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Furnishings (4)
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Lovely Vintage Enameled Silver Swans Ring
Catalogue:
Archives:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Period:
Pre 1970 item# 1161534
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
Sold; thank you!
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In a season when rings with animal motifs are the trendiest bling around, what fun to find that design in a historic jewel that will hold its value beyond the present and gain value as time goes on!
This ring with its pair of graceful swans is an enchanter, built up in shades of blue enamel with silver wirework on a domed band. We know it's from a Pennsylvania estate, but chronologically, it's one of those marvelous mysteries we run across now and then.
Whereas the design first suggests the late 1960s aesthetic -- hippie neo-Romanticism to the max -- the hallmark introduces a big question mark. The ring isn't stamped "925" (as was typical after the mid-1930s) or "Sterling" (as was seen earlier). Instead, it simply reads "Silver" -- suggesting not only a somewhat less than sterling grade but an early dating. Thus, the ring may be decades older than it seems. It isn't unlike some pieces produced in the early 30s, when Disney-esque figural jewelry was popular -- and it could be even older, an Arts & Crafts piece.
Certainly it has some age -- however much -- but most importantly it's absolutely stunning and, being adjustable, it can be worn by anyone on nearly any finger. Condition is great, with only a couple of little enamel flaws that appear to be original, not damage.
There's no charge for U.S. shipping (with an equivalent discount on international delivery) and gift-wrap is always free when desired. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Enameled Hippie Bracelet w Peace Symbols and Doves
Catalogue:
Archives:
Estate Jewelry:
Costume:
Unsigned:
Pre 1980 item# 1161532
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
Sold; thank you!
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Definitively from the late 1960s or early 1970s, this delightful vintage bracelet has seen little or no use. Its condition, as you see, is remarkable. The pretty blue and lilac enamelwork is practically pristine and the brushed silvertone interior still shines like the Dickens. This is a quality piece with nice heft and it seems wider than an inch because of being domed.
The bracelet clamps on with sturdy spring action and will fit virtually any wrist, Provenance is a West Coast estate. Sadly, the message is as timely now as it was more than 40 years ago.
There's no charge for U.S. shipping (with an equivalent discount on international delivery) and gift-wrap is always free when desired. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Fluffy Retro Chestnut Brown Mink Fur Collar circa 1950
Catalogue:
Archives:
Collectibles:
Nostalgia:
Pre 1960 item# 1115631
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
Sold; thank you!
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Like many people, I've had second thoughts about furs. I wouldn't personally buy, sell or wear new ones (despite defending the rights of those who do). Where I part company with the anti-fur purists is when it comes to vintage pieces. Making good use of them strikes me as both ethical and sensible.
That said, you really can't beat a luxurious fur accent for Retro chic in chilly weather. An excellent example is this mid-century mink collar. About 26 inches long and a lavish 4 inches wide, it remains in lovely condition, ready to adorn any high-necked dress or sweater. The lining could stand a little restitching, which I'll leave to you, since I'm clumsy with a needle.
If you agree that it's wasteful not to use and enjoy fur pieces created long ago, search for "fur" to see the mink hat and fox collar that are also available now.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping, with an equivalent discount on international delivery, and gift-wrap is always free on request. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more pictures. Thanks for looking!
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Rare Antique Sterling Silver Suffragette Bar Brooch
Catalogue:
Archives:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Victorian:
Pre 1910 item# 1109825
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
Sold; thank you!
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Very finely crafted with ornate ends and edges, this antique bar pin is of sterling silver (unmarked but tested), set with sparkling amethyst, peridot and diamond pastes. That it's sterling is quite remarkable for a Suffragette item; typically these are either totally costume or top end, made of gold and gems.
