1

A Day
Observed

A story presented by

Scene 1:
‘Morning’

It was a bright cold day with glassy surfaces that looked hard.
Into the square frame he stood as if in a dream.

What emerged was precisely what he expected to find: a reflection of memory images. Contemplating his face in the photo frame he waited.

1960s lucite and chrome 3 image photo frame

By the steady hands of his watch, he listened to time. Every day for the past sixteen days he saw her. Silver lingered in the crease of
an open book.

Rolex burlwood dial, Jubilee bracelet Miniature
oar English university trophy, sterling silver.

So absorbed in his thoughts
he hardly saw the platinum catch-all, the key, or the revelation locked inside those lapis lazuli cufflinks tossed unmistakably in cold blue.

Hans Hanson catch-all. Mid-century, Danish sterling silver. Stirrup money clip, by Hermès. Padlock keyring, sterling silver " Tie bar-slide " Round lapis lazuli cufflinks" Square cufflinks, two tone rose and yellow gold, diamond."

Only by whirling on his heel could he hope to comprehend
the panorama.

Shoe horn, circa 1930. American sterling silver
Scene 2:
‘Noon’

He remained.Trapped in that enormous room,
unmistakably familiar in feeling yet so peculiar.

Above the mantle was
displayed an Austrian hound
of impeccable integrity.

Hagenauer sculpture, 1930

His gaze fell on the letter opener. By accident she had learnt more about his life from the contents of that letter than anywhere.

Dunhill letter opener with lighter top, circa 1950

Cleopatra’s eye reflected
the sun. Through the hypnotism
of precious metals there
emerged a dark slender shadow.

Cleopatra’s eye magnifying glass. Mid-century, gold plated
Hermès weighted pen. Silver plated.

A lighter presented itself, smooth to the touch
it gave the impression of
intelligent company.

Table lighter St Dupont, circa 1960. Gold plate
Scene 3:
‘Evening’

All this time light was receding from the room.

“I should explain why I spend so much time here”, said the silhouette. Leaves moved like shadows across her eyes.

Hermès rope bottle opener. Plated silver.

It’s not too late to turn back. Time moved with faint sounds.

Venini hourglass. Hand-blown lurid Murano glass.

He unscrewed the telescopic cup, rolled and remained still. Black eyes on the dice prophesied a new cycle.

Telescopic cup, J. E. Cauldwell. Gold plated. Dice,
Cartier for America. Vitreous enamel glass, silver

Staring down at the varnished surface her mouth worried him while her eyes examined the gold cufflink.

Audemar Piguet evening watch. gold plated, Roman dial, alligator strap
Scene 4:
‘Night’

Everything went crashing black.

Pale graceful hands placed
the gold stud box delicately
on the table.

Men’s Edwardian jewellery box, 1910. Gold plated.
Mid-century British cigar ashtray. Sterling silver and crystal.

He lit a match to make sure the watch had really stopped. Smoke lingered from its vesta case.

Realist wrapped tobacco leaf march vesta. Silver.

As the travel clock neared
one the figure vanished into dappled shadows.

Art Deco Jaeger LeCoultre travel clock.
Gold and silver plated. Retailed by Aspray.

On the newly varnished table two bronze shot cups sat alive like in a dream.

Tooth shot cup by Foundwell. Bronze and silver plated.
Set of 4, 3 silver 1 gold. Heath & Midleton champagne decanters circa 1900.
Sterling silver and glass.
The End

‘A DAY OBSERVED’
A story by FOUNDWELL
Photography Matthieu Lavanchy, creative direction OK-RM,
notes by Kate O’Brien and objects selected by Alan Bedwell

‘A DAY OBSERVED’
A story by FOUNDWELL
Photography Matthieu Lavanchy,
creative direction OK-RM
notes by Kate O’Brien
and objects selected by Alan Bedwell

Early and Rare Sterling Silver Gorham Martini Mixing Bucket

Golf Cocktail Shaker
and Matching Golf Bag Cup

Sterling Silver Woven Bottle Coaster

Foundwell

A SELECTION OF ITEMS BY THE PRODUCER OF
CRAFTED GOODS & PURVEYOR OF ANTIQUE WATCHES,
JEWELLERY & OTHER SUCH OBJECTS

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A solid sterling silver, fourteen carat gold and vitreous enamel stick pin featuring the yacht burgee for the Corinthian Yacht Club Yacht Club.  The yacht club burgee flag is a unique flag that represents each yacht club across the world, and is flown by members of the club's on their yachts. The hand painted flag in this case is from the Corinthian Yacht Club Yacht Club.  

