When Is a Pillow More Than a Pillow?

When is a pillow more than a pillow? When it's work of art.

This is a one of a kind, completely unique decorative Portrait Pillow consisting of a signed original painting of Lucrezia Borgia mounted on sumptuous Italian silk damask with handmade Brunschwig onion tassel fringe on the sides. Top and bottom do not have trim. The portrait of Lucrezia Borgia is hand painted on fine linen canvas and signed by the artist. This is not a silk screened image, it is an original work of art. The frame surrounding the portrait is antique 19th century trim. The pillow is filled with a feather and down insert and is backed with corded velvet in deep red which coordinates with the silk damask. It is approximately 15 inches square. This pillow could work equally well in an opulent setting or as the focal point in a minimalist interior.

Please visit my shop, Elegant Artifacts, to see more designer pillows made from antique textiles and Fortuny fabric. www.ElegantArtifacts.etsy.com

Wearing Autumn's Juicy Hues

Autumn brings us luscious, warm, juicy colors: ripe blackberry, raspberry, amber, pumpkin, crimson and gold. Autumn colors are a redhead's dream, but even if you don't have red hair you can use these colors to your best advantage in your clothing and jewelry wardrobes. If you have black hair and a pale completion, then choose the deep wine reds - claret, merlot, burgundy - and don't forget to look for them in velvet for the holidays. They will be striking on you. If you have black hair and a darker complexion then look for the undertones in your skin and play them up with your color selections. Without wearing any make up, your skin may edge toward the yellow or the rosy tones - make that your cue to select colors from the autumn palette that will complement your complexion. Blondes can look spectacular in raspberry and gold tones that accentuate your hair color, and brown hair can benefit from selecting burnished tones of copper and amber.

Your jewelry can also reflect the luscious autumn colors. Rhodolite garnet captures the berry tones, amber brings in the yellows, golds, and oranges of falling leaves. Copper is a perfect autumn metal and is now showing up more and more in jewelry as gold has hit new highs in price.

Here is a selection of yummy autumn colors in jewelry from my shop, Elegant Artifacts.
www.ElegantArtifacts.etsy.com

A Dilemma in Jade

Many jade collectors are so committed to their collections that selling a special piece would be like selling one of their children. I am no exception. To sell or not to sell. This is the dilemma that faces me about an exceptional matched pair of antique 18th century Qing Dynasty white nephrite bangle bracelets. They are simply exquisite, very rare, and of historical significance.  The bangles are rendered from a single river pebble of white Khotan nephrite jade. The exterior is incised with a pattern of interlocking C-shaped scrolls dating back to the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC) and is an abstracted dragon pattern. The subject matter, material and workmanship suggest a Kangxi period date. 

These bangles are a good example of the archaistic tradition or fanggu. The antiquarian spirit that inspired the scholars and court during the Song and Ming Dynasties encouraged the Imperial workshops to follow the styles and specifications recorded in ancient documents. The artists created works of art that offered their own interpretation of ancient forms and motifs with a nod to the 18th century taste.

With the current desire of Chinese people to regain their cultural heritage, is this the time to sell? I know I will never find another pair like this. They are museum quality. Should they be donated to a museum? That thought has certainly occurred to me, but they would likely be locked away from sight in some museum basement and not be enjoyed. Jade this exquisite deserves to be visited, admired, and fondled on a daily basis by someone who truly appreciates it. And so, the dilemma continues. In the meantime, they are shared here to be discovered.

Width: 1-3/8 inches
Inside Diameter: 58 mm
18th Century, Qing Dynasty
White Nephrite Jade with a Russet Hue

To see other antique jades I am offering for sale, please visit my shop, Elegant Artifacts 
www.ElegantArtifacts.etsy.com

Old Jade is Really Hot!

While both jadeite and nephrite jade have been avidly collected for centuries, lately the Asian market has rediscovered this cultural treasure in a big way. Sales for antique nephrite, particularly white or mutton fat nephrite jade, have skyrocketed. It's no wonder, because nephrite is an absolutely beautiful stone and the craftsmen created some spectacular works of art in miniature. While nephrite may not have the emerald flash more typically seen in emerald green jadeite, nephrite's subtle colorations are soothing. There is virtually nothing more calming than fondling the silky smooth surface of a piece of antique nephrite jade - unless you have a beloved pet, of course. While diamond may be the hardest gemstone on earth, nephrite is the toughest. It takes about one ton of pressure to crush a cubic inch of nephrite. It always amazes me to know that such a tough and durable stone can be transformed into lacey carvings at the hands of an expert artisan.

To see more fine example of antique jades, visit Elegant Artifacts at
www.ElegantArtifacts.etsy.com

Coral Jewelry , Treasures from the Sea

Antique Carved Coral and Cloisonne Ring

https://www.etsy.com/listing/153258994/antique-ring-coral-and-cloisonne?ref=shop_home_active

Coral is one of four organic gems, the others being pearl, amber and jet. Colors of coral range from white to red and sometimes pink and white, and black. The most valuable corals are red, black and pink. Most coral is quite soft and, therefore, needs to be treated gently, especially when worn as a ring. Being comprised of calcium carbonate it can easily dissolve in acids so it should be kept away from even gentle acids such as lemon juice or vinegar.  In fact, touching lemon juice to coral is a simple test to determine its authenticity. If it is coral the lemon juice will begin to dissolve it. This test should be performed with caution on the underside of a piece to prevent ruining a lovely piece of  jewelry. 

