Lovely Antique Art Nouveau Lady Portrait Brooch c 1890s
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Art Nouveau:
Pre 1910 item# 1113816
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$195 SALE. Was $245.
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& Gift-Wrap if Desired)
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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. It's an unusual example of the form, being crafted in heart shape.
This is a truly spectacular jewel -- highly dimensional, large (about 2 inches x 1.75 inches) and beautifully detailed with floral and foliate shapes surrounding the lady with the flowing hair.
Provenance is a Michigan estate and condition, as you see, is remarkably fine. There's some loss of silver on the high points, which is inevitable with a plated piece after so long. You could of course have it replated, but the color variation has its own charm. Findings are correct for the period: an open C clasp and typical late 19th century hinge. The pinstem would originally have been longer, but most have been shortened through the years for safety's sake.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping (with an equivalent discount on international delivery). Beautiful gift-wrap is also free on request and, obviously, this would be a very romantic present. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Edwardian Art Nouveau Silver Hair Comb
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Art Nouveau:
Pre 1910 item# 1113389
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$75 SALE. Was $115.
(Free U.S. Shipping
& Gift-Wrap, if Desired)
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The curvy lines of this pretty hair comb show Art Nouveau influence, but here the exuberance of the Victorian era has given way to Edwardian restraint, both in form and size. Its refinement and delicacy suggest a circa 1910 dating.
The tines of this hair jewel are of flexible steel, while the top is fixed and sturdy. Hallmarks aren't present, so it probably isn't sterling, but high silver content is likely since it shines up beautifully with a jeweler's cloth. Age-appropriate surface wear is visible only under high magnification. Size is about 3 3/8 by 1 1/2 inches.
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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Art Nouveau Gilt Silver Lady Amid Flowers Buckle
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Art Nouveau:
Pre 1910 item# 1037954
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$95. Was $135.
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This highly ornate antique belt or sash buckle is a showpiece of Art Nouveau design, featuring a beautiful lady amid and crowned with flowers. There's elaborate scrollwork, too, and all the repousse work was done in very high relief to enrich the design further with shadows and highlights.
Dating to the Late Victorian era, circa 1890-1900, the buckle measures about 3" x 1 3/4" when fastened and its brackets will accommodate a sash or belt up to 1 1/8" wide. Imagine its impact at the waist of your favorite evening gown or a wedding dress -- although you'll certainly wear it on lesser occasions, too.
The metal beanth the gilding appears to be silver of less than sterling grade. (It isn't heavy enough to be pot metal.) Condition is lovely, showing only minor loss of gilt finish. The eye of the fastener (but not the hook) seems to have been reattached at some point, possibly replaced. The buckle is very sturdy and wearable now, but of course our price reflects the old repair. This would be a great deal more expensive if perfect, because authentic Nouveau "lady portrait" jewels are getting very scarce and valuable.
Likely origin, based on style and quality of craftsmanship, is French or Belgian, although the buckle reached us from a Chicago collection.
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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Art Nouveau Rose Floral Double Buckle or Cape Clasp
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Art Nouveau:
Pre 1910 item# 1037952
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$95 SALE. Was $135.
Free U.S. Shipping
& Gift-Wrap, if Desired
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This gorgeous antique buckle or clasp is comprised of two highly dimensional repousse rose medallions, each 1 3/4 inches round. Being crafted on the grand scale the Victorians loved, it can't be overlooked even if worn on a long formal gown or evening cape.
Condition of the buckle is lovely, with no dents , just a little age-appropriate surface wear. You can see time's rich patina on the reverses, but the fronts shine brightly. They appear to be plated with silver or one of those hard-wearing silver metals in the platinum family, rhodium or chromium.
Each of the two parts has a loop that can be stitched to a belt, sash or cape.
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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Antique Art Nouveau Buckle, Cupid or Cherub Motif
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Art Nouveau:
Pre 1910 item# 1037948
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$95 SALE. Was $135.
Free U.S. Shipping
& Gift-Wrap, if Desired
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A romantic gift for a bride, or your lady love?
