Demijohn ()
The beautiful, bulbous demijohn is in demand these days as a highly sought-after decorative piece. The stunning shades of turquoise, amber and emerald beckon shoppers with their delightful shapes and sizes. Whether you want a one-of-a-kind antique or are searching for something brand new, there are plenty of options. Demijohns are popular throughout Europe and make great additions to any home to add a little flair.
Unfamiliar with the demijohn? They are glass vessels that were used for transporting alcohol or anything else that couldn’t be moved in a wooden container. They have a large body and a small neck that were originally wrapped in wicker, metal baskets or wooden crates to avoid breakage. The term “demijohn” dates back to the late 1700s and is thought to come from the French term “damejeanne,” which literally translates to “Lady Jane.” The term may have referred to the shape of a stout woman in traditional 1700’s clothing.
Recently, demijohns have been trending in the home design world. There are so many variations of color, size and style that the versatility of this product is quite impressive. If you’re on the hunt, there are lots of places to look for the perfect one. Reproductions are less expensive, but also have less character. Originals have more character, as they have imperfections in the glass, but will also cost more. Demijohns can range anywhere from 50 to 200 euros, depending on size and quality. For originals, shop at flea markets and antique shops for the best finds. If shopping in Germany, antique shops like Antikhandel Döllinger in Markt Erlbach, Anno Domini in Nittenau, Neumanns Antiquitäten in Berlin and Kunst Oase in Munich are great places to start looking.
Once you’ve found the perfect demijohn, or five, the fun begins. You get to start decorating! There is so much inspiration out there for how to style your demijohn. Put one or several on your mantle and add flowers, seashells, starfish or other beach-inspired items for summer decorations. If it’s winter, think about adding holly berry garland, evergreen branches and even pine cones to the mantle to spruce it up. If you’re going for a French country look, you can’t go wrong with a little greenery, lavender and herbs. The light blue or even clear color demijohns are splendid for this theme.
If you really want to highlight your beautiful demijohns, display them in a hutch. This will look especially beautiful if you have various sizes and colors. To make the display pop, consider painting the hutch a similar color to one of the demijohns and voila! You’ve got a serious eye-catcher.
The fun doesn’t stop there. You could place demijohns in a tray on the coffee table to add a little color. Go even further and add them to your bathroom on a shelf, perhaps with some sweet smelling flowers. Make these vases the center of attention on your dining table. There’s no wrong way to decorate with these delightful pieces. Buy one in each color if it tickles your fancy and your home will only be more lovely for it.
Shop until you find the perfect demijohn, then get ready to get crafty and decorate. On your hunt for the best piece, who knows what other treasures you will uncover. It’s all part of the fun!
