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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 7h

A couple of amazingly detailed ojime beads from Japan, both late 19th century. They are very small, under an inch, and both are hand carved from wood that has been darkened with either paint or lacquer. See ALT for history and info about the ojime bead. #handmade #antique #ojime #bead #Japan #art

An ojime bead is a small, movable sliding bead threaded onto the cord of a traditional Japanese carrying case like an inrō or tobacco pouch (sagemono).
The word comes from o (meaning cord or string) and shimeru (meaning to fasten or tighten).
It sits on the double cord between the container (inrō) and the toggling ornament (netsuke). Sliding the bead up tightens the cord to keep the container closed; sliding it down releases the cord so the case can be opened.
They are typically small, averaging under an inch (about 1.5 to 2 cm) in diameter, with a vertical center hole (himotoshi) through which the cords pass.
They are crafted from diverse materials such as carved ivory, wood (like boxwood), bone, lacquer, porcelain, agate, coral, jade, and mixed metals (such as shakudō, a gold-and-copper alloy).
Evolving from simple functional fasteners during the Edo period (1603–1868), ojime became miniature works of art, often carved into intricate shapes like animals, figures, fruit, or mask motifs. Today, they are also collected or worn as modern jewelry.

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 7h

Face Hacha carved stone, pigments c. 550-950 CE Veracruz culture Veracruz, Mexico From the estate of William Spratling, Taxco. #handmade #carved #stone #pigment #cinnabar #face #hacha #Veracruz #culture #Mexico #Mesoamerica #precolumbian #prehispanic #ancientart #art #sculpture #precolumbianart

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

A fantastic carved rock crystal hippopotamus amulet on a gold bail to be worn as a pendant from ancient Egypt circa 2050-1650 BCE! Hippo amulets symbolized the goddess Tawaret, guardian of pregnant women, and protecting against evil spirits! #handmade #ancientEgypt #hippopotamus #amulet #Tawaret

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

A vibrant artist-signed J. Travis NYC one of a kind copper enamel biomorphic modernist pin brooch c. 1950s - measures just under 3" by 2"! Available.. www.rubylane.com/item/1879775... #handmade #copperenamel #biomorphic #design #pin #brooch #vintagemodern #wearableart #JTravis #nyc #abstractart

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

An ornate sterling silver & amethyst Mexican Art Deco scroll & bead design ring c. 1930s - measures 7/8" by 7/8" at top, size 5.5 US! Available... www.rubylane.com/item/1879775... #handmade #mexicansilver #artdeco #beadandscroll #design #sterlingsilver #amethyst #ring #ornate #oneofakind #taxco

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

A striking artist-signed sterling silver & Baltic amber modernist ring c. 1960s - size 9 US! Available... www.rubylane.com/item/1879775... #handmade #oneofakind #modernist #ring #sterlingsilver #BalticAmber #amber #artistsigned #artjewelry #art #wearableart #1960s #Poland #PolishModern #design

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

A prismatic sterling silver & spectrolite ring designed by Mirjam Salminen for Kaunis Koru in Finland - measures 1.25" long at top, adjustable band a size 9.5 US! Available... www.rubylane.com/item/1879775... #handmade #modernist #ring #sterling #spectrolite #MirjamSalminen #KaunisKoru #Finland

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Incredible sterling silver & lapis modernist Egg ring by Pekka Piekained for Auran Kultaseppa in Finland - measures 1-1/8" diameter at top, rises 1" above finger, size 10 US! Available... www.rubylane.com/item/1879775... #handmade #modernist #egg #ring #pekkapiekainen #finland #wearableart #art

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

A rare sterling silver & rhodonite modernist Flying Saucer ring from Kaunis Koru in Finland c. 1970s - measures 1.25” diameter at top, size 8 US! Available... www.rubylane.com/item/1879775... #handmade #kauniskoru #finland #pekkapiekainen #modernist #spaceage #flyingsaucer #ring #wearableart #art