This exquisitely detailed antique buckle makes Cupid the star. Decorative silver plaques featuring seated cupids or cherubs in repousse are framed by the actual buckles - made of black early plastic, perhaps celluloid. Large enough to make a major fashion statement, it measures a spectacular 4 1/2 inches wide when closed. This jewel would do a lot for your favorite little black dress - and just imagine it at the waist of a wedding gown.
The jewel dates from the late 19th or very early 20th century, but its condition is superb. The only flaws of note are areas of slight discoloration on the back; these may polish out and in any case would never be seen in use. There are no hallmarks, so the silver content is unknown. Because those weren't required in the U.S. until around World War I time, their absence suggests American origin.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping, with an equivalent discount on international delivery, and gift-wrap is always free if desired. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Victorian Silver Buckle or Cape Clasp - Green Man Motif
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Art Nouveau:
Pre 1900 item# 1014111
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$195
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& Gift-Wrap, if Desired)
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This spellbinding buckle features "The Face in the Leaves" -- a symbol of great power and antiquity, which appears in ancient churches and cathedrals throughout the British Isles, but originated in pre-Christian times. From the dawn of history, various cultures have used similar imagery evoking the mysteries of life, death and rebirth.
In Britain, the Green Man motif enjoyed a resurgence in the late 18th century, continuing through much of the 19th. During the Gothic Revival and Arts and Crafts eras, it often appeared as a decorative motif in and on buildings, both religious and secular. Architects in America and the British colonies took up the design around the same time. In jewelry, on the other hand, it remained rare until the medievalist look caught on again much later -- in the 1930s, the 1960s and more recent days. Now it's wildly popular in certain circles, as you know.
Based on the strong Art Nouveau influence, this superb antique buckle dates from the Late Victorian Aesthetic Period (most likely 1880s or 1890s), which makes it quite a rarity. Although not marked, the silver looks to be sterling grade or close. It's a very fine piece, exquisitely crafted with loads of dimension and in miraculous condition, relative to age. It reached us from a midwestern estate, but was certainly produced in a major city known for first-rate silverwork (New York, Chicago or a European capital).
Wear it with any belt or sash up to about an inch wide, or stitch it onto a cape or jacket to serve as a fabulous clasp. Closed, it measures approximately 1.25 inches by 2 inches.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping, with an equivalent discount on international delivery, and gift-wrap is free on request. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. I'm always happy to send larger images that will give you a clearer view. Thanks for looking!
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Antique Art Nouveau Uncas Sterling Marcasite Rose Ring
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Art Nouveau:
Pre 1920 item# 1007452
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
Sold; thank you! $140
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If you don't mind being noticed (and envied), this large and spectacular antique ring is meant for you. It's a knuckle-covering 1 1/4 inches tall and 3/4 of an inch wide at leaf level.
The design, as you see, is enchanting. Marcasite "dewdrops" nestle among the rose petals and their shape is echoed by round embossing on the leaves. Edges and shoulders are lovingly detailed, as well. Naturally this was the creation of a master, namely Vincent Sorrentino, an Italian immigrant who formed Uncas Manufacturing Company in Rhode Island in 1911. The turn of the twentieth century in America attracted many talented artisans and jewelers from Italy, who were instrumental in the development of the American fine and costume jewelry industry. The Uncas "U" between two arrows (their earliest mark) appears inside the ring, along with the Sterling stamp. We occasionally see this ring with the later maker mark (a U with an arrow running through it), since the design's popularity lingered into the post-World War One era.
The rivoli-cut marcasites normally smooth after this long, but these are still sharply pointed for maximum dazzle. Overall condition is lovely -- as fine as our previous one like it, which sold within days -- so, if this strikes your fancy, it would be smart not to delay.
Present size (easily changed) is about a US 5.25 and provenance is a New York estate.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping (with an equivalent discount for international delivery) 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 Art Nouveau Sterling Lady Face Earrings
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Art Nouveau:
Pre 1940 item# 940568
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$170
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As you know if you collect Art Nouveau, authentic "lady portrait" jewels have become extremely hard to find. Even good reproductions from the 1960s and 1970s are rapidly gaining value, so you simply can't go wrong with these antique earrings for less than $200.
