A Snapshot of our Entire Collection...

There are certain things that I can look at that just make me happy.  Fairyland Luster by Wedgwood is one of them.

The colors are wild and the color combinations even wilder.  The images take you to a far off land where mystery and magic are abound.  Creatures include floating, dancing and climbing fairies, bats and spiders, little green men call “Imps”, melting maidens, butterfly women, goblins and leap-frogging elves.  The backgrounds are lush forests, with ponds, mushrooms, poplar trees, castles, bridges and silk draped columns.  Even the names are magical, Jeweled Tree Vase, Jumping Faun Lily Tray, Castle on a Road, Imps on a Bridge and on and on.

It all started in 1909 when Daisy Makeig-Jones marched into Cecil Wedgwood’s (an heir of Josiah Wedgwood) office and asked for a job as an apprentice painter.  A bold move on her part!  She was clearly talented and she moved up quickly through the ranks.  By 1915 Wedgwood announced the launch of Makeig-Jones’s flamboyant Fairyland Lustre Design.  It was a hit!  Both Europeans and Americans loved Fairyland.  It was just the boost in the arm Wedgwood needed to get them through a rather large financial slump.

But, all was not well in Fairyland.  According to Wedgwood, by 1929 Art Nouveau fairies faded from fashion and the line was discontinued in 1929. (I think it was the Great Depression that did in the Fairies.)  Also, Daisy had grown “too big for her station”.  She would march around telling people what to do.  Eccentric can be good in a designer but no longer designing she quickly became a difficult employee, more interested in the mythical world than the real one.  So, I bet you can guess what happened next.  In 1931 she was politely asked to retire.  She left in a fury and never designed again.

I personally like and appreciate a fellow female rebel.  Go Daisy, go!!

According to Appraiser Nicholas Dawes, PBS, Antiques Road Show, “Wedgwood is one of the most famous names in the history of English ceramics and there’s 250 years of Wedgwood production.  But, Fairyland Lustreware is among the most valuable of all Wedgwood from any period.” And I would like to add, the most fun.

We have a huge collection.  My two favorites are “Lily Tray ” and the “Daventry” Bowl.  Check them out and tell me what you think?

Susan

In 1762, the English Naval Armada captured Havana, holding Cuba for almost a year. It was ceded to Spain in exchange for Florida territory in the Treaty of Paris (1763). The English harvested a tremendous amount of mahogany from the island and from that point forward English furniture manufactured with mahogany was referred too as Cuban Mahogany – regardless if the woods harvest origin was another distant global locale.

The Jupes expansion table is one such item that fits into the Cuban Mahogany genre.  The table is an engineering marvel with its patented expansion mechanism – still working magnificently since its installation in 1830.  Closed, it seats 6 and opened, with its leaves inserted, it sits a group of 12 people.  One of the marvels of this circular table is that no one is left out of the conversation – it’s an all inclusive dinner party with this table.

This piece is remarkable. I never get tired of talking about it. It’s both an engineering and artistic masterpiece. If you come to the store, this is something you need to see. Ask for James, I’d be happy to show you how it works.

My latest favorite piece of jewelry, which is subject to change at any moment, is our recently acquired 121.05 carat Black Diamond Necklace.   Yes, the diamonds are black, and yes, they look like diamonds.  This black diamond necklace really pops when it is against your skin and dresses up that little black dress or even jeans.  Plus, it has this great mac daddy white gold and diamond clasp that can be worn off to one side if you like.

Black Diamond Necklace

Black diamonds are really cool because no one knows what they really are!   They are very rare and were only discovered in 1840 in Brazil.  They are made up of several crystals instead of just one like white diamonds.  That’s what gives it its black opaque color.  Also, they are not formed in the earth’s crust.  In fact, some scientists believe that black diamonds may have come from outer space!  Now, how cool is that?

Any woman who is adventurous, likes unusual things that no one else has and enjoys dishing out a little shock factor, would love this necklace.

All my best,

Susan