Demijohn bottles were used to transport wine, oil, and stock throughout Europe and have now become a hot commodity in home decor. I’ve yet to find a large bottle but it’s on my wish list so I thought we’d look at some of my favorite ways to use this beautiful piece of glass!
However, I try not to buy things without an idea of how I’ll use them so there’s not a ton of clutter so let’s look at some of my favorite demijohn uses.
Do you have any of these stunning jars or a unique way to use them?
One of my favorite past times was counting the antique tins stacked all along the upper decor molding in my grandma’s kitchen & dining room. My cousins and I would spend hours counting and try and decide who got it right (I don’t think anyone knew how many there actually were). She had 13 foot ceilings in her old style house and the tins went all the way to the top in some areas. That love has continued to our board & batten wall entryway which collects vintage tins and antique bottles that I fall in love with on the 7ft shelf on the top.
I’m about to purchase my first crated demijohn and cannot be more excited!
If your not sure what a demijohn (pronounced Demee-john) is? Its a french term used for any glass bottle with a long skinny neck and bulbous bottom. The antique versions were used to transport water, wine, and oils throughout Europe. They come in many colors, sizes, and sometimes even with the name of the wine painted on the side. Often found housed in a crate, wrapped in the original wicker (though not easily found), in netting, or just standing alone.
What’s not to love about these beautiful pieces of history and the stunning reproductions?……
The dried hydrangeas in this tabletop vignette is perfection don’t you think? I spy some vintage seltzer bottles in the background too which make me overwhelming jealous of this collection.
This collection can be found on almost every blog post written about this subject because its AMAZING! I could only dream of having such a fabulous array of sizes and such a perfect place to display them.
I’ve seen a lot of demijohn lamps but never pendant lights, doesn’t it just stop you in your tracks? The islands boat shape goes along perfectly with the seaside colors and demijohn glass.
Such a perfect nook for displaying a beautiful Demijohn collection! The various shades of green & turquoise are so lovely together.
Another photo from Vibeke Designs. Isn’t this deck dreamy?
I love how casual and calm it feels-the urge to sit down is overwhelming don’t you think?
Via: Designer Chango Co.
Don’t you just dream of having a hallway like this? I love how the green jar colors play off the white walls & black entry table. Such a wonderful design by Chango Co.
This is a great illustration for the common use of displaying large branches while adding weight and height to table decor. I love the bubbles and crackled glass effect on true antique demijohns- This can be hard to find on reproductions!
Here is another prime example of use as a vase. The cotton branches used here are stunning and totally something I would do!
This display wonderfully shows that there are many flower and branch options to use with demijohn bottles. It also wonderfully shows how to use various heights of floral choice based on bottle size!
This table grouping colors work in perfect harmony with the coastal decor theme and the different shapes work in harmony. I see that one of the bottles has a label still intact which may mean its antique (although some reproductions include labels as well).
Another stunning table display- this collection would look beautiful on a sideboard or the top of a china hutch with white ironstone china!
Anita is the master of french/antique decor styling. If you haven’t checked out her blog yet- I highly recommend it. This dining room vignette is a perfect example of how I would use these if we had a table large enough!
The shelf in this kitchen is the perfect place for a collection of large demijohn bottles! The whicker covered bottles in the corner warm up the white stone and cabinets & tie the wood countertop island into the rest of the kitchen.
If our staircase were wide enough I would alternate vintage crocks with demijohn bottles on the side of each stair, but that would just be a recipe for disaster. So for now I must just continue the search for a few bottles in various sizes grouped in areas that already function as decor spots. I hope to find enough to fill up at least one of these spots; our raised fireplace base, sides of the mantel, the shelf in the entryway, and the upper open wood shelving in our kitchen!
Isn’t this lovely? The whitewashed steps contrast so nicely with the green hue of the demijohn bottles!
Vintage demijohn bottles encased in whicker line these steps and blend in beautifully with the natural wood tones of the stairs!
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