Stunning Antique Suffragette Earrings & Pendant / Pin
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Deco:
Pre 1930 item# 945464
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$185
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As you know if you collect Suffragette jewelry, it's extremely rare to find a set. So few were made that many years could pass before we have the opportunity to offer another demi-parure.
Fresh from a Long Island estate, this marvelous set shows both Edwardian and Art Deco influences: the former in the white-on-white shimmer of airy filigree blossoms overlapping plaques of mother-of-pearl; and the latter in its mesh tassel and the strong geometry of the faux amethysts and peridots.
Although American women won the vote in 1920, it took until 1928 for all women to be included in England, so Suffragette jewelry was produced through most of the decade. This set was probably among the last examples, despite its hint of Edwardiana. My dating is mainly based on the simplicity of the reverses. (Earlier pieces, even in the '20s, often had ornately patterned backs.)
The earrings measure about 7/8 of an inch tall and 3/4 of an inch wide, while the slightly domed brooch -- also fitted with a bail for use as a necklace pendant -- measures a bit more than an inch in each direction, plus nearly 1 1/2 inches for the tassel. All stones appear original and the silvery metal settings are evidently of rhodium or chromium -- one of those hard-wearing, tarnish-free cousins to platinum. The earring fasteners are screw-type, as is right for the period, but a good jeweler could easily change them to posts or wires. The condition of every piece is fantastic; they can't have been worn much and have been stored with great care.
This ususual color combination, as you probably know, held deep meaning among 19th century and early 20th century feminists, for whom green represented hope, purple signified dignity and white stood for purity. The language we associate with "regard" jewelry applied, too: The "G" of green, "W" of white and "V" of violet comprised an abbreviation for Give Women (the) Vote. All this seems cryptic now, but was clearly understood by everyone in an era when messages were also communicated by which flowers you sent, how you held your fan and which corner of a calling card you folded down, if any.
Tucked away and forgotten for decades, Suffragette jewelry began rapidly gaining value when the movie "Iron Jawed Angels" appeared in 2004, revealing what the gals went through (including hunger strikes and beatings). We try our best to maintain a good selection, but demand keeps growing. At present, we have several necklaces, brooches and earring sets in stock, but this is the only matched set. If it strikes your fancy, please don't delay.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping, with an equivalent discount on international delivery. Please e-mail erinharris@comcast.net to confirm availability, order or request more photos. 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
Phone: 505.205.1404
$95 SALE (Reduced from $125)
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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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Rare Antique German Art Deco Variscite in Sterling Ring
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Deco:
Pre 1930 item# 698877
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$185
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& Gift-Wrap if Desired)
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This is among the most fascinating antique rings I've ever seen, because of its extremely unusual stone. I had to look it up in my gems book, having never run across one before. Like the ring, the stone is German -- taking its name from the Latin "Variscia" (now called Vogtland, a region including Bavaria, Saxony, Thuringia and part of the Czech Republic). It's distinctive for its blue-green color and white veins. The type found in Utah is darker, often with spiderwebbing and brown matrix, but this stone is pure aqua and white -- gorgeous with the silver mount framing it here.
The ring is an ultimate Art Deco design, certainly dating from the 1920s. Its dramatic pattern of sunrays forming pyramid shapes at each side shows Egyptian Revival influence and is finely adorned with millegrain detail and sparkling rivoli-cut marcasites. Sunrays repeat on fancy prongs at the top and bottom of the face, which measure 3/4 of an inch tall: large, without being overwhelming. Including those elaborate shoulders visible from the front, it's about an inch wide.
