It used to be more comprehensive. I sold an awesome convertible Deco fur clips-slash-brooch that I sort of regret parting with now, a few other less stellar brooches, a ring or two and a really top-notch panelled mid century bracelet, the best I've ever personally seen. That was a bit of a wrench but I was too afraid to wear it. You know how it is. I keep these particular guys because they're either sentimentally associated or difficult to get hold of in latter years; while there are plenty of crap reproduction animal pieces floating around, this snake's superior design, construction and sinuous savoir faire are things seemingly beyond modern taste or technical expertise. Which pisses me off. "I love the snake. It is so blameless." says Gideon in an upcoming chapter of TBO. My sentiments exactly. The detailing on the head in this piece is so expressive and the stones are a really nice grade. The modern versions are so fucking déclassé when you see them side by side. |
This is my favourite bit of marcasite by a long way; dealers offered to buy it whenever I wore it out around the trade shops in Christchurch back in the day. I've had it for about 20 years. Jesus freaking christ time flies. What is marcasite? Iron pyrite (fool's gold) with an orthorhombic crystal structure, more stable and less brittle than true marcasite in mineral form, confusingly, and therefore more suitable for use in jewellery. Marcasite has been used since Classical times to jööhj shit up and get haters hating. Did you know that? I thought it was more a Victorian thing. |
I don't remember where I picked up this wee ring exactly; an auction, I'm guessing, but I have the impression I paid about $18. Which is great for something so flapper-looking. It's probably more like 1940 than 1920 and it only fits my little finger but it's so well executed; the silver is really well finished, the stones massively sparkly and I wouldn't swap it for a thousand hunks of mall diamond shite. |