Antique Victorian or Edwardian Suffragette Bar Pin
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Victorian:
Pre 1910 item# 650700
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$135
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This spectacular antique Suffragette bar brooch can also be worn as a necklace, by attaching a chain or ribbon to one or both ends. It features an ornately painted and gilded porcelain cabochon in an intricate openwork setting that appears to be 14k gold-filled. Gold-filled jewels being far more durable than gold-plated, they essentially never wear out and little surface wear can be seen here, even under magnification.
The central medallion features the classic Suffragette color combo: green, white and violet, the first letters of which stood for "Give Women (the) Vote". Green also represented hope; white signified the purity of their intentions; and violet was a reference to dignity ("the royal purple"). It may well have been painted by its original owner, since it doesn't have a "factory" look and china-painting was a popular passtime in this era. If it were merely a representational depiction of a purple flower with green leaves, the Suffragette message might not apply; however, this is a highly stylized motif that makes free use of the Suffragette hues, so its meaning is clear.
Fresh from a Philadelphia estate, the brooch measures 2.5 inches long. An excellent early safety clasp is present. That it appears original dates the jewel firmly to the 1895-1910 period, which was the latter part of the bar pin era. Brooches of this form were popularized by Princess (later Queen) Alexandra, who favored high collars to conceal a scar on her neck. They look just as lovely on today's lapels.
To the Suffragettes' efforts through many decades in the U.K. and U.S., we modern women owe our right to vote. That right was finally extended to all American women in 1920 and to all in Great Britain in 1928. Although forgotten for many years, these jewels have been rapidly gaining value since the star-studded TV movie "Iron Jawed Angels" appeared in 2004, revealing what the gals went through (including hunger strikes and beatings). Wearing Suffragette jewels is a great way to show your pride and appreciation and, now that the genre has been rediscovered, they're getting much harder to find. This is a piece with great investment potential.
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Victorian Rose Gold Hairpin w/ Necklace Length Chain
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Victorian:
Pre 1910 item# 324143
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$79
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The fine Victorian chain is a major part of this item's value, since antique chains are scarce and this one measures slightly more than 14 inches - long enough to be fitted with a clasp and used for a necklace pendant. In its present form, it's attached to a hairpin a bit longer than 1 1/2", with lovely twisted prongs. The material hasn't been tested, but looks to be rose gold, which was commonly used for the purpose and very popular in the 1890s. Pretty hairpins with so-called "keeper chains" developed then, because those sturdy "Gibson Girl" pompadour hairstyles favored in late Victorian and Edwardian times were well-suited to serve as hold-alls. Small items fastened to the hook end of a chain anchored by a hairpin were kept readily at hand. Optical equipment was a popular example, as you know if you've seen our 1902 spectacles (which reached us with a matching keeper chain), but it's easy to imagine them holding a key, a pencil with a hanging loop and so forth.
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Rare 1910 Halley's Comet Pearl & Gold Stickpin Signed
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Victorian:
Pre 1910 item# 156543
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$159
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Comet jewels are scarce and highly collectible, and this antique comet stickpin is a particularly elegant example. One of the finest stickpins we've ever offered, it's every inch 14k gold (hallmarked) and the beautiful head is set with a central half pearl of good size plus six more lustrous seed pearls. These would be genuine sea pearls and probably natural, since the process of culturing pearls had barely begun then.
To the modern eye, the head suggests a flower with a stem, but pieces like this were in fact intended to represent comets (the "stem" portion being the comet's tail, while the "petals" form a star). It was an approach typical since Georgian times, and indeed the pin could conceivably have commemorated a much earlier comet -- even Halley's passage in 1835, rather than 1910. The look wouldn't have differed.
I'm opting for the later date, mainly because of the 14k gold stamp, maker mark and excellence of construction associated with Edwardian times. Here the goldsmith managed to attach the stock with no visible solder marks; it actually appears to be all of one piece! The maker's stamp, resembling a cross or bird within an oval cartouche, is unknown to me, so please tell me if you can identify it.
In superb condition, showing no damage to either gold or pearls, the pin measures about 1 13/16 inches long and 5/16 of an inch at its widest. Provenance is a Boston area estate.
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Victorian 14K Diamond Lovers Knot Stickpin
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Victorian:
Pre 1900 item# 148663
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$139
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This 19th century jewel from a Philadelphia area estate features the classic lovers' knot form and is one of our finest antique stick pins. It's hand-made of unmarked but tested 14k gold and the stone looks to be a nicely fiery little diamond - prong-set and open at the back for maximal brilliance.
Probable dating is circa 1880 and, despite great age, the piece is in extremely good condition - showing only light surface wear under high magnification and the predictable slight bend of its pinstem. The head measures about 3/8" x 3/8", total length is 2" and weight is 1.4 grams. American origin is likely, because an English pin of comparable vintage and excellence would have the usual phalanx of hallmarks.
