My Nostalgic Soul
Charlie’s Last Breath -- Macabre Gothic Frozen Charlie & Anatomical Lungs Charm | Handcrafted Art
Charlie’s Last Breath -- Macabre Gothic Frozen Charlie & Anatomical Lungs Charm | Handcrafted Art
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This is Charlie — the boy from the other side of the legend. While Charlotte's story became a cautionary tale, his became something quieter and harder to name: devotion that outlasted the cold, grief that returned with every season, loyalty that had nowhere left to go. He clutched her memory until the first snowfall of winter swept over the mountain and laid him to rest beside her. That is the story these small porcelain figures carry — not vanity, but love that simply would not leave.
This particular Charlie is authentic antique German bisque, born in 1850s Germany and molded in a single unjointed piece — the way they all were, stiff and still and somehow full of feeling. His soft white bisque has the gentle patina that only a century of living can give. I set him on a hand-soldered rusted metal cross, gave him silver-toned angel wings so he could finally ascend, and crowned him with a tiny rhinestone crown, because he earned it. Across his chest hangs a delicate copper-colored anatomical lungs charm on a collar of tiny silver beads — a talisman of breath, of life, of the last exhale before rest.
He hangs from a heavy antiqued copper oval-link chain, warm and substantial, the kind of chain that feels like it has already lived a long life. He is not a delicate piece. He is a devotional one.
Read the full story: Frozen Charlie – My Nostalgic Soul
Details
- Authentic antique German bisque Frozen Charlie doll, circa 1850s
- Hand-soldered dark rusted metal cross with silver-toned angel wings
- Tiny rhinestone crown and copper-colored anatomical lungs charm on a silver bead collar
- Antiqued copper oval-link chain with lobster clasp, approximately 24 inches
- 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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