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
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
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
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
