All I Want for the New Year-Illumination

French  maker, unknown, circa 1900

Diamonds, plique-a-jour enamel, gold, platinum, with a carved ivory figure.

Illumination, is rare almost gossamer, fleeting like a spark, insight whispers softly, pay attention.

Rene Lalique, opal, diamonds enamel, silver gold, and glass,1900. 

Sometimes thorny, we must face ourselves to clear they way.

Image Art Nouveau and Art Deco Silver , by Annelies Krekel-Aalberse

Plique-a-jour enameled standing dish designed by Thorolf Prytz  made by J. Tostrup, Christiania (Oslo) exhibited in Paris In 1900.

Image Art Nouveau and Art Deco Silver , by Annelies Krekel-Aalberse

Vase designed by Gustav Gaudernack made by David-Anderson, Christiania (Oslo)

André Fernand Thesmar (1843-1912)
Plique-a-Jour enamel bowl. Plique -a-jour means light of the day.  Plique-a-jour is a transparent backless enamel technique, the enamel is fired and  held in place within delicate metal frames, called cloisonnes,  it is a very difficult  and fragile enamel technique.

Thesmar's signature on the foot. 

All I Want for Christmas - Pearls

Vogue May 1962

All I Want for Christmas- A Kitten

A better  kitty by Cartier

Brooch sold to the Duchess of Windsor in 1949

Platinum white gold a Kashmir sapphire cabochon 152.35 carats.  Sapphire spots.

Image FMR Vol. III 1988

I will pick up my kitten here in the salon privé
at the historic Cartier boutique in Paris at 13 Rue de la Paix.

The best  cats  are from Cartier.

All I want for Christmas- Van Day Truex

Image  from Van Day Truex by Adam Lewis

I would be pleased with anything designed by Van Day Truex for Tiffany and Co.

Sterling silver seed pods and cabbage

All I Want for Christmas- Gio Ponti

Ceramics for Richard Ginori 1923-1930

Throughout his long career Geo Ponti (1891-1979) was all of these:

 an architect , designer writer, publisher, and style leader.

Image form Gio Ponto by Ugo La Pietra
for Richard Ginori

Image Tajan
 Gio Ponti, 1926 porcelain  for Richard Ginori

Image form Gio Ponto by Ugo La Pietra
Enamel ware 1950's
He gave us the sun the moon and the stars!

Image form Gio Ponto by Ugo La Pietra 

Emeralds and Chinchilla

I don't wear fur myself.  

But I am seeing a lot of it around Paris.

Paris is full of wealthy Russians,  they wear very expensive furs,  

sable chinchilla and lavish minks all of very high quality.  

 As one Russian friend told me in defense of her fur wearing habits

You try going out in your native country when its  -20 C ( -4 Fahrenheit)

The only problem is I am not seeing the emeralds with the furs.  

But I can report that Van Cleef and Arpels was packed to the brim last Saturday,

and yes they were Russians!
  

One has always been able to can pick up very fine emeralds at Van Cleef and Arpels. 

 Van Cleef and Arpels 1930's
One can wear this necklace facing either way

.

Van Cleef and Arpels continues to make beautiful feminine jewelry that is distinctive, imaginative, fabulously theirs alone.


There were very few costumers in the other shops around the legendary 
Place Vendôme

And right next door  Mauboussin is still flogging it .
Yes this window  display is on Place Vendôme in Paris, 

I

Turquoise and Chinchilla