Complementing the beautiful metalwork, the stones here are excellent pretenders, especially the 16 fancy-cut amethysts channel-set in groups of four. Every stone appears original. Another nod to unusual quality is the early safety lever fitted on the C clasp. This is a type that dates from the 19th century, as is the hinge with its slight sideways wobble. The pinstem, originally elongated, was snipped to a less hazardous length at some time, as is common with brooches this old. Either Late Victorian or Edwardian, it reached us from a Florida estate. Likeliest dating would be 1900-1910.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. There's no charge for insured U.S. Priority shipping, with an equivalent discount on international delivery. Gift-wrap is always free when desired. Thanks for looking!
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Gold Filigree Sweetheart Ring or Wedding Band 1930s
Catalogue:
Archives:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Deco:
Pre 1940 item# 1043712
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
Sold; thank you!
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This gracefully shaped filigree ring of yellow gold has an Edwardian delicacy, but most likely dates from around 1930-1935, still in the the Art Deco era but after the crash of 1929.
"Depression Deco" jewels are less lavish than styles from the 1920s, but they can be very pretty, indeed. Piercework and textures were used artfully to make the most of less gold and provide sparkle without gemstones. This is a refreshing look today, when many of us also crave elegant simplicity instead of extravagance.
Marked 10K, this beauty from a Midwestern estate also bears the letters AF JC - probably the initials of bride and groom but possibly a maker's stamp. Currently a U.S. size 6, it's in splendid condition, ready to celebrate its next love story.
BTW, wedding rings of this chevron shape, which dips below the base of the finger, are particularly pretty on small hands - creating the illusion of greater finger length. When worn with an engagement ring, the solitaire can sit lower on the knuckle, being nestled into the band's scalloped top.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Mesmerizing Antique Arts and Crafts Blue Spinel Ring
Catalogue:
Archives:
Estate Jewelry:
Pre 1940 item# 1038613
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
Sold; thank you. $285 SALE. Was $345.
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This antique blue spinel ring has a hypnotic effect, like gazing through the sheen of sunlight into deep, deep water. It's more than an inch tall, about 3/8 of an inch wide and stunningly faceted. Getting photos was a major challenge, due to the gem's mirror-like luster and elaborate marquise cut.
Many people mistakenly believe spinels are synthetics, when actually they're among the hardest and loveliest natural gemstones. In their most common red version, they've been frequently confused with rubies. For instance, the famous "Black Prince's Ruby" in the British Imperial State Crown turned out to be a spinel. Being blue, this is a rare spinel to begin with, and its ultra-rich color and size add to the rarity.
Another fascinating attribute of this ring is the convergence of Arts and Crafts and Art Deco style currents. The setting, appropriately for such a fancy-shaped stone, is simple, graceful and more than likely hand-made. Ornamented with only a couple of silver beads and a bit of engraving on the sides, the mount has a distinctly Arts and Crafts look. However, an early Arts and Crafts piece probably would have a plain cabochon stone, rather than a towering geometric shape suggesting Art Deco. Based on the blend of design influences, I believe it was made around 1930, so it's already antique by American 75-year standards.
Condition of the jewel is lovely. It takes a 10X loupe to notice any flaws at all and, even then, signs of age-appropriate wear are very minor. Markings inside the band are "Sterling Shank" and a maker's mark I haven't been able to interpret. It's a "V" over a horizontal diamond shape. If that means anything to you, please let us know.
The ring came from a New York estate, where the seller noted, "Blue spinel brings peace." I don't know about that, but this one is sure to bring a lot of pleasure.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping, with an equivalent discount on international delivery, and gift wrap is always free when desired. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Spectacular Antique Art Nouveau Silver Ring c 1900
Catalogue:
Archives:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Art Nouveau:
Pre 1910 item# 1037939
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
Sold; thank you!
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Stunningly sculptural, this wonderful ring combines the flowing curves and organic floral forms of Art Nouveau with a hint of Arts & Crafts influence, evident in the simplicity of its layered openwork construction. It's fascinating when those design currents intersect, as they sometimes did around a hundred years ago.
