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

Scene 1:
‘Morning’
Scene 2:
‘Noon’
Scene 3:
‘Evening’
Scene 4:
‘Night’
The End

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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Fiat Avio Linee Italiane Model Plane

Fiat Avio Linee Italiane Model Plane


A chrome and wood, hand-built, aircraft model. This is a stunning and perhaps unique chrome and wood aviation model from early 1930's. On the base of the stand is engraved; Fiat and "Avio Linee Italiane".  "Fiat", we can understand as a maker of the aircraft.  The "ALI" was an Italian independent airline owned by the Fiat group, operating between 1928 up until 1952 and was the only pre Second World War airline not to be nationalised by the Italian Government.

In 1928 it ran a route from Rome to Munich and by 1931 Berlin was added. By 1938 a number of international routes were added, including Paris and London. By the outbreak of the Second World War the aircraft, and a number of their pilots, were incorporated into the Regia Aeronautica, the Royal Italian Air Force. By 1947 ALI resumed commercial services merging with two small post War Italian airline companies; Airone and Transadriatica to form AIL Flotte Riunite.

This model is an interesting one. It is seemingly a transitional plane from the earlier biplanes of the Fiat A.30's and the later aircraft like the Fiat G. 50. This is a single seat plane, but with open canopy and non-retractable landing gear. So, this would date it to the early 1930's. What is interesting element to note is the insignia on the side of the fuselage. It is that of the 'fasces'.  The Partito Nazionale Fascista (National Fascist Party) used the fascesas their symbol. This is a symbol that was used by the Romans in their day, consisting of a bundle of wooden rods around an axe. The symbol signifies strength through unity, since one wooden rod is easily broken, but a bound-up bundle of them is not. The axe signifies the power and willingness to fight of the people united, and when in the hands of a magistrate or dictator, meant this person held the power of life and death over everyone. 

The fasces was the symbol of authority in the Roman Republic and was also used in the era of the Principate. In republican times, the fasces was carried into the Senate chamber, and given to the dictator when one was appointed in a time of crisis. The legendary Roman dictator Cincinnatus, twice given supreme power in a desperate hour for Rome, only to immediately hand it back to the Senate after defeating her enemies, is often depicted with the fasces.

The Roman Senate isn’t the only body of that name which has ever used a fasces.The Founders of the United States admired the traditions of the Roman Republic, and the symbol found its way into the U.S Senate chamber long before Fascism ever existed. It is present on the official seal of the U.S. Senate, on the logos of some branches of the Armed Forces, and was once on an American coin. It has been retained in America, despite its later use as a Fascist symbol.

Given the history of the model there is a very good chance this piece would have been commissioned by a former Regia Aeronautica pilot who also went on to fly with the ALI. A charming and very rare model in superb original condition. These types of models may be enjoyed simply as a beautiful hand made, mixed material, period object, or as a piece of art in its own right, without the need to appreciate the model, or its place in history.

 

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Item Dimensions
Height from base
13 inches (33.02cm)
Wingspan
13 inches (33.02cm)