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Antiques (76)
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1980s Vintage Designer Coral Organza Wrap Top
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Apparel:
Pre 1990 item# 627304
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
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$45
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By Fenn Wright & Manson, one of England's leaders in special occasion fashions since the 1970s, this dreamy see-through jacket of coral organza combines a look of pure romance with all the proper details. Notice the shapely seaming, graceful lapels and double cuffs with shimmering faux-moonstone buttons in a slightly lighter shade of melon.
Sheer jackets of this type, tied on with enormous bows, were style essentials in Europe during the late 1980s and very early 1990s. (I'm not sure if they were also worn in the U.S., since I wasn't here then.) They're fabulous over slip dresses and a wonderful way of fluffing up just about any outfit for an evening event or a daytime gala like a wedding. In the latter case, they can give you decent cover for the ceremony, allowing you to wear something that might otherwise be a little too bare until the reception.
Size is marked small, but obviously this shape is highly adaptable. I'd say it could be worn by anyone from size 1-2 up to about a size 9-10. Condition of the wrap is fabulous -- it can't have been worn much -- and its provenance is an English estate. New party tops and wraps by FW&M sell in the $150 - $200 range, by the way.
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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THE WINNING WOMAN Set of 3 Motivational Tapes
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Pre 2000 item# 627236
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Sometimes we can all use a little inspiration and this set of three audio cassettes supplies six hours' worth! (Each tape runs 120 minutes.) Produced by Nightingale-Conant Corporation, the masters of motivation, the series titles are "Career Success: Managing Your Way to the Top", "Raising Your Self-Esteem: Feeling Good About You" and "Healthy Ways to Deal with Stress". Copyright date is 1991. Evidently these are fairly rare, since my searches online turned up reference only to a few library copies. The cases show their age a bit, but are still serviceable, and the tapes are in great playable condition. Provenance is a New Mexico 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 3-inch Victorian Jeweled Crescent Moon Brooch
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American:
Pre 1900 item# 623822
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There's nothing more romantic than moonlight -- especially when you can wear it! This stunning antique crescent moon brooch is quintessential Victoriana, carried to a dazzling extreme. As you know if you collect 19th century jewelry, the crescent form is often found, but typically in lengths of one or two inches. Here's your chance to own the GIANT of the species.
Still dazzling with fire from 21 prong-set diamond pastes graduated in size, this amazing jewel has the tube hinge, open C clasp and elongated pinstem right for the period, which I judge to be circa 1870 - 1880 (early in the Victorian Aesthetic Period). The reverse shows age-appropriate surface wear and the gilt brass setting could stand cleaning, but condition is otherwise remarkable. Provenance is a New Mexico estate and probable origin is American.
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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Ancient Mummybeads Necklace and Earrings with Coral
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Antiques:
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Egyptian:
Faience:
Pre AD 1000 item# 623583
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
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Sold; thank you!
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In ancient Egypt, clothes were plain and light for the hot climate, so people made fashion statements with beads. Everybody wore them, choosing colors both for ornament and protection. Turquoise and red were especially prized -- the former because it signified the sky and eternal life and the latter because it represented the power of the sun. Since the value to them was in the color, not the material, Egyptians mixed substances freely and developed imitation stones early. Among them was faience, a quartz-based ceramic made for thousands of years.
By the Late Dynastic period, their jewelry industry led the world and production was such that they could even afford to shroud mummies in woven nets of these life-giving blue-green beads. That's why many have survived in beautiful condition.
This set features particularly fine ones, all crafted between 600 and 300 BC and selected for their color harmony and uniform size. Besides the long blue-green beads, there are multi-colored spacers of faience plus accents of luxurious red coral. The graceful necklace is of princess length, 17 inches, and the matched earrings are glamorous shoulder-dusters dangling more than 4 1/2 inches long. Findings, chains and silver accent beads are of course contemporary, hallmarked sterling. Although you'll be the first to wear this wonderful demi-parure, it's entirely within the tradition of what was worn in ancient times.
A certificate of authenticity attesting to the beads' age will be furnished with your purchase.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping and gift wrap is always free on request. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Ancient Egyptian Mummy Bead Chandelier Earrings
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Egyptian:
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Pre AD 1000 item# 623559
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Indulge your inner Cleopatra with these glamorous mummy bead earrings, fashioned to sway seductively with your every step or sigh. They're 2 1/2 inches long, more than an inch wide and absolutely mesmerizing.
Of faience (powdered quartz, a precursor of glass), the beads capture all the blue-green-taupe hues of the sandy Nile. They were selected for color harmony, excellent condition and matching size, then expertly joined to graceful sterling silver findings by a talented artisan whose experience and and loving care are very evident.
Dreaming of the most beautiful mummybead earrings in the world, I began by commissioning a pair of these for my personal collection -- and then decided to offer one more here. No others of this form are anywhere in existence. You and I will be the only ones to have them!
Actually, the beads date even before Cleopatra's time. They were made circa 600 - 300 BC, whereas Egypt's last queen was born in 69 BC. A certificate attesting to the beads' authenticity will be furnished with your purchase.
There's no charge for giftwrap and insured U.S. shipping is always free when desired. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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2 Pair Swanky Retro Vintage Gloves Small
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Pre 1950 item# 623550
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Want some gloves that will do lots more than keep your hands warm? How about these terrific vintage designs from the 1940s or early 1950s? They're loaded with Retro style!