A super rare vintage 1970s handmade sterling silver and rhodonite modernist asymmetrical geometric design cocktail ring designed by Pekka Piekainen during his time at the Kaunis Koru design studio in Helsinki, Finland. An exceptional ring in all regards! Large size, incredible design, superbly crafted, and incredibly rare! The Kaunis Koru workshop is known for its beautiful jewelry, and this ring is a great example of the finest! They are also know for using top quality stones, and the rhodonite cabochon in this ring is a beautiful example with an almost even split between the pink and the black areas. Also, notice that the stone is set at an angle to the plane of the 'dish' section of the ring, and that the bezel tapers around the stone adding to the asymmetrical design! Subtle but glorious detail! Measures just over 1-1/4" diameter at top, rises 3/8" above the finger, size 8, and weighs a substantial 14.2 grams total. The stone measures 1/2" in diameter. Marked as shown with Kaunis Koru studio mark, silversmith mark for Olavi Wehmersuo, the Finnish national mark for silver, "925H" for sterling silver (the H stands for the Finnish word for silver, "Hopea"), Helsinki city mark, and date letter "T7" for 1972. Kaunis Koru was a design studio, so they never made the items themselves, they contracted with local silversmiths, in this case Wehmersuo. Over the years, most of the greats of Finnish Silver design worked at Kaunis Koru including Pekka Piekainen, Bjorn Weckstrom, Mirjam Salminen, Paula Häiväoja, and many others. I have been a fan of Finnish Design for many years, in particular the metal arts and jewelry, and I have never seen this ring design before or since! Super rare design no doubt created by Piekainen in the 1960s, this example made a bit later in the early 1970s. Excellent vintage condition.

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Death Riding a Lion carved wood, pigments c. 1513 Germany Once adorned a clock in the choir of Heilsbronn Abbey. Every hour, Death would strike a bell hanging around the lion's neck with a bone, reminding the congregation of the transience of all earthly things. #art #death #bone #lion #transience

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

A striking pair of 18K yellow gold pendant earrings with rubies brown diamonds and enamel Skull design painted sections c. 1950. NFS #handmade #gold #ruby #diamond #enamel #skull #design #pendant #earrings #c1950 #oneofakind #unique #death #mementomori #jewelry #jewelrydesign #finejewelry #unique

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Decapitated Ball Player with Seven Serpents Sprouting from the Neck carved stone relief c. 400-700 CE Classic Veracruz culture Aparicio, Veracruz, Mexico #handmade #carved #stone #relief #Mesoamerica #MesoamericanBallgame #Aparicio #Veracruz #Veracruzculture #decapitatedplayer #sevensnakes #symbol

The Aparicio site was built by the Classic Veracruz culture (sometimes called the Gulf Coast culture).
This civilization flourished in the modern-day Mexican state of Veracruz during the Mesoamerican Classic period, roughly between about 400 to 700 CE.
This civilization was intensely focused on the Mesoamerican ballgame. Their largest and most famous urban center was El Tajín, located further north of Aparicio, which boasts at least 18 individual ballcourts.
Aparicio is an archaeological site located in the municipality of Vega de Alatorre in Veracruz, Mexico.
The site is famous for its well-preserved, relief-carved stone plaques (ballcourt panels) depicting ball players.
These famous carvings frequently depict a decapitated ball player with seven serpents sprouting from their neck, symbolizing fertility and ritual sacrifice associated with the game.

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The King of Egypt as a Lion Subduing a Nubian carved gold, Egyptian Blue pigment c. 1279-1213 BCE Reign of Ramesses II Ancient Egypt #ancient #art #ancientart #propaganda #ancientegypt #RamessesII #ideology #conquest #newkingdom #egypt #gold #EgyptianBlue #pigment #flywhisk #whip #MetMuseum #NYC

This piece, fashioned from Egyptian Blue and gold, presents a striking image of the head of a Nubian man engulfed by the jaws of a lion.
Egyptian blue is the world's oldest known synthetic pigment, created over 5,000 years ago in ancient Egypt to mimic expensive natural stones like lapis lazuli and turquoise. Made by heating a precise mixture of silica (sand), copper (like malachite or metal filings), calcium (lime/chalk), and an alkali flux (such as natron or plant ash). Heated in a kiln at temperatures between 800°C and 1000°C (about 1,470°F to 1,830°F) for hours to form a glassy blue compound, which was then cooled, crushed, and ground into a powder paint.
Though compact in scale, the piece is monumental in its ideological intent. Most likely the terminal of a ceremonial fly whisk or whip, the handle is more than decorative; it is a potent visual expression of royal power and Ancient Egyptian supremacy.
The lion, sculpted in lustrous gold and detailed with stylised precision, symbolises the pharaoh himself, a living god and the ultimate authority over Egypt and its dominions. Its grip upon the Nubian's head is not merely violent but
symbolic, embodying Egypt's dominance over its southern neighbours and reiterating the pharaoh's divine role as protector and conqueror.
The object is said to originate from Qantir, in the eastern Delta region of Egypt, the site of ancient Pi-Ramesses, the grand capital city established by Ramesses II. In the king's day, this area would have been a flourishing centre of political power, military activity, and artistic production. Situated strategically near the route to the Levant, Pi-Ramesses was both a royal residence and a critical base for Egypt's northern campaigns. Its palatial complexes, temples, and extensive workshops made it one of the most
important urban centres of the New Kingdom.
This object is now on display at the Met Museum, NYC, after being gifted by the Norbert Schimmel Trust in 1989.

