199. CreARTive Sunday: Italy: Vintage & Antique Travel Bracelets (my work)
After collecting charms for just a bit my consciousness was awakened to travel charms. I made most of my purchases through ebay where one can find sellers from all over the world. I joined a group of charm collectors on ebay who collect vintage charms. The group is run by the most knowledgable and brilliant woman, Joan Munkasci. (Joan is the daughter of the late Martin Munkasci, the world famous fashion photographer.)
We would post our creations and “ooh and ahhh” over each other’s collections; Joan’s collections awakened me to travel charms. I have purchased a number of charms from her, in my quest to commemorate my many trips to Italy, my favorite.
The map above is enamel on silver.
Here is the beginning of my Italy work. Notice how the bracelet of long ovals serves as a charm bracelet. Remember to click on the photos for close-ups. The details are remarkable.
A collection of the places that inspired me.
A shield bracelet; shields for as many places in Italy that I have visited over the years. Some are shields of scenes, others are coats of arms. These are about ½” x ¾” and hand enameled.
1. Italy shield
2. Merano
3. Verona
4. Lucca
5. Pisa
6. Padova
7. Venezia
8. Dolomiti
9. Portofino
10. Lago di Como
11. Rimini
12. Siena
13. Firenze
14. Bellagio
15. Milano
16. Rapallo
17. Arezzo
18. Lugano (Swiss, Ticino)
19. Assisi
20. San Marino (Republic of)
21. Orvieto, my heaven on earth
22. Bologna
23. Urbino
24. Perugia
25. Cortina
26. Bergamo
27. Map of Ticino province of Switzerland
More to be added:
Bergamo (scene)
San Fruttuoso
Portofino (coat of arms)
Camogli
Perugia (scene)
Unfortunately the tiny little hill towns do not have shields. I found a great seller in London on ebay from who I bought most of these, but not all at once. It was like stamp collecting; you see it and pounce.
Italian culture 1:
The heavy vintage chain, a double rope link, is a very important element in pulling the charms together.
mechanical bell ringers-jacquemarts
(Venice)
Leaning Tower (Pisa)
Romulus and Remus (Rome)
Giotto’s Bell Tower / campanile (Florence)
Torre degli Asinelli, Torre Garisenda (the 2 towers) (Bologna)
Colliseum (Rome)
Gondola and Rialto Bridge (Venice)
Lion of San Marco (Venice)
Palazzo Vecchio (Florence)
Vatican (Rome)
more next week and that’s it!
Parallel universe Yahoo comments:
gorgeous and fascinating little creations
Sunday April 6, 2008 – 11:21am (EST) Remove Comment
Wonderful Sue! The third set of charms you pictured are identical to the ones I have on my charm bracelet from Germany. My grandmother would send me a new one every year and I bought some when we were visiting her! I love this series you are doing! Thanks!
Sunday April 6, 2008 – 12:15am (EDT) Remove Comment
Gosh they are so neat. I wish I’d thought of collecting charms because I do like them and once had a silver and a gold charm bracelet but I couldn’t stand them hanging around my wrist and getting caught in my clothes, hair, knickers hahaha..what I missed eh?
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lauritasita wrote on Apr 5, ’08
Very interesting. Where would you buy the charms in Italy ? In jewelry stores, or gift shops ? antique shops ?
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lauritasita wrote on Apr 5, ’08
Is the first picture a design ? I can’t make out what it is.
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skeezicks1957 wrote on Apr 6, ’08
This is so neat. I have had aspirations to have a charm bracelet before but never followed through. These are beautiful!!
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starfishred wrote on Apr 6, ’08
I love it.I have several charm bracelets of Italy but not like this oh how wonderfulI collect Nomminations now which is Italien and fun too though different cause they are flat and don’t dangle except a few.
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asolotraveler wrote on Apr 6, ’08
MY CONTRIBUTION TO THIS & ALL creative art sundays IS TO POST A CREATION OF an ARTFUL BLOG… i DO HOPE THIS QUALIFIES ME FOR PARTICIPATION!
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sanssouciblogs wrote on Apr 6, ’08
lauritasita said
Very interesting. Where would you buy the charms in Italy ? In jewelry stores, or gift shops ? antique shops ? They came from an ebay seller who sells privately. These are probably not found in Italy, and most likely made for tourists. The woman is a pro charm seller and has a “picker” in Europe who canvasses the markets and shops and gets them for her. I am talking about the Italy charms in the second bracelet.
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sanssouciblogs wrote on Apr 6, ’08, edited on Apr 6, ’08
lauritasita said
Is the first picture a design ? I can’t make out what it is. The first bracelet–click on the photos, you’ll be blown away–is of SHIELDS. They are miniature handpainted enamels that I put on a bracelet (not meant for charms,most of what I use aren’t) Look at the detail on the enamels. It’s a nice way to remember where you’ve been. I never purchased these while traveling, thank goodness I found the English seller who bought out a huge inventory from a manufacturer.
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butlerdidit2 wrote on Apr 6, ’08
I really like that vintage bracelet..and per usual, your charms are always so unique! You have to have lots of fun finding these spectacular little jewels. Thanks! 😎
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knightstar wrote on Apr 6, ’08
Very nice. On the boot of Italy, you can even see what appears to be a gondola, in lieu of the name, where Venice would be.–M
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hurricanekate wrote on Apr 6, ’08
Oh girl………… you know I love all things and people Italian…..these are wonderful, and many cities I would give my eye tooth to see.sighs………I love this one especially….I do.
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Dear Sue, I’ll go on expedition for you to find charms from the hinterland here. I can’t promise I’lll find any, but every time I visit a village I’ll look for shields etcetera. I love the charms for S. Fruttuoso and Camoglie, definitely two jewels of villages. I’m sorry that there doesn’t seem to be any for Cervo, the crown jewel 🙁
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sanssouciblogs wrote on Apr 14, ’08
opossumd said
No luck in San Colombano. I have been told that the shields are all collectors items, as they haven’t made any in the last 20-30 years. So you had better stickto yours: they’re worth really a fortune! Wow, see! I have just been collecting the shields of places I’ve been to and that was hard enough–those wee the rules of my game. I was lucky to find a seller in London who had purchased a huge lot and was selling them off. I was his best customer; no one seemed to be interested in the little esoteric towns. I think I got the best of everything. I have another Italy charm colection coming that is super, wait!
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