Lindsay has been busy posting stuff to the website. Frustratingly for her she has had to mark it “sold” almost as quickly as she has put it up. Do you appreciate how torturous our jobs are? We spend months getting an item ready only to have it sell and then we have to start all over. Trust me, it is a lot easier when you sell something like designer jewelry that is new and you sell a ring and you can just pull out its replica from the drawer and put the copy out. A lot easier, and a lot less interesting!
We are enjoying a few quiet days while we prepare for 2012. Can you believe it? 2012 sounds so damn futuristic! Why am I not traveling to work in my hovercraft?!
So what do you want for 2012? I just ask for more of the same. The health and happiness of my family and the joy of the hunt for interesting and lovely jewelry at work. 2011 gave me not only a new baby but a new shop to work in. I just want time to enjoy it. I want to share with you my favorite toast. In Spanish we say “Salud, Pesetas y Amor: y el tiempo para disfrutarlo”. So when midnight arrives on New Year’s Eve you can say that or the translation: “Health, Money and Love: and the time to enjoy them”. I think that sums it up nicely, don’t you?
- Cristina
]]>So I return to the Proust Questionnaire with Melissa as my target. She, as you well know, is a gemologist at Past Era and expecting a little baby boy in February. Mel is an intriguing mixture:very child-like yet with a practical turn of mind. She talks about Disneyworld with unbridled enthusiasm and chomps on candy all day long yet can astonish with her wordly wisdom.
She chose a ring she loves to represent her but I couldn’t talk her into channeling it. *sigh* Please read on for her answers!
What is your favorite virtue? Integrity
What is your idea of perfect happiness? Being surrounded by loved ones.
What is your current state of mind? Dreamy
What is your greatest fear? Being alone.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Indecisiveness
What is the trait you most deplore in others? Dishonesty
What is your greatest extravagance? Cars.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Chastity
What is it that you most dislike? Insects.
On what occasion do you lie? To protect the people I care about.
What do you dislike the most about your appearance? My graying hair.
What is the quality you most like in a man? Sensitivity.
In a woman? Sanity.
In your friends? Loyalty.
What is your favorite occupation? Researching.
What is your favorite color? Blue
Your favorite flower? Daisies.
Your favorite author? Honey I haven’t read enough! Margaret Mitchell.
Your favorite hero/heroine? Susan B. Anthony
Which words of phrases do you most overuse? “Worse things have happened.” “It is what it is.”
What historical figure so you most identify with? I don’t know that I do…
What or who is the greatest love of your life? I should say Ken but I want to say my whole family.
What living person do you most admire? My dad.
When and where were you happiest? The south of France seven years ago.
Which talent would you most like to have? I would like to be athletic; you know, be picked first for the team!
What do you consider your greatest achievement? I’m going to be having a family soon.
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? I would be decisive.
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing what would it be? Bananas Foster.
If you could change one thing about your family what would it be? I would have brothers or sisters. A larger family.
What is your most treasured possession? My photographs.
What is your chief characteristic? I don’t thing I have anything uniquely identifying. Patience.
What is your favorite name? Marie.
What is your greatest regret? I don’t have any regrets because everything that has happened has made me who I am today.
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Victorian Revival Sapphire, Diamond and Blue Enamel Cluster Ring, c.1940
If you have been a fan of Past Era for very long, then you probably know that we are members of the Houston Antique Dealers Association (known as HADA). Every fall, we head to the convention center with some of our most tasty pieces. The Red Vault has just featured us on their blog in their coverage of this year’s HADA show, which starts later this month.
Click here to read the article!
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Please come visit our new shop and play with some of our new sparkles. We will help you beat the heat with chilled drinks, cold a/c and fresh new jewelry.
Our new location is:
3433 West Alabama
Houston, Texas 77027
713.621.3433
Hours: Tues - Sat, 10 - 6
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This is just a tantalizing glimpse of our new location. Note that Hildi is sitting at her desk IN FRONT OF A WINDOW. With trees outside! Oh bliss! Everything is coming along swimmingly. We would love to tell you to pop right over right away but we still have a few more things to iron out. So please be patient- and keep your fingers crossed- we hope to be able to greet you presently.
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Please come and visit us in our new location. We will be busy bees for the rest of the week and then we get the fun of settling our nest the following week. We have all sorts of grand plans for some date in the future (parties etc) but for now we are just so happy to be able to invite you in for a nice drink and to have a cushy seat while you take a look at our latest finds (did you think we would stop buying just because we were moving? you would think wrong!).
New address:
3433 West Alabama Houston Texas 77027
Across the street from Blanco’s and the rear of St. Luke’s. Next to the new Antiques of River Oaks. It is going to be so pretty and fabulous and we are full of glee!
]]>Hildi was also game to play with a piece of jewelry. Take a look here. This gorgeous piece inspired her to add a playful twist to her answers. For the most part Hildi’s answers were authentic but occasionally she took refuge in playing pretend. Read on and experience a bit of the hildiliciousness we are fortunate enough to experience daily.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being worn where I can see my reflection.
What is your current state of mind?
Whimsical.
What is your greatest fear?