A great deal of age patina is in place and I haven't disturbed it. Naturally you can make the silver shine like the dickens, if you want to. Condition of the engraving and stones is wonderfully crisp. The points of the marcasites haven't even smoothed, so the ring can't have been worn much. The only flaw I note on close examination is that the mounting sits a bit lower on one side than the other. The stone may have fallen out at one time and been reset a little crooked. Any jeweler could quickly put that right, if it bothers you, but you really don't notice at a glance. Marks are Germany -- neither East nor West, which assures us of great age -- and Sterling, rather than the later 925. Present size is about a US 4, easily altered since the back of the shank isn't ornamented. Provenance is a Chicago area estate.
This is a very sturdy and sophisticated jewel that can be worn to stunning effect by either a man or a woman.
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 c 1920 Necklace Sterling Pink Tourmaline Paste
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Deco:
Pre 1920 item# 599701
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$215
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This exquisite antique necklace is an important transitional piece showing sleek Art Deco geometry (an influence on jewelry from around 1910), along with the delicate refinement of Edwardian design and even -- in its all-around "fringe" of jeweled drops -- the archeological mood carried forward from Late Victorian times.
Purchased by its former owner at a Swiss antiques shop about 40 years ago, the necklace features metalwork of hallmarked Sterling silver and beautifully faceted pink tourmaline pastes from Eastern Europe, where Bohemia (Czechoslovakia after World War I) had been known for superb glass since the medieval era.
Eighteen inches long, a graceful length for everyone, it weighs more than 24 grams, so there's nothing flimsy about it. Its heft makes it drape beautifully, of course, and the heavenly medium pink color of the crystals will flatter any complexion. While the necklace could have been fashioned before the First World War -- making it technically Austro-Hungarian -- we're dating it slightly afterward, based on the spring-ring clasp.
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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Antique Art Deco Earrings by Bulatti c 1930 Rare
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Deco:
Pre 1940 item# 593500
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$95 (Reduced from $135)
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It's easy to see these Bulatti earrings are rare and wonderful, even before reading the maker's signature. You'll notice first of all the remarkable design and then the no-detail-spared quality. Those two factors have made the The Bulatti organization a major force in hand-made fashion jewelry since the early 20th century, operating now in Milan, Paris and Amsterdam.
These earrings are of course a long-discontinued design. They would have been made around 1930, when Italy was much in the midst of a Neo-Classical Revival. As we know, Mussolini thought of himself as a latter-day Roman Emperor, so ancient grandeur was terrifically in style. Here that taste was both honored and given a Modernist spin through the bold scale of the earrings. They're quite large (about 1 5/8" x 1 1/4"), although light enough to feel comfortable on.
Featuring multi-layered construction in the Classical tradition, the highly dimensional sterling frames are ornamented with lots of fine engraving (even on the backs). Fitted into these are ovals of what appears to be malachite and, atop that deep forest green background, intricately worked sterling bezels hold slices of luminous mother-of-pearl. Additionally, each earring has a dozen diamond rhinestones in perfect balance: three at each compass point.
Condition of the earrings is marvelous. There's a substantial amount of patina, which I haven't wanted to remove (in deference to the purists among us), but no damage and it takes high magnification to notice age-appropriate surface wear. The fasteners are early clips of the type that grew more dominant than screws during the 1930s. Here they're fixed onto circular silver plates that descend from the upper curve of the frames.
Provenance of these treasures is a New England estate and our price represents a great bargain. Even brand-new Bulatti pieces are fetching in the neighborhood of $125.
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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Superb Art Deco Earrings w/ Topaz or Cairngorm
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Deco:
Pre 1930 item# 404537
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$180
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Two large topaz (or possibly cairngorm) stones dominate these finely crafted antique earrings, each measuring about 1/2 x 3/8 inch and open-set within mountings about 1/2 x 5/8 inch. The stones are essentially emerald-cut, but with some extra faceting for added brilliance. Around them are 1/8-inch frames with scalloped and beaded edges, set with especially wonderful marcasites (perhaps hematites) that sparkle like diamonds. There's an enormous amount of detail, as you see, and the design is vividly 1920s Deco Geometric.
