Marcasite are small, greyish, stones that have a long history in jewellery making – going back to the Incas in South America. They usually have a faceted top and are flat on the back – although I have had them with pointed backs. To call them marcasite is actually incorrect. They are – iron sulfide with cubic crystal structure – usually referred to as iron pyrite. Marcasite – which is related – is too soft to use. It was very popular in Victoria times and was cheaper than diamonds. For a full description of the history of marcasite look on the Gemondo website – gemondo.com/t-marcasite_history.aspx it is very informative.
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VOGUE MAGAZINE – AUGUST 2011 – KATE MOSS
A shot from the Kate Moss shoot in the August edition of Vogue 2011 – ‘You’ve got the Look’. She is wearing a pair of my long, silver plated earrings. Photographed from Mario Testino and styled by Lucinda Chambers.
MONTY DON
In the 1980s the British TV presenter, Monty Don, famous for his gardening programs, had a costume jewellery company. His wife Sarah was the jeweller. They sold in such places as Harrods. Due to inexperience and the Wall Street Crash of 1987, they went out of business and were penniless. Monty then managed to have a very successful career in television. Some of their pieces are marked on the back – Monty Don and are quite collectible and difficult to find.
MAIL ONLINE & YOU MAGAZINE – DECEMBER 2017 – MARGRET CLUNIE
This picture appeared in the Mail Online and their ‘You’ magazine in December 2017. It is styled by Hannah Teare and features the TV series ‘Victoria’ star Margaret Clunie. She is wearing a pair of my long dangley earrings.
DEROME BRENNER
Derome Brenner is famous for making glasses frames but has recently been making jewellery. I cannot find out for how long they have been making jewellery. Derome Brenner is a combination of Xavier Derome and Aurellie Brenner. Xavier is interested in creating with acetate. (Which reminds me of the Steins!) They are a 100% French based producer and I believe have less than a dozen employees. The jewellery is made from multiple layers of acetate and is polished in tumblers full of woodchips. I love some of their pieces. The V & A Museum stock some of them in their shop. Some of the pieces are marked Derome Brenner. Made in France. Some just have the Logo – which is a reverse D next to a B.
CELESTE – THE SOULFUL SINGER – WEARING MY VINTGE NECKLACE AT ANNABEL’S
The rising soul singer Celeste – wearing my necklace whilst performing at Annabel’s on 1th May 2019. Celeste was born in L.A. but grew up in Brighton and is now based in London. The necklace is a lilac coloured diamante. Styled and photographed by Ella Lucia.
THE VIEW FROM OURSHOP AT ALFIES ANTIQUES
At Grays Mews we were in a basement and could not see much daylight. At Vintage Modes in Alfies Antiques we have two shops separated by a short corridor looking out onto a balcony. Lots of daylight – and this is the view! How lucky we are.
TATLER MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER 2019 – ELLIE FANNING
Ellie Fanning was featured in an article entitled ‘Fangirl’ in the November 2019 edition of Tatler Magazine. Elle Fanning is the younger sister of Dakota Fanning and at 21 already has 60 film credits to her name. In the article she is called the ‘Princess of Hollywood’. In this wonderful shot she is wearing two of my gold tone bangles. She looks so exotic in that dress! The photographer is Jack Waterlot and the stylist Sophie Pera.
POUCHOIR
Pouchoir is a complicated process whereby an artist’s picture is broken down into separate areas, and stencils made of each area – and the necessary joining pieces. Craftsmen were then allocated a particular piece each to be painted. This ensured that each finished work looked approximately the same (although minute difference can be seen if you see more than one copy of a work.) It was used in the Art Deco period. For more information see Art Deco Prints by Giuliana Ercoli – Phaidon-Christie’s Limited. These pieces are sometimes mistaken for prints so it is good to look very carefully at Art Deco pictures – you might be lucky!
DAZED & CONFUSED MAGAZINE – SUMMER 2017 – ELLIE FANNING
This is Ellie Fanning – the well known American actress – and sister to Dakota Fanning. She is pictured wearing a faux pearl earring of mine, in an article entitled ‘Through the Looking Glass’ and published in Dazed and Confused Magazine in summer 2017. Photographed by Ryan McGinley and styled by Robbie Spencer.