I’ve long held a burning candle in my heart for Girl with a Pearl Earring. At this point, I’m not even sure if it’s a wonderful movie or if my obsession comes from the fact it’s just painfully beautiful. It’s one of those movies that every frame is composed to look like an exquisitely hazy oil painting, which makes sense because it’s a movie about exquisitely hazy oil paintings.
antique french easel $995, cobalt linen scarf $88, wicker demijohns $98, set of 30 18th cent delft tiles $1100, vintage dutch teacup and saucer $24, hand forged candlestick $20, vintage tin $58, palette knife $8, vintage paintbrush $10, sugar dish $45.
Based on Tracy Chevalier’s novel, it tells the fictionalized tale of Vermeer’s masterpiece A Girl with a Pearl Earring. Vermeer’s studio in Holland in the 17th century makes for a drool inducing set, full to the brim with delft tile, blue and white china, simple stained glass, rough hewn tables, velvet curtains, easels, canvases, pigments and stone floors. Hold on a sec while I pack my bags? Okay, thanks. All ready to go. -amy m.
diamond and pearl earrings contact dealer, antique bottles $900 for the set, tortoise shell combs, handmade wooden bucket $320, console table $1000, mauviel copper pot $232, antique candlesticks $150/pair, ceramic tureen $350.
33 Comments
This is my new favorite Living In, and that’s really saying something. Honestly, I don’t remember much of the story, but the visuals have stuck with me.
Sigh. This is so beautiful. I look forward to this column every week, and can honestly say I’m watching movies thinking this way now. I watched “Kramer vs. Kramer” the other day and thought, “Omigosh this would make such a good Living In.” Excellent job, Amy!
Justifying my love (pardon the Madonna pun) for the uber-expensive copper cookware.
The film was visually stunning {as are all of your selections, Amy!}. Still, I prefer the book so much more. Have you read it? Beautiful!
I read the book when it came out (and really enjoyed) but never saw the movie… swooning over the vintage tin and the set of bottles ($900 yikes!) :)
Amy, have you read this book? It reads just as beautiful as the movie looks. (And its a quick read!) Great collection!
love love love the movie!
the antique bottles are amazing! What a great find.
That is a brilliant movie, and one I’m thinking I should own just because it makes me want to paint. Then if I’m ever feeling uninspired, I could just put the movie on and would be back in the studio in no time at all!
What a beautiful collection for such a beautiful movie. I love all of the blue delft tiles… and the antique bottles… sigh!
How strange – I was thinking about this book and the film this morning, so these
photos are so welcome – thank you!
Oh, I love everything Dutch. And this movie really is beautiful.
I visited several historically preserved houses in Amsterdam 2 years ago and the sets on the movies are really very authentic. The tile work is gorgeous. I started collecting blue and white china after my visit.
This is a great book. The older man/employer becoming tender and caring in his studio….romantic and sensual even though nothing actually happens between them.
Wow. I just clicked on the antique bottle set link… J. Peterman! I didn’t know that place still existed– what a blast from the past!!! I’m going to enjoy perusing their online catalog! Excellent “Living In”, as always!
i actually cant really stand the movie. mrs johansen just never go to me…but i do agree the setting / light / colors are very nice. I saw Vermeer and Frans etc in Amsterdam and even though some paintings are very small they light up a whole room. those are absoluly stunning
Beautiful post with great finds. Simple can be so inspiring.
helena
i feel the same way about scarlett johansson- i never connect with her in her roles. although i did think she was seriously hilarious on SNL when she played the daughter of the “porcelain fountains” guy who did the fake ad skit. but for some reason she always rubs me the wrong way.
g
Great movie. Haven’t seen it since it came out. I like the scence where she takes the time to arrange fruit on a plate treating it as a work of art. I’d like to have that console table!
I so love the restrained color palette and the dark woods and natural materials. Lovely, Lovely, Lovely!
i have seen the original painting and it is gorgeous….one of my faves!
I never saw the movie (seems like I am in good company when I say I kind of don’t like Scarlett Johansson) but I love love LOVE the book!
And this Living In is just perfect! It still gets the mood and rich visuals–I can see Griet using one of those bottles to put clove-oil in. I really want the whole set!
I adore this movie and the painting. I want to fill my house with these beautiful things! Gorgeous, Grace; just gorgeous!
These pieces all fit the movie beautifully!
I had the pleasure to see the Vermeer exhibit at the Nation Gallery of Art several years ago. His work is extraordinary. I enjoyed the movie and the notion of taking a painting and expanding it into a work of historical fiction is brilliant.
I have always loved this film and loved the book even more. Your finds are terrific.
With the film in mind, the actual painting it self is even more special!
Love the ‘living in’!!
Oh, I loved this book! It’s one that really sticks with me. Great choices here. I’d like to have the console table, the soup tureen and the copper pot.
I cannot tell you how happy you’ve made me by featuring this film!! Love the painting … love the book … love the film. The bit at the end where the finished portrait shows up always gives me goose-bumps. Gorgeous accessories and a wonderful (and not badly priced!) console table – thank you!
beautiful movie, I loved it….i mean I dont know if i would love to live in a time when you were considered old at 40, but still! lol the paintings and the furnishings and the costumes were great….and the use of light in the movie made each frame seem like a vermeer painting.
Seen the painting up close and it’s beautiful. check it out if you are even in Den Haag.
Vermeer is one of my favorites, if not my favorite painter of all…I didn’t love the film so much, but your distillation into yet another wonderful Living In makes me appreciate it more…finally noticing the pains taken to reflect Vermeer’s play with light and color – thank you for making me less cranky about Scarlet J’s perpetual poutiness.
Both the book and movie are wonderful which is not always the case. Usually it’s the books that wins hands down.
I love pearl…and ear ring of pearl is awesome…
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