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1920s Art Deco Egyptian Revival Tut Pendant or Charm
Catalogue:
Vintage Arts:
Decorative Art:
Jewelry:
Costume:
Unsigned:
Pre 1930 item# 710953
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$40
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Most of us know the discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1922 led to a craze for Egyptian-styled jewelry. Fewer are aware there were earlier Egyptian crazes (circa 1800, thanks to the Napoleonic campaign, and again in the 1860s, when the Suez Canal opened). Further, when Tut's treasures toured the world once more in the 1970s, it was "deja vu all over again." Because of that, you always have to look *very* carefully at jewels with an Egyptian motif, to determine when they were made.
This stunning piece depicting Tut in an elaborate headpiece certainly dates from the early 1920s -- based on its extremely fine detail, cutwork design, dainty size, unusual coloration and age-appropriate surface wear to the mauve pink enamel, revealing more of rich gilding beneath.
While we can't be certain the medallion began life affixed to this particular backing, it looks great, being of the right period and style. The disk is edged with a sunray motif and etched with cross-hatching on the reverse. The present jump ring also shows the patina of age. Size is about 5/8 of an inch round, so it will work best on a slender chain, cord or ribbon.
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 Pink Sugar Crystal Sautoir Rope Necklace, 58"
Catalogue:
Vintage Arts:
Decorative Art:
Jewelry:
Continental:
Pre 1920 item# 702888
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$75
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When living in Europe, I learned to call the tiniest of glass beads "sugar crystals" -- not a term that's used much in the States yet, but it's wonderfully descriptive. Here they comprise a necklace that's an absolute confection of raspberry pink encased in clear crystals, woven into a thick rope and finished with beaded tassels.
It's fashioned in the open lariat form favored in Edwardian and early Art Deco times, when clothing became much lighter and less restrictive and people liked their jewels to move more freely, too. It can be knotted, looped several times around your neck or worn very long, swinging below waist length. You can even use it as a belt or hair adornment. We often speak of open-ended necklaces as sautoirs, but technically that's a reference to length (40 inches or longer).
Provenance of this beauty is a Midwestern estate, but the exquisite glass is certainly European (French or Bohemian). Condition is so fine that you have to search hard for any signs of surface wear. The only oddity is one teensy dark bead, which must have been woven into the rope on purpose; perhaps it served as a certain maker's signature.
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 Antique Art Deco Celluloid Shells Earrings
Catalogue:
Vintage Arts:
Decorative Art:
Jewelry:
American:
Pre 1930 item# 688327
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$110
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The ethereal pastel colors of these earrings instantly endeared them to me. The calla and buttercup forms are exquisite, too, and strongly remind me of Victorian floral shell art. That, I believe, was the idea. The first Victorian Revival got underway in latter Art Deco times -- largely because people resorted to wearing older family jewelry during the Depression years. Also because there was little money to buy new things, ladies tried their hands at making shell jewels, often composing them on celluloid disks identical to the backing of these creations. Shells (or celluloid ornaments) could be glued to the disk, which in turn was glued to the fastener.
These screw-on fasteners appear original, as does everything about these earrings. They've obviously been treated with great care, to be in such lovely condition, given the delicacy of celluloid. Under high magnification, you can search out a few flakes and hairline cracks, but the naked eye (at least mine) reveals only surface wear to the metal and the absence of one very tiny leaf. Something I particularly enjoy about these is the textural contrast. Notice how the iridescence of the creamy callas and the sparkle of the pink rhinestones stand out against the powdery matte finish of the fresh yellow-green buttercup petals and darker green accents. These charmers date from around 1930, measure about an inch tall and reached us from a West Coast estate.
BTW, we have a couple of celluloid necklaces now that would look fantastic with the earrings. If you're interested in a set, please e-mail and we'll work out special pricing.
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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Vintage Carnelian Earrings Retro Modernist Signed
Catalogue:
Vintage Arts:
Decorative Art:
Jewelry:
American:
Pre 1950 item# 592641
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$145
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These spectacular vintage earrings of hand-hammered copper are set with luminous cabochons of genuine carnelian and tiger's eye, as well as goldstone (created by adding copper crystals to glass, which produces brilliant flashes of light called aventuresence).
The earrings are quite large -- almost 2 inches wide -- so those central carnelian ovals are whoppers, more than an inch long. The signature is that of Robert Rose and these are obviously an early Rose design, not to be confused with current products by the same firm, which has operated for about 60 years. The style combines Arts and Crafts with Modernist Constructivism for an unusual and truly dramatic look.
Most likely dating would be 1940s and the backs are clips right for the period. Provenance is an East Coast estate and condition, as you see, is lovely. These would make an impressive gift.
There's no charge for insured U.S. Priority 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 Carved & Painted Bone Earrings, Suffragette Colors
Catalogue:
Vintage Arts:
Decorative Art:
Jewelry:
Costume:
Pre 1930 item# 534348
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$135.
