My Nostalgic Soul
Skeleton Key — Frozen Charlie Doll Antique Bisque Assemblage Necklace
Skeleton Key — Frozen Charlie Doll Antique Bisque Assemblage Necklace
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Charlie didn't get the key that he needed in life. The crucial door that would have saved Charlotte was the very same one that would have saved himself. He kept her necklace. He wore the grief of her loss until it wore him through, like driving snow wearing through stone — slowly, completely and without mercy. When the chill finally took him too, they were finally, quietly, together.
And, so, I gave him the key.
When I build these pieces, I think about what the story owes to the person in it. Charlie ended up on the wrong side of the most important door of his life and had no key. When I found that old brass skeleton key — the kind that looks like it has already opened something important — I knew it belonged to him. The keyhole escutcheon below it is intentional as well. A key without a lock is just a charm. Together they mean something more: passage, permission, the thing finally granted. The ribbons are the softness of it — white and cream and gold, because arriving somewhere you have waited for your whole life should feel like that. And the crystal drop at the bottom is the weight of it. The ending of his love story.
He is authentic antique German bisque, circa 1850s — pale, still, cast in a single unjointed piece the way all the early ones were. I attached him onto an ornate vintage golden key, a small angel wing at his side, a skull presiding at the top. And, because death was the door that finally opened, he hangs from a black silk sari ribbon. He is going somewhere now.
Read the full story: Frozen Charlie – My Nostalgic Soul
Details
- Authentic antique German bisque Frozen Charlie doll, circa 1850s
- Ornate antiqued silver scroll mount with skull bail and small angel wing
- Large antique brass skeleton key bound with layered white, cream, and gold silk ribbons
- Antiqued silver keyhole escutcheon plate
- Large faceted dark crystal drop
- Black silk sari ribbon necklace
- 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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