https://beehivebeehive.com Thu, 10 Sep 2026 22:27:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 https://beehivebeehive.com/2026/08/06/antique-french-bee-skep-handwoven-straw-beehive-rustic-farmhouse-garden-decor/ https://beehivebeehive.com/2026/08/06/antique-french-bee-skep-handwoven-straw-beehive-rustic-farmhouse-garden-decor/#comments Thu, 06 Aug 2026 20:27:47 +0000 https://beehivebeehive.com/2026/08/06/antique-french-bee-skep-handwoven-straw-beehive-rustic-farmhouse-garden-decor/ ... Read the full article]]>
















Step into the charm of old-world Provence with this large antique French bee skep hive, originally used for capturing bee swarms. Entirely handcrafted using traditional rural techniques, this rare primitive hive has a beautiful natural patina from decades of age, making it both a collectible artifact and a striking decorative statement piece. Its impressive size, authentic Provençal origin, and rustic texture make it ideal for farmhouse interiors, garden styling, photography, or design projects seeking a genuine old-world feel. Features & Details. Period: Vintage piece, early 20th century (1920s style rural craftsmanship). Function (originally): Bee swarm catcher/bee skep hive. Materials: Natural materials (mud and twigs/organic structure, fully handmade). Finish: Warm earthy tones with natural cracks, patina and visible artisan texture. Condition: Excellent vintage condition with authentic age-related character. Each imperfection tells the story of its past life in the French countryside, making this a true one-of-a-kind piece. ? Why You’ll Love It. Rare, oversized antique bee skep from the iconic beekeeping region of Provence. 100% handcrafted using traditional rural techniques. Rich natural patina, texture and presence – instantly adds warmth and depth. Perfect fusion of history, craftsmanship and design. ? Styling & Decor Ideas. Rustic & Farmhouse Home Decor. Display it as a sculptural object in your living room, hallway, or kitchen. It pairs beautifully with wood, stone, vintage baskets and pottery. Garden & Outdoor Styling. Use as a decorative focal point in a garden, courtyard, terrace or patio. Place it near flowers, herbs, stone walls, or outdoor seating for a true Provençal atmosphere. Interior Design & Concept Spaces. Ideal for designers creating farmhouses, country cottages, nature-inspired spaces or rustic cafés and shops. Photography & Film Prop. Excellent for historical sets, editorial photography, advertising campaigns or product shoots that need authentic rural details. Event & Store Display. Perfect for French country weddings, farm-themed events, or shop window displays – can be styled with greenery, seasonal branches or flowers. Height: 24.4 in (62 cm). Diameter: 14.6 in (37 cm). A substantial size that makes it a true statement piece, whether indoors or outdoors. Carefully packed to protect its structure and patina during transit. Thank you for choosing my shop and for giving this unique French rural artifact a new home!

]]> https://beehivebeehive.com/2026/08/06/antique-french-bee-skep-handwoven-straw-beehive-rustic-farmhouse-garden-decor/feed/ 0 https://beehivebeehive.com/2026/06/20/english-porcelain-bee-hive-cottage-pastille-burner-bee-skep-cottage-orne-c-1825/ https://beehivebeehive.com/2026/06/20/english-porcelain-bee-hive-cottage-pastille-burner-bee-skep-cottage-orne-c-1825/#comments Sat, 20 Jun 2026 05:51:59 +0000 https://beehivebeehive.com/2026/06/20/english-porcelain-bee-hive-cottage-pastille-burner-bee-skep-cottage-orne-c-1825/ ... Read the full article]]>
















