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 natural cabochon turquoise silver ring set onto a snake ring.  This ring has a great presence on the finger and is dictated by the beauty of the large and polished turquoise center stone.  Such a center stone often leads the artist to not add excessive detail to the mount. However, the artist has chased a serpant on both sides of the goreous blue center stone.  The stone is so eye catching and vibrant with beautiful  veining running though it.  The rub set mount also has beautiful ribbing detail running around the edge.

For the Native American culture, Turquoise signified water and sky, for bountiful harvests, health and protection turquoise and was also used to visually showcase their individuality, rank and history.  The Pueblo tribes of the Southwest revere snakes, as they are in many parts of Mexico. Kingsnakes are also considered sacred in some California Native cultures.

The turquoise stone set into the ring is thought to be ‘Bisbee' turquoise.  This stone comes from the Lavender Pit copper mine that is now closed. Bisbee turquoise is famous for its deep blue color and smoky black matrix, of which this is a fine example.

The ring is marked on the inside of the shank with "KEE". This is for Navajo artist Kee Yazzie.  Just to the north of Ganado, Arizona, Kee Yazzie’s home, lie spectacular canyons, some open to tourists like Canyon de Chelly, others hidden and inaccessible.  Deep in the labyrinths, on cliff walls and in caves, are the etched drawings of Kee’s ancestors.

Kee has translated these ancient petroglyphs into contemporary bracelets.  His overlay work in sterling silver and gold recreates the stone-pecked pictures - transforming rock art to wearable art.  With hundreds of small, precise cuts of a jewelry saw, his miniature reproductions of the petroglyphs give the illusion of a mosaic of metal. Kee’s background in architectural design has undoubtedly enhanced his natural gift for balance.  He also mentions the creative influence of artists Ray Scott, Gibson Nez, and Norbert Peshlakai.

“When I returned from school in 1992, I had the desire to learn metalsmithing and, by luck, my friend Ray Scott offered me a job.” Soon, Kee was creating his own designs.  At his first show, Eight Northern Pueblo in 1995, Kee’s thunder bracelet took second place. 

Kee is now recognized as one of the most accomplished overlay craftsmen, sometimes incorporating one hundred symbols within a bracelet.  Each intricately hand-cut piece becomes part of a seemingly never-ending mural in silver.

“Mostly, I try to create something that people will like to wear.”

The ring is a size 8.  This ring can be sized if required.


Price $575.00

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Item Dimensions
Height of front
0.875 inches (2.2225cm)
Width of front
0.64 inches (1.6256cm)