Fabergé Friday - But Not Really Fabergé...

Ok. I was looking for what to post for this Fabergé Friday, but then I came across a ring I really felt I wanted to share with you. It wasn't made by Fabergé, but at least it was made in Russia, around 1914, during WWII. The reason I wanted to show it to you is that today skull rings sits on many a finger, mostly as a symbol for death and rock'n'roll. But - what do you know - this trend started a lot earlier than you might think! On October 1, 1913, the skull and cross-bones emblem was officially confirmed by Tsar Nicholas II as the badge of the Alexandrian hussars. At that time the skull motif was immortality rather than death though...

The ring is said to have been given by Tsaritsa Alexandra Feodorovna (consort of Nicholas II) to an officer of the 5th Alexandrian Hussar Regiment of Her Majesty Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. Alexandra was an Honorary Colonel of The Regiment.

The skull measures 0.6 x 0.6'' (1.6 x 1.6 cm), and is made of silver over gold and set with 59 old mine and rose-cut diamonds. The gold ring is a US size 7 and measures 0.7'' (1.8 cm) in diameter. The prize for it is 12,500 USD, and you find it at Romanov Russia.

And this is what the badge and the uniform of the Alexandrian hussars looked like.

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Conversation Starting Bags

If you find yourself at a party, but have troubles coming up with something to say to all the people around you, you need to wear a conversation starter. I've noticed tattoos are very good at making people start babbling, but if you don't feel like wearing that conversation starter on your skin for the rest of your life, you can always get a bag from Inés Figaredo! Her creations are like portable pieces of art, and they will definitely catch the eye of everyone who sees them. Here are a few bags from her collections!

Caramel Apple

Big Foot Black Swarovski

La Grande Damme Black

+34 Red

Paula Romantic

Cage Black

Crinoline Graphite

Charisma Clutch White

Heart

To see more of Inés Figaredo's creations, you can always visit her website here!

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Fräulein Frauke Presents - Victorian Asylum

I've missed the last two Fräulein Frauke Presents because of work, but this Saturday, November 29th, I'm free to go! Yay! The theme of this fabulous burlesque event this time will be Victorian Asylum. So I'm sure it will be a crazy night! Mohahaaa!

Photo: John Paul Bichard

During the 19th century and the Victorian era, the lunatic asylums were horrible places where people were treated like animals, instead of getting the help they needed. But on Saturday we can all go to Nalen, where the event will take place, and let loose our deepest fears, fobias, and inner craziness among like-minded freaks... A few of the performers there to enlighten our evening are:

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The Baron - who holds the Guinness World Record in the category Strongest Nipples On Earth!

Photo: Tigz Rice Studios

 

Aurora Galore!

Photo: John Paul Bichard

And of course Fräulein Frauke herself, who will make sure we all take our pills... I will be there getting my crazy on! Just hope my doctor lets me go... 

For more info about the evening, go here! And if you want to pre-order your tickets (which I highly recommend as these events usually sell out), you can do it here!

Fabergé Friday

For the ones of you who have been following my blog for a long time, you know I started these Fabergé Friday posts by going through all of the Imperial Easter Eggs Fabergé made for the Imperial Family. I sometimes receive a newsletter mail from the Fabergé Research Site, and the latest one contained a video that displays some of these Imperial Eggs, their little surprises and mechanics beautifully. So today I decided to post that video, so you can see for yourselves what marvelous, extremely intrinsic creations these eggs are. Enjoy the sparkle...

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Nylon Stockings

As I love to wear nylon stockings, I have to say that the invention of nylon by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility in the mid 30s was one of the biggest moments in fashion history! The first commercial sale of nylon stockings happened in the US, in late October 1939. These new stockings were cheap, durable and cheerer than the ones in silk or cotton used previously, and they instantly became extremely popular - with up to 4 million pairs sold in just one day! Over at LIFE Magazine I found a series of photos in homage of this invention. And here they are!

Photo: Thomas D. McAvoy

Photo: Gjon Mili

Photo: Walter Sanders

Photo: Walter Sanders

Photo: Peter Stackpole

Photo: Gjon Mili

Photo: Peter Stackpole

Photo: Nina Leen

Photo: Nina Leen

Photo: George Silk

Photo: Gjon Mili

Photo: Gordon Parks

Photo: Nat Farbman

Photo: Gjon Mili

Photo: Cornell Capa

Photo: Gordon Parks

Photo: A. Y.

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Macabre Gadgets

Just happened to stumble over a very cool jewelry designer - Macabre Gadgets. The handmade pieces in their collections have this blend of beauty and the macabre I love so much, and they are created from diverse materials like pressed coral, pressed bone, industrial polymer plastic and inlaid precious and semi-precious stones, pearls and metals.

"Macabre Gadgets is inspired by the infernal aesthetics of the dark side, which is inherent by the world view of mankind at all times, epochs and styles, from the early Middle Ages to progressive postmodernism."

Some favorites of mine:

Coral crown ring. Pressed coral, cultured pearls.

Bifacial skull ring. Polymer plastic, amethysts.

Raven skull ring, black. Polymer plastic.

Carpathia collar, black. Polymer plastic, silver, caoutchouc.

Black snake earrings. Polymer plastic, silver.

Octopus ring, white. Pressed coral, cultured pearls.

Caprinae notebook. Leather, paper, polymer plastic.

To see what else Macabre Gadgets has to offer, please visit their website here!

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Fabergé Friday

Today's Fabergé object - a lorgnette - was made by workmaster Henrik Wigström, sometime between 1908 and 1917!
 

The lorgnette is made of two-colored gold, and has spring-hinged lens mounts. Part of the handle is enameled in cerulean blue over a guilloché ground, and decorated with husk leaves in gold. When closed, the length of the lorgnette is 5.5'' (14 cm), and the price for it is 18,500 USD. You find it at John Atzbach Antiques. 

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Christian Dior's New Look

I think most of us are familiar with the explosion in fashion that was labeled the New Look, and how it came to be the birth of one of the worlds largest designer brands - Christian Dior. LIFE Magazine was there to document the beginning of this revolution in fashion, and in their archives I found some lovely photos from 1948 of the man who writer Jeanne Perkins called "a timid, middle-aged, insignificant-looking little Frenchman named Christian Dior", and his work.

Dior in his fashion salon.

Dior fashion show, Paris.

Dior fashion show, Paris.

Dior fashion show, Paris.

Dior fashion show, Paris.

Dior fashion show, Paris.

Dior fashion show.

Dior and his seamstresses.

Paris seamstresses gathered around their boss.

Dior in his home.

Dior dress.

Top photo: Frank Scherschel
All other photos: Mark Kauffman

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