This wonderful two section porcelain pastille burner was made in England during the early 19th century, circa 1820 to 1830. The early porcelain pastille burners are not to be confused with the later single Staffordshire pottery pieces that were produced during the later 19th century. It was in the late 1700s that the idea of the picturesque took hold of people’s imagination. Huge country mansions were being landscaped by the likes of Capability Brown, with small individual follies, dovecots and dairy cottages often included in this designed, imagined landscape. Country cottages called Cottage Orné. In fact Kings and Queens had these cute, decorative little cottages built in their grounds too, not for poor country folk to live in, but for their own personal use. With this in mind, you can then see how Porcelain manufacturers of the day grasped this fashion for the picturesque and reflected it in their functional pastille burners which were after all needed for a far from picturesque reason – to dispel nasty smells! You would place your smouldering pastille tablet in the base, place the top back on and wonderful perfume would filter out of the windows and doors to waft around your home. Remember back in the 1800s there could be many smells – hygiene was not what it is today! Kitchens and pantry did not have refrigeration, and open the windows if you were in the city and all of those nasty street smells would come in. Our very fine pastille burner is modelled as a country cottage and has been extensively decorated by hand. We see encrusted flowers to the thatched roof, shredded porcelain detailing to the roof and a chimney. The house features windows doors, hand painted fences, a bay window. Our favourite features include the lady at the window holding the vines, the garden birds in the blossom tree and of course the bee skep to the rear of the cottage. The base is modelled as a grass mound. This is a top-quality piece of English porcelain that displays excellently! Please browse our other early porcelain cottage pastille burners from the same previous collector. Measuring: Base width 4 5/8 inch (11.5 cm). Total height 6 inch (15 cm). Condition: Minor chip to chimney, the occasional area of loss to the shredded porcelain detailing. The interior of the cottage features some staining to the body and a few minor old hairlines from the heated pastilles. The interior of the base features minor pitting to the body from heat over the years. A gorgeous early example in the very sought after Bee Skep design.

]]> https://beehivebeehive.com/2026/06/20/english-porcelain-bee-hive-cottage-pastille-burner-bee-skep-cottage-orne-c-1825/feed/ 0 https://beehivebeehive.com/2026/05/07/antique-bee-skep-money-bank-naive-folk-art-bee-hive-money-box-c-1890/ https://beehivebeehive.com/2026/05/07/antique-bee-skep-money-bank-naive-folk-art-bee-hive-money-box-c-1890/#comments Thu, 07 May 2026 14:32:56 +0000 https://beehivebeehive.com/2026/05/07/antique-bee-skep-money-bank-naive-folk-art-bee-hive-money-box-c-1890/ ... Read the full article]]>









This is a gorgeous little item to adorn your folk art, or primitive themed home. It loos superb displayed among other folk art paintings, items of treen and needlework samplers. This is the perfect item for anyone who loves all things naïve and folk art! Measuring: Diameter 3 3/8 inch (8.5 cm). Height 5 ½ inch (14 cm). Condition: Light surface wear commensurate with age.

]]> https://beehivebeehive.com/2026/05/07/antique-bee-skep-money-bank-naive-folk-art-bee-hive-money-box-c-1890/feed/ 0 https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/11/25/antique-french-bee-skep-beehive-2/ https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/11/25/antique-french-bee-skep-beehive-2/#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:18:48 +0000 https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/11/25/antique-french-bee-skep-beehive-2/














A fabulous bee skep sourced from France. The woodworms did a great job. But the wooden frame has been treated and varnished. Everything else left in untouched to preserve its story and patina. Size: 19 – width.

]]> https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/11/25/antique-french-bee-skep-beehive-2/feed/ 0 https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/10/09/antique-french-bee-skep-beehive/ https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/10/09/antique-french-bee-skep-beehive/#comments Fri, 10 Oct 2025 01:29:47 +0000 https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/10/09/antique-french-bee-skep-beehive/














A fabulous bee skep sourced from France. The woodworms did a great job. But the wooden frame has been treated and varnished. Everything else left in untouched to preserve its story and patina. Size: 19 – width.

