We are here at my mom’s house in North Carolina, enjoying a break from upstate NY’s seemingly never-ending winter.  It is unmistakably spring here, with dogwoods, forsythia, and azalea all in beautiful bloom.  And it is Monday, and therefore time for the Coolest … something.

For some reason my thoughts went back to Christmas several years ago.  My siblings and I were trying to think of a gift for my mom.  She is notoriously hard to buy for – not because she is critical or hard to please, she just doesn’t need much of anything and is not the kind of person you give a fluffy, fill-in-the-blank kind of gift.

My mom likes angels, and has a tasteful collection.  But she didn’t need another figurine or wall hanging.  Steven came up with the idea of an antique angel cameo, and we started to look for one.  It proved more difficult than we anticipated.  I knew that I did not want a cherub or putti-style angel - too precious and cute for my mom.  And I was looking for a small piece, a size that she would really wear.  We scoured antique shops, ebay and other online sources.  Finally we found it. 

There is something very special about this little cameo.  It depicts what appears to be a male angel, simple and serene.  He is beautifully carved and set in a spare sterling silver setting.  On the back is a c-clasp with an extended pinstem that speaks of its age.   It dates to the middle or latter part of the 19th century.  Originally It was a piece of mourning jewelry, intended to be worn by a wife or mother who has lost a loved one.  But a piece like this can be enjoyed and appreciated apart from that prerequisite, and it becomes a lovely artifact of history and faith.  Oh, and if you are wondering, my mom was thrilled.