posted 04-01-2008 04:09 PM            

I am hoping dragonflywink & Lisa may be toying with the idea ..... maybe they will find the time/resources to share their collections.

We would like to share additional collections. Here is the original post again.
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On the SMP main home page there is a section called A Collector's View®:

quote:

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It seems as if there is a collector for everything. It takes a collectors view to discover the unique, interesting, bizarre and fascinating aspects of everyday objects.

• A Collector's Eye - Insect & Spider Motifs (click here)
  
• A Collector's Eye - Antique Buckles & Pins (click here)
  
• The Wonderful World of Sterling Ring Boxes (click here)
  
• My Calling-card cases (click here)

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Since the wide spread use of digital cameras it is now easier than ever and inexpensive to create an image library of one's collections. Using the digital camera's closeup features to highlight what you find of special interest provides expanded appreciation.

If you have a collection or part of a collection and would like to share it please let us know. You can share anonymously or use your SSF User ID or use your real name.

If you supply the photos and a little explanation we will consider putting it together into a slide presentation like we did for:

A Collector's Eye - Insect & Spider Motifs (click here)
A Collector's Eye - Antique Buckles & Pins (click here)
The Wonderful World of Sterling Ring Boxes (click here)
My Calling-card cases (click here)

Let us know.

posted 04-08-2008 08:01 AM            

Here is Cheryl's slide presentation:

A Collector's Eye - Lily of the Valley Spoons (click here)

posted 04-08-2008 10:57 AM            

Cheryl, do you know the symbolic significance of lilies-of-the-valley to the Victorians? Was it just another form of lily, associated with eternity, or was there something more specific? I ask because I have several pieces of 19th century mourning jewelry--a black-enameled bracelet set with pearls, a locket, and I think something else--with lily-of-the-valley motifs on them.

posted 04-08-2008 12:53 PM            

Suspect that the Lilies of the Valley in mourning jewelry and gravestones has much to with their considerable religious symbolism, their appearance in spring make s them a symbol of rebirth, and they're also considered a symbol of Christ's humility, but are more often associated with the Virgin Mary and are sometimes known as Mary's/Our Lady's Tears, according to legend, they sprung up from her tears as she wept at the crucifixion. They're also occasionally called Ladders to Heaven, due at least in part, I suspect, to the step-like arrangement of the blossoms.

posted 04-08-2008 02:13 PM            

I believe that your French spoon might be by Édouard Ernie, a Parisian maker whose mark was EE on the horizontal axis with his symbol a gaiter between the two Es. There is a picture of his mark on the French Ministry of Culture’s website. Here is additional information about Ernie. He was in business with Henri Gabert from 1879-1882. He then took over from his father-in-law Jules Guétin in July 1882 on Rue Réaumur. He used the EE mark from 1882-1901. In 1901 his business merged with the cutler Pagé Frères and this partnership won a gold medal at the Universal Exposition in Saint Louis in 1904. Ernie was a productive maker who trained a number of others.

posted 04-20-2008 03:13 PM            

Kayvee, it's really the only way I can enjoy them down here in the heat of Florida (though I've forced purchased pips a couple of times). Can remember my Mom saying she knew spring was here when the Muguet des Bois perfume would appear in stores and I used to tuck the blossoms into the little May Day baskets I'd make as a kid, pretty much a lifelong fondness for them. And thank you for the possible maker, this mark has frustrated me for a while, don't believe it is Ernie's mark, under a 30x loupe there appears to be three small letters to the left of the symbol (TOR, TON, ???), it's to tantalizing to have that "E" and not be able to track it down.

~Cheryl