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

Scene 1:
‘Morning’
Scene 2:
‘Noon’
Scene 3:
‘Evening’
Scene 4:
‘Night’
The End

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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Stamped Petrified Wood Cuff

Stamped Petrified Wood Cuff


A sterling silver and petrified wood cuff. This is a beautiful, early, rare and unusual open work cuff with stunning teardrop cabochon petrified wood set into the middle taking the center stage. This type of work is likely from an artisan from a Southwestern Native American tribe, and probably from the Navajo tribe, given its appearance and design.

The cuff is of the classic open work design that allows the front to open up to showcase a stunning, hand selected, cut and polished gem quality fossil. Surrounding the stone are hand made rope twisted sterling wire 'S' designs, and the border of the stone also is finished with both rope and graduating silver bead designs. The cuff element is finished with crisp, traditional Southwestern stampwork:  a radiating fan or sunray motif anchors the design, giving the cuff a clean sense of direction and symmetry. There are also a couple of different designs and sizes of conchos applied to the frame of the cuff.

Petrified wood has a particularly interesting history in Native American jewellery, especially among Navajo silversmiths working in the American Southwest during the early to mid-20th century.

Formed over millions of years as buried wood is gradually replaced by minerals, petrified wood retains the grain and structure of the original tree while becoming remarkably hard and stone-like. Arizona and New Mexico are particularly rich in the material, making it a natural addition to the palette of stones and minerals used by Native American jewellers.

While turquoise remained the most celebrated stone in Southwestern jewellery, petrified wood became particularly fashionable during the 1930s and 1940s. Its wonderful variation of deep reds, browns, ochres, creams and blacks worked beautifully against silver and gave each piece an entirely individual character.

The material was also notoriously difficult to work. Its hardness meant that many Native American silversmiths obtained petrified wood already cut and polished into cabochons by traders or commercial lapidaries before setting the stones into their own handmade silverwork. Large examples were often given simple bezel settings surrounded by stamped decoration, silver drops or twisted wire, allowing the natural pattern of the fossilized wood to remain the focus.

Long, darkened channels run through the band to add contrast, with the oxidised recesses sharpening the geometry and letting the handwork read from across a room. It is the kind of stamping that looks simple at first glance, then reveals how precise the layout really is.  Add to the make the beautiful patina that has now taken to the silver and the overall look of this piece of art is hard to match.

The cuff is unsigned, and is likely an earlier piece. Dating from circa 1950's, pieces like this rarely come to market. This size is very wearable. It is able to be carefully adjusted toward its end pieces.

Dimensions - Height at the front 1.6. Total Length - 6.2. Opening - 1.5

Price $945.00

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Item Dimensions
Front Height
1.6 inches (4.064cm)
Total Length
6.2 inches (15.748cm)