Happy Monday!

Hope you had an enjoyable weekend!

I'm locking myself in the office... Taking a blogging break this week so that I can get all of my descriptions typed up for our new arrivals next week! This key (above) is one of those items!

Enjoy your week everyone and don't work too hard!

Featured Item: Antique French Candy box

I thought it would be fun to start a weekly "featured item" post highlighting one of my favorite Paris Hotel Boutique items.

This rare 19th century French candy box is one of the most unique pieces I've ever come across. I wish the photos did it justice!

The French confectionery industry has a long history. The French word "confiserie" comes from Latin "confire." Originally, given that sugar was very rare, confectionery was an art that only the wealthiest people only could afford (the Kings of France and the Court would enjoy what they called at that time "épices"). As sugar became more readily available due to increased imports, confectionery as an art and an industry developed.


And if only the wealthy could afford such "sweets," of course they would be housed in an exquisite box such as this one.

The top is convex glass. Under the glass, everything is 3-dimentional. There is a gold foil rooster on red glass. There are seed pearls are gold thread; handpainting and handwriting. I can only decipher part of the handwriting which reads, "Mon Amour..." and "chante" which means "chirp." The outside of the box is heavy cardboard. The box measures 2-3/8" in diameter and a little over 1" high.

Such detail for a little candy box...

It's amazing that a treasure this fragile has survived for so many years. I've never seen one like it before. This rare little box is available for purchase here at Paris Hotel Boutique!

Happy Weekend!

Stay Warm!

image: JenniPenni via flickr

Paris Hotel Boutique Survey + Giveaway!

Have you visited our online boutique before? Ever purchased something from us?

As our valued readers and customers, we strive to make shopping at Paris Hotel Boutique a unique and special experience for you.

We love hearing your thoughts on how we're doing. I've created a very brief survey for you. It shouldn't take more than 5 minutes. I know your time is valuable, so as a big thank you, there's a giveaway for three of you!

If you'd kindly do me a favor, please click this link to fill out the survey. Deadline is February 6th.

Three of you will be randomly selected to receive a fun package, so be sure and leave your email address at the end of the survey so that I can contact you, should you be a winner.

Thanks so much!

Year of the Dragon!

Today (actually yesterday in China), begins the first of a full 15 days of celebrating the Chinese New Year, which includes big parades, festivals and fireworks all over the world.

Living in San Francisco, we have a large Chinese population. It's wonderful to participate in the many celebrations and customs for this New Year, especially in Chinatown.

Red and Gold are the dominant colors for the Chinese New Year. These colors represent good luck and fortune for the Chinese. Traditionally Chinese people will decorate their homes with paper decorations with these colors.

Named one of the world’s top ten parades, the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is the largest celebration of its kind outside of Asia.

Parade highlights include elaborate floats, lion dancers, folk dancers, costumed elementary school groups, marching bands, stilt walkers, Chinese acrobats, and a foot long Golden dragon, (“Gum Lung”) that takes a team of over 100 men and women to carry.

From all the animals in the Chinese Zodiac the Dragon is the only “fictional animal” in the Chinese Zodiac. The Dragon brings a special kind of fortune with it and many Chinese people will wait to have babies in the “year of the dragon”.

A longtime Chinese tradition is giving family and friends decorative red envelopes with money in them. The Chinese characters on them symbolize good fortune.

So if you happen to be celebrating, wishing you a Happy New Year!

images: 1.yewenyi - flickr 2.Poetic Shutterbug 3.joelloveskimberly 4. David Pham via flickr 5. unknown 6. prek-8.com 7. unknown 8. google

Have a Dazzling Weekend!

This beautiful photo of the Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors, Versailles) is available in an 8" by 10" print at Melanie Alexandra Photography here on Etsy! Isn't it lovely?

Sparkle, Shine & Simmer with Splendor this weekend!

Too Pretty to Eat!

As long as I'm on a roll with Tiffany's, look at these beautiful mini-cakes resembling a Tiffany jewelry box!

These were made by Patricia Arribálzaga of Haute Couture Cakes for Tiffany's in Barcelona to honor of 50th anniversary of the film "Breakfast at Tiffany's."


Light chocolate cake with three layers of chocolate cream filling natural strawberry. So, pretty, aren't they?

images: Cakes Haute Couture