A Gorey Friday the 13th

I looked over at my drawing board just now, and this is what I saw.

For many years I've been collecting antique photos. 

So, naturally, when I'm looking for inspiration for an upcoming picture book set in Victorian times I get to revisit my 'old' friends. 

Of course I need to take a stroll through the world of Edward Gorey, because no one captures the quirkiness of those times like he did! 

In the above picture you'll see a bit of a frontispiece that he did for Amphigorey Again. The copy inside the scroll reads,

"Frivolity, at the edge of a Moral Swamp hears Hymn Singing in the Distance and dons the Galoshes of Remorse."

  

Happy Friday the 13th! 

Wishing all of you an inspired day!

A Crackled Cuckoo

Adding some new jewelry at Age Before Beauty.

I think this beautiful wooden bird must have been part of an old cuckoo clock?

This antique paste piece is slightly domed. 

Absolutely spectacular!

I have never, ever, seen such an exquisitely carved ivory cameo portrait.

How about some spectacular micro-mosaic slippers, so your ears don't feel neglected?

Here, at Age Before Beauty.

But Will It Play In Peoria?

I made a necklace yesterday with which I am quite smitten. For a couple reasons.

First, I have a fondness for Peoria. Since moving to the Midwest, every time we drive through it we repeat the old vaudeville saying, 

"But will it play in Peoria?". 

 

The second reason that I am fond of this necklace is because I learned something from it. I was amused at the old 1915 medal which reads, "North American Skat League...".

Skat?

My mind envisioned a group of jazz singers getting together to sing their jazzy 'scat' tunes. I also wondered about an organization who would somehow meet to promote and discuss animal poop? 

Researching the word taught me that this medal reading "Skat" with a 'k', not 'scat', referred to a very old card game. It began in Germany and was brought to this country by German immigrants. 

This beautiful medal even features the game cards themselves on the medallion. 

I've added an old tintype of some Skat players, some vintage rhinestones, gemstones, and beautiful old brass chain.

Skat, anyone?

at Age Before Beauty.

A Little Art History

Titled, "Walter and the pathetic plant", here is my latest illustration promo. I've been collecting old tintypes and photos for years. I've recently started doing paintings and stories inspired by them. 

I hope to have them, eventually, for sale as greeting cards in my etsy shop, jbreinhardt.etsy.com

Thanks for visiting!

Hidden Pictures

A rare mourning treasure. This precious book charm slides open to reveal a tiny tintype of a loved one.

Probably travelling at sea?

Highlighted by the oily iridescence of a natural, rough, stick pearl.

I wonder what this old banjo was before its new life as a pretty pendant?

 A Band of Hope?

A big, bold, crusty antique micro-mosaic.

An old mosaic, 

a creamy banjo, 

an ocean memento, 

a hidden picture, 

and a bit of hope,

soon, at Age Before Beauty.

Stories

Tintypes...

Snippets of history.

Each person's story. 

Don't you wonder what they did? Felt? 

Who they loved and who loved them back? 

Some are small "gems"(which is what they're called). 







 

Some are much larger (this one is 5 1/2 x 4 inches big). 

Some are timid... 

And some are bold. 

 All such lovely, precious, lost stories.

Unexpected

A very antique bit of Victorian trim.

On one side of the trim is soft, soft fur--- On the other side, a tintype. A dapper dude in a dashing chapeau.

Hand carved mother of pearl buttons, chunks of autumn-hued gemstones, and sparkly rhinestone beads.

A sweet celluloid puppy dog at the very end. 

All so lovely,

so unusual,

so unexpected.

Age Before Beauty.