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 set of six china cocktail plates with each featuring an illustration of six different cocktails portrayed by six different women.  These fabulous pieces of art are whimsical and screaming of Art Deco style.  Each plate features the name of an iconic Prohibition era drink in Deco font, then portrayed by a woman, each standing at the same Deco bar, that reflects the emotions and an association of each drink.  The drinks included feature; Manhattan, Bronx, Bacardi, Martini, Old Fashioned, and Side Car.

The illustrations are by C.W. Anderson, and most of them feature his signature around the base of the bar.  Clarence William Anderson was an American author and illustrator who was particularly focused on horse illustration.  Although, he also went on to undertake covers for the Saturday Evening Post and illustrated cartoons for The New Yorker.  When not writing or illustrating he was riding horses.  By the time of his retirement he had penned over thirty-five books.

These are a very rare and compelling piece of both Art Deco and barware history.  So much so that they are featured in one of the most important books on collecting barware; Stephen Visakay's  "Vintage Bar Ware".  These plates are found on page  fifty-seven of his book.

To find the complete set of all six plates is very unusual.  The plates were made in England by the Crown Ducal potters.   The business was founded in 1915 by Albert G. Richardson at the   Gordon Pottery, Tunstall and surviving all the way until they were eventually acquired by Enoch Wedgwood in 1974.  The company employed a number of highly regarded artists over the years such as Charlotte Rhead.  They also pioneered a number of techniques such as aerographed, plain coloured tea wares and 'Arcadian Glazes' which were sold in stores such as Harrods, in 1932.

The plates are in excellent condition with only the Old Fashioned plate having a slight discoloration to the top edge. There are no chips to any plate.  These would be a highlight to any home bar.  They could be displayed behind bottles on shelves, or on the top shelf of a bar or even on the wall of in a bar setting.


Price $950.00

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Item Dimensions
Diameter
8.25 inches (20.955cm)