Vivian Alexander Luxury Blog

Mardi Gras Silver Ornaments

The Christmas holidays were wonderful, and everyone had lots of companionship, great food, and wonderful gifts. Now that is behind us and we are concentrating on the days after Twelth Night, the days of Mardi Gras.
Two years ago, Vivian Alexander introduced the first (2005) limited edition Mardi Gras ornament. That fine silver beauty, limited to 200, is still sitting on our shelves. I guess our valued customers just didn’t appreciate our introduction of a fine silver Mardi Gras ornament in all of it’s glory.
Last year we tried again with the limited edition 2006 Mardi Gras ornament. Our limit of two hundred signed, dated, numbered fine silver ornaments sold out before the season was over. And people are calling in to get on a waiting list if we have any returns or word of resales.
This year we are sticking to the limit of two hundred ornaments of our new Mardi Gras presentation. As before, they are made of fine silver, numbered, dated, and signed. But, at popular request, we are including a registration certificate with the sale; you name the recipient.
Only time will tell the value of those first edition (2005) fine silver ornaments; but as ornament collectors know, the sky is the limit.
For a look at the three ornaments, 2005, 2006, 2007, we have details! Fine Silver Mardi Gras Ornaments!

A number of you that are on the mailing list have asked if they could substitute ornaments in the special package that was offered last week.

And the answer is: you can! Just use the same special offer code that was in the e-mail offer with whatever ornament you prefer and we will make the switch.
You will recognize these two ornaments above, Oriental Green with garnets and Christmas 2006 with pearls. Both of these ornaments start with an engine turned fine silver egg as the base.
For you folks living in the greater Lafayette, Louisiana area; Vivian and I will be in Barnes & Noble Saturday 25th November for a book signing of the new Christmas Ornament Book.
See you there!

A few of you have written and asked about the details of the markings on our ornaments. The picture above is a good illustration to work with:

• Most of our ornaments are limited to a maximum of two hundred. Read the description on the individual ornaments to tell which.
• All limited series are marked with the series number ( the one pictured is three of two hundred).
• All silver ornaments are hallmarked by the creating artisan. This one is MC.
• All of our fine silver ornaments have a silver tag embedded under the enamel as required by Federal Law for precious metals. The tag must identify the maker (Vivian Alexander) and must show the quality and type of precious metal (fine silver .999).
• All of our Silver Ornaments are marked Fine Silver .999; designating them as Fine (or pure) Silver, or silver with no impurities. Sterling silver is .925; most other silver ornaments are marked sterling or silver plate.

You can see details on this ornament and others here. Be sure to use the Zoom feature to see the detail work of our artisans.

This is the inside front cover of the November 2006 Stuller catalog. Scroll down to see the outside cover and get the details.

PS: These three ornaments are signed, numbered, and limited to two hundred. This catalog was sent out to 43,000 jewelers this week.
If you are interested in one, get in touch with your jeweler at once. He can order for you if he doesn’t already have them coming. They are not going to last long.

I called B&N yesterday to check on their Christmas Ornament Gift Book delivery. They told me that my consignment of the Gift Books should be shipped by September 30 and I should have them by the next week.

With that good news I posted a special deal for the Book. Buy a VA Silver Ornament and receive a free, autographed book, by yours truly, with your shipment, or when they come in.
Alexander