I picked up a little wind, and with my cold almost out of the way, I found myself today slowly getting things done. The laundry task completed, the apartment tidy(ish), artwork that was lying around after my shows hung and walls rearranged.
My studio still looks like it's been through a hell of a storm, but it's slowly coming together. Recuperating after the Christmas season. It finally feels like the beginning of a New Year. So with that in mind I couldn't help myself starting to compile lists of New Year's resolutions, but I'll leave those out for tomorrow's post. You can't wait to hear them, can you! :)
Today, I'd like to share with you my new treasure. This wonderful 19th century French Bell Jar, a birthday gift from my husband...
My birthday is Christmas day, and what a day it was when I unwrapped the present and saw this beautiful bell jar that I coveted for so long. It was hidden in a pasta cooking pot box so as to distract me (and made me think that Terry bought me a pot for my birthday), as I'm known for snooping and Sherlock Holmsing for my presents and opening them before its time. So, when I opened the box I was thrilled (not that I would at all mind the pot, mind you!), and was seen squealing and hurraying and jumping for joy. Running around the house to find some items to display inside the dome.
Unfortunately, we were at the moment out of stuffed birds and other curiosities so we reached for some antique items brought from Nepal by Terry and created a simple, yet quite lovely display.
But soon, I promise, there might be some eyeballs, doll parts, vintage music sheets, anatomy hearts, paper sculptures and who knows what! I will have fun creating different installations.
Here are some examples...
{photo via homeshoppingspy}
And here is a little about what bell jars are and what they were and are used for...
"A bell jar is a piece of laboratory equipment similar in shape to a bell. It can be manufactured out of a variety of materials, ranging from glass to different types of metals. A bell jar is placed on a base which is vented to a hose fitting, which can be connected via a hose to a vacuum pump.By pumping the air out of the bell jar, a vacuum is formed.
Bell jars are generally used for classroom demonstrations or by hobbyists, when only a relatively low-quality vacuum is required. Cutting-edge research that needs an ultra high vacuum requires a more sophisticated form of vacuum chamber. However, several tests may be completed in a chamber with an effective pump and low leak rate.
An example classroom science experiment involving a bell jar is to place a ringing alarm clock under the bell jar. As the air is pumped out of the sealed bell jar, the noise of the alarm clock fades, thus demonstrating that the propagation of sound is mediated by the air. Deprived of its medium, the sound cannot travel." {from Wikepedia}
Terry purchased the bell jar at my favorite neighborhood antique store, ARIA.
The store is a true treasure trove of all things curious, antique, worn, odd, wonderful, whimsical, found on travels through Europe, mostly France.
Ah, to rummage through Parisian antique stores and flea markets... I get goosebumps just thinking about it!
There's plenty of things right in this window to use for my bell jar installation.
I love this manequin.
And I love this old movie set light. And, hey, there's another bell jar!
You can see the reflection of the laundromat we got to - "Little Bubbles" in the window. Quite conveniently situated right oposite my favorite neighborhood store.
xoxoxo