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These antique earrings, intricately carved in the shape of sunflowers, have an unusual color scheme that makes them a lot more significant than mere pretty posies. For members of the Suffragette Movement, to whom we modern women owe the right to vote, purple signified dignity, green represented hope and white stood for purity. Jewels worn by the wealthiest suffragettes mixed amethysts, pearls and emeralds or peridots. Rhinestones, glass pearls and enamels of the same hues are typically seen in less expensive costume jewelry. These earrings are the only example I've yet seen in painted bone. Perhaps they were even decorated by their original owner, since women of that era were highly accomplished at handicrafts.
Also remarkable is their condition, which is simply superb relative to age. If American, they would've been made prior to passage of the 19th Amendment in August of 1920. If English, they could date as late as 1928, since women's suffrage wasn't comprehensive until then. American origin is somewhat more likely, since their provenance is a Midwestern estate. Whether the gilt metal screw backs are original is impossible to determine with certainty, but this type of fastener grew popular during Edwardian and Art Deco times, when ear-piercing was regarded as a bit barbaric.
As you may know, Suffragette jewelry has been rocketing in price since the star-studded TV movie "Iron Jawed Angels" appeared in 2004, revealing what those 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, these earrings have serious investment value, too. Size is 3/4 inch round.
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 Pink Satin Glass Drop Earrings
Catalogue:
Vintage Arts:
Decorative Art:
Jewelry:
Continental:
Pre 1930 item# 509218
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$95 SALE
(Reduced from $135)
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From old store stock, never in circulation, these delightfully girly antique earrings are of frosty pink Czech (or possibly Austrian) satin glass, in intricate floral settings of a brass alloy that looks like rose gold. The colors will be beautiful with this season's pastel fashion palette.
Probable dating of these beauties would be late 1920s, but their condition is immaculate. With apologies to the purists among us, the metal has been cleaned of time's patina and modern wires replaced the original screw backs. (I didn't do it!) Many people prefer the brighter look jewels had when new, but of course our price reflects the alterations as flaws. The drops are about 1 1/4 inches tall, with a total hanging length of about 1 3/4 inches from the top of the wires - big enough for evening, but not overpowering by day. Provenance is a southern estate which contained numerous jewels from a shop in business between 1915 and World War II.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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c 1922 Deco Egyptian Revival Necklace Earrings Set
Catalogue:
Vintage Arts:
Decorative Art:
Jewelry:
Continental:
Pre 1930 item# 475105
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$135
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(& Gift-Wrap if Desired)
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These marvelous antique jewels are from very early in the Art Deco period, because strong Edwardian influence is evident in the fine filigree drops and dainty chain, as well as the choker length of the necklace. Likely dating would be 1922, immediately following news of the Tut's Tomb discovery, and probable origin is Czech (based on the high-quality glass and metalwork).
The six pendant drops, four for the necklace and two for the earrings, are beautifully fashioned in the form of cylinder seals found in ancient burials and each holds two vivid green crystal beads. The necklace measures 14 1/2 inches long, plus its hook and the drop at the back of the chain. Earrings will fall about 1 1/4 inches below the ear.
Provenance is a Midwestern estate and condition, as you see, is absolutely lovely. The gilt brass shows time's rich patina, which we left in place, but of it course can be polished more brightly if you prefer. Later earring posts had been added, so we replaced those with antique earwires that are right for the period (from old store stock, never worn).
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Huge Spectacular Art Deco Fruit Salad Clip Brooch
Catalogue:
Vintage Arts:
Decorative Art:
Jewelry:
Costume:
Clips:
Pre 1940 item# 158945
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$70 SALE (Reduced from $95)
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This is a jewel you'll be noticed in, even across the room: a totally devastating "Carmen Miranda, eat your heart out" brooch 2 3/4" tall, almost as wide and studded with faceted crystals in red, green, amber, blue and violet. Besides wearing it in the usual way, it would look great on a ribbon as a choker necklace.
The gilded, slightly concave backing - intricately detailed with grapes, leaves and a foo-foo border - is light and easy to wear on any fabric. The material must be wood or early plastic and condition is great, with only slight age-appropriate wear to the gilding on outer edges and not much of that. All rhinestones are as vividly colorful as the day there were made and the hinged clip is in perfect working order. Probable dating would be 1930s and provenance is (bet you guessed it) a California estate.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Gorgeous Vintage or Antique Asian Cuff Bracelet
Catalogue:
Vintage Arts:
Decorative Art:
Jewelry:
Costume:
Unsigned:
Pre 1940 item# 140131
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$95.
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This stunning cuff bracelet almost 1 1/2" wide combines spectacular bands of repousse brasswork with curved slices of what appears to be horn, heavily black-lacquered. It's obviously hand-crafted and has the old-style peg closure. According to an expert in jewelry from this region, probable dating is circa 1925-1935, so this piece is nearly antique if not already. Interior diameter is about 2 1/2" x 2 1/4" (slightly oval), making it perfect for a small to medium wrist. Even I can wear it without its falling off my hand, though with lots of extra room around my ridiculous 5" wrist. In amazing condition, considering its age and travels, this treasure shows only age-appropriate surface wear on close inspection. A reddish color underlies the black and it's quite beautiful to glimpse this inside.
Bracelets are *so* important to fashion this season that you'll wear it a lot.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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