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 stainless steel manual wind Rolex Precision with an integrated riveted Oyster bracelet.  This watch is a very unique offering from a brand that was very well known for its various iterations of the Oyster case.  The model was introduced in the early 1950's during the height of some of the most revolutionary and modern design to impact the planet from visionaries like van der Rohe and Charles and Ray Eames.  The design approach to this watch very much reflects this new movement.  Clean, simple lines and the introduction of the integrated bracelet was very modern for Rolex, and watch design in general.  When people look at the revolutionary Royal Oak and Nautilus designs from Genta in the 1970's, this was introduced twenty years earlier.

The watch was made only for the U.K market, and as a result of which is quite rare.   It also did not stay in the Rolex line for too long, perhaps because it was a little ahead of its time.  On the wrist, it is a pleasure to wear.  The thin case holding a manually wound caliber 1210 movement sits beautifully on the wrist, and is a wide 36mm across. This is how it came to acquire the moniker the "U.F.O".  It appears to come out of a 1950's sci-fi film! 

The dial is all original, with a soft ivory hue and honey comb texture to it.  The condition is perfect throughout.  This is unusual for these watches as the sealing to the case, and through the crown, is not perfect and they succumbed to moisture and dirt.  The applied hour markers and original steel hands are perfect, and show no deterioration, with the added beauty of a blued steel center seconds sweep hand.  The applied Rolex coronet sits proudly as the twelve o'clock marker.  The minute track is perfect with serif font hour dashes.  It is marked correctly below the six o'clock marker "Swiss".

The stainless steel case is unpolished, and is as good as any seen of this model.  The case back of these early Rolex precision watches have an engraved coronet on the back.  However, the engraving is very fine, and so any polishing tends to remove it completely.  Along with the coronet, common at this time, the Rolex serial number is also stamped onto the case back, both perfectly presented.  The serial is a 258XXX, which dates the watch to early 1957.  This is also validated by the date stamp on the inside of the deployant buckle of "2 57", for the second quarter of 1957. 

Along with being perhaps the best example of this watch to come to market, it is also presented with its original and quite rare green fabric wrapped Rolex coffin shaped box in stunning condition.  It is fair to say that this has been a superbly maintained watch that is approaching seventy years of age.  The original crystal has been replaced, but is included with the watch.  There is also one additional link that has been removed included, which, if needed, can be re-attached to the Oyster bracelet.  If the desire is there to add an unusual and rare Rolex to a collection, then there will be no better opportunity than this reference 9083.


Price $9,875.00

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Item Dimensions
Case Width
1.417 inches (3.59918cm)
Thickness
0.354 inches (0.89916cm)