{ALL SAINTS DAY | ALL SOULS DAY}

November 1st is ALL SAINTS DAY for the Catholic Church. November 2nd is ALL SOULS DAY... We remember our loved ones that have passed on and our thoughts are with them. Because of hurricane Sandy, we lost many more lives here in the USA. Our sunny days from last week have vanished as it is windy and nippy now. So many people are still without power... We need to keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

This is a very peaceful French etching done on silver plated metal by L. Bottini after a tableau of the famous Murillo.

We keep this in our living room on the windowsill of the arched window.

Above is a photo I took and below you find a scan...

It represents the Immaculate Conception.

Let us pray to our Heavenly Mother for guidance during difficult times.

Related link:

L. Bottini Silverplate Box This is another etching that I found on the Internet

A French Silverplate Dresser Box by L. Bottini | another etching by him

The link to this fruit bowl, also done by L. Bottini, in São Paulo, Brazil is no longer working...

{Antique Regal Art Nouveau Inkwell Set on Tray in Silver & Porcelain}

For you I found an Antique Regal Art Nouveau Inkwell Set on Tray in Silver & Porcelain. This treasure comes from Portugal and is hand painted in blue by the famous Douro factory of the region Porto-Gaia. They continue to enrich the cultural heritage of past centuries, with this traditional pottery of the region, and are the largest in the entire country. The edging and feet of the porcelain tray are in 925 sterling silver with hallmarks. Also the hinged top of the inkwell is in pure 925 sterling silver. In one of the two depressions is an 835 silver calligraphy pen from Porto, Portugal. Again, this is available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics. 

Does any of you have antique or vintage inkwells or calligraphy pens?

Such a regal inkwell set with the Santo Tirso coat of arms hand painted on the tray. 

Santo Tirso is a municipality northeast of Porto, Portugal with its famous 17th century São Bento monastery.

Beautiful 835 silver calligraphy pen with Porto, Portugal hallmarks.

Guess in the second depression once was a wax seal...? Would any of you know its original use?

Regal Inkwell set with Royal letterhead from the Maharaja Amarinder Singh of Patiala from Motibagh Palace, Patiala (Punjab), India.

Beautiful hand painting of the Santo Tirso, Portugal coat of arms and on the inkwell, all four sides are hand painted the same!

The lower right corner has flowers and leaves engraved. You also can see one of its feet.

This Inkwell Set is in near perfect condition and that for its age!

In Portuguese: CERÂMICA DO DOURO 

PORTUGAL

PINTURA À MÃO

Ceramics of Douro - Portugal and hand painted

Very hard to capture with the glossy depression's edges. 

The inside of the Inkwell, with its hinged cap open now.

The silver hallmarks under the hinged cap of the inkwell.

These are the 925 silver hallmarks, one with a letter A. It is on the edge of the tray and on the inkwell.

I did some research but other than information about the hallmark of Antonio Firmo da Costa, Lisbon, Portugal, circa 1800 by Christie's I could not find anything else... If anyone is knowledgeable about the above hallmark; please let me know!

These are the 835 silver hallmarks on the calligraphy pen.

The yellow marked hallmark is the lower one, from Porto, Portugal. 

Lisbon, Portugal is the very same though...

Yes, its old original box is still with it. I doubt if it ever has been used...

The box shows signs of age but the inkwell set looks near perfect. Needs some polishing maybe.

Sorry Sold out...

So tell me what you got from your parents or grand parents...

I do have some privately owned inkwells as well.

{My Lace Crocheted Handkerchief #6}

Showing you here my Lace Crocheted Handkerchief #6, this one also was a Bridal Hankie given to Erika in 2000 for her wedding day. Hers I crocheted in Indonesia, on the patio of our bungalow. Below this post you find links from e.g. Crochet Edging on Antique French Knotted Filet Lace where you actually can see the fine DMC Cordonnet Spécial in a size 80. That's right, I use this very fine thread with a steel crochet hook size 0.75 mm.

This very fine hand crocheted lace is done in about 12 hours.

Labour of LOVE.

Using our gardenia and roses for making it look even more perfect...

Such a bridal hankie I loved to recreate for myself as well.

It is a beautiful Swiss cotton batiste embroidered handkerchief with hemstitched edging. That is the hardest part to count those openings and getting your stitches right for the pattern.

Lace pattern is from a German Neue Mode.

Would you have loved to have such a hand made crocheted lace bridal hankie?

Related links: All are previous posts by me.
{Crochet Edging on Antique French Knotted Filet Lace}
{My Lace Crocheted Handkerchief #5}   
{My Lace Crocheted Handkerchief #4}
{My Lace Crocheted Handkerchief #3}
{My Lace Crocheted Handkerchief #2}
{My Lace Crocheted Handkerchief #1}