Not getting something I want or losing something I already have.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My arrogance.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Their arrogance.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Purses and shoes.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Humility.
What is it that you most dislike?
Liars.
On what occasion do you lie?
When it suits me.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
My height.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
His brain.
In a woman?
Her brain.
In your friends?
Generosity.
What is your favorite occupation?
Flirting- wherever and whenever.
What is your favorite color?
Purple with red.
Your favorite flower?
Hydrangea.
Your favorite author?
F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Your favorite hero/heroine?
My daughter.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“It’s practically free.”
What historical figure do you most identify with?
Lois Wilson.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Let’s go with my mother.
Which living person do you most admire?
Elliot Ness.
When and where were you happiest?
When worn by my mother.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Getting sober.
What is it that you most dislike?
Poor hygiene.
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
In AA we say “Only one thing: everything.”
If not yourself who would you be?
Anyone else I would still be me.
If you could change one thing about your family what would it be?
Their perception.
What is your most treasured possession?
Family photos.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Loneliness.
What is your chief characteristic?
Grandiosity.
What is your motto?
Get busy living or get busy dying.
How would you like to die?
Without knowing about it. Suddenly, I guess.
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What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Wandering in nature.
What is your current state of mind?
Joyous. Anticipatory.
What is your greatest fear?
Holy mackerel! Having a stroke.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Interrupting people when they are talking.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Dishonesty.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Buying a BMW for my husband as a gift without his knowledge.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Beauty.
What is it that you most dislike?
Okra.
On what occasion do you lie?
It is never okay to lie.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
The veins in my legs.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Empathy.
In a woman?
Grace. When I say grace, I mean, not competing; a lack of jealousy.
In your friends?
Support.
What is your favorite occupation?
Doing what I do.
What is your favorite color?
The colors of nature.
Your favorite flower?
Snowdrops. They represent hope and beginnings.
Your favorite author?
Thackery.
Your favorite poem?
Daffodils by Wordsworth, Morte d’Arthur by Tennyson, and Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner.
Your favorite hero/heroine?
Viola from Twelfth Night.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Probably swear words.
What historical figure do you most identify with?
Queen Elizabeth the First.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My family.
Which living person do you most admire?
I don’t know.
When and where were you happiest?
Playing on the beach with my children.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Raising a family obviously.
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
My forgetfulness.
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing what do you think it would be?
A tropical island in the Pacific.
If you could change one thing about your family what would it be?
Geographical distances.
What is your most treasured possession?
My humor.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Having no friends.
Who are your heroes in real life?
I don’t think I admire anyone in particular.
What is your chief characteristic?
My accent.
What is your favorite name?
What an American concept!
What is your motto?
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
What is your greatest regret?
I’d like to think that I don’t have any.
How would you like to die?
Painlessly and unaware.
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Instead of simply answering the questions, I asked the girls to pick a piece of jewelry that they really liked and connected with and answer the questions with the piece of jewelry in mind. The results were surprising and very fun.
This was Lindsay’s inspiration.
She pictured a decadent sort of voice for this lovely necklace. I hope you enjoy- I certainly did!
What is your favorite virtue?
Beauty.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being bathed in champagne.
What is your current state of mind?
Melancholy
What is your greatest fear?
A dark jewelry box.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Jealousy.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Greed.
What is your greatest extravagance?
French perfume.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Temperance.
What is it that you most dislike?
Closed minds.
On what occasion do you lie?
To spare feelings.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I only fit small necks.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Curiosity.
In a woman?
A tiny neck.
In your friends?
Loyalty.
What is your favorite occupation?
Going to the ballet in a Worth ballgown. However, in a pinch, Valentino will do.
What is your chief characteristic?
Experience.
What is your favorite name?
Isabella
What is your favorite color?
Royal purple.
Your favorite flower?
Peony.
Your favorite author?
Baudelaire.
Your favorite hero/heroine?
Raphael.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Shall we have another?
What historical figure do you most identify with?
Empress Josephine.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Napoleon.
When and where were you happiest?
In the loving hands of my maker.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Mind reading.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Surviving the 19th century.
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
I would think before I would speak.
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing what do you think it would be?
The mirrored hall in Versailles.
What is your most treasured possession?
My strands of natural pearls.
What is your greatest regret?
Je ne regrette rien.
]]>Mosaics are a type of inlay much like the tiles on a floor. There are two distinct kinds:
Micro mosaics are a bit like a pointilism painting. Tiny (and I mean itty-bitty) pieces of colored glass are painstakingly assembled by hand on a cement background to form a motif. For example in the necklace below the head of the bug is made up of 23 separate pieces.
Pietra dura is more like a jigsaw puzzle. Hardstones such as jasper, chalcedony, lapis lazuli are cut into small, delicate slices and formed into an image. In the pendant below you can see that each wing is a separate piece of malachite or lapis.
It can be very difficult to accurately date a mosaic; usually one relies on the mounting to assist in the dating. A great mosaic has an almost flawless finish that is uncannily realistic. Early mosaics can be fabulous as hand labor was very inexpensive. Later, Castellani inspired a generation of jewelers to also produce exquisite pieces.