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Antiques (76)
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Early Belais Snowflake Motif White Gold Cufflinks
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Edwardian:
Pre 1910 item# 1113492
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$185
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Even if you already have a pair of wonderful antique white gold cufflinks by the legendary Belais Brothers, you may need these, too. Most Belais jewels are Art Deco, but these are earlier examples dating from before World War I. Certainly no later than Edwardian, they could be Victorian, based on the link connectors, as well as the design.
Each octagonal face bears a profusion of intricate engraving that shows both Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau influences. Against a spiral background, the central motif is a stylized snowflake bordered by rows of tiny zigzags symbolizing thunderbolts -- and all this glory is set within an ornate border of curvy scrollwork! The remarkable design repeats four times as usual, since Belais links are double-ended.
Measuring 5/8 of an inch in each direction, these reached us from a Midwestern estate. Their condition is very nice, requiring high magnification to notice age-appropriate surface wear, and all four reverses are clearly stamped "Belais 14k White Gold Front". When you possess a piece bearing this name, quite simply you own the best, because the Belais brothers were the *gods* of white gold jewelry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Now that so many people have discovered the beauty and quality of Belais jewels, it's become terribly hard to keep pieces in stock. At the moment, we're fortunate enough to have three sets of Belais cufflinks. Even on eBay, some sellers are pricing these in the $300 range, whereas we like to offer them at much more sensible rates and keep looking until we find reasonable deals.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. There's no charge for insured US shipping, with an equivalent discount for international delivery, and we're always happy to gift-wrap free on request. 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.
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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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Rare Georgian Gilt Bronze Stickpin Depicting Hermes
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Pre Victorian:
Pre 1837 VR item# 1113367
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$210 SALE. Was $260.
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This remarkable antique stickpin features the head of the god Mercury (Hermes in Greek parlance), who wore a winged hat and served as messenger of the gods, bringer of dreams and patron of travelers.
Items with themes from Greco-Roman mythology are tricky to date, since there have been several major Classical Revivals in the past few hundred years. Because the god's image isn't idealized in the Victorian manner and the pin's construction suggests an early dating, I've concluded it's Georgian (and more likely 18th than early 19th century). The stylized profile anticipates Art Deco, but the pin's construction isn't right for that dating, nor is the scale. It's less than an inch tall and its head measures about 15mm (5/8") round. (I say "about", because it isn't a perfect circle, being hand-wrought.)
The material appears to be gilt bronze and the detailing is marvelous. Condition, as you see, is exceptional relative to age. While its original owner would have been a gentleman, who needed pins to secure the voluminous neckcloths that protected shirts not washed often, this jewel is suitable for either a man or a women today and will add a striking note of antiquity to any lapel, necktie ot scarf.
There's no charge for insured U.S. shipping, with an equivalent discount on international delivery. Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Signed Victorian Gold Stickpin with Pearls, His or Hers
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Victorian:
Pre 1910 item# 1113328
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$145 SALE. Was $175.
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Add a touch of quiet opulence to your lapel, or to a scarf or necktie, with this superb antique stickpin. It takes the quintessentially Victorian form of a star-like flower and is in exquisite condition, retaining all of its many seed pearls. Twelve grays, nicely matched for color, surround a larger, whiter central stone. These would be natural sea pearls, since cultured pearls weren't yet cultivated.
Both maker-marked (R & N) and hallmarked, the pin is of 10k gold -- a smart choice for sturdiness, when crafting jewels that must withstand a lot of handling. It measures about 2.25 inches tall with a head half an inch round and reached us from a Chicago area estate.
There's no charge for insured U.S. Priority shipping, with an equivalent discount on international delivery, and elegant 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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Antique Art Nouveau Gold and Amethyst Heart Stickpin
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Gold:
Art Nouveau:
Pre 1910 item# 1113311
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$120 SALE. Was $150.
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& Gift-Wrap, if Desired)
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The gracefully stylized heart form of this lovely stickpin, with its slight asymmetry, dates it firmly to the Art Nouveau era -- and it's almost certain to be a Victorian jewel, since it isn't marked but tests as 10k gold. (Hallmarks weren't mandated in the U.S. until the Edwardian era.)