Based on age-appropriate surface wear and screw backs hallmarked "Sterling," the earrings date, I feel sure, from the early 20th century -- either from original Art Nouveau days circa 1900 or the first Revival period circa 1930. (Examples made after 1935 are generally stamped "925"; often bear a logo, as well; and feature every sort of fastener other than screws.) Unfortunately, they're been overcleaned by some misguided enthuasist who plunged them into silver dip, which stripped off the rich patina of age and what would otherwise be luscious darkness in all the heavily textured crevices created by sand-casting. Tanish will soon start accumulating again, but at the moment they look less valuable than they are and our price reflects this. They'd cost nearly twice as much, had they been left in original condition and polished only lightly by hand on the high points.
Size is about an inch long and provenance is a Chicago estate. Probably the earrings originated in Chicago, which was a hotbed of stylish metalwork a century ago. Your jeweler could very easily adapt them for post fasteners or wires, if you prefer.
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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Lovely Early Uncas Art Nouveau Sterling Floral Band
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Art Nouveau:
Pre 1920 item# 939314
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$85 SALE. Was $115.
Free US Priority Shipping
(& Gift-Wrap, if Desired)
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An enchanting sweetheart ring -- or wedding ring for those who prefer the simplicity of silver -- this antique Art Nouveau band from a Florida estate bears the first mark of the Rhode Island-based Uncas Manufacturing Company (a U between two arrows). That it's stamped "sterling," rather than the later 925, is also helpful for dating. So is the style, since Art Nouveau design gave way to Art Deco after World War I. Combining all these factors, we judge the ring to have been created before or during the war, no later than 1918.
Lavished with flower blossoms and scrolling leaf forms, it's the work of a master: Vincent Sorrentino, one of the talented jewelers who arrived from Italy in the early 20th century and were instrumental in developing the American fine and costume jewelry industry. About a US size 5.5 - 6 now, it could be professionally stretched a little, but not cut for major resizing without damage to the pattern, which extends all around and remains nicely crisp. Quite a bit of tarnish is present, which in deference to the purists among us I'll leave alone. You can easily polish the ring, if you like, but I recommend using a jeweler's cloth and a light hand, rather than dips that would brighten the background along with the details and strip off the rich patina of age.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping, with an equivalent discount for international delivery, 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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Amazing Triple Lady Portrait Art Nouveau Amethyst Ring
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Art Nouveau:
Pre 1910 item# 695981
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$395 SALE (Reduced from $465)
Free U.S. Priority Shipping
And Gift-Wrap if Desired
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Want a ring astounding enough to stop people in their tracks? Here it is! No doubt you've seen the tall Late Victorian rings with three stones in a stack --- well, this not only has the stones (round purple amethyst cabochons), but has them set in a veritable totem pole of Art Nouveau lady portrait heads. I never saw anything like it before and don't expect to see another.
It's bound to be a custom-crafted jewel and it's a whopper: nearly two inches tall by an inch wide. Size is large, too (about a US 8.5), so it was made to wear over gloves or on the central finger. Cutting it down shouldn't be a problem, if you want to do that, since the shank isn't decorated. It may have been sized once before, to judge by a small dimple at the very back.
The only mark is sterling (partially worn away), which is right for an American jewel of the period, but French influence is strongly evident and makes sense, given that the ring was found in a New Orleans estate. Because someone recently gave it a polish (a bit more brightly than I would've done, but patina will soon build up again), it's easy to judge the condition, which is lovely. There's very little surface wear. Obviously the ring has been cared for like the rare treasure it is. As you know if you collect Art Nouveau, lady portrait jewelry is growing so scarce that even good Revival pieces can command steep prices. That the stones are cabs and of slightly irregular shape adds Arts and Crafts interest, too.
We state ring sizes as approximations, due to the vagaries of different sizing equipment. Depending on whether the sizer is metal, wood or plastic, the result can vary up to half a size. Also, our fingers vary by that much, with time of day and temperature (smaller early in the morning or when it's chilly). This should comfortably fit 8.25, 8.5 or 8.75.
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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