Sunday, February 28, 2016

FEMME FATALE III-Victorian Female Leg Match Safe Vesta

Newly listed to Metal Corset is this assemblage necklace featuring a whimsical silver plated and leather Victorian match safe vesta depicting a highly detailed shapely female leg measuring 2.15" x 1.0".

This amazing match safe suspends from sterling silver wire wrapped Jasper beads and two different styles of antique silver plated Masonic sword chains.

The necklace closes with a sterling silver Victorian reproduction Shepard's hook.

Check it out!

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

LADY JANE GREY-HUES IN GRAY

The focal of this assemblage necklace is a beautiful Victorian Art Nouveau sterling silver and velvet heart pincushion. Stamped with hallmarks to both front and back.

It is suspended from sterling silver wire wrapped gemstones and pearls which include iridescent Labradorites, faceted rock crystals, faceted jet rondelles and silver filigree rhinestone beads.

The closure is a sterling silver Victorian reproduction Shepard's hook from Danette Darbonne.

Dangling from the nape is a sterling silver Art Deco watch case depicting a winged cherub and heart. The case opens allowing you to place tiny treasures of your own inside.

The gray hues of this necklace made me think of Lady Jane Grey and her tragic life. Great granddaughter of Henry VII, she was schemingly used as a pawn by her aristocratic family who coerced King Edward VI to thwart his Catholic half sister Lady Mary, heiress presumptive and successor to the throne. On his deathbed at age 15, King Edward VI named his Protestant cousin Lady Jane Grey as his successor to the throne. Also known as the "Nine Day Queen," Lady Jane Grey was executed by beheading for high treason on 12 February 1554.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

à L'ami


French for: A Friend. This is a French horn Georgian era (1770-1780) trinket box lid. Under the 14K rimmed glass cover is a beaded design made from tiny natural seed pearls on top of dark blue enamel. à L'ami is written on a small rectangle of ivory. Some of the pearls and gold braid have become dislodged but it is still breathtaking. Soon to be one of my newest assemblage creations.

Friday, September 25, 2015

TINY ANTIQUE FLAMING SACRED HEART RELIQUARY EX VOTO

This is one of the smallest ex voto reliquaries I've seen.

It measures 1.88" in length.

The flame and heart are embellished with paste rhinestones.

These devotional items are considered to be votive offerings.

Pilgrims traveling to various religious sites around the world would suspend them from a Saint's robe, most often a statue.

They opened like a locket to allow the pilgrim to add a devotional message inside.

Religious in nature and most likely Catholic.

Just amazing!

Monday, September 14, 2015

ANTIQUE STERLING SILVER HEART PIN CUSHION


This is a beautiful late Victorian or early Edwardian sterling silver pin cushion.

Soon to be featured in one of my jewelry assemblage creations. 

So, keep a weather eye on Metal Corset for its debut!

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

WOODLAND NECKLACE

Assemblage necklace featuring a Victorian thimble case in the shape of an acorn hand carved from vegetable ivory (tagua nut) suspended from sterling silver wire wrapped gemstones with two lampwork glass eggs designed by Ellen Ingram of Starcatcher.

Newly listed to Metal Corset.  Check it out!

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

LOVER'S EYE RECREATION IN WATERCOLOR ON ANTIQUE IVORY PIANO KEY


This is my first attempt in recreating a 1700s Georgian Lover's Eye.

It's painted in watercolor on an antique ivory piano key.

Once cut out, it will be placed in a Georgian locket.

The last photo is of an authentic Lover's Eye.