Spectacular Antique Gilt Bronze Suffragette Bracelet

Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: French Pre 1920: item #699147

When green, violet and white appear together on historic jewelry, this unusual color combination typically signifies that the piece was first owned by a member of the Suffragette movement -- for whom green represented hope, purple signified dignity and white stood for purity. The language we associate with "regard" jewelry applied, too: The "G" of green, "W" of white and "V" of violet comprised an abbreviation for Give Women (the) Vote. All this seems cryptic now, but was clearly understood by e... Click for details

Antique Art Nouveau Suffragette Lavaliere Necklace

Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: French Pre 1920: item #696564

This antique Suffragette necklace is a charmer, styled with an elaborate, oversized surmount and a surprising drop, unexpectedly short, that whimsically suggests a watch fob.

The necklace is jeweled with pretend-jade of beautifully marbled early plastic (probably Galalith, invented in the 1890s) plus amethyst pastes and faux pearls, but... Click for details

Exquisite Victorian Gothic Jeweled Enamel Gilt Brooch

Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: Continental Pre 1900: item #691621

As colorful and crusted with ornamentation as a medieval reliquary, this exciting mid-Victorian brooch is obviously hand-made. Probable origin -- based on style, the exotic color scheme and fine Bohemian pastes -- is Austro-Hungarian. Its Byzantine design, which suggests a Maltese Cross, screams Gothic Revival and the details of construction support an 1860s dating. Note the open C clasp and elongated pinstem. The hinge is of a type that began replacing the old T type during the 1850s. ... Click for details

Antique Victorian Art Nouveau Suffragette Necklace

Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: Costume Pre 1900: item #691014

This spectacular necklace makes a powerful feminist statement, while also being ultra-feminine. Its provenance is a Kentucky estate and most likely dating is circa 1900. It could be earlier, but a later Edwardian necklace would be daintier.

Fashioned in lavaliere form, the necklace has a gracefully domed openwork surmount above the bold ... Click for details

Antique Art Nouveau Suffragette Pendant Necklace

Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: Continental Pre 1910: item #690513

This antique Suffragette pendant is wonderfully opulent, richly jeweled with cabochons of amethyst and chrysoprase, half-pearls and even faceted amethysts and emeralds. Eight faux gemstones, four of significant size, are featured and they're of such quality they really have to be Bohemian. I expect the intricately layered and detailed setting of gilt filigree is, too, which makes the piece Austro-Hungarian -- probably crafted just before the war that ended their empire, sometime around 1910. ... Click for details

Rare Antique Victorian Earrings with Screw Posts c 1890

Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: American Pre 1900: item #687914

Threaded posts and screw-on fasteners are a wonderful luxury, because you never have to worry about losing an earring due to a loose back. That luxury normally requires buying very costly earrings, but it wasn't so in the 1890s, when backs like these appeared on nicer costume jewelry, too.

Due to the form of their fasteners, we can date ... Click for details

2 Antique Victorian Gold Fox Head Pins for Her or Him

Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: French Pre 1900: item #687178

This pair of circa 1900 antique hunting pins is truly remarkable, both because it's so rare to find a set still together and because they're in virtually pristine condition. Probably of French origin, they're from a gentleman's collection found in Paris and were no doubt used to secure a cravat. Besides using them as tie pins, they'd be beautiful on a scarf or lapels.
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Gorgeous Antique Suffragette Bracelet for Smaller Wrist

Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: Continental Pre 1910: item #685925

If you're petite, no doubt you've found that most antique bracelets are just too big. They were made roomy to wear over gloves in the 19th and very early 20th centuries, so few are shorter than 7 1/2 inches. This one's just 6 1/2 inches long, counting the clasp -- and it's fabulous!

Fashioned from heavy gilt metal, the bracelet is comp... Click for details

Rare Antique Art Nouveau Lady Portrait Barrette c 1900

Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: Costume Pre 1910: item #685882

Authentic Victorian Art Nouveau "lady portrait" jewels have become so scarce that even well-made replicas are soaring in value, so we're delighted to present this treasure from the late 19th or very early 20th century. It's a highly unusual example of the form, being crafted as a hair jewel. Through many years of collecting Art Nouveau, I've never before run across a barrette like this.
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Richly Jeweled Antique Edwardian Suffragette Earrings

Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry: Continental Pre 1920: item #685789

I've never seen this many jewels -- 32 total -- packed onto so little metalwork, which gives these antique earrings a really opulent look. There was certainly no conflict between being a Suffragette and being highly feminine. There are five faceted pastes in each earring, plus 10 faux pearls and a very dimensional heart-shaped leaf of faux opal with loads of fire, that seems to be carved, rather than molded.
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