My Nostalgic Soul
A Church Window in the Mourning - Frozen Charlie
A Church Window in the Mourning - Frozen Charlie
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They dressed her in black that morning, the way the whole town had taken to dressing since the sleigh came back. They carried her up the aisle past the window where the light came down in colored shards, red and gold pooling on the stone. The organ played low.
Charlie built himself a smaller church to carry with him. A narrow arched frame in aged silver tone holds her fast behind glass, dressed in a bow of black antique lace where the window's stone tracery would be, strung on a long fall of faceted vintage jet beads in the old mourning tradition. He wears it the way some men carry a photograph. She catches light the way that window did.
Read the full story: Frozen Charlie
Details
- Genuine antique bisque doll fragment, set behind glass in a silver-tone arched reliquary frame
- Faceted vintage jet glass beads, hand-knotted, approx. 28-30" necklace length
- Black antique lace bow accent
- One of a kind — no two pieces in this collection are exactly alike
- Handmade with love in my cottage studio in Kansas
From My Nostalgic Soul to yours. — Gwendalynn Grey
Care, Wear & Provenance
Care, Wear & Provenance
A little history, a little care
Every piece I make is built by hand from things that have already lived a life. Antique bisque doll fragments, old keys and photographs, lace, silk ribbon, chandelier crystals and vintage beads, all put back together into something you can wear. They're sturdier than they look (the bisque in particular), but they are still old, and a little care goes a long way toward keeping them beautiful.
Wearing your piece
- Put your jewelry on last, after perfume, lotion and hairspray, and take it off before you bathe, swim, sleep or do anything strenuous.
- Keep the whole piece away from water and harsh chemicals and high heat.
- Be gentle with the bisque and the other fragile parts. A drop onto a hard floor or a hard knock can chip or crack them.
Cleaning
A soft, dry cloth is all it needs. Please don't use jewelry dips, silver polish or an ultrasonic cleaner, and don't rub the bisque with a polishing cloth, because they can strip old finishes, lift paint and loosen joints. Old silver-tone and brass metal darkens with time. That's normal, a naturally protective coating, and it's part of the look, so there's no need to polish it away.
Storing it
Keep each piece on its own in a dry place out of direct sunlight, so nothing scratches or tangles. Pieces with ribbon or lace keep their shape best laid flat, and the box or pouch yours came in makes a good home for it.
Please note
These are keepsakes for grown-ups, not toys, and they aren't meant for children. They have small parts that can come loose, and some old metal findings may possibly contain lead or nickel. If your skin is sensitive to base metals, you may want to wear yours over clothing or for shorter stretches.
Provenance and materials
Every bisque doll in my Frozen Charlotte and Frozen Charlie pieces is an authentic antique. The rest of a piece is a mix. Some parts are antique or vintage, like keys, lace, photographs and beads, and some are newer replicas. When I know how old something is or where it came from, I say so in that piece's description. Otherwise I can't promise the exact age, maker or history of every part.
Because these pieces are made from old things, they can show small variations, signs of age and little imperfections. I think that's a big part of their charm, and it's what makes each one the only one of its kind. That's why they chose you and me.
From My Nostalgic Soul to yours. — Gwendalynn Grey
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