Porcupine Boxes, Veranda Magazine, and Julianne Moore

By Toronto Antiques on King | Published: February 23, 2011

Veranda Magazine, March 2011, page 22

The March 2011 edition of Veranda clarified a point that we have suspected for years. We have much in common with Julianne Moore… looks, talent, fame…. ahem…. style? Yes. We have style in common. According to Veranda, Moore’s “favorite thing” is an antique box made out of porcupine needles and ebony that has been in her family for three generations. She likes natural and tactile objects to decorate her surroundings.

Over the years, Toronto Antiques on King has been collecting these wonderful, but hard to find, boxes. We think there is something absolutely stunning about the pattern of the porcupine needles. We loved these boxes before we heard about Moore’s love, but we are happy to hear we are in good company.

Porcupine boxes were made in Southern Ceylon between 1850 and 1900. Ceylon made them for export first for England and later for the rest of Europe. The most valuable porcupine boxes use ebony and are inlaid with ivory. You can measure value of the a box based on how close spots of ivory are together.

Send us a picture of your favorite thing and we’d love to blog about it!

As always, check out  www.cynthiafindlay.com

Posted in Cynthia Findlay, Gift Ideas, History, Toronto Antiques, Toronto Antiques on King | Comments closed

Getting Ready for Valentines Day

By Toronto Antiques on King | Published: February 11, 2011

We love Valentines day. It brings bright red hearts to dreary February nights, rich chocolates to cold afternoons and spring-time flowers to the middle of winter. Valentines day celebrates all kinds of love, not just romantic. It is a holiday that makes us remind all those around us that we love them.

That said, it IS a great time for romantic love. How about some champagne with candles followed by a homemade dinner, a sinfully delicious dessert and… is there a diamond in that box?  Romance is in the air. To prove it, have a look at this postcard from our customer Jim. Congrats Jim! and congratulations to everyone who has romance to celebrate this season. Keep telling us your stories! We love hearing them.

For wonderful gift ideas, www.cynthiafindlay.com/hearts

Posted in Antiques, Bridal Jewellery & Accessories, Cynthia Findlay, Engagement Rings, Estate Jewellery, Gift Ideas, Holiday, Vintage Jewellery | Comments closed

“Railway Children” Coming To Toronto

By Toronto Antiques on King | Published: February 11, 2011

Who hasn’t played a “chu-chu” train game? We have all enjoyed a wooden train set, pretended the fork was a train in order to feed a stubborn mouth, or acted like a train engine carrying “cargo” around the living room floor. Trains spark the imagination of children, but they also evoke romanticism in adults. Train games are universally and inter-generationally enjoyed.

Perhaps that is why the Railway Children is always sold out London, England. No one has more fun on a train than Bobby, Peter and Phyllis, three children, reduced to poverty in 1910 London, who made friends with the trani conductor and embarked on adventure and discovery.  The good news for train-loving trontonians is that this hit stage production is coming to the Steam Whistle Brewery in Toronto. We can’t wait!

If you need further proof that there is a train-loving child in all of us, check out this sterling silver train set from the Cynthia Findlay Collection.

As always, for any of your antique needs, go to www.cynthiafindlay.com

Posted in Entertainment District, Events, Film & Television Props, History | Comments closed

Chinese New Year: the Year of the Rabbit

By Toronto Antiques on King | Published: February 10, 2011

“Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it’s getting!” exclaims Carroll’s rabbit in Alice and Wonderland. With the Chinese New Year celebrations almost over we want to wish everyone a happy 2011, the year of the rabbit. Traditionally, the rabbit brings the welcome promise of prosperity. The rabbit, which bears dozens of offspring at a time, is associated with fertility and fruitfulness. Hopefully this is good news for a slow economy. The rabbit promises business success, level headedness and, most excitingly, monetary abundance. One wouldn’t want to let 2011 slip by without paying homage to the rabbit. Toronto Antiques on King has a collection of eclectic rabbit objects. They are charming, decorative, and sure to bring good fortune. Check them out, cynthiafindlay.com/rabbits-and-bunnies

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! From all of us at Toronto Antiques on King and our happily inanimate, but prosperous, rabbits.

Posted in Collecting Doulton & Beswick Magazine, Cynthia Findlay, Entertainment District, Gift Ideas, History, Holiday, Royal Doulton | Comments closed

Amethyst: February’s Birthstone

By Toronto Antiques on King | Published: January 28, 2011

The god of intoxication, Dionysus, drunkenly pursued the maiden Amethystos. Amethystos prayed and asked the gods that she remain chaste. Artemis obliged her request by turning Amethystos into a white stone. After seeing what he had caused, Dionysus was so upset that he poured wine over the stone as an offering, which dyed the crystal purple. Thus, the birth of the amethyst, or so Greek mythology would have it.

Amethyst is beautiful, luxurious and warm. The perfect birthstone for Februrary. Almost paradoxically it combines chastity with beauty, piousness with longing–it’s beauty derived from love’s longing. Enjoy our selection of Amethyst jewellery online cynthiafindlay.com/amethyst

Posted in Cynthia Findlay, Gemstones, Gift Ideas | Comments closed

We Love Hearing Our Customer’s Stories!

By Toronto Antiques on King | Published: January 25, 2011


We love being a part of our customer’s happiest moments—engagements, “push-presents,” birthdays, anniversaries—we feel like we see people at their most tender, most excited, and most loving. These moments are very rewarding; frankly they are the reason why we come to work in the morning. You can imagine that when we read this blog on Slice by one of our customers about her engagement, we were basically moved to tears www.slice.ca/Slice/Dish/. Have a look at “beach babe’s” heart-warming story and join us in a collective “aaaaawwwwww.”

Feeling inspired? Check out our engagement ring selection at www.cynthiafindlay.com/engagement-rings

(Photo from dinofaphotography.com)

Posted in Bridal Jewellery & Accessories, Cynthia Findlay, Engagement Rings | Comments closed

McCain Family Donates $1 million to the Metropolitan Community Church: and other “small world” musings

By Toronto Antiques on King | Published: January 18, 2011

Growing up in New Brunswick, I knew the McCain family well. Aside from my mother’s hand-cut french fries, McCain frozen fries were my absolute favourite snack. When I married my boyfriend, best friend and future business partner, we were honoured that Margaret McCain agreed to play the organ at our wedding. New Brunswick is a small world, but so is my new home of thirty-five years, Toronto. Toronto feels the McCain family’s generosity just as much as New Brunswick does.

I want to extend a big congratulations to Wallace and Margaret McCain for their generous donation to the Metropolitan Community Church, Toronto’s premier gay-rights church. This donation coincides with the 10th anniversary of a controversial same-sex wedding ceremony at the Metropolitan Community Church. Just as Margaret made my wedding special, so will this donation continue to make meaningful and special moments for members the Metropolitan.

A special contribution from Cynthia Findlay, owner of Toronto Antiques on King

About to tie the knot? Check out our selection of engagement rings at www.cynthiafindlay.com/engagement-rings

Posted in Antiques, Bridal Jewellery & Accessories, Celebrities, Cynthia Findlay, Engagement Rings, Fundraising & Charity | Comments closed