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 elongated turquoise sterling silver hand made ring. This unusual and striking ring features a stunning, hand selected and cut, piece of turquoise with eye catching metal deposits running almost through the center of it. The shank on this ring is made in the concho style of Native American jewellery making. This unique piece of turquoise picked out for the ring is framed by a classic hand cut and worked smooth edge rub over setting.

The "cigar band' shank of the ring focuses on the design of a "Concho" motif.  The word Concho, or Concha, derives from the Spanish for shell.  The first phase pieces were made from melted coins and resembled shells, and so this is thought to be where the name originated.  This motif is perhaps best known from the iconic belts worn by member of mainly the Navajo, Zuni and Hopi tribes.  These designs of the early belts were heavily influenced by the Spanish and Mexican hardware found on the bridal hardware from the 1700 and 1800's 

The type of turquoise selected as the center stone in this ring is an Kingman Spiderweb turquoise is a variety of Kingman turquoise that has a unique pattern. It can be blue, green, or somewhere in between, and can have a variety of matrix colors and patterns. This particular piece has a stunning sky blue colour.   They also can feature these amazing deposits of metal in them, as such in this case. 

The Kingman mine is in Mohave County in western Arizona. The copper mining in the Mineral Park Mining District around Kingman has produced a vast supply of turquoise throughout the years. The matrix is what is most desirable about this variety of stone. There have been thirty different colours of Kingman mine turquoise discovered over the years, a site that has been mined by the Native Americans for hundreds of years. The more unique the patterns found in this gemstone, the more desirable. Gemstones with spider web, and water web patterns command the highest prices. The term 'spider web' refers to the host rock that forms a spider web matrix, while the term 'water web' refers to refers to darker turquoise that separates sections of lighter turquoise within the same stones. This particular stone has fine and quite small spider webbing throughout it. Unusual for such a large stone, and additionally with such a rich light blue colour.

Like most high quality pieces this ring is signed on the inside of the shank; "JM" for James Martin.  Mr. Martin is a jeweller from the Navajo tribe.  He has made a wide collection of jewellry in his years of making.  We have not been able to find another example like this. It is also stamped "Lucky", which we believe to have been a retail business that retailed a number of Native jewellery makers jewellery.  It appears to no longer be in business.

If you are looking for a statement ring that reflects the art and beauty of Native American jewellery at its best, it is hard to look past this ring. The ring is a size 13. This ring can be sized down a little, and up if required at the back.  There is a piece that can be removed or added to.


Price $695.00

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Item Dimensions
Height of front
1.4 inches (3.556cm)
Width of front
.67 inches (0.0cm)