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,
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A pair of unique and very important cufflinks that are part of aviation history, as well as being a stand out aesthetically.1909 saw the first German International Aerospace Exhibition, held in Frankfurt am Main, open for three months, starting July 10th until October 10th. The exhibition, known in Germany as Internationale Luft- und Raumfahrtausstellung (ILA) is a bi-annual event now held on the southern section of the Berlin-Schönefeld Airport.  The IAE is counted as one of the oldest, largest and most important of the aerospace exhibitions held over the world. Not only that, but the first show was also the inspiration for various flying clubs to combine and form the German Pilots' Association in April 1910, followed soon after by the Association of German Aircraft Makers.  This established a close connection between the IAE and the future Federal Association of the Aerospace Industry (BDLI), an organisation that still exists today.  The show kicked off with a stunning display of dozens of hot air balloons ascending to the heavens, and later in July saw the visit of Graf Zepplin in his pioneering airship "LZII". However, the most amazing, and crowd forming part of the air show was kept till the end of the event. "Flyer Week" sought to bring together a group of all of the most pioneering and brave airmen, and their new and revolutionary contraptions. Also on display, but not flying was the Wright Brothers plane, along with Orville Wright who had come to Germany to promote their plane after its success in flying the previous year in France.  Also, the brothers had licensed the aircraft to German company Flugmaschine Wright GmbH, that was making their plane for the German market.  The last day of the meeting was the day when the main event, the 50,000 Mark "Preis der Stadt Frankfurt" was decided, and it was won by a Belgian adventurer and daredevil; Baron PierreDe Caters. De Caters battled with Blériot, and although he made a slower flight of 54 laps in 77 minutes, the contest was for endurance, not distance, and secured the win. When asked for his impression of the flight after landing, de Caters remarked that "this roundabout flying is quite monotonous".  It is believed that De Caters was the winner of this pair of cufflinks, along with his large prize money. The cufflinks are in their original presentation box that has a sterling silver plaque on the top reading, "Dem Sieger Wettbewerb der ILA Frankfurt a/M 1909".  This translates to, "The Winner of the Competition of the ILA, Frankfurt am Main 1909".  They were made in Frankfurt by jewellers Ohlenschlager & Riemann, and feature a large round cabochon moonstone finely wrapped in 18 carat gold wire reminiscent of the construction of hot air balloons of the time. Each netting has an F, presumably for Frankfurt, and 1909 on each balloon.  The basket hanging below is set with a small rectangular cut ruby. A spectacular, unique and historic pair of cufflinks. 


Price $12,795.00

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Item Dimensions
Length
.9 inches (0.0cm)
Height
.45 inches (0.0cm)