Cabochon? What’s that?

Seen oval-shaped domes of glass or stone in broaches? That’s what you call a Cabochon!
It’s a term used to describe a gemstone which has been shaped or polished instead of
faceted. It results in the stone being convex at the top with a flat bottom.

While the term is usually applied to opaque gems, many antique and vintage glass
broaches were made to showcase the beautiful colours, artwork or texture within.
The smoothness and the shape of a cabochon compliments outfits and highlight the
uniqueness of the broach itself.

I’ve just procured one and it’s simply lovely.

Mimi

Fine china 101

To begin with, it’s actually a fancier name of Porcelain, but with differing fineness of
artwork, gilt and decoration, you can see why some are deemed ‘Fine China’ more than
others.

The term was derived from the fact that it was first exported from China to the European
countries in the 15 century and the nobles there were entranced by their beauty. This
trend grew over the centuries and to put it shortly, the other countries started to produce
their own. Hence, you get ‘English China’, ‘French China’, etc.

While I’m not a fan of the traditional ‘Chinese China’ (My, that does sound strange!),
I do love the pretty and delicate designs found on the Japanese and English ones. The
beautiful floral patterns with tasteful gilding are always a visual treat!

When I saw this piece, my eyes…rested.

Mimi

Vintage clothing- Should I or shouldn’t I?

I have some lovely pieces of which, sadly I can’t fit into. Should I keep them for posterity
or put them up so someone else can enjoy them in this present day and age?

Mimi

Damascene…what’s that?

Damascening is the art of inlaying different metals into one another—usually gold or silver into a darkly oxidized steel background—to produce intricate patterns on jewellry and ornaments. This term comes from a perceived resemblance to the rich tapestry patterns of damask silk.

Handcrafted by master craftmen, the beautiful, decorative designs make them highly desirable collectibles.

If you appreciate this artform, then you will certainly love these cufflinks!

Mimi

Restoring is hard work

Not everything I found and collected was in pristine condition during the time of
discovery. Many a time, due to age and wear or just poor storage and care, the items had
their varnishes gone, were dirt-encrusted and rust had settled in. I’ve lost track of the
number of hours that I’ve spent polishing, re-varnishing and restoring. But it’s all worth it
when I look at the finished piece restored to its former glory.

I guess you could say that hard work pays off.

Happy Shopping
Mimi

The thrill of the hunt

Part of the reason why I got hooked into collecting and showcasing vintage items is the fact that searching for quality vintage items is incredibly addictive!

The searches have taken me everywhere, from your local thrift shop, yard sales, to auctions. These include in Singapore and overseas as I find the variety better when you don’t limit yourself to geographical boundaries. And really, you never know where the next gem might turn up!

Yes, it can be time-consuming and one must have a good eye to be able to discern the true vintage from the trash, the excitement of spotting something beautiful hidden among or behind other trinkets and novelty items is indeed something to revel in.

As they say, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure! You never know what you’ll find!

Mimi

How the Alcove came to be

My journey of collecting vintage ‘stuff’ began several years ago when my grandma gave me her prized antique silver and glassware. They were absolutely stunning and I fell head over heels in love with their look, quaintness and quality.

In a bid to upsize my newly-started collection, I started going to vintage and antique shops, garage and estate sales to source for more treasures. And my goodness, such treasure! From vintage fine china plates with gorgeous floral designs, delicate glass cut bowls to mosaic and handpainted lamps and enamel broaches, my collection has grown astoundingly over the years!

Finding that a lot of modern-ware and accessories pale in comparison to vintage items in terms of craftsmanship, look and elegance, I decided to set up a shop to showcase and share my love of all things vintage.

This shop was borne out of my passion and so do feel free to contact me should anything catch your eye!

Happy Shopping
Mimi