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 sterling silver scale model of the ship's bell that was fitted to the Royal Navy's Flagship of the fleet, the H.M.S Nelson.  The Nelson was one of two Nelson-Class battelships commissioned by the Royal Navy between World War One and Two.  The boat was named after the greatest sailor to have lived in Great Briton; Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, the victor at the Battle of Trafalgar.

These two ships  were unique in British battleship construction, being the only ships to carry a main armament of 16 inch (406mm) guns and the only ones to carry all the main armament forward of the superstructure. These were a result of the limitations of the Washington Naval Treaty.

The Nelson performed many roles during the Second World War including the hunting of the crown jewel in the German Navy, The Bismark, and was involved in providing barrages at both the allied landings in Sicily in 1943,  and the D-Day landings in 1944.

The bell  itself was a gift from the people of Newcastle Upon Tyne to the Royal Navy, and was paid for with a collection of coins that helped pay for the seven thousand ounces of silver used to make the largest sterling silver bell ever made.  It was made in 1928 by J.Stone & Co. Ltd. in Deptford, London. Josiah Stone founded the engineering workshop in 1831 producing cast copper nails for the shipbuilding being undertaken in nearby Greenwich.  The company was a prolific contributor to parts for the Royal Navy, including over twenty two thousand propellors during W.W.2.  It also made parts for the R.M.S Queen Mary, R.M.S Queen Elizabeth and Royal Yacht Britainia.

After the war, and the decommissioning of H.M.S Nelson the bell was returned to the city of Newcastle where is was duly put on display at the Laing Art Gallery in 1949.

This scale model is an exact replica, and is superb in both its quality and weight.  It has the crest of the city of Newcastle hand engraved on the front, under Nelson's name, along with the city's motto; 'Fortiter Defendit Triumphans'.  This translates to; 'Triumphing by brave defense'.  Also, the year of its manufacture, 1928.

On the reverse side is an inscription; "Worlds largest silver bell cast and machined by J. Stone & Co. Ltd. Deptford".  Above this is the London assay hallmark of Henry Hudson Plante, and the date of manufacture of 1929.  The original bell dinger is complete inside, and has also the original English assay marks on it, along with the original piece of string. It rings and produces a beautiful note.

It is hard to speculate why and for whom this piece was commissioned, but it is more than likely for a high ranking member of the Royal Navy, or indeed the British Government, such is the quality and uniqueness of it. 

 


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Item Dimensions
Height
3.5 inches (8.89cm)
Width
3 inches (7.62cm)