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

A bold sterling silver Mexican Art Deco bracelet designed by Margot van Voorhies for Los Castillo in Taxco c. 1940s. Available... www.rubylane.com/item/1879775... #handmade #sterlingsilver #mexicansilver #LosCastillo #Margotdesign #taxco #mexicanartdeco #plateria #mexicanjewelry #wearableartdeco

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Junge Künstler DDR-UVR exhibition poster 1988 István Orosz (b. 1951) Hungary Created for the joint exhibition of young artists from the Deutsch Democratic Republic (DDR) and the Hungarian People's Republic (UVR). #IstvánOrosz #graphic #art #artist #Hungary #JungeKünstler #surrealism #postmodern

István Orosz (b. 1951) Hungarian graphic artist, illustrator, poster designer, and animated film maker. He was trained as a graphic designer at the University of Arts and Design in Budapest. After graduation in 1975 he began to deal with theatre as a stage designer and animated film. Later when poster came to the center of his interest also made mainly theatre, movie and exhibition posters.
His individual graphic works of art are often related to postmodernism by archaic forms, art historical references, stylistic quotations and playful self-reflection. Themes of the natural sciences, especially of geometry and optics appear in most of his works. He is also concerned with the theories of vision and sight such as the way the beholder’s hypothetical expectations influence the visual and empirical perception of spatial constructions. He is likely to experiment with the extremes, paradoxes of the representation of the perspective to create the illusion of space.
Orosz is a regular participant in international art exhibitions, poster biennials, symposiums and filmfestivals. Film director at the Pannonia Film Studio in Budapest, professor at University of West Hungary in Sopron, co-founder of D.O.P.P. designer society, and Hungarian Poster Association. He was elected to the Alliance Graphique Internationale and the Hungarian Academy of Arts and Letters.

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

A unique copper enamel modernist Seascape design artwork by Micheline and Yves de Passillé-Sylvestre of Quebec Canada c. 1960s - measures 9.75" diameter! Available... www.rubylane.com/item/1879775... #enamel #art #copperenamel #modernart #oneofakind #dePassilléSylvestre #quebec #seascape #artwork

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

A one of a kind Op Art / Pop Art psychedelic phantasmagoric copper enamel artwork by David Andersen of Norway - measures 10.5" diameter! Available... www.rubylane.com/item/1879775... #handmade #copperenamel #DavidAndersen #Norway #modernistenamel #enamelart #popart #opart #psychedelic #art #bird

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

The Resurrected Corn God in a Tortoise Shell carved green stone, pigments Maya culture c. 250-900 CE Mexico The resurrected Corn (Maize) God is born from the earth represented by the tortoise shell. #handmade #carved #greenstone #MayaCulture #Mexico #Mesoamerica #MayanArt #precolumbian #corn #god

Not just a beautiful object, this carving has deep religious and philosophical significance. Carved from green stone which ancient Mesoamericans regarded as the stone of life representing new growth of young plants. The face of the Corn (Maize) god peeks out from the tortoise shell which represents the earth, the sustenance for life and life-giving crops like maize which were so important to the Mayans.

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

A surrealist copper enamel Mexican modernist artwork by Miguel Pineda c. 1960s - measures 10.75" square! Available... www.rubylane.com/item/1879775... #enamel #enamelart #copperenamel #mexicanmodernism #MiguelPineda #cdmx #hechoenmexico #handmade #surrealism #surrealistart #face #lips #fish #moon

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Patrick Kapty @patrickkapty.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Cycladic Head Sculpture carved stone, painted c. 2500-2300 BCE Early Cycladic culture Cyclades, Greece Well preserved example showing that these figures were originally brightly painted, not sheer white as so many have become over the centuries. #handmade #cycladic #art #sculpture #head #greece

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