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Victorian Enameled Gilt Silver Filigree Butterfly Pin
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Victorian:
Pre 1900 item# 865540
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
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$98
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Whether we're longing for spring or welcoming it, a colorful butterfly brooch suits the mood. Here's an especially charming antique one, fashioned of hallmarked 800 silver with panels of exquisite plique a jour enamelwork. That's the transparent kind, which lets light gleam through like stained glass. You can even glimpse the fine filigree through the colors -- artful blends of yellow, green, aqua and violet.
We can date the brooch precisely by its pin mechanism, a type used circa 1890, yet its condition is superb. I can't find any enamel losses. The filigree shows age patina, of course, and you might want this brightened a bit. A gentle polish by your jeweler would do it. (Please don't try cleaning enameled jewels at home, since even water can be damaging.)
Particularly clever is the sturdy understructure that supports these gracefully fluttering wings; it looks rather like a bi-plane. There's also an unusual early safety catch, the type with a v-shaped lever. The clasp is an old open C.
Size is about an inch in each direction and half an inch high. Probable origin would be Austro-Hungarian or Italian, though it reached us as a Texas estate find. The reverse has, besides the 800 stamp, a lozenge-shaped maker mark we haven't yet been able to interpret.
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Giant Sterling and Moonstone Peace Dove Necklace '60s
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Modernism:
Pre 1970 item# 855705
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
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$155
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If you're looking for a "statement necklace," here it is -- unmistakably making the statement "Peace and Love" via a gorgeous domed pendant 3 1/4 inches round!
This handcrafted vintage pendant of hammered sterling features a stylized dove whose breast, wing and tail are formed with cutout hearts. Adorned with a collet-set cabochon of blue-white moonstone -- the prized color that's so hard to find today -- it also has a glinting eye of lightly gold-washed silver.
The marks are Sterling, Eden and Eden repeated within an apple shape. I find no record of a firm called Eden, so this must be the creation of an independent designer. That would also explain the Sterling mark, which large-scale makers replaced with 925 during the 1930s. Dating has to be during the Vietnam War -- far more likely the hippie '60s than the disco '70s, based on design. Of course, given the elegance of this jewel, its style is far from basic Boho; it's what we poor college students of the time enviously called Trust Fund Hippie.
Provenance is a Cape Cod estate and condition, as you see, is superb. We added the contemporary sterling chain 20 inches long.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping and gift-wrap is always free when desired. Please e-mail erinharris@comcast.net to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Spectacular Antique Art Nouveau Silver Ring
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Art Nouveau:
Pre 1910 item# 854878
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
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$135
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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, it would be good just to polish the high points with a jeweler's cloth and leave the depths dark for drama. Condition is excellent, provenance is a Texas estate and current size is about a US 5.5. It appears to have been resized once before, so could easily be altered again at the same junction.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Ornate Antique Victorian Pearl Pendeloque Earrings
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Victorian:
Pre 1900 item# 816165
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
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$635 SALE (Reduced from $885)
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On sale this month - think ahead to holiday gifting!
These spectacular antique pearl earrings from an English estate dangle almost 2 inches below the ear and are highly dimensional. Minor variations between the two attest to hand-craftsmanship -- most likely in Spain or Portugal, where colorless gems were set almost exclusively in ornately worked silver. Jewels of this type were eagerly collected by British travelers to southern Europe. It's easy to imagine these earrings as a honeymoon gift for a young bride from her husband, who delighted in how the dangling drops gleamed and swayed as they strolled in the Mediterranean moonlight.
Both upper and lower domed elements of the lovely setting twinkle with pyrites (mistakenly called marcasites, which are chemically the same but crystallize differently and are too soft to use as gems). The silverwork is thick, sculptural and lavished with beaded detail. Above, it's fashioned into leaves and, for the drops, into flower petals framing two sizeable, lustrous pearls. The stones were represented to me as natural sea pearls and I believe them to be, since pearls weren't cultured until around 1900. They seem to be full rounds, not halves, nestling into silver cups that protrude from the back.
