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Back in the old days, in the 1750’s, the way in which lovers expressed their true sentiments to each other and loved ones was to send a specially scribed message secretly hidden in a tiny “étui”, as it’s called in French, or a small ornamental case that women also used to carry their small utensils, [...]
Australian aborigines called it the “stone of light” and the Celts believed its prismatic properties linked it to the sun. Even the fortuneteller’s rudimentary crystal ball was originally crafted of the mysteriously alluring mineral we refer to today as rock crystal.
Rock crystal, or clear quartz, has been revered by nearly every ancient culture in history. [...]
Australian aborigines called it the “stone of light” and the Celts believed its prismatic properties linked it to the sun. Even the fortuneteller’s rudimentary crystal ball was originally crafted of the mysteriously alluring mineral we refer to today as rock crystal.
Rock crystal, or clear quartz, has been revered by nearly every [...]
There was a time when no amusement park or playground was complete without a carousel ride. Children and even adults could take pleasure in a whimsical ride atop an array of horses and other fanciful creatures carved by the most skilled artisans of the day. Though quality examples of these nostalgic masterpieces come few and [...]
When King Louis XV took an interest in porcelain and became a primary shareholder of what would become the Sèvres factory in 1752, he intended to catapult the international status of French porcelain to the finest in the world. It’s believed that his motivation came from his famed mistress, Madame de [...]
