A beautifully dressed sales assistant was placing flowers, one by one into a glass vase of sparking water and she bowed her head in greeting.
I bowed mine in return and allowed myself to walk around one of the most exquisite shops I had ever seen.
It felt as if I’d come home.
On the fifth floor I bought a ridiculously expensive pair of glasses both of which had a delicately design etching of a lobster surrounded by tiny fish.
The pair have been two of my most cherished items for years
I fell in love with them as soon as I saw them.
Last night I told my dinner guest to dig out a glass for herself for her wine when I prepared the food.She picked the Takashimaya glass thinking it was the safest option as my much cheaper ( but more delicate looking wine glasses frightened her)
She noticed my look and offered to put the glass back immediately .
I refused.
It’s nice to see the glass used
As intended
You have the most beautiful soul xx Jan in Castle Gresley, Derbyshire
ReplyDeleteAnd the memories attached to it, are priceless.
ReplyDeleteOh I do believe that things should be used ... and enjoyed. We literally are only here the once and if we have treasures they should be making our everyday a bit more special.
ReplyDeleteBut gosh my heart would have been in my mouth if I had been in that shop with you. ;-)
That does look the shop of dreams x🦂
ReplyDeleteWe have started using our best glasses, just fed up with them just collecting dust not being used.
ReplyDeleteI remember Takashimaya. The store, the displays and the items they sold were stunningly simple & elegant. I would always stop in if I was in the area just to enjoy the beauty. Pat
ReplyDeleteI'd never even heard of Takashamaya. Sad that it's gone.
ReplyDeleteThose things we buy with our heart are so special. Things are meant to be used, not hidden away in a cupboard. If they get damaged, at least they've seen the light of day and given some pleasure! xx
ReplyDeleteGood on her and good on you. Things, be they glass ware, flat ware or even the finest of china are made and meant to be used. That is why they exist and that existance should not be denied them.
ReplyDeleteSomething you bought yourself is usually of no true value unless it's used. We have some very expensive etched wine glasses I bought from my uncle (for a pittance) who bought out estate sales. I have no clue what they're worth now. But if I'm not going to sell them, then I'm going to get pleasure out of using them. A couple have broken over the years, but they've been enjoyed. As for Takashimaya, my sister and I used to shop there and at Azuma all the time. I was a teenager and had no clue what a treasure Takashimaya was. I just thought it was fun.
ReplyDeleteI love Japanese aesthetic style too.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the depth of this post, so telling.
ReplyDeleteGood for you John! I purchased a Tiffany vase for my son's wedding. Gifts were privately given so I gave them the gift at their home (all clearly in the lovely Tiffany wrappings). My daughter-in-law promptly dropped flowers in it and filled it with water from the tap. My son's eyes grew large and I held my breath. He never said a word and I was rather proud of him! Jackie in Georgia USA
ReplyDeleteI just typed a long comment and it disappeared! Jackie in Georgia USA
ReplyDeleteDid the treacle tart go down well? I haven't had one for years and really need to learn how to make one. JanF
ReplyDeleteJohn I’m so glad that someone else here recalls Takashimaya - which I too have always thought the most beautiful store ever! Do you remember the wrapping by chance! I bought several items on visits and loved how they would take them to a room in back and return with the most amazingly wrapped things (folded and pleated tissue etc) gently placed in those gorgeous carrier bags - which must have be expensive - and I still have mine!!! The floral dept. was SO awesome - everything about the shop brought the feeling of caring, quality and creativity. I really was so sad when they closed in NYC - don’t know of any other store so fabulous in the USA.
ReplyDeleteThat special glass ought to remind you that the world is your lobster.
ReplyDeleteMy comment disappeared too 😂
ReplyDeleteYes, use them. They are a beautiful design! And, for what it's worth, the next generation has no desire for china sets or silver or cut crystal... a lot of what was being "saved" for the grandchildren is now just being donated. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely memory of that exquisite store on 5th Avenue. Do you still have two of those lovely glasses? If so, I hope you used the other glass for your beverage.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Either my comment disappeared or it didn't publish promptly as usual. Odd!
ReplyDeleteWhen I downsized, the mug collection went and the good china stayed, re-assigned to daily use. I'm even using the "good" tea towels. * And, no, I do not pop the good tea cups into the dishwasher!
ReplyDeleteThat shop sounds wonderful John .When nursing a lovely old 90year old i discovered she had a drawerful of beautiul embroidered nighties for "best" . We coaxed her that at her age it was time to to wear one and she loked so beautiful and happy . Since then i never keep anything for"best". Enjoy your treasures that bring you joy . x Bernie
ReplyDeleteOh, I thought you were going to say she broke it! WHEW! Funny, I lived in New York for ten years and not only never went to Takashimaya, I don't even remember it. When did it close, I wonder?
ReplyDeleteOK -- I did some research. Seems the building went up in 1993 and the store closed in 2010. I lived there for ten years after 2000, so I'm shocked I never visited. A missed opportunity!
ReplyDeleteI try to follow my mother’s approach - she didn’t believe in saving something for best. Can remember visiting someone in Venice. She was in the glass business and my partner and I were looking at a few things she had for sale. She offered, and we accepted, a drink. My blood pressure went up several notches as I knew the glasses were several centuries old and my partner is known (to me anyway) for being clumsy. Luckily he didn’t break anything.
ReplyDeleteWe did buy a couple of pieces from her - cost more than two weeks in Italy, including airfare from North America.
What beautiful glasses - I'm pleased they got used. They'd be very stable, with the low centre of gravity and relatively wide base. I believe in using and enjoying the beautiful things I've inherited, or collected myself. Perhaps surprisingly our son (as a child) and the grand children have never broken a single thing!
ReplyDeleteTakashimaya was one of my favorite spots in NYC along with Henri Bendels. I have a few treasures from them. To my knowledge I think it still sits empty...sadly.
ReplyDeleteI think my comment might have been on your previous post....my screen jumped!
Sadly, store interiors are now more like Primark. I remember going into Jenners in Edinburgh one Christmas. They had the biggest and most beautifully decorated Christmas tree I'd ever seen. It seemed like a miracle.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to see Christmas trees in shops, New York is the place to be. It is not a city I enjoy but December visits were an exception. The windows are incredible
DeleteI know the feeling John. I have some Minton Haddon Hall tea cups and saucers - I have had them since the farmer and I married but have never dared use them. He always used to joke that I was saving them for when the Queen came for a cuppa. Well she never will now so I am plucking up courage to use them.
ReplyDelete