The ring's face measures a knuckle-covering inch in each direction, so this is a jewel that can't possibly be overlooked. Its material is obviously silver, rich with time's patina. That the metal is unmarked suggests American origin, since silver hallmarks weren't required here until shortly before World War I. If you prefer a brighter finish, I hope you'll just polish the high points with a jeweler's cloth and leave the patinated depths dark for drama. Condition is superb, provenance is a Texas estate and current size is about a US 5.5. It appears to have been resized once before, so can easily be altered again at the same junction.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping (with an equivalent discount for international delivery) and gift-wrap is always free on request. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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2 Long Vintage Silver Chains with Faux Pearl Accents
Catalogue:
Archives:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Period:
Pre 1970 item# 1008526
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
Sold; thank you!
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I give up -- these necklaces are impossible to photograph! As you may be able to tell from my pitiful best efforts, the chains are very long, slender and supple, interspersed with beaded sections featuring faux pearls (33 total) and small silvery spacers. The longest chain measures 30.5 inches and its companion nestles just inside that length, at 29 inches. The necklaces have clasps, but you won't need them, since they'll slip easily over your head. Besides offering that convenience, they drape beautifully and will go with anything.
They're marked only with the word "Korea" -- no reference to North or South -- so they could date from before the partition. Asian jewelry is outside my specialization, so I don't know the hallmarking conventions in that part of the world. There's no indication of metal content, either, but so much tarnish was on these that I gave them a light polish and they responded like silver. At the very least, they're silver-plated -- and we've priced them as such, not as sterling. Price-wise, we're also assuming 1960s for dating, although they may have been made in the 1940s or even earlier. Their provenance is a New England estate.
Again, my apologies for these pathetic images. If you'd like to see the pictures in a larger version, please e-mail. Thanks for looking!
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Stunning Vintage Faux Sapphire Cocktail Ring by Uncas
Catalogue:
Archives:
Estate Jewelry:
Costume:
Designer:
Pre 1950 item# 1007974
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
Sold; thank you!
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Want a ring with bling? Here you go! This vintage beauty is a real show-stopper, with a setting that sparkles almost as much as the monster stone does.
The oval-cut glass sapphire is 3/4" tall and its highly detailed floral mounting is of high-shine rhodium or chromium (durable, tarnish-free metals in the platinum family). Probable dating is Retro (1935-1950); condition is lovely, with minimal surface wear; provenance is a New York estate; and size is about a 5 to 5.5. We usually state sizes as a range, because results from different types of measuring equipment can vary up to half a size, as our fingers also do with the time of day and temperature.
The Uncas maker mark in use since around 1920 -- a U with an arrow through it -- is stamped on the shank's interior. Earlier pieces feature the U between two arrows.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping (with an equivalent discount for international delivery) and gift-wrap is always free on request. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Wide Modernist Hammered Sterling Ring, His or Hers
Catalogue:
Archives:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Modernism:
Pre 1980 item# 1007703
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
Sold; thank you!
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An elegant ring for any man or woman who enjoys bold scale and deft hand-craftsmanship, this vintage silver band measures a knuckle-covering 3/4" tall at the front, tapering to 3/8" at the back for comfort. Its hammered surface flashes light, as do the finely detailed herringbone edges.
Most likely dating from the late 1960s or early 1970s, when masculine jewelry came to the fore in a big way, the ring reached us from a Pennsylvania estate and is about a US size 8.5 (we say "about" due to variations in ring sizing equipment). It could be slightly stretched by a good jeweler, but shouldn't really be cut down, because the intricate edge pattern would be interrupted. With apologies to the purists among us, we couldn't resist giving the ring a light polish, because so much age patina had accumulated that it was difficult to appreciate the details.
The band is hallmarked 925 for sterling, but has no maker stamp -- which may well mean the design wasn't mass-produced. It does have a "custom" look and the quality of fabrication is exceptional.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping, with an equivalent discount for international delivery. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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