Ruby Lane's Past Times Newsletter for October 2008

In This Issue

• Happy Halloween from Ruby Lane!
  
• Shop Spotlight: Welcome to Puckerings!
  
• Shop Spotlight: Welcome to Harp Gallery!
  
• October Birthstone: Pink Tourmaline
  
• October Lane Sampler: Antique & Vintage Dolls
  

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM RUBY LANE!

Click here to see a special Halloween video message from Ruby Lane, or go to:

http://www.rubylane.com/search/event/,halloween

SHOP SPOTLIGHT: WELCOME TO PUCKERINGS!

A native Englishman who was an antiques dealer in London during the 1980's, Andrew Puckering was suddenly thrust into the corporate world which eventually took him to New York City, where he resided for many years.

However in 2001, Andrew was once again able to follow his passion for English antiques by becoming a full time dealer, focusing on fine antique smalls. Then beginning in 2002, he found himself living in the Canadian Capital of Ottawa where he remained until the summer of 2007. Opened in 2002, Andrew says that his Ruby Lane shop now boasts a truly global shop customer base - and he offers FREE worldwide insured airmail (unless noted). He boasts a shop rating of Platinum.

Today, Andrew is back living in London, and enjoying those damp rainy days again! Much of his current stock will arrive back from North America later this year. Meanwhile, he is out shopping like crazy to continue to offer the finest smalls available. Be sure to watch for daily additions to his shop.

Here are a few testimonials from past Puckerings customers:

"Just a quick note to let you know that the package arrived safely. Thank you very much . The letter holder goes beyond my expectations . I am so very pleased with it .Thanks for the fine way that you do business." ... L.V. ... MN, USA

"I received the lovely watch holder safe and sound. Thank you very much for your careful packing. It is a beautiful piece and already have it on my dressing table displaying my favourite pocket watch. Thank you for the opportunity to acquire the perfect holder!" ... T.C. ... CA. USA.

"I received my wonderful calender Monday. It is all I expected and I Love it!! "' ... E.R. USA

We invite you to visit Puckering's

SHOP SPOTLIGHT: WELCOME TO HARP GALLERY!

Harp Gallery is a premier source for dining furniture, traditional desks, and office furnishings. For 22 years, The Harp Gallery has refurbished antique and vintage furniture to like new condition. They sell fine older furniture for a fraction of the cost of new. Their staff of over 20 specialists guarantees expert restoration.

Whether you are seeking dining or bedroom furniture, desks or sofas, chandeliers or artwork, they may have what you need - at substantial savings from new furniture prices.

Most of The Harp Gallery's furniture and accessories are from better Midwestern estates. Good things come from good houses, and they are on the road several days each week seeking treasures to bring to the gallery. Some things arrive in showroom-ready condition. Most, however, need the tender loving care of their restoration department. Their standard is to refurbish furniture to the condition they would want for an item in their own home.

They carefully buy only better quality furnishings that will be attractive to another generation. Their restoration is done efficiently in batches by experienced craftsmen. Over many years, they have learned how to professionally refinish and repair furniture, rewire lighting, re-upholster, restore marble, carve missing parts, or whatever expertise is needed.

The Harp Gallery also features pianos, china, crystal, mirrors, rugs and estate jewelry, all at a fraction of the cost of what you would find in a new retail store. Fireplace mantels, back bars, clocks, statues and bookcases are all part of their fascinating and unique collection.

We invite you to visit Harp Gallery Antique Furniture

OCTOBER BIRTHSTONE: PINK TOURMALINE

While Opal is the most widely recognized birthstone for the month of October, it is not your only choice. Tourmaline, a complex mineral, comes in as many shades of color as are displayed in fine Opals, and the pink variety is accepted widely as an alternate birthstone for the month.

Tourmalines have been sold and traded as long as any gemstones. However, they have often been misidentified as something else. In the Sinhalese language of Sri Lanka, the word for tourmaline, "tura mali", can be interpreted as "stones of many colors" or "stones of mixed colors". Dealers in Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon), have often sold batches of mixed colored gems under this name, often with no false pretense of suggesting that the stones are actually tourmaline, gemologically speaking.

Tourmalines are actually considered a group of mineral species, all complex aluminum borosilicates. Very minor alterations in chemical formula may create totally different colors. Manganese, and sometimes titanium, are credited with creation of pink colors. Manganese is also responsible for the color of red tourmaline, often called Rubellite. A true red color should be present if a stone is referred to as Rubellite.

Tourmaline comes in every color in the rainbow. Actual crystals of tourmaline often contain more than one color and are sometimes cut to create bi-colored and multi-colored gems. The most widely known of these are the "watermelon" Tourmalines, which display pink and green colors, sometimes with an additional colorless area.