]]> https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/10/09/antique-french-bee-skep-beehive/feed/ 0 https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/08/04/victorian-antique-flatback-arbour-group-with-beekeepers-hive-or-skep/ https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/08/04/victorian-antique-flatback-arbour-group-with-beekeepers-hive-or-skep/#comments Mon, 04 Aug 2025 05:33:47 +0000 https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/08/04/victorian-antique-flatback-arbour-group-with-beekeepers-hive-or-skep/ ... Read the full article]]>










Victorian antique Flatback Arbour Group with Beekeepers hive or skep. Uncommon and charming Victorian Staffordshire flatback group with a couple in a garden setting under an arbour, the man holding fruit and the lady decked with a garland of flowers across her shoulder. Between which a beehive skep with flying bees around it. Before and in early Victorian times, bees were housed in upturned straw baskets called skeps. The shape was conducive to the formation of the honeycomb. The downside was that turning the skep over to collect the honey killed the bees or made them homeless, and so the beekeeper had to hunt down a new wild swarm and start from scratch. Height 20 cms high approx.

]]> https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/08/04/victorian-antique-flatback-arbour-group-with-beekeepers-hive-or-skep/feed/ 0 https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/04/23/vintage-rare-french-bee-skep-with-daub-garden-feature-cotswold-41cm-hive-2/ https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/04/23/vintage-rare-french-bee-skep-with-daub-garden-feature-cotswold-41cm-hive-2/#comments Wed, 23 Apr 2025 20:50:49 +0000 https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/04/23/vintage-rare-french-bee-skep-with-daub-garden-feature-cotswold-41cm-hive-2/







A wonderful willow with mud covered bee skep in good condition. 41cm high by 39cm across at base. Perfect garden feature and bee home! Quite often see thse at Burford or Daylesford.

]]> https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/04/23/vintage-rare-french-bee-skep-with-daub-garden-feature-cotswold-41cm-hive-2/feed/ 0 https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/03/17/straw-bee-skep-traditional-bee-skep/ https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/03/17/straw-bee-skep-traditional-bee-skep/#comments Mon, 17 Mar 2025 19:35:44 +0000 https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/03/17/straw-bee-skep-traditional-bee-skep/ ... Read the full article]]>








Straw bee skeps have long been a recognisable symbol of beekeeping the world over. Since the Middle Ages when they were used as rudimentary hives, the bee skep has endured as the beekeeper’s unofficial logo. Their wonderful domed profile and the considerable craft skill used to make them from coiled wheat straw has made them a cherished part of our rural heritage. Bee skeps are seldom used as beehives these days as they need to inspect colonies for disease has made them impractical, but they are still popular baskets for collecting swarms. The straw provides a good surface onto which bees can quickly cluster, making it easy for them to surround their queen and for the beekeeper to relocate the swarm. The wonderful domed shape has also made bee skeps popular today to decorate interiors and cottage gardens. If left outside, however, they need to be covered or positioned in a bee bole in a wall as these skeps are made entirely of wheat straw.

]]> https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/03/17/straw-bee-skep-traditional-bee-skep/feed/ 0 https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/02/01/vintage-beehive-basket-bee-skep-13-5-old-primative-look-woven-latched-rustic/ https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/02/01/vintage-beehive-basket-bee-skep-13-5-old-primative-look-woven-latched-rustic/#comments Sat, 01 Feb 2025 06:52:58 +0000 https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/02/01/vintage-beehive-basket-bee-skep-13-5-old-primative-look-woven-latched-rustic/













Shows some wear and ageing, See pics for condition.

]]> https://beehivebeehive.com/2025/02/01/vintage-beehive-basket-bee-skep-13-5-old-primative-look-woven-latched-rustic/feed/ 0 https://beehivebeehive.com/2024/11/05/vintage-rare-french-bee-skep-with-daub-garden-feature-cotswold-41cm-hive/ https://beehivebeehive.com/2024/11/05/vintage-rare-french-bee-skep-with-daub-garden-feature-cotswold-41cm-hive/#comments Tue, 05 Nov 2024 06:26:13 +0000 https://beehivebeehive.com/2024/11/05/vintage-rare-french-bee-skep-with-daub-garden-feature-cotswold-41cm-hive/







A wonderful willow with mud covered bee skep in good condition. 41cm high by 39cm across at base. Perfect garden feature and bee home! Quite often see thse at Burford or Daylesford.

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