Probable dating of the earrings is no later than 1880, yet their condition is superb. Even the lever-back fasteners appear original. If they aren't, the earrings would have hung from wires and are probably even older. Pendeloque (pear-shaped) drop earrings have been with us since the late 18th century, retaining popularity throughout Victorian times, and the fully closed backs and other details of construction here are more Georgian than Victorian. The Georgian traditions did hang on longer in Spain and Portugal than elsewhere, though, so it's really impossible to be certain whether these are early or late 19th century.
Because they were extremely tarnished, I broke my usual hands-off rule and gave them a light cleaning. With apologies to the purists among us, I'm awfully glad I did. They dazzle like the dickens now. We can't be precise about the silver content, but it's clearly very high.
Please e-mail erinharris@comcast.net to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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WW II Sterling Sweetheart Charm Bracelet Mint in Box
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Retro:
Pre 1950 item# 727487
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
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$130 SALE (Reduced from $155)
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Increasingly coveted and valuable as they approach "antique" status, World War II sweetheart jewels are particularly touching pieces of history. This one was made even more special by its owner's great care. If she wore it at all, it was very rarely, and she stored it in its original presentation box covered in heavy burgundy velvet with four military stripes of gold leaf. The black velvet interior still bears its oval "Sterling Silver" sticker.
The bracelet has seven charms, spelling out MY SWEET and finished with a heart. The letters are half an inch tall and the heart measures 5/8 by 5/8 inch. They hang from a chain 7 1/2 inches long, with a spring ring closure. Provenance is a Midwestern estate and condition is exceptional. Even the box shows remarkably little wear.
Being about 65 years old (to date from 1942-1945, when the U.S. was at war), this wonderful vintage bracelet isn't far shy of antique by American 75-year standards. Someone gave it a good polish before it reached us, or it would be black with tarnish after all this time.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping and gift-wrap is always free when desired. Thanks for looking!
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Charming Sterling Floral Lattice Band Ring c 1930
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Deco:
Pre 1940 item# 727484
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
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Guys, if you're looking for an affordable treasure to melt your lady's heart, here it is. This would be an enchanting sweetheart ring and is even pretty enough to be a wedding band for a gal who prefers the simplicity of silver. With its pattern of flowers against a trellis of latticework, this enchanting sterling ring most likely dates from around 1930, the late Art Deco period. The Great Depression was on then and people turned from the look of streamlined luxury to less costly materials and cheerful, figural designs to lift their spirits. Jewels of this period have a "Disney-esque" quality that I call Depression Deco. Also supporting the dating is that the hallmark is "Sterling" rather than "925", which grew common from around the mid-30s. By American 75-year standards, it's antique or nearly so, although Europeans would still call it vintage.
The ring's condition is superb, size is about a US 6, weight is a very substantial 4.1 grams and provenance is a Chicago area estate.
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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Big Retro Going Steady Heart Pendant or Charm c 1950
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Retro:
Pre 1960 item# 727461
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
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Awaiting for your own romantic inscription, here's a wonderful old going steady heart from the 1950s. Yep, this is exactly what the Retro gals in their poodle skirts, Oxford shoes and rolled-down socks wore, often monogrammed with their boyfriends' initials and their own, or engraved with a message of affection.
In very good condition, with only light surface wear attesting to age, it measures 1 3/4" tall and 1 1/2" wide and the shape is slightly domed. It will be beautiful on either a necklace chain or a charm bracelet.I'm not sure about the metal content, since it isn't marked, but it shines up with silver polish, so some amount of silver is involved.
Domestic shipping's free, so the low price you see is all you pay unless you need international or express delivery. We'll also gift-wrap free on request. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Antique Edwardian Sterling Brooch with Goddess Intaglio
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Edwardian:
Pre 1910 item# 723454
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
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$275.
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The frosty white-on-white look captured the height of Edwardian refinement a hundred years ago, during the last great period of hand-made jewelry. Not coincidentally, the Arts and Crafts movement had flourished for several decades by then, promoting excellence of design and workmanship, along with an artistic approach to selecting materials. This led, in Edwardian times, to a passion for carved crystal and to creation of exquisite medallions like the one featured here: a likeness of the goddess Athena, intricately worked from the back into a disc of iridescent glass with the hypnotic sheen of opal.
