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 silvered and patinated bronze study of a penguin on a block of marble.  This exquisite Art Deco bronze is one of the finest examples of an artist capturing these majestic birds.  This much loved bird has been wonderfully immortalised by highly regarded French sculptor Marcel_André Bouraine.  The breed of penguin depicted is a Humboldt penguin.  This penguin nests on islands and rocky coasts and feeds in surrounding waters. Its habitat is highly influenced by the cold, nutrient-rich Humboldt Current flowing northward from Antarctica, which is vital to the productivity of plankton and krill and fosters fish abundance.  The species has been decimated over the years, thanks in part to El Niño both in the '80s and '90's.  The population currently stand at only around three thousand. 

 

This one hundred percent original example is of the highest quality casting by Bouraine himself.  There have been later examples of this model that have come up for auction over the years, and they do not have the original hand carved ivory beak, and the detail is lost in the castings.  This can been seen in the lines of the wings and detail in the feet.  It features a hand engraved signature on the original marble base, inscribed by the sculptor himself.  The base itself is a master work of marble carving to create this very real looking ice block.  The penguin seems to be purveying the ocean in front of him for potential food.

 

The finish on the bird is completely original with black patinated wings and head and a silvered body.  There has been no attempt to clean the, nearly one hundred years, patina, and it adds to the allure of this stunning sculpture.  Cleaning it will also strip the original finishes to the bronze, and thus greatly reduce the value of them.

Born in 1886 in Pontoise, France, Marcel André Bouraine was pupil of Joseph-Alexandre Falguière.  He was taken prisoner by the Germans during the 1914-1918 war and was interned in Switzerland, where he produced several monuments.  He exhibited at the Salon des Tuileries in 1922 and the Salon d'Automne in 1923.  

He executed small-scale sculptures for several firms including Susse Frères, Etling, Arthur Goldscheider, and Max Le Verrier, who, along with Pierre Le Faguays, had a long relationship. often exhibiting with the latter's La Stele and L'Evolution groups. In 1928 Gabriell Argy-rousseau (1885-1953) commissioned a number of figurines from Bouraine, mostly female nudes, but also a fountain and an illuminated group, all of which were executed in colored, translucent pate de verre. He executed two major commissions for the 1937 Paris International Exhibition. Bouraine used a pseudonym which was Derenne, he may also have used Briand (Brian), as there is a definite connection between the two as can be seen in the hoop dancer by both artists, which appears to be identical. Bouraine died in 1948.

Bouraine's work is rare in itself, but the penguin is one of the lesser seen pieces he sculpted.  This example has also come from a private collection and is the first time that it has been on the market for sale in over thirty years.  This is a rare opportunity to acquire a true sculptural masterpiece from one of the most important sculptors of the twentieth century.  The condition is excellent throughout with no damage.  Made in France, circa 1925.


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Item Dimensions
Height
17 inches (43.18cm)
Depth
5.2 inches (13.208cm)