Friday, February 27, 2015

Fabergé Friday

This Fabergé Friday is dedicated to my sister and her boyfriend! They breed Ball Pythons, and what do you know - in the Royal Collection I found a Fabergé snake! The little creature was made around 1910!




The little snake is carved from a piece of vari-colored agate, and it has rose-cut diamond eyes. It's dimensions are 0.2'' x 2.2'' x 1'' (0.6 x 5.7 x 2.6 cm), and it was acquired by Queen Mary.


PS. If you're interested in getting a Ball Python of your own, you can always contact my sister and her boyfriend on their snaky Facebook page, Kikkimea Reptiles, here!












Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Underwatwer Pole Dancing

During the last decade photographer Brett Stanley has been taking pictures of many different performance artists. Then he got the idea to put the performers under water... In late 2014 he started working with X-Pole, a leading supplier of Pole Fitness equipment, and some very talented pole dancers. Since there is no gravity underneath the surface, the dancers had to re-think their poses - and learn how to hold their breath... This is the amazing result!


Keara Tyler



Eleanor Mills



Dee Yang



Skylar Leigh



Charlene Mundy



Phyllisann



Keara Tyler



Maranda Sun



Skylar Leigh



Phyllisann









Monday, February 23, 2015

Vampires, Ghosts, and Witches...

Last week I went to the Hallwyl Museum to see their exhibition about Skräck och Skrock (Fear and Superstition) during the turn of the 19th/20th century. The corridors leading me into the house were dark and filled with frightening sounds that turned this beautiful, palace-like, apartment into a house of horror! I've always been interested in old beliefs and the occult, so going through all the rooms, looking at all the cool stuff on display was very exiting! I took some pics of a few of the items, but since it was dark, and many items were placed behind reflecting glass, please excuse the quality of my photos.




The first thing that caught my eye was a Spirit phone/Necrophone, something it was rumored Thomas Alva Edison was trying to create to be able to communicate with the dead. No one knows if he actually created one, but this is a private collector's idea of what one of those might have looked like.





Ouija Board!





This is a reproduction of the first issue of Bram Stoker's Dracula...





A framed taxidermy bat had it's natural place beneath a painting of the original Dracula - Vlad Tepes.





Although I don't believe in killing friendly vampires, I still want one of these - a vampire hunter kit! This one is believed to be from the 1800s, and kits like these were often created by weapon smiths at the request of vampire fans.




They also served blood! I have no idea why it was behind glass though. By the time I had gotten this far through the exhibition I was really thirsty.







Electric shock devise from the early 1900s.







A witch's familiar. Yep, that's the remains of a cat...






Sculptures of Baphomet and Cthulhu.





A few stairs down in this Downton Abbey-like apartment, there was another exhibition with collections of different kinds. Behind a door was a tiny chamber, and inside I found vintage pornography! I guess that shows that you never know what you'll find behind closed doors. Not even in old, very fine homes... Haha!




Friday, February 20, 2015

Fabergé Friday

This week's Fabergé object is a lovely little pendant. It was made by workmaster August Hollming, sometime between 1899 and 1908.






The oval pendant is covered in translucent pink over a sunburst guilloché ground, emanating from a diamond-set star. Around it runs a gold scroll border. The suspension loop is set with rose-cut diamonds.













Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Frans Von Stuck

German symbolist/Art Nouveau painter, sculptor, engraver and architect Frans Von Stuck (February 24, 1863 - August 30, 1928) was noted for his erotic and comic treatment of mythological themes. After studies at different art schools his career went straight upwards. He won several prizes for his oevres and became an honorary member of several European academies. Here are some of his paintings, most often filled with dangerous femme fatales, mythological and symbolic themes. But he also produced a few early landscapes, and many portraits.


The Guardian of Paradise/Angel with Flaming Sword, 1889.


The Sphinx (V.2), c. 1889.


Sensuality/Eve and the Snake, 1891.


The Sin, 1893.


The Kiss of the Sphinx, 1895.


Dancers, 1896.


Portrait of Frau Feez, 1900.


Susanna Bathing, 1904.


Wounded Amazon, 1904-05.


Salome, 1906.











Monday, February 16, 2015

Galliano Is Back!

I love John Galliano's designs, and I think Dior has become both plain and boring since he got fired from that fashion house. As I have written before, I of course don't agree with what Galliano might have blurted out while not completely sober, that resulted in him having to quit his job for Dior. But when it comes to fashion, I'm a big fan of his! So naturally I was happy to hear he's back in business - now designing for Maison Martin Margiela. Here are some of my favorites from his Spring 2015 Couture collection for Margiela. To see all the pieces, go here!
























Friday, February 13, 2015

Fabergé Friday

Whatever your choice of drink is, it always tastes better in a pretty glass. Like this one by Fabergé for example! It was made by workmaster Mikhail Perkhin, 1895.




The cup of the goblet is made of rock crystal. The stem and foot holding it up is covered in royal blue and white enamel, decorated with ornaments of two-colored gold and rose-cut diamonds. It was given as a Christmas present to Queen Mary, by Dowager Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna, at Christmas 1895. Now it resides in the Royal Collection.







Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Valentine's Lingerie

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and whether your in a happy relationship with someone else, or single and in a happy relationship with yourselves, this day is a good excuse to splurge a bit and get some new lingerie! My favorite retro lingerie brand is What Katie Did, because they create good looking, durable things for daily wear. When I saw their new collection it made me think of Valentine's for some reason, so here it is! The range is all made in England, it's called Liz, and it comes in the colors Amethyst, Ruby, and Black. I'll take a set in each color please...











To go to What Katie Did's web shop, just follow this link, or click on the banner below!




Seductive Vintage Valentines lingerie by What Katie Did 


Monday, February 09, 2015

Deichmann Shoes!

I've started working on an upcoming event with the fabulous Mrs Murphy, and thanks to the fact that she pays me in gift certificates at Deichmann, I now have new shoes! At least one pair of black stilettos should be in every woman's (and some men's) shoe-wardrobe, so I picked a pair in a black suede-looking material with black crystals around the back and down the heels. They have a bit of a platform in the front, which makes them easier to walk in, since they're actually not as high as the heel might indicate. A nice illusion... They are really comfortable, and I look forward to take them out to a party! And here they are!












Friday, February 06, 2015

Fabergé Friday

With today's standards it's amusing to see how many bell pushes Fabergé made. This was obviously something very important in wealthy homes - together with someone who came and catered to your needs when you pushed the little button... This one was made by workmaster Henrik Wigström, sometime between 1809 and 1917!




This flattened circular bell push is made of dark pink enamel over a guilloché ground, with a silver gilt foot. The press button is made of moonstone, encircled by a silver gilt bead border over a white enamel border. Since 1953 it has been a part of the Royal Collection.







Wednesday, February 04, 2015

Radioactive Camera...

Last May I did a shoot with photographer Jan Persson. He always use several different cameras during our photo sessions, and I've already shown you the Polaroids from this shoot. If you want to see those, go here! But that day Jan also used a Graflex camera from the 50s, with a Kodak Aero Ektar lens. These lenses are slightly radioactive (but not harmfully so), and were used during WWII in reconnaissance missions. They were originally made for military purposes by Kodak, who sold them to the US ministry of defense for around 800 USD a piece - which was also what a Chevrolet would have cost in those days...

I love getting the opportunity to stand in front of cool old cameras like this one! You have to stand very still during the process of just taking one picture though! Otherwise it gets blurry. Here are the photos Jan took of me with that radioactive old thing. Haha!

PS. A fallen tree makes a great ballet barre! 



















Photo: Jan Persson


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