Although the earrings came from a London dealer, I don't believe they're English, since the backs are simply stamped SILVER. British earrings of this quality would bear the usual phalanx of sterling hallmarks. My guess is that they were made for the English-speaking market in one of those Deco Meccas, France or Belgium. Or they could be American. Silver content may be less than sterling grade, but not by far; the metal tarnishes and polishes up exactly like sterling.
Something I particularly love about this pair is that they have original posts - still a rather new development in that era. Most of us now prefer posts for security's sake and yet putting them on after the fact damages an antique jewel's value. I also love the fact that these *scream* Deco, without being dangling monsters unsuitable for day wear unless you're a rock star. They'll go the office (and anywhere) elegantly.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Sweet Edwardian Sterling Marcasite Giardinetti Earrings
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Deco:
Pre 1920 item# 382675
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$95 SALE (Reduced from $125)
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Created in the giardinetti (little gardens) style introduced in the Rococo period of the 18th century, these darling antique earscrews are in exquisite condition, despite substantial age. They certainly date from the early 20th century, being marked Sterling, rather than the later 925, and they're very well made. Abundant detail includes millegrain edges and trim, carefully formed flower petals and swirls to evoke a woven pattern on the tall basket handle. The refined craftsmanship and dainty size, about 3/4" x 3/4", suggest that they're Edwardian or transitional (1905 - 1920). They would have been worn by a young lady, since large jewelry was then considered vulgar on unmarried women in Victorian and Edwardian times. Backs are of early screw type. Provenance is a New England estate.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Dramatic 2 3/4-inch Deco Vermeil Dangle Earrings
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Deco:
Pre 1940 item# 339861
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$125
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From an estate in Florida, where Art Deco reached its zenith in Amerifa, these dazzling earscrews feature long beaded chains that tinkle softly with each movement. Although unmarked, they tested postive for sterling silver, portions of which are surfaced brilliantly with rich high-carat gold. Their size is can't-miss-'em: 2 3/4 inches long by 3/4 inch wide - and condition is lovely. Dating from the 1920s or 1930s, these are already or almost antique by American 75-year standards, rather than merely vintage. They're fitted with screw backs right for the period.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Superb Deco Brooch - Like a Dufy Seascape in Sterling
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Deco:
Pre 1930 item# 151766
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$145
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Hand-crafted with great artistry, this very special silver brooch reminds me of Dufy's wonderful paintings of the French Riviera. They share the same gaiety and freedom of line. All that's missing is color, so this would be a moonlit view. This wonderful jewel definitely *is* European, stamped with the old 0900 sterling mark and fitted with quite an unusual early safety clasp. Probable dating is 1920s - while Scott Fitzgerald was in France, writing "Tender in the Night" - and I'll bet the pin was created for a lady much like Zelda. Its shape is early Modernist, size is considerable (about 2" x 1 1/2") and provenance is an East Coast estate.
Condition is lovely, showing only slight age-appropriate surface wear under high magnification. A rich patina remains present on reverse). If you prefer a bright finish, you can easily polish that away or I'll do it for you on request.
to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Glamorous Art Deco Rhodium Chrysoprase Bracelet
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Deco:
Pre 1940 item# 151725
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$135 SALE
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This impressive vintage bracelet has a lot of presence, due to the size of its segments. Each of the 4 ornate floral plaques measures 1 1/4" square and holds a vivid emerald-cut stone that's prong-set and open at the back. The metalwork is very finely detailed, featuring both repousse and applied decoration. The jewel is unmarked, but probably made of rhodium, a metal in the platinum family which shares platinum's toughness and silvery white no-maintenance shine. Length is about 6 1/2", making it just the right fit for most ladies.
Probable dating would be late Art Deco/Moderne (circa 1935-40) and provenance is a West Coast estate. Condition is super: The glowing stones are tight, the clasp snaps securely and you have to search with a loupe to find age-appropriate wear, apart from superficial scratches.
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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