We were very happy to be in Naples for the Naples Arts & Antiques Show at the Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church. This was our first year and we look forward to many more. With Miami Beach, Palm Beach and Naples all in a row we are wiped out; you can see why I couldn't get out a February newsletter.
We get to rest in March and then we go to Charlotte April 17th and 18th for a show, graciously sponsored by Circa Antiques, benefitting the Mint Museum. Then it is off to Chicago for the show at the Merchandise Mart on April 25 — 28; Preview Party on April 24. Then we go to Nashville for the Hunt Ball on May 8th benefitting Vanderbilt Children's Hospital with a lovely pre-party given by Robin and Richard Patton on the 7th. For Charlotte please call us for more info; for Chicago let us know if you need a ticket.
We have sad news and good news on the employee front this month. Our darling Eliza is moving back to California to work with her sister Molly. We will miss her very much but hope to do things together. Our recently married and retired Hobby, who is now Hobby Holmes Cole, is back working three days a week and we welcome her with open arms.
BROOCHES
I am often asked if we have any old Verdura. Well, we have gotten a fabulous piece I want to share with you. This was probably made in the 50's and was a special order. Verdura took four platinum and diamond charms from the 20's and mounted them on a heavy 14k gold disc to wear as a brooch. There's a bunny, a bear, a bull and a moose centered by an old European cut diamond weighing approximately 1 ct surrounded by tiny sapphires. This will make a suit jacket.
We have chosen a collection of whimsical brooches this month.
- The first is a little 18k gold dog set, 20B155, with diamonds and emeralds.
- Next is a pair of ducks (and you know how I love multiples), 21B652, by O.J. Perrin, French, in 18k gold with emeralds.
- Then comes this adorable scarecrow, 21B590, set in 18k gold with diamonds, pearls, rubies, sapphires and emeralds.
- Then another signed one by Seaman Schepps, 21B631, 14k gold heart and bow with a cabochon emerald. This was probably made about 1950 while the others are from the 60s.
We think all of these brooches are conversation pieces.
NECKLACE
21N391. This is Barry Kieselstein-Cord's diamond toggle necklace which retails for about $18,500.
BRACELETS
21A856. We bought a French retro bracelet that is to die for. It is pinkish gold, very geometric in design with three rows of stretched out pyramids. This is special.
21A556. This is a pair of David Webb hinged bangles in 18k gold with diamonds set in platinum. Bangles are in big demand now.
I always adore good retro bracelets and we are featuring three more this month. 21A598. The first has a design of little circles and is in 18k pinkish yellow gold.
21A761. The second is 18k but much lighter and features an alternating bars and circle design.
19A448. The last one is a warm 18k rose gold.
RINGS
Three great signed rings this month. All have wide bands and are difficult to size. They can be made a bit smaller with balls but if you are a 4 or an 8, alas, they are not for you.
21R742. The one on the left is by Cartier, Paris and has about 3 cts of diamonds set in 18k gold. It is in the original fitted box and is a size 6. This ring is a knockout!
21R783. A wide band by Elizabeth Gage in a size 6 1/2. It is made in yellow and white gold centered with a sugarloaf green tourmaline accented by diamonds.
21R999. A spectacular 3.08 carat unheated Ceylon sapphire set in 18k gold with diamond accents by Buccellati. With the rising price of stones this ring would cost Buccellati more to make today than we are charging for it. That this stone is unheated makes it special. It is size 6 1/2.
EARRINGS
One of the most popular parts of our newsletter has been our selection of reasonably priced earrings. We have eight pairs this month — three terrific pairs of everyday ones:
21E594. A ribbed swirl earring in 14k gold probably made in the late 40s.
21E687. A hammered gold pair in 18k.
21E473. A polished shrimp style by Tiffany.
Two more unusual styles:
20E765. A 14k heart pierced by an arrow. We think they could be by Paul Flato but they are not signed, like many of his pieces.
21E626. A pair of 60s earrings in 18k gold and ivory.
Our friend Janet Mavec has left the jewelry business and we are offering three pairs of her earring designs.
21E746. Black onyx and pink tourmaline
21E747. Coral and white onyx
21E748. Turquoise and amethyst
BULGARI SUITE
This jewelry is by Bulgari and very unusual.
21E925. The earrings are opposite colors, one in natural 18k yellow gold while the other has been given a gunmetal finish. Each is centered with a diamond.
21R924. The ring is all gunmetal finish on top with yellow peeping out from the inside like a beautiful lining in a dress. It has 3 marquise diamonds and is a size 6. This also would be difficult to size except by adding balls.
PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR PRICING DETAILS
DINING
My friend Stephanie Stokes often takes me to lunch on my birthday, and this year was no exception. She took me to Cafe Bouloud at 20 east 76th St (212.773.2600) and it was wonderful. I had only been for dinner before and lunch is something to remember when you want something a bit special. There is a special prix-fixe for an appetizer, main course and dessert and all was delicious.
Jean and I went to a Turkish restaurant last week called Bodrum. I remembered reading about it when it opened last summer and the NY Times did a tiny follow-up review last week. It is not fancy but absolutely delicious. Eliza tried it too and she agrees. It is located at 584 Amsterdam Avenue (between 88th & 89th) and for those in the neighborhood, they deliver.
SHOPPING
We are all in search of the perfect fitting trouser and I have found two candidates. For dress pants AKRIS and AKRIS PUNTO have no peers. They fit like a dream and the KARLA model has been praised by many, including Oprah. The New York store is just up and across the street from us at 835 Madison Avenue — ask for Eugene Matthews (212.717.1170). The jackets are pretty nifty also and some of my most favorite things are from there. Olga, who does alterations, is a wizard.
For casual pants, i.e. jeans, we found a great store in Palm Beach called DIANE FIRSTEN which has terrific styles and salesgirls with the patience to get you in the right fitting model. They also have a store in Cinncinnati, Diane's home town. This was another recommendation from the consummate shopper, Ann Free, and we both favor the dark denim model although my white ones are pretty fabulous. Another store in Palm Beach called ALTONA was a candidate but the service was abysmal. They also have stores in Southampton and Paris and perhaps I will try the Southampton store this summer to see if the rudeness is confined to Palm Beach.
READING
On April 15th we are honored to give a cocktail party at our office for Sigourney Cheek from Nashville. Sigourney has written a book, Patient Siggy; Hope and Healing in Cyberspace, on her bout with cancer that is inspiring, touching, funny etc. It started as emails to her friends so she could keep us all up to date on the course of her disease and the list grew and grew and grew and became a force unto itself. We will have books as your gifts and Sigourney will sign them. Let Jane know if you can come.
February and March have been a bonanza for fans of English and other foreign police procedurals. I will highlight a few of my favorites as I've still got piles to read. So far I've polished off Peter Robinson's Friend of the Devil, his 17th featuring my old friends DCI Alan Banks and DI Annie Cabot. It's a good one. Then, Jacqueline Winspear has written her 5th delicious Maisie Dobbs novel, An Incomplete Revenge. I also quite liked Deborah Crombie's last book, now in paperback, Water Like a Stone, which I had missed. Yet to come are new books in May by Ann Perry and Elizabeth George, plus various Norwegian, Icelandic, Danish, German ones that are in my to be read pile.
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