But lost wax casting is difficult to reproduce with great detail. And I'd agree with Casey that this does look like a lost wax casting. It's hard to get that level of detail otherwise. As to not being signed....my ExDH didn't sign his pieces either....that does not mean they're not wonderful....just not signed. It would be interesting to know what a gallery that specializes in lost wax castings would say about the piece. And I think it would be lovely for jewelry :) I was just searching for something the other day and dang she'd have fit the bill LOL I didn't see her anywhere, in original patina or not! Part of the reason I'm passionate about her is her beauty. If this was some cheap knock off from China, I could care less what happens to her...but she's wonderful, honestly beautiful :) I hope I didn't give a different impression to the OP.

LindaC, Some of my dishes I have never used before, and most have rarely been used. One set belonged to my Grandmother and were going to be thrown away before I decided I would take them. She had many sets of dishes and everyone had already claimed their favorites before me. I got the ones with magnolias (Mississipi state flower) on them. They are pretty in a very old-fashioned sort of way. My style is very contemporary, so I never use them but I remember eating on them at my Grandmother's when I was growing up. Another set of dishes my Godfather got for me at a pawn shop. They must have been custom made for someone, but they were perfect for my family. My DH and I are both pharmacists, and my DH also has another career. This set is ivory with a gold band, and gold symbols of both of these professions are in the center of the dishes. These dishes are very unique and great for professional parties. Before I got married I had already started a "hope chest" of Lenox China, but it was not sold at the stores in the home town of my DH, so I picked out another set so that people from his side would have something to buy for us. I have the set of Lenox dishes (which happen to be the same pattern as my MIL had when she got married), and the Noritake that was sold in DH's hometown. Then a couple of years ago DH got tired of me complaining about how I wish I had some really cool square and contemporary dishes... so he bought me a set for our anniversary. But, like I said, my favorite is the inexpensive Corelle that I bought myself. I use it everyday.

I think all dark walls would be awesome! In fact DS1 was helping pick a shade of deep blue for a decorating project and he went directly to a SW chip that I had called Sea Serpent and and called it the color of outer space. The other color that he liked was BM Polo Blue (the one we're going w/) which is a deep navy, almost black color. It will be on the top quarter of our DR walls and ceiling. I've never really gone for the whole accent wall. A deep blue almost black w/ white trim in a light filled room would look killer! This is also coming from a person who does not mind painting though. Deep colors take lots of coats if you don't use a tinted primer and vice verse if you decide to take it lighter later. Love Spitfires idea about the room being a space ship looking out into space! DS1 & DS2 have a different themed room of transportation but they do have tin planes, helicopters and a zepplin hanging fromn the ceiling. These pics are old and I've transitioned it into a big boy bedroom now (they are 3 & 6) but the planes are still on the ceiling. Proper planning is key to being able to transition it through his growing and changing tatses over the yrs. One cool idea that DS1 came up w/ last yr. after we made Halloween costumes was to take a leftover box, cut off 2 flaps opposite each other and paint it grey. He put spaceship markings on it in marker and glued leftover Wawa hot dish cups on the bottom outside of the box. They got painted grey too. These were the ships boosters. We crumpled up orange and red tissue paper and stuffed inside the cups to look like flames shooting out. We tacked it onto the ceiling. The 2 box top flaps that we left on were the wings. Now they're into antique British sports cars and the Beatles (every Sunday they listen to Lunch w/ the Beatles on the radio). They want British and American flags over their beds and a deep navy blue ceiling becuase they still love all things sky related. I'm sure that I'll have blue paint leftover from the DR so I bet they get their wish.

can't find the recipe tonight, but about 30 years ago a woman where I worked brought the best potato salad to a holiday spread! It involves diced potatoes, dill, mayo (I still remember her cautioning us, "No Miracle Whip; it gives it a whang!"), & vinegar, & you mix in some mashed hardboiled eggs & top it with a few sliced ones. My Aunt Bea used to make something she called Heavenly Rice, the recipe for which nobody thought to ask for, & now she's gone. It involved cooked, chilled rice, shredded coconut, & chunk or shredded canned pineapple. I'd really love to have that again. just remembered: Years ago, I had to go "home" for Thanksgiving. My father was ill, & I didn't dare not show up, although trips to the old homestead always gave me what I now know to be migraines & I have deteriorated bone & teeth from the grinding that I did in my sleep after a visit. so I went. with trepidation. My mother always insisted on cooking the turkey & dressing, & there was no telling how it would come out. One year it was like eating ground sage straight out of the can, one year she forgot to add something to the brownies, can't remember if it was sugar or cocoa... This year the turkey looked stringy & "wet", & just as I decided to try the world's smallest bite of it, my brother's wife said, "This is really different, Mama, what kind is it?", & my mother replied, "wild. Daddy shot it the other day." I know many people have no problem with this kind of thing, but I couldn't eat it, felt like I knew its personal life story or something. For a few years after that, my traditional Thanksgiving Day included tacos from the Jack in the Box that I passed before I got "home"!