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 automatic stainless steel and eighteen carat gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust reference 16233 model. This example has a very special, and a very rare  white 'shantung' dial that has striations running throughout it when looking closely along with applied solid eighteen gold Roman numerals with black enamel center filling.  It may look like a normal glossy Roman numeral dial, but it is not with these   subtle, textured  lines running through it.  These dials were all made by Rolex around the end of the 1990's and into the early 2000's. It has been confirmed by Rolex in New York.  The dial is correct along with this black enamel filled hand set.  They came with and without the applied Triutium luminous material.  The dial is no longer in production, and is not available to order any more, making this a very rare and collectible dial!

This is known as a luminous dial, with the correct, original  luminous filled, all eighteen carat gold and black enamel hands. All of the applied luminous plots are present and in perfect condition flanking the Roman hour markers.  The dial confirms this by being stamped "T Swiss T" at the foot of the dial. 

The watch is powered by a Rolex, Swiss made, thirty-one jewel automatic calibre 3135 movement that powered the majority of all Rolex models since its launch in 1988, from the Datejust to the Submariner. These later models can be identified as they do not have the earlier, characteristic, 'pie pan' style dial. This model also comes with the more ergonomic 'Quick Set' date function, and the newly designed smaller profile case, all of which were introduced in the 1970's. This case does not have the spring bar holes exposed from the side, a 'no holes' case, which was introduced around the mid to late 1990's. The watch is fitted to its original Rolex Jubilee stainless steel and eighteen carat gold bracelet with four removable links in place, which, if needed, can be removed to make the bracelet smaller.

The watch was made circa 1995 with serial number W476XXX. Now over twenty seven years old, the watch is officially 'vintage'! The watch is in excellent original condition, unpolished, and superb throughout with only very light scratches. The original eighteen carat gold and stainless steel jubilee bracelet is very tight with the deployant buckle showing light wear, also unpolished.  Not only is the watch presented in this condition, it is also a "full set". It has the plastic Rolex hang tag, leather wallet and most importantly, punched paperwork from Rolex. These watches are exceptionally hard to find, let alone in this condition, and complete. If the desire is there for something subtle, but beautiful, this watch very much ticks the boxes. The dial detail does not become immediately apparent. Only upon closer inspection does the   beautiful detail reveal itself.  Very rare and quite   special! The watch comes with a Foundwell one year warranty against mechanical   failure.


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Item Dimensions
Case Width
1.42 inches (3.6068cm)