Showing posts with label antiques. Show all posts
Showing posts with label antiques. Show all posts

Friday, September 25, 2015

Jewelry Friday

This Friday I have an amazing tiara for you! It was made around 1900, and I'm sure it would fit my tiny head perfectly! Haha!




In the center sits a sunburst and crescent moon motif over a large cushion-shaped diamond, on a scrolling frame of shooting stars, set throughout with old brilliant-cut diamonds, mounted in gold. The principal diamond is of approximately 1.75 carats, the rest of around 14.00 carats in total. It was sold at Bonhams for 16,250 GBP.










Friday, September 11, 2015

Fabergé Friday

Here comes another one of Fabergé's beautiful brooches! This one was made by workmaster Alfred Thielemann, sometime between the years 1904 - 1908.




The convex-shaped brooch is covered in translucent pale pink enamel over a guilloché ground, framed by a row of rose-cut diamonds. Four circular-cut diamonds sits around the edges, and the piece is topped by a diamond-set tied spray of leaves. In the center of the brooch sits a large oval diamond. The width of the piece is 3.7 cm, and it was sold at Sotheby's.











Friday, August 21, 2015

Fabergé Friday

Just like last Friday, here comes a Fabergé object that's actually for sale! If you happen to have too much money in you mattress that is... It's a pair of cufflinks, made by workmaster August Hollming, around the year 1890.




Each cufflink consists of two marquise-shaped plaques, covered in ivory enamel. The borders are set with rose-cut diamonds, and they're held together by gold chains. They come in their original box, and are for sale at 1stdibs for the small amount of 151,376 USD...









Friday, August 14, 2015

Fabergé Friday

Today I want to show you another one of Fabergé's brooches! This one was made by workmaster August Hollming, sometime between 1895-1904.




The circular brooch is covered in turquoise enamel over a guilloché ground. It's framed by a band of rose-cut diamonds "tied" in a knot, ending with two pearls. In the center sits a cabochon ruby. The diameter of the piece is 2.9 cm, and for 19,764 USD it can be yours! It's currently for sale at 1stdibs. You find it here!











Friday, August 07, 2015

Fabergé Friday

When you get a fever and need to check your temperature, I'm sure we'd all feel better if the thermometer stuck up into our bu... I mean in our armpit, was pretty and made by Fabergé. Like this one for example! It was made by workmaster Mikail Perkhin, around 1895.




It's very rare to find medical equipment among Fabergé's products, but here we have one! The thermometer has a handle covered in midnight blue enamel over a guilloché ground. It's also decorated with gold bands of chased leaves, the terminal set with a big moonstone. It's 12.9 cm long, denoted in centigrade, and was sold at Sotheby's for 61,250 GBP.










Friday, July 31, 2015

Fabergé Friday

There are so many Fabergé objects out there I could probably do these Fabergé Friday posts for the rest of my life. Haha! And today's object is a pendant, made by workmaster Alfred Thielemann, sometime between the years 1880 and 1890.




The pendant is designed as an Imperial double-headed eagle set with diamonds, mounted in silver and gold. It is 2.6 cm and in 2013 it was sold at Christie's












Friday, July 24, 2015

Fabergé Friday

It can be really annoying when you have sat down for dinner, and realize you've forgotten to bring the ketchup! For moments like this, all you need is a butler, and something to call him with - like this Fabergé table-bell for example! It was made sometime between 1896 - 1908.




The bell is made of silver, and has a handle of engraved yellow gold covered in oyster enamel. The handle is also decorated with red and green gold swags and bows, finished off by a cabochon ruby at the top. It's dimensions are 8.2 x 3.6 cm, and since 1953 it belongs to the Royal Collection.








Friday, July 17, 2015

Fabergé Friday

Last Friday I showed you one of Fabergé's brooches, and here is another one! It was made by workmaster Alfred Thielemann, around 1910.




The brooch is made in Art Deco style, of silver-topped gold.




It is set with a big faceted aquamarine, one brilliant, and many rose-cut diamonds. The length of the brooch is 6.2 cm, and it has been sold at Romanov Russia.






Friday, July 10, 2015

Fabergé Friday

I'm pretty bad at wearing brooches. I have quite a few of them, but for some reason I always forget to pin them on me. If I owned this one by Fabergé I probably wouldn't forget about it though... It was made by workmaster Alfred Thielemann, around 1910.




The field of the oval brooch is covered in translucent rose over a guilloché ground The border is made of gold in a ribbon-tied reed pattern. in the center sits a faceted citrine, from which stretches gold leaf decorations. The length of the brooch is 3.2 cm, and it was sold at Sotheby's for 15,000 USD.








Friday, July 03, 2015

Fabergé Friday

And today's Fabergé object is - a scent bottle! Made by workmaster Mikhail Perkhin, sometime before 1896.




The bottle is shaped like a lyre, and made out of engraved smoky quartz. It has mounts of red gold set with rose-cut diamonds, and the lid is covered in translucent pink, finished off with a pearl finial. The bottle is 2.5'' x 0.9'' x 0.7'' (6.3 x 2.4 x 1.7 cm), and since 1953 it has been part of the Royal Collection.