Tourmalines are dichroic, which means that the intensity of color in an crystal may vary with the direction it is viewed in. This property may carry over to the fashioned gemstones, depending on exactly how they are cut. A good cutter may also be able to produce more attractive stones, if gifted with an eye that allows him or her to look at an uncut tourmaline crystal, and create the most vibrant stone possible from it.

Heating and irradiation are often used to enhance tourmaline colors, with many intense pink stones starting out life as colorless or just barely pink stones. Irradiation is the most common method used in enhancing these colors. Tourmaline is heat sensitive. Intense heat may alter colors and rapid temperature changes may damage the stone. Ultrasonic and steam cleaning should be avoided.

Tourmalines do possess a rather unique property: They actually may develop an electrical charge when heated and cooled. This property allows them to be used to clean the ashes from pipes. The Dutch, who thought by some to have introduced these stones to Europe, referred to them as "aschentrekkers", due to this property. They also oscillate under certain conditions, in the same manner as quartz crystals, which are used as timepiece regulators because of this property.

Pink Tourmaline can occur in the same color ranges as Kunzite, Rose Quartz, and Pink Sapphire. Confusion with Garnet and Ruby is also possible.

Some varieties of Tourmaline can command very high prices. Some of the blue Indicolite varieties, especially the electric blue colors associated with Pariba, can be quite pricey. Chrome Green Tourmalines and fine red Rubellite may also achieve rather remarkable values. However, pink Tourmaline is normally moderately priced.

Tourmaline is very versatile, and may be found in moderately priced silver jewelry as well as in high end custom creations in gold, in vintage styles and in new artisan creations.

OCTOBER LANE SAMPLER: ANTIQUE & VINTAGE DOLLS

American Beauty Dolls: One stop shopping for QUALITY dolls and accessories of all periods at AFFORDABLE prices!

Nancy Ann Storybook Doll #153 Little Bo Peep MintyLabel

This wonderful 5" jointed leg pudgy tummy bisque NASB doll is #153 Little Bo Peep Has Lost Her Sheep and retains her Storybook Dolls Gold Sticker ...

Dollsantique: Dolls, doll acessories bears primatives other unique items

21 Lenci Pinocchio tagged

This is an unusual piece and a great Lenci item He is in great condition and has his tag a really unusual item and great for any collection.

Lambs Corner Antiques Collectibles: Quality Antiques Vintage Collectibles

Barbie Loves Elvis Gift Set - 1996

One of the neatest Barbie gift sets featuring Barbie and Elvis. It is dated 1996. Elvis is in black pants with a gold and sequined jacket. He is ...

Totty's Antiques and Collectibles: We offer a unique selection of antique, vintage and collectible items to grace your home

Vintage Hungarian Costumed International Hungary Doll

This beautiful composition doll would date back to pre-1950. She is part of the original owner's extensive doll collection. She is a wonderful art ...

Judy's doll menagerie: Beautiful dolls at reasonable prices

Antique bisque doll

Beautiful German bisque head doll. She is 19 tall.. She has nicely colored creamy bisque with an open mouth. Her eyebrows are raised and feathered. ...

Collette's Collectibles Antiques: Shop with confidence, all sales are guaranteed

Antique 1913 Featherlight Hinged Doll with Porcelain Head from Germany

The body is a 1913 (the last number may be a 9) Featherlight hinged doll from Germany. The head is porcelain. In good condition. It measures 11 ...

Emmie's Antique Doll Castle: Antique Vintage Dolls Doll Clothes, Bears, Christmas, Toys, Much More

WOW! Mattel Tippy Toes! Mint, Complete, Unplayed With

Lucky you! This is Mattel's Tippy Toes in mint condition. She is complete with her toys, box, and paper work. This beauty is clean, clean, clean and ...

8right Two Sisters Antiques: ~Quality Items ~ Honestly Represented ~ Reasonably Priced~

25" Armand Marseilles "Queen Louise" ~ Early 1900's German Bisque ~ Beautiful Antique Doll

This big, beautiful antique doll is AM's "Queen Louise," manufactured in the early 1900's by the German firm of Armand Marseilles. She's 25" tall, ...

A Ladies Gallery of Fine Antiques: Authentic Victorian Through 1940's Jewelry, Clothing and Objects D' Art

Victorian High Top Two Tone Leather Button Up Baby Shoes

These baby shoes from the Victorian era have never been worn. Black leather bottoms with an ecru suede top with four black buttons on each shoe. The...

In One Era: A wonderful treasure trove of vintage costume and estate jewelry,collectables,art and antiques

1950's Mini Mannequin Doll Glamour Girl Lamp

Isn't she sweet with her gown and elbow length gloves? Love that grin too.Made out of plaster and hand painted,she's actually a half doll and stands ...