The brown ones with the huge buttons and lavish seam detail look like suede, but are of suede-finished fabric. They also look like they've even been worn. Condition is absolutely amazing.
The second pair are of buttery soft black kidskin with cutwork wrist-bands of fawn kid, each secured with a black leather button. Just a few little scuffs are present, and one wrist has a teensy red dot on it. With a cleaning and polish, they'd be like new.
Both pairs are sized for a petite woman and came from the same Texas estate.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping and gift-wrap is always free when desired. Thanks for looking!
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Old European Cut Blue Topaz in Later White Gold Ring
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Pre 1920 item# 623374
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Here's the perfect blue topaz ring for you, if you love the early stones -- mined and cut before introduction of treatments that turn them clownishly vivid, almost turquoise. Because of its subtle water-like hue, this could easily be mistaken for a much more valuable aquamarine. It measures about 10-11 mm by 7-8 mm, so the carat weight is around 3.5.
The gem is of oval shape, but its cut isn't our modern oval. Instead, the shield-shaped table is larger and surrounded by star cuts both on the top and bottom. These make the edges sparkle with stars atop stars. This is a variant of the Old European Cut or Early Brilliant Cut, more typically seen on round stones of the Victorian era.
I understand it had an undistinguished mount of low-carat yellow gold, when the previous owner purchased it at an antiques sale in England. Around 15 years ago, she had it replaced by this sleek white gold solitaire setting, which shows the stone off beautifully. I can't find a mark on the gold, but it must be at least 14k.
The mount still looks new and the stone is also in lovely conditon. Under high magnification, of course you can see age-related wear, but it's minor. Topaz is a hard gem (8 on the Mohrs scale), so it holds it up well. That's probably why the ancient Greeks wore it for strength and as an amulet against harm. Similarly, the Romans thought it could break spells, detect poisons and calm fury. In later Christian belief, blue topaz was linked to uprightness.
Current size of the ring is about a U.S. 4 - 4.25, easily changed by any jeweler since the shank isn't decorated.
Needless to say, this is NOT "London Blue Topaz," which isn't a natural gem. That (like "Sky Blue" and "Swiss Blue") are just trade names indicating the amount of color given artifically to more common white topaz. The treatment, BTW, is irradiation and many people believe valid health concerns are associated with wearing these. For that reason, we never offer the newer ones.
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 Hand-Painted Silk Satin Handkerchief Case
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Pre 1940 item# 621961
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This pretty hanky bag feels as luscious as it looks, because there's padding between the soft layers of champagne colored fabric. So much special workmanship is evident here that I expect it was made as a gift -- perhaps featuring the recipient's favorite coral pink flowers on the beautifully painted flap.
The case has been tenderly cared for, too. Its interior is perfectly clean and, on close inspection, I can find only a few tiny spots on the back (that will probably rinse away). Most likely dating would be the 1930s, based on the Late Deco look of the bouquet. Provenance is a California estate.
Measuring about 8 inches square when closed, this will be a very spacious cache for your favorite vintage handkerchiefs -- and it's even nice enough to double as an evening bag, if you add a snap or hook for security.
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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Victorian Arts and Crafts Moonstone Cufflinks Orig Box
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Estate Jewelry:
Cufflinks and Accessories:
Gold:
Pre 1900 item# 620541
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These gorgeous antique cuff links show strong Arts & Crafts influence in the cabochon cut of the luminous blue-white moonstones, their bezel settings with handsomely detailed frames and the overall quality of hand-workmanship. They also have the characteristically Victorian "bean" backs that indicate 19th century origin.
The faces measure 3/4 inches long, so these are very good-sized moonstones. The metal appears to be rolled gold, thus much more durable than plating. Making these even more collectible (and giftable), they still have what appears to be their original box of issue. Provenance is a Pennsylvania estate and most likely dating is circa 1890. Under magnification, age-appropriate surface wear is naturally present. I should mention also that one moonstone is a bit thicker at one end than the other, unless it's slipped to a slight tilt within the mounting.
Other antique moonstone cufflink sets I've seen online are commanding prices between $400 and $800, so these are a wonderful bargain -- especially while on sale.
There's no charge for insured U.S. Priority shipping and gift wrap is also free if desired. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Rare Antique Georgian or Regency Hair Ornament c1800
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Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Pre Victorian:
Pre 1837 VR item# 620219
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Decorations like this spectacular antique handcrafted hair jewel adorned the tousled topknots, headbands and turbans of neo-Classical gals around the turn of the 19th century: the Late Georgian/Regency period in England and the Napoleonic First Empire period in France.
Nothing could be a more stunning accent for your "up" do today, and you can also wear it as a stickpin. From an estate in the north of England, the jewel measures 3.25 inches long and is crowned by a lavishly textured orb representing the moon -- from which chains and two filigree domes suspend 14 ever-dancing stars ideal for making a display in the ballrooms Jane Austen wrote about.
Celestial motifs, as you know, were highly popular throughout the Georgian period. The Orient was also a strong influence in those days, and ladies of China and Japan had long worn elaborate hair decorations, the loveliest of which had mobile elements.
Condition of this treasure is remarkably fine, given its great age and delicacy. The only flaws I can find are a slight waviness of the shank and minute losses of the rich gilding, most on the shank.
You could look a long, long time before finding anything like this again!
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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