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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An extra large size stainless steel Angelus "Chronodato", triple date chronograph, manually wound wrist watch. This amazing watch, in spectacular condition, was quite the revolution when it hit the markets in the early 1940's. Not only were these a very large sized cased wristwatch for the time, they were also very complicated movements. The watch shows the day of the week, month and the month of the year along with a forty five minute chronograph measurement.

Initially launched in 1942 as the "Chronodate", the Chronodato came to be in 1943 and was quite a leap in Swiss watch making technical history.With the exception of a few non-production models made by Patek Philippe featuring a calendar in 1937 and perpetual calendar in 1941, this was the first time that the date appeared on a production chronograph wristwatch. As a result of this the model went on to become a huge success for the watch maker.

This particular example is also additionally special for having a personalised engraving into the watch case back. The case back is for Master Sergeant D. H Rudolph of the United States Air Force. Along with his name and rank is also his Air Force number. This makes sense as at the time watches like this, and the equally complicated Universal Tri-Compax, were very popular with aviators during World War Two. These models, as mentioned, were large and therefore easy to read at a glance. They have a large winding crown, enabling easier winding when wearing flight gloves, the ability to also use the chronograph feature was also key for bombing runs and such.

Not only is this an important and rare watch in stainless steel, the condition is also superb. The reason these watches are more rare in steel is due to the fact that complicated watches were costly in their own right, and therefore it made more retail sense to case them in solid gold. However, for tool, military use, a softer and more 'decorative' case would be redundant. As a result a number were also made in stainless steel. The watch dates to circa 1946/47 with a serial number in the very low 240XXX's. The double frame logo means that is cannot be earlier than this. But, meaning that it could well have seen action on the wrist of Airman Rudolph in the likes of the Berlin Airlift.

The case overall is superb. It is presented in an unpolished condition, with the early engraving in the back very legible, along with the Angelus logo and serial number. The lugs are clean and crisp and show no major wear or damage. There was never a metal bracelet put on this watch, so there is no rubbing from end link feet. It is a large size case in general, but given the lack of real bezel, it makes the dial appear so much larger.

Moving onto the dial, this is also spectacular. There is not efficient sealing on these early snap back cases, and so very often dials on watches like these show signs of damage form dirt and moisture. Or from careless servicing over the years. This is not the case with this dial. It is superb throughout. The original radium luminous material is also present on all of the Arabic numbers around the dial. The 45 minute register also has three interesting marking dashes picked out in red for timing three minute intervals more easily. The outer minute track is very clean, as are the date numbers that run outside it. These normally are the first to be affected by dirt and moisture.

Looking at the hands, they are all the original hands with the minute and hour being blued steel syringe style with luminous material filled in the center. It is possible that they have been re-lumed over the years, although it appears that, under UV light, they respond exactly the same as the lume on the dial. The date hand has a handsome red enamel triangle on its tip. Constant seconds and the 45 minute timing register hands are also original.

The watch is powered by the caliber 217. A chronograph with full calendar module attached to the same basic calibre as the earlier 215. This was made from 1942 onwards which included the date hand and windows for weekday and month. Both calibers have a balance cock without positioning stems. The hammer now has only the shape with “mouth” and a bent middle section for accessing the blocking lever. There were large movement retaining screws along with a new shape of pusher lever, with an indent near the crown for accessing the retaining screw. A beautiful looking movement, as can be seen from the pictures. Recently having undergone a full service, and working superbly.

Overall, this is a superb and quite rare watch. Not just an important model in the timeline of watch making history, but also an exceptionally handsome and wearable watch, even by today's larger case size driven market. The condition throughout is superb, and it is highly unlikely to come across a better looking example from this period. Add in the fact that this was a military worn aviators watch and it really makes this example one of the finest watches out there of its reference, and quite a special reference in its own right.


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Item Dimensions
Case Width
1.496 inches (3.79984cm)