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 stainless steel bottle and can opener set in the original folding pouch.  This would appear to be quite the rudimentary and simple pair of utilitarian openers.  However, this pair of solid, and heavy openers made by the Northampton Cutlery Company, Northampton Massachusetts is more than meets the eye.

The pair of openers were designed and made by Henry J. Finison in 1977 while he owned the Northampton Cutlery Company. The company began as the Bay State Cutlery Company, founded in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1863. The firm went bankrupt in 1870 and H. R. Hinckley bought the firm and incorporated it as The Northampton Cutlery Company in that year. The factory was located on the Mill River. Silver-Plated knives and forks as well as fixed blade knives were the main product lines of the company in the early years. In later years they produced knife blades for various other companies. The company finally closed the workshop in 1987 upon the death of Mr Finison.

As well as making a variety of flatware and knife blades the company, under the direction of Mr. Finison would embark on a bold project to forge and mill very fine wine, bottle and can openers in 401 stainless steel.  For example the process for the wine bottle opener's is better known.  The handle was drop forged from the 410 stainless steel. The screw was handmade in a special jig with a Bridgeport machine. The bell was also handmade on two lathes and a Bridgeport machine involving about 7 separate operations. It was noted that; "on a good day 3 bells could be made."  It is believed that during the 1970's these items were being sold in New York at Tiffany's, which might explain the Tiffany blue original pouch.  It is believed that of the wine bottle openers only fifty were made.  How many of these opener sets is unclear.  However, from research very few indeed come up for sale.  In 1978 Harvey Finison presented a 5" bottle opener and a 5" can opener to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City where they remain today in their permanent collection.

This is a very rare chance to purchase an unused pair of these openers that are part of a diminishing, if not all together lost art form of hand forging steel tools in America.  There is a tremendous amount of intensive hand-work and skill needed to make such beautiful and refined finished articles from blocks of steel.  Not excluding the finishing and cleaning up of the metal and cleaning off iron contamination and restoring the chrome oxide layer to prevent corrosion to create this perfect finish that is achieved on these delicately proportioned, but durable, tools.


Price $650.00

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Item Dimensions
Length
5 inches (12.7cm)