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| via this Ivy House |
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| Gottmanshofen Maria Heimsuchung Grisaille |
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| Grisaille Painting Capitol Cupola Fine Art Print Christiane Schulze |
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| via Fleaing France |
I realize there are legions of women that have recently become captivated by the book - 50 Shades of Gray. If you thought you would be reading some comments and thoughts about the book - I hate to disappoint. No Missy, this is about another type of seduction - my growing interest into the world of gray or grisaille.
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| Christies - Late Louis XV Commode |
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| French Empire Lamps en Grisaille with Scenes From Robinson Crusoe |
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| Grisaille Beadwork - Trinity Antiques on Ruby Lane |
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| via Lecurieux.com |
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| Source Unknown |
My little odyssey began about 8 years ago, when we were house-hunting in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area. We came across a house that had a gorgeous lead-gray living room that I immediately fell in love with. The memory of that stunning Living Room has stuck in my mind and greatly influenced my more recent renovation of my Kitchen/Family Room.
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| Antique French Enamel Lockets, Pendants & Watch - Sources Unknown |
I recently came across some photos of gorgeous French enamel grisaille lockets and pendants which, of course, were already sold. I was able to snag one that has yet to be made up, but the scarcity of this enamel technique got me thinking. I have a growing collection of mourning lockets with glass on both sides that could make beautiful frames for hand-painted grisaille motifs. The Elyse Locket is my first attempt at integrating the grisaille techinque into one of these mourning lockets.
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Elyse Necklace - Emeralds, Green Onyx, Pyrite & Freshwater Pearls.
Recently Commissioned Grisaille Watercolor Putti in Edwardian Silver Paste Locket. |
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Back View of Elyse Necklace Features a Byzantine Gold Vermeil Cross
Floating in a Sea of 1.5cts. of Minuscule Emeralds |
The necklace is composed of gorgeous emeralds and green onyx beads interspersed with gray pearls flanking bezel set pyrite accents stationed along the chain. A precious hand-painted grisaille watercolor of a mischievous little Putti was recently commissioned to marry the charming folklore of it’s antique counterparts with a beautiful Edwardian double glazed silver paste locket. This stunning locket, replete with a charming bow top, is a perfect frame to showcase the miniature art - which is a study in shades of gray. However, there is a very unique surprise on the other side - a diminutive Byzantine cross in 24k gold vermeil, floating in a sea of minuscule emeralds. An emerald briolette capped with a profusion of textural gold vermeil rings, hangs delicately from the toggle clasp to make your exit just as dramatic as your entrance.
