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 stunning silver plate and mahogany wood tray with central set engraved cartouche. This fabulous and very clean, elegant bar tray or tea tray is a study in under stated Victorian English design. While much of what was being designed and produced was highly decorative, and detailed, this tray could well have been found in a design studio some fifty years later. The scroll handles ark beautifully off the simple but sturdy end frame pieces holding the stunning grained mahogany center. Small bun feet keep the tray off the surface proper whilst adding a little more gravitas to the overall stature of the tray. On its own it is a beautiful object. Set with a tea service, or barware it is the perfect foil.

the company responsible for creating this piece was one of England's great silversmithing companies; Hukin & Heath. The company was established by Jonathan Wilson Hukin and John Thomas Heath as manufacturing silversmiths and electroplaters in 1855. In 'The Art Journal' of 1879 the showrooms were described as 'redolent of art, while the art works were produced without increasing the cost, exhibiting grace combined with the useful, simplicity and purity of form with readiness of application to the purposes to which they are to be applied. Hukin & Heath made reproductions of Persian and Japanese models 'by the electric process' (i.e. electrotyped): such specimens, being selected by Dr Dresser, are of course always beautiful examples of art'.

This period correct write up of the company illustrates both what can be found in this tray, along with mentioning the breadth and depth of their offering. There is also a nod to the proto-modernist designer that helped elevate their offerings to a new level shortly after the production of this tray; Dr. Christopher Dresser.

Hukin & Heath's trade mark comprised the initials 'H & H' with an eagle; they registered designs by Dresser from 1878 until at least 1881 and the models were produced into the early 1900s. The firm's design books were sadly destroyed before it closed down in 1953. Many of Dr. Dresser's pieces are found in museum collections throughout the world, and brought the idea of functional homewares as sculptural art to English, and some worldwide audiences.

This tray, although produced earlier than Dresser's time at the company, has many hallmarks that he also included into some of his work, that pertain to the D.N.A of Hukin & Heath; scrolled handles and bun feet, plus the clean and simple overall design. This is, perhaps, what encouraged Dresser to join the firm as a designer in the first place.

The center of the tray features a small applied silver plated cartouche with a hand engraved study of two horse heads above the year '1872'. One can surmise from this that the tray was perhaps presented as a trophy of a race that year. Condition of the tray is superb throughout and the wood is one of the finest examples of a grained, perhaps West Indian Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) which was popular for use in furniture and other such objects in England during this period. Fully marked on the base, the piece dates to circa 1870.


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Item Dimensions
Length
19 inches (48.26cm)
Width
9 inches (22.86cm)