

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  13. NCmountainwoman -- I see so many parts to old houses being trashed -- and old houses, barns and outbuildings sitting abandoned. I think it is sad.
    Thanks -- barbara

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  14. Sheri -- I would love to see a post on the use of doors in a garden. I know old buildings parts offer some nice decor to a garden as well as old mechanical parts. Thanks -- barbara

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