My Nostalgic Soul
Charlie’s Broken Heart — Frozen Charlie Antique Bisque Assemblage Necklace
Charlie’s Broken Heart — Frozen Charlie Antique Bisque Assemblage Necklace
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Charlotte, his love, perished one snowy night. But for Charlie, it was seasons of wrenching grief. Her parents urged him toward the sun, but his heart felt no warmth there and finally shadow settled completely over him. He sought a fragile, fleeting peace but could not find it.
The verse says his heart did break. It says it plainly, without ceremony — tucked between the mourning and the tomb. He found her grave on the first heavy snowfall. Lay down. Held the heart to his chest through the blizzard. When it stilled, so did he. Together at last. A broken heart. A shared grave. The end.
This piece is built from that heart.
He is authentic antique German bisque, circa 1850s — pale, still, cast in a single unjointed piece the way all the early ones were. A century of living has settled into his surface. I gave him a silver top hat, because he showed up for her until the very last moment. Two antiqued bronze angel wings hang from a delicate chain at his collar — one on each side, symmetrical, earned. At his chest, a large detailed anatomical heart in pewter, worn openly where the tin heart once stilled against him. Heavy. Specific. Impossible to ignore.
He travels on a long strand of white pearl beads — luminous, cool, the kind Charlotte herself might have worn to the ball.
Read the full story: Frozen Charlie – My Nostalgic Soul
Details
- Authentic antique German bisque Frozen Charlie doll, circa 1850s
- Silver top hat
- Two antiqued bronze angel wings on a delicate chain collar
- Large pewter anatomical heart charm
- Long white pearl bead chain with clasp
- One of a kind — you will receive the exact necklace shown
- 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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