Edwardian BELAIS 14k White Gold Cufflinks - Sun Motif
Catalogue:
Archives:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Arts and Crafts:
Pre 1910 item# 626176
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
Sold; thank you! $175.
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It's always a red-letter day, when a pair of Belais cufflinks arrives, but these are particularly remarkable. Most Belais jewels are Art Deco, but these are earlier examples showing Arts and Crafts influence in their stylized "radiant sun" pattern, a motif characteristic of Edwardian jewelry. Most recently I saw it on a piece firmly dated to 1910.
As these fabulous cufflinks bear not only the Belais mark but that of HWK Company (and its Talon Grip trademark), they could be as early as 1905. That's when HWK was formed in Providence, RI, a major jewelry center then. They can't possibly date from later than the World War I era, since HWK had closed by the 1920s.
While the legendary Belais brothers, the gods of early white gold, created these four lavishly engraved faces, HWK did the rest of the work and their "talon" connectors are particularly beautiful -- centered by floral medallions and very curvy, in the Art Nouveau manner.
Measuring almost 3/4" by 1/2", these are larger than most Belais cufflinks. The oval sun at the top of each face is big enough to take a monogram. Reverses are signed WHITE GOLD FRONT BELAIS 14K HWKCO and TALON GRIP TRADE MARK. Provenance is a West Coast estate and condition is so fine that they can't have been worn much. Every bit of this gorgeous engraved design looks as crisp as on the day it was made.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping 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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Rare Arts and Crafts BELAIS 14k White Gold Cufflinks
Catalogue:
Archives:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Arts and Crafts:
Pre 1910 item# 623376
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click for details
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
Sold; thank you! $175.
Free U.S. Priority Shipping
(& Gift-Wrap if Desired)
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At last we have more Belais cufflinks! They're getting extremely difficult to find, now that more people have discovered them. As you probably know, the Belais Brothers were the "gods" of white gold jewelry in the late 19th and early 20th century. Their process for making it was so far superior to others' that they held a patent -- so, when you own antique jewels signed Belais, you have the best of the best.
These particular cufflinks are especially exciting, because they show so much Arts and Crafts influence that we date them to around 1900. Most Belais jewels are Art Deco, but the brothers began working with white gold in Victorian times. Here we see, on each of the four shield-shaped faces, a pattern with strong Celtic overtones. Zigzags symbolizing thunderbolts or streaks of lightning flash boldly in all directions, interrupted in the center section to provide a monogram plaque -- still awaiting your initials.
Each face is framed by an elaborately worked edge and even the connectors are ornately formed, with scrolling floral shapes that give more than a nod to Victorian Art Nouveau. Their reverses are stamped "White Gold Front Belais 14K" and "Talon Grip." Measuring 3/4 of an inch by 1/2 inch, they're a bit larger than most Belais designs and reached us from an estate in New York, where the company was based. Condition is amazing. Every bit of the engraving is as crisp as on the day when they were made.
With fashion's return to the elegance of French cuffs, antique cufflinks are flying off our shelves as fast as we can find them, particularly those by Belais. If you like these, you'd better not delay.
Thanks for looking!
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Edwardian Arts & Crafts Stickpin w/ Citrine
Catalogue:
Archives:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Arts and Crafts:
Pre 1910 item# 124114
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click for details
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
Sold; thank you!
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This spectacular antique stick pin features a repousse pattern of stylized leaves in high relief against a stippled background, as well as a beautifully faceted, bevel-set citrine. I believe it to be a genuine stone but, not being a jeweler, can't positively guarantee it. The metal is gilded brass. Dating is circa 1900-10 and both Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts influences are present (with AC dominant).
Clearly hand-made though unmarked, the 2-7/8" pin has a head measuring 1 1/2" x 1-3/16". It's in excellent condition with no signs of damage or repair. Being from a Canadian collection, it probably originated in Edwardian England.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping and gift wrap is also free if desired. Please e-mail erinharris@comcast.net to confirm availability, order or request more photos.
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