Red coral is the most desirable and most expensive type of coral. It  can be found in the Mediterranean and in the Atlantic Ocean coastal regions of Portugal and Northern Africa. Other types of coral can be found all over the world, including the Great Barrier Reef of the east coast of Australia.  Most coral, because of the associations with the reefs hold a prominent place on the endangered list.

Coral jewelry has a prominent place in the history of jewelry and it has been a favorite since ancient times, dating to the Iron Age. Coral also plays an important role in religious history, and there are may myths and tales associated with coral. It was once believed that a piece of coral carried on a ship could protect against lightning. It was also thought to drive evil out of a home. Coral was also associated with the Greek goddess Minerva and was thought to have special powers against witchcraft, poison and robbery. Marco Polo's writings about coral may have triggered the craze for coral in ancient Rome where it was often beautifully carved and paired with gold in fabulous jewelry.

Today, the deep red Mediterranean coral, known as oxblood coral because of its color, is the most sought after and is bringing premium prices. Salmon color coral is also coveted. While antique jewelry is made of natural sea coral in its natural color, today's coral may be dyed to emulate the coral of earlier times. It is still very attractive but should be priced at a much lower cost than untreated coral.

Maud Frizon, The Queen of Vintage Couture Shoes

https://www.etsy.com/listing/152815413/maud-frizon-vintage-couture-shoes-sz-556?ref=shop_home_active

What Manolo Blahnik is to shoes today, Maud Frizon was in the 1960s and 70s. Her shoes were coveted, collected, and worn with pride.  In the 1960s and 70s Maud Frizon shoes were something to aspire to. When you wore a pair of Maud Frizon shoes you walked a little taller, knowing that you had something special. The photo above is of a vintage pair of golden metallic leather and embroidered Maud Frizon shoes from her Paris salon. 

Maud Frizon was a fashion designer specializing in women's shoes. She began her career in the 1960s as a model for Parisian Haute Couture Houses of Nina Ricci, Jean Patou, and André Courrèges. At the time models had to provide their own shoes to match the clothes designers assigned them for their runway shows and photo shoots. Frizon disliked the available shoes from other designers, and in 1969 elected to create her own and opened her first boutique in the St. Germain des Pres district of Paris.

That first shoe collection, with each pair hand-cut and finished, was praised by critics as sexy and unpredictable. Frizon was an immediate success. Building on the traditions of Beth Levine and foreshadowing the later designs of Manolo Blahnik, Frizon shoes were showy and extravagant, and her name joined the ranks of the haute couture boutiques. At the height of her success in the 1980s her reputation was similar to that of Blahnik today.

Frizon often used expensive and everyday materials together in unusual combinations: lizard and snake, suede and satin, canvas and crocodile. Brigitte Bardot was a regular at the boutique, famous for her love of Frizon's high-heeled Russian boots.

While the brand of Maud Frizon still exists (she sold the company), the shoes do not have the same flair and elegance of her original designs. Original Maud Frizon shoes are still something to aspire to.

The Lure of Rhinestones

Signed Weiss Vintage Rhinestone Brooch

https://www.etsy.com/listing/152812149/weiss-vintage-rhinestone-brooch-signed?ref=shop_home_active

Did you ever wonder why rhinestones are called rhinestones? It's because they were originally beautifully colored natural quartz pebbles sourced from the Rhine River during the late 1800s. They were immensely popular, and as with most popular things that are natural, they were soon depleted. Once they were gone, imitation glass pebbles were used instead. 

Glass has been used in jewelry since ancient Roman and Egyptian times and even before, but it was taken to a new level by J. Strasser, an 18th century German jeweler who invented a flint glass with a high lead content that equalled the glitter and grandeur of diamonds. If you are lucky enough to find true Strass stones today, grab them and hang on. They are the cream of the crop of antique costume jewelry.

By 1891, Swarovski revolutionized the world of costume jewelry with his invention of a new machine that could mechanically cut and facet glass. This allowed glass gemstones to be manufactured in a fraction of the time that it had previously taken cutters to do it by hand. Swarovski also came up with the idea to take a cue from the foil backed stones of the late 1700s and plate the backs of the crystals with silver or gold to increase their sparkle.

It is very important not to get foil backed stones wet or you can ruin them, so do not wash your Strass or rhinestone jewelry. Just polish with a soft cloth to keep it beautiful. If it has become very oily from touching, then spray some glass cleaner onto a soft cloth, not directly on the stones, and gently wipe away the oil making sure to dry the jewels thoroughly.

Today, Swarovski crystals dominate the world of costume jewelry, but glass jewelry is also promoted under the name of sea glass. Sea glass jewelry can be very beautiful in a soft, delicate way, but if you want serious vintage sparkle that rivals a diamond, then rhinestones are for you. Vintage rhinestone jewelry by famous name makers such as Weiss or Eisenberg can generate premium prices, but there are still bargains to be found which is what makes hunting for it so much fun. It is hard to resist all that glitter.