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Fine Antique Victorian Gold Stickpin w/ Pearls
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Victorian:
Pre 1900 item# 145893
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$149
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This quintessentially Victorian antique stick pin takes the form of a star-like flower and is in exquisite condition, retaining all of its many seed pearls. These would be natural sea pearls, since cultured pearls weren't yet being formed
An extremely high-quality piece, this jewel is not only hallmarked 10K but maker-marked (R & N). This is a pin you can wear with anything: the utmost in versatility, being set only with pearls. Overall length is 2 1/8 inches and provenance is a Chicago area estate.
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Victorian 1902 Gold Lorgnette Glasses + Case and Pin
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Victorian:
Pre 1910 item# 132526
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$90 SALE
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These fine antique lorgnette glasses of 14k rose gold are not only in pristine condition but dated and maker-marked (Fox Pat. Jan. 7, 02). Not only do the spectacles have their lovely velvet-lined leather case, but *it's* dated, too (Pat. Mar 02, 1902) - AND there's a matching hairpin with keeper chain. Late Victorian and Edwardian ladies' sturdy "Gibson Girl" hairstyles were well-suited to performing the task for which we now use leash cords.
Spectacles measure 4" from lens to lens, case is a bit larger and the pin is 2 1/2" long, with 10" of fine chain and a 1/2" hook. The hairpin and chain haven't been tested, but also look to be rose gold.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Antique Victorian Etruscan Brooch with Tassel 1860s
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Victorian:
Pre 1900 item# 123914
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$225
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Victorian jewelers were greatly inspired by discoveries concerning the Etruscan civilization, which flourished along the western coast of Italy between 500 BCC and 300 BCE. Hallmarks of the style include granulation, the technique of arranging tiny metal beads into beautifully textured designs and patterns, dangling accents and stylized flowers.
All these forms of Etruscan ornamentation are seen in this opulent brooch jewel from the Mid-Victorian period. The beaded effect is achieved with finely twisted wirework in floral motifs at each end and starlike designs in between. For extra interest, three shades of gold are featured. The thick metal mesh rope that ends in the glorious tassel is of a paler yellow than the brooch's body and winds through three spectacular openings set with highly dimensional sunbursts of rose gold. More rose gold appears on the bead and cap above the tassel. In the absence of markings (so common in that era), the underlying metal may be silver, brass or lower carat gold. So little finish is lost that I can't tell, and it would be a shame to assault it with files and acids in order to test.
In superb condition after about 150 years, the brooch measures an impressive 2 1/2 inches in each direction. Fittings are original and right for the period. The elongated pinstem has been slightly depressed near the hinge, thus shortening it slightly - a good solution to keeping it from impaling you.
Genuine Etruscan Revival jewels are so hard to find today that even good reproductions are fetching hundreds of dollars. Given their rarity, this authentic 19th century treasure will be not only a delight to wear now, but an investment for the future.
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Fine Early Victorian Vermeil Filigree Posy Brooch
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Victorian:
Pre 1900 item# 121531
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$130 SALE
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When Napoleon's newly established court was magnificent in its luxury, the Empress Josephine was famously fond of cameos. Less well-known was the passion she shared with fashionable ladies of the court for jewels made of vermeil (gold on silver) filigree. Their heyday, which began in the 18th century, would end about as soon as the Empire. The reason why? It was discovered that the mercury then used to create "silver gilt" caused craftsmen to go blind. Many years would pass before a safer process was developed in early Victorian times: electroplating, which debuted in the 1840s. This marvelous brooch dates from that period, when women could finally enjoy gilt silver filigree again, without its taking a toll in human misery.
Beautifully hand-crafted, this Early Victorian jewel bears the European silvermark 800, a star and the markings 18 GE - meaning it's surfaced with rich 18 karat gold, rather than the more common 14k. So little of the plate has been lost that wear is apparent only under extreme magnification. Besides its obvious historic interest to collectors, this is a very beautiful and feminine jewel any woman would delight in wearing. Gorgeously hand-crafted in floral form, it's almost an inch round and naturally has the old C clasp right for its period. Close inspection shows its elongated pinstem was at some point snipped for greater comfort.
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Fine Victorian Stickpin Gold and Angelskin Coral c 1870
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Victorian:
Pre 1900 item# 115932
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$175.
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This gorgeous antique pin made of 14K gold (tested) is set with a luscious cabochon of angel skin coral, the most admired type. A stunning adornment for your lapel, scarf or hat, it dates circa 1880-1900 and measures slightly more than 2 5/8" long. The 14K gold plaque has a lovely hand-chased edge and measures a little more than 5/8" tall x 1/2" at the widest. The locking neb slide looks to be made of gilded brass and has the manufacturer's name on it, HOLD-ON, along with the Patent number 3009. Assuming this is an U.S. design patent, the number dates it to 1868. (As a standard American patent, that number would date it to 1843, which I believe is too early.) The mechanism is self-locking; you have to pull on the small end piece in order to slide it off, so you can enjoy this piece without worry about losing it.
As you can see, the pin is extremely well-made and in exceptional condition.
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