43 Chesapeake Court Antiques

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Aiken, SC
43 Chesapeake Court Antiques

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Located in Aiken South Carolina; An antique store on-line with fine antiques imported from France and England.

Deborah Hartsook Specializing in English & French tableware, antique silver, and antique equestrian items
https://43chesapeakecourt.com
Embrace the elegance and warmth antiques bring to your home and table. We shop several times a year to locate the best and most unusual silver, porcelain, decorative arts, and equestrian antiques.

10/27/2026

Victorians loved their spices including cayenne pepper. The spoons had very small bowls so dinners could dispense small amounts of the fiery spice. They were paired normally with small glass or crystal containers which held the spice. This spoon has a rather plain finial. Examples can be found in whimsical shapes of devil faces or heads modeled as the finial.

10/22/2026

Shopping Alert! 64 days until Christmas 🎄

A little French silver for the art of giving. ✨

For the friend who loves entertaining, a thoughtful hostess gift, Christmas gift or a special addition to a well-appointed bar.

These elegant French silver plate w**e coasters feature a distinctive beaded edge and a center monogram of “C”. Beautifully suited to a festive table or a well-stocked bar, they bring a touch of timeless style to the pleasures of entertaining.

Discover these and other distinctive gifts at 43 Chesapeake Court.

10/20/2026

Where to find the marks on French silver….the physical location of a mark depends on the type and shape of an objects. Today we are looking at where to find the marks for a timbale or beaker.

On this example, we find two marks.

✨ Near the rim: The Minerva head with the numeral 1 indicates .950 silver, a higher silver standard than the .800 standard encountered on French silver.

✨ On the bottom: The diamond-shaped maker’s mark identifies Claude Doutre Roussel of Paris, dating to the late 19th century.

Two marks, each telling us something different about the piece.

A good quality jeweler’s loupe will be needed to see the marks clearly. Always shop with one!

Part of the pleasure of collecting antique silver is learning to recognize these details and discovering the history they reveal.

Do you look for the marks when examining a piece of French silver?

10/13/2026

Some things you find in Paris stay with you, even when you can’t bring them home.

I came across this wonderful pair of terracotta planters on my buying trip in May. Sadly, they had already been sold, but I found myself admiring them long after I left the shop.

It was the detailing that caught my eye — the sculpted garlands, the beautiful aged patina and the character that comes with time. Pieces like these are not easily replaced, and finding another pair with the same charm would be no small feat.

I couldn’t resist imagining them in a garden, framing a doorway or standing against an old brick wall. (The final image is my imagined setting, created with AI.)

Not every treasure makes it home with me. Sometimes the pleasure is simply in finding it.

10/01/2026

A little silver, a few bulbs, and a gift that keeps on giving. 🤍

One of my favorite Christmas gifts is surprisingly simple: an old silver bowl filled with paperwhite bulbs.
You don’t need a rare or expensive piece of silver. Look for silver plate bowls, a little compote, or ice bucket at an antique shop, flea market, or estate sale. Give it a good polish, tuck in a few paperwhite bulbs, and you have a thoughtful gift that is beautiful long before the flowers bloom.

And the best part? When the paperwhites open, the recipient has a lovely little reminder of the person who gave them.

It’s a wonderful way to give something old and something that is growing… and a bit of silver.

Note: use a plastic pot liner for your silver piece to help prevent etching.

Time frame for planting the bulbs:
• Early December blooms: Plant in mid-to-late October.
• Christmas Day blooms: Plant between November 1st and November 15th (November 25th at the absolute latest)

Planting tip: after the initial watering wait a week & then add a bit of Gin to the future waterings. It helps keep the stems and leaves from growing too tall but does not affect the flowers.
And, yes… making yourself a Gin & Tonic now is appropriate after all your hard work.

09/21/2026

My pick..
A beautiful setting for gathering. 🥂

This elegant 5-piece vintage French silver plate serving set includes its original glass insert, ready for everything from champagne-soaked celebrations to a quiet afternoon of entertaining.

A timeless piece for the table—and a wonderful example of why we love antique silver at 43 Chesapeake Court.

Shop this piece at 43ChesapeakeCourt.com

09/04/2026

It’s the little details.
These vintage knife rests crafted in cane, lucite and brass, bring the unexpected to your table settings.

Discover the collection at 43 Chesapeake Court.

08/27/2026

Paris after Dark

There is something about Paris at night that makes you look a little closer.

On a December evening, I happened to look beneath the Pont Saint-Michel and caught this beautiful detail reflected in the Seine: the imperial “N” of Napoleon III, set within a laurel wreath.

The present Pont Saint-Michel was rebuilt in 1857, during Napoleon III’s reign and the great transformation of Paris associated with Baron Haussmann. The new bridge was part of that changing city, aligned with the newly developed Boulevard du Palais.

But what I love most is how little of that history announces itself.

You simply see an old stone bridge, dark water, golden light — and suddenly, a glimpse of Paris from another time.

Perhaps that is one of the reasons I never tire of Paris. Even after dark, there are stories hiding in the details.

08/19/2026

Some of the loveliest details on a table are the smallest.

These lucite, bamboo and brass knife rests date to the 1970s, yet they sit beautifully alongside antique glassware and china. I love that they don’t try to imitate the past — their slightly modern character adds another layer to an otherwise traditional table.

Found in Paris, they are a reminder that a collected table doesn’t have to belong to one particular period. Sometimes the most interesting combinations are the ones that span generations.

A small detail, but one that makes a table feel personal and thoughtfully gathered.

Address

Aiken, SC

Telephone

(813)7326460

Website

http://www.43chesapeakecourt.com/

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