On January 12, 1892 a group of 13 men, former members of The Philadelphia Yacht Club which had been taken over a few years earlier by The Quaker City Yacht Club, held a meeting at the Bullitt Building in Philadelphia.  They felt dissatisfied with the state of affairs at The Quaker City Yacht Club as a result of schisms developing among the members and occasioned by undignified acts by some members.  There also developed an incompatibility between people of different social and professional standing. During this period a change in the size of the yachts was taking place with larger seagoing yachts overtaking the then prevalent smaller 20' to 40' vessels.  This meeting concluded with a resolution recommending the advisability of breaking away from The Quaker City Yacht Club and forming a new club.  A month later, in February 1892, a charter was approved and a certificate of incorporation was issued for the newly formed Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia. (CYCOP)

 

Among the thirty signatures that were placed on the CYCOP Application for the certificate of incorporation were names that are familiar to us today.  They are: Alexander Van Rensselaer; Anthony J. Drexel, Jr.; Edward R. Coleman; and Addison F. Bancroft.  Ned Coleman, who owned the largest schooner Norna, was elected Commodore, Ogden D. Wilkinson as Vice-Commodore, and W. Barklie Henry, who stood number one on the roster, Rear-Commodore.  Their photographs are among those with the past Commodores on display in the present clubhouse.  As soon as the certificate of incorporation was granted, the organizers resigned from The Quaker City Yacht Club.  So many others followed that eventually sixty resigned during the next few months to join the newly formed club.

 

As time went on other distinguished Philadelphia names became associated with the Corinthian Yacht Club.  Names such as Edgar T. Scott, Walter Clark, Charles Longstreth, Samuel Kent, Ernest Du Pont, Walter H. Lippincott, Ralph Earle, Arthur Pew, R Fenimore Johnson, John Wanamaker, John T. Dorrance, Cyrus B. Curtis, A. Atwater Kent Jr., Fitz Eugene Dixon, and E. Paul Du Pont were listed on the membership rolls.  With the establishment of the new club came the necessity to find an appropriate headquarters and/or clubhouse.  A property down river in Essington with a wharf and protected harbor was found and subsequently was leased for $500 per year with the privilege of purchase.  The house on the property was an old hotel with 14 rooms on 12 acres of ground.  The original building was built in the late 1700's by John Shreve and was used as a taproom.  In December 1893 The Corinthian Yacht Club exercised its right to purchase the property and the price paid was $9,000.

A charming little study, in excellent condition. it is marked "Sterling" on the back side of the flag, and "Bailey Banks & Biddle.  Bailey, Banks & Biddle (BB&B) is a famous American jewelry company that was founded in 1832 as Bailey & Kitchen by Joseph Trowbridge Bailey and Andrew B. Kitchen. The store was originally located at 136 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a factory on Samson Street in the city's jewelry district. The company's name was changed to Bailey & Company in 1846 and then to Bailey, Banks & Biddle around 1878 when J.T. Bailey II, George Banks, and Samuel Biddle became involved. 

By the late 19th Century the firm was flourishing and alongside their retail jewellery business, they also had a highly successful insignia department which designed and manufactured medals, ribbons and honour awards for the United States government as well as military and naval academies.  They redesigned the Great Seal of the United States in 1904 (which is still in use today) produced the Medal of Honour (America’s highest military award) and also introduced the first Pilot Wings in 1917.

Made in America, circa 1920's, the pin is presented in excellent condition. 


Price $0.00

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Item Dimensions
Length
2.85 inches (7.239cm)