[Tidbits] Bibelot

According to The Random House Dictionary of the English Language: A
small object of curiosity, beauty, or rarity. So let me ask you
this… you wanna see my Bibelot?.. Hmmm?

The year is 1861. It’s New Year’s Day. The fourth viscount de Vesci
commissions one Sir Alfred Gilbert to make a little doo-dad for the
wife. There’s an occasion coming up. I’m sure the viscount’s refrain
echoes with familiarity in the ears of all married men. I ask you…
who has not heard or thought this phrase before? “Oh my god… I
forgot …it’s our anniversary … I need to give my wife a bibelot.
Alfredddd!..”

It’s called The de Vesci Seal… and it’s a stunner. It’s made of
patinated silver, gold, enamel, heliotrope, glass, and turquoise. It
was presented to the viscount’s wife as a silver wedding anniversary
gift in 1896. As to the sculptor named Gilbert… probably the
greatest of the Victorian sculptors… well… he was a
procrastinator par excellence… which explains the five year gap
between commission and completion.

For those of you who have never heard of Gilbert… he’s the guy who
created the Eros Fountain in Piccadilly Circus, London… circa
1886- 93. As to our bibelot… it’s described as a swelling organic
ornament in miniature you should pardon the expression–is this an
oxymoron–measuring 7.5 inches in length… breadth is not
mentioned. Price is also not mentioned… but at this point … who
cares?

A short Tidbit to be sure… but in brevity there’s depth … or
something like that. I don’t know. Don’t ask.

For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits…may I
direct you to my home page at www.tyler-adam.com where you will
scroll down the left side menu till you get to the area that says
Tidbits Graphics… and then click on the link that says: de
Vesci… in order to view a bibelot of minor–or major, dpending on
your point of view-- proportions.

And there ya have it.
That’s it for this week folks.
Catch you all next week.
Benjamin Mark