The subject of the intaglio -- the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, generally shown in a helmet -- reminds us that Neo-Classicism was another strong element of Edwardian taste. In this, they took inspiration from Georgian and Regency examples. While classical subjects weren't abandoned during Victoria's long reign, they were executed on a grander scale and in a more florid manner than suited the Edwardian spirit of restrained connoisseurship.
Eighteenth-century influence is also apparent here in the metalwork's form, which suggests a Chippendale lattice pattern. That it's marked only "Sterling" -- rather than with figural stamps typical of European silver -- makes American origin likely. However, the superb intaglio is almost certainly Bohemian, French or Italian. The carving rests in a simple bezel setting, as was favored in the Arts and Crafts tradition.
In one interesting aspect, its size, this treasure shows the early 20th century exuberance that would flower in Art Deco days. It's the biggest jewel of bar brooch form that I've ever seen: 3.25 inches long! It fastens with an extremely sturdy pinstem and has the old open C clasp appropriate to its age. The pin would originally have been elongated past the edge of the brooch but, like most of those, it was shortened and filed to a new point at some time for safety's sake. Condition, as you see, as absolutely lovely; dating is circa 1905 and provenance is a New York estate.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping and gift-wrap is always free when desired. Please e-mail erinharris@comcast.net to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Sophisticated 1940s Retro Sweetheart Brooch with Sass
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Retro:
Pre 1950 item# 722522
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
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$110 SALE
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This fabulous World War II jewel wasn't for just anybody's sweetheart! It was for a gal who kept the home fires burning with swagger, sparkle and style -- as well as heart.
The iconic, pared-down silhouette of the early '40s didn't happen by accident, by the way; designers had to cope with the challenge of severe fabric shortages and did it brilliantly. Full skirts wouldn't be seen again, until after the war was over, when Rosie the Riveter morphed into Donna Reed. Another effect of the conflict on fashion was that it promoted wider use of sterling silver. Because most lesser metals were commandeered for military purposes, the lines between fine and costume jewelry blurred.
It's exciting to see a jewel that captures as much history as this one. We can feel sure it's authentically of the period, due to the presence of age-appropriate wear: the fine pattern of surface scratches that adds rich depths to silver's sheen. In other respects, the brooch is like new, showing no dings or other damage. Measuring a bold 2.75 by 2 inches wide and hallmarked 925, it has a very nice heft, as you can imagine. It will make a truly impressive Power Jewel, when worn with your best suits today.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping and gift-wrap is always free when desired. Please e-mail erinharris@comcast.net to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Antique Victorian Silver Filigree Day Night Earrings
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Victorian:
Pre 1900 item# 722481
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
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$225
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Jewelry with versatility was highly prized in the days before machines brought the cost of it down. There were tiaras that metamorphosed into necklaces, rings that came with a variety of stones and "Day Night" earrings, featuring drops that could be easily removed for a simpler daytime look. Surviving examples of these dual-purpose earrings are relatively rare, since the detachable segments tend to get lost over time.
Because of their scarity, it's a special pleasure to offer these delightful antique earrings that allow you the choice of wearing just the pretty posy tops or hooking on glamorous dangles filled in with scrolling paisley-like filigree. Each part incorporates a gleaming domed accent that unifies the overall design, as do the teardrop shapes of both the petals and the pendant.
Most likely dating would be around the middle of the 19th century, with probable origin in Spain, Portugal or Italy. Filigree work of this type is associated with the Mediterranean.
Due to the slight variations in form and size that establish hand-craftsmanship, measurements are approximate, the floral surmounts being 5/8 inch round and the pendants 1 1/4 inch long. Exact silver content is unknown, in the absence of markings, but I expect it's of a somewhat sturdier grade that sterling, which would be unlikely to remain in such excellent condition after this long. Even the wire fasteners appear original. With apologies to the purists among us, I gave the earrings a fairly thorough polish, because they were extremely tarnished. Their provenance is an estate in the Northeast.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping and gift-wrap is always free when desired. Please e-mail erinharris@comcast.net to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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