Friday, June 19, 2015

Fabergé Friday

On windy days it might be good to secure your hat with a hat pin, so here is an examples by Fabergé! It was made by workmaster August Hollming, around the year 1890.




The pin is made of gold, and has an egg-shaped top covered in translucent mauve enamel over a guilloché ground. It is topped with a pearl-set terminal, and it is 6'' (15.2 cm) long.













Friday, June 12, 2015

Fabergé Friday

The flowers called Bleeding Hearts in English we in Sweden call Löjtnantshärtan, which means Lieutenant Hearts. They're really pretty, and here is a sprig made by Fabergé!




The gold-stalked double spray sits in a vase of rock crystal. The flowers are carved in rhodonite and quartzite, with three sets of three carved nephrite leaves. To make the flowers as true to life as possible they are set en tremblant, which means they can move gently, as blown by the wind. The dimensions of the whole object are 7.5'' x 6'' x 2.4'' (19 x 15.3 x 6.2 cm), and it was acquired by Queen Mary in 1934. Now it is part of the Royal Collection.







Friday, May 29, 2015

Fabergé Friday

This Friday I have a very pretty Fabergé pendant locket for you. It was made by Anders Nevalainen, sometime between the years 1896 and 1908!





The locket is covered in pink enamel over a guilloché ground. It is decorated with a foliate wreath motif set with rose-cut diamonds, with a large marquise-cut diamond in the center. The width of the locket is 1.3'' (3.2 cm). I found it at Christie's.











Friday, May 22, 2015

Fabergé Friday

For me, one thing that says summer has come to Sweden is when the swallows have arrived. This haven't happened yet. But while we're waiting, here is a swallow from Fabergé! It was commissioned by King Edward VII in 1907, as part of the Sandringham Commission.




This very life-like little bird is carved from obsidian and white quartzite. It has eyes of rose-cut diamonds, and feet made of gold. The size of the swallow is 1'' x 2.5'' x 0.6'' (2.5 x 6.4 x 1.6 cm), and it is part of the Royal Collection.







Friday, May 08, 2015

Fabergé Friday

Today's Fabergé-object - a pair of cuff links! They were made by workmaster August Hollming, sometime between 1898 and 1904.




The cuff links are made of varicolored gold and shaped as Imperial double-headed eagles, decorated with diamonds, and set with cabochon rubies in the center. The bars are decorated with diamond-set ties. The links come in a fitted wood box. I found them at Sotheby's.










Friday, May 01, 2015

Fabergé Friday

One thing I really think should come back into fashion is the hand fan! They're beautiful, practical, and romantic... Here is one from Fabergé. Made by workmaster Henrik Wigström.




The beautifully painted fan has a leaf of plain weave silk, backed with silk gauze. The 8.5'' (21.6 cm) front guardstick is made of mother-of-pearl, covered in white and blue enamel over a guilloché ground, and decorated with two-colored gold and two Burmese cabochon rubies. The back guard and the rest of the sticks are also of mother-of-pearl.




The fan still has it's original birchwood box, and it was purchased by Queen Alexandra in 1912 as a Christmas present for her daughter-in-law, Queen Mary. Now it has it's place in the Royal Collection.









Friday, April 24, 2015

Fabergé Friday

Today's Fabergé object - an Imperial Presentation cigarette case! Made by workmaster August Hollming, sometime between 1899-1908.




The case is enameled translucent red over a sunburst engine-turned ground. The ends are wrapped with chased gold laurel bands, and the thumb-piece is set with rose-cut diamonds. In the middle of the lid sits an Imperial eagle of rose-cut diamonds. The length of the case is 3 1/2'' (9 cm), and according to the ledgers of the Imperial cabinet it accompanied Tsar Nicholas II on three different voyages...







Friday, April 17, 2015

Fabergé Friday

Fabergé created many, many miniature animals. Several of them were part of a big animal-commission called the Sandringham Commission, ordered by King Edward VII in 1907. I've already shown you a few critters from that collection, and here comes another one - a little rat!





The rat is made of chalcedony and has silver ears and a silver tail, both set with rose diamonds. The dimensions of the little animal are 0.9'' x 1.8'' x 0.8'' (2.2 x 4.6 x 2 cm), and it now lives in the Royal Collection.








Friday, April 10, 2015

Fabergé Friday

So, here we have one more of those really usable Fabergé objects you didn't know you needed - a pen rest!




The pen rest is made of nephrite, decorated with a mistletoe design of pearl and rose-cut diamond berries on a gold stem with gold leaves. The size of the piece is 0.7'' x 1.7'' x 0.9'' (1.9 x 4.3 x 2.3 cm), and it was acquired by King George V, who always kept it on his desk. It now belongs to the Royal Collection.








Friday, April 03, 2015

Fabergé Friday


It's Easter time, so what better to show you than a Fabergé (Easter) bunny!




The miniature rabbit is carved from a piece of chalcedony, and has rose-cut diamonds for eyes. It's dimensions are 0.9'' x 1.5' x 0.9'' (2.2 x 3.8 x 2.2 cm), and it was commissioned by King Edward VII in 1907. Now it belongs in the Royal Collection. Happy Easter everyone!!!











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