By Paula Svincek On a brisk October morning, a quick trip into Florence Antiques and Collectibles at 132 E. Main St. turned into quite an educational experience. Larry Nelson, the proprietor, shared his passion for a few pieces of his oriental collection. The son of missionaries, Larry spent a great deal of time in Taiwan and Hong Kong where he learned to appreciate oriental art and antiques.
Picking a few items from his vast collection was challenging. We settled on the art of Cloisonné and Netsuke. Cloisonné is an intricate eight step process for an enameling technique used to decorate metal or ceramic objects. The design is outlined with solder, creating partitions called cloisons. Many pieces of this particular art can be found his antique store. Netsuke is another artform that is available. Traditional oriental attire did not have pockets, necessitating the creation of an item that could be used to accomodate this need. The Netsuke was an ornamental piece carved into meaningful shapes that were attached to the sash of a man as a toggle to hold a coin purse or similar item for carrying valuables or medicine. These ornaments often symbolized the wearers occupation or position.
103 Vintage Market entertained over forty guests for their Chamber of Commerce Mixer, allowing merchants and customers an opportunity to relax, network, and appreciate some of their whimsical pieces. Mid October brought us to Florence’s Annual Paint the Town Plein Aire event. Artists gathered around the town to capture some of what Florence has to offer, culminating in a delightful reception featuring dinner, community and an art sale. This years’ First Place Ribbon went to one of Florence’s creative geniuses, The Gnarlie Mother herself, Sandy Dale. The event featured 34 artists that created an average of three pieces of art each. A wonderful week was had by all that participated, leaving everyone questioning what’s next in this special little town!
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