The almandine-shaped stone of rich purple is gorgeously faceted and appears to be genuine amethyst. After a century, glass would be abraded, whereas the gem shows hardly any wear, even under high magnification. As the stone's setting is open at the back, we know the color is natural, without foil enhancement.
Length of the pin is 2 1/4 inches and the heart measures about 5/8 inch by half an inch. Condition, as you see, is lovely in every way. Even the stock shows no waviness, which is quite rare. Provenance of this treasure is a Midwestern 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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Splendid Signed Victorian Coral Choker Necklace c1890
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Costume:
Designer:
Pre 1900 item# 1113281
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$195 SALE. Was $255.
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As you know if you follow fashion, chokers are the trendiest necklaces around today. In fact, the last time they were so coveted, Alexandra was Queen of England! This example was crafted even earlier, when she was still Princess of Wales. The Princess Di or Countess Kate of her day, beautiful Alex popularized chokers (and high collars with bar pins), because she liked to hide a small scar on her neck. Her adoring subjects and fans across the sea needed no such excuse.
This choker, a paricularly wide and wonderful one, couldn't possibly be more Belle Epoque. Everything about it screams Gay Nineties: the curvy Art Nouveau forms, richly gilded metalwork and spectacular, unusual stones. Signed "Greene Bros., New York City, NY", it's set with 10 gorgeous speckled coral cabochons. These look like real coral, but could be excellent art glass or early plastic, which was equally prized at the time. The choker's central oval medallion measures a stately 2 1/2 inches tall by 1 3/4 inches wide and is riveted onto a mesh band measuring 4 1/2 inches by 1 inch, which has brackets to hold ribbon or lace. Jewels of this sort were tied on, giving the wearer a chance to match her necklace ribbons to her dress. Hair was customarily pinned up, so the pretty bow at the back was easily visible. Depending on what you tie it to, this versatile jewel could also be worn as a sash ornament and a headband.
No polishing of the gilded brass has been done, since the decision on how far to go with cleaning should be left to its next owner. Obviously, the metal could be made quite bright by a good jeweler, since the inner surface still shimmers. Overall condition is extremely good, with only minor age-appropriate wear, and provenance is an East Coast estate.
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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Fine Austro-Hungarian Jeweled Enamel Gilt Brooch c1860
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Enamel:
Pre 1900 item# 1113262
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$195 SALE. Was $245.
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As museums opened across Europe in the 19th century, people flocked to marvel at the treasures of the past -- and then they wanted the look. This led to a series of historical revivals, including Classical, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo, as well the medievalist style we see here, which is often called Victorian Gothic or "Gothick" (to avoid confusion with the original term).
The Austrians (who became Austro-Hungarians around 1860) did particularly lovely work in this vein, aided by long mastery of enameling, which was central to the style. Also arguing for East European origin are the jewel's Byzantine design, suggesting a Maltese cross, and its exotic color scheme, which pairs enamelwork resembling Persian turquoise with 19 amethyst pastes of Bohemian quality, all beautifully faceted and prong-set. The large central stone is open at the back, while the others are foiled, as was typical of the era. Further details of fabrication support an 1860s dating. Note the open C clasp, elongated pinstem and hinge of a form that began replacing the old "T" type during the 1850s.
A very great deal of work went into this spectacular brooch and it's been treated like the treasure it is. High magnification is required to notice loss of gilding or enamel, except gilt wear on the reverse. Size is approximately an inch round and provenance is a Deep South estate.
I recently saw a new designer brooch similar to this but not half as nice, which was priced at $675, so this is a fantastic deal on an authentic investment-quality antique jewel.
There's no charge for insured U.S. Priority shipping, with an equivalent discount on international delivery, and elegant 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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Rare Antique Sterling Silver Suffragette Bar Brooch
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Silver:
Edwardian:
Pre 1910 item# 1109825
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$145
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Very finely crafted with ornate ends and edges, this antique bar pin is of sterling silver (unmarked but tested), set with sparkling amethyst, peridot and diamond pastes. That it's sterling is quite remarkable for a Suffragette item; typically these are either totally costume or top end, made of gold and gems.
Complementing the beautiful metalwork, the stones here are excellent pretenders, especially the 16 fancy-cut amethysts channel-set in groups of four. Every stone appears original. Another nod to unusual quality is the early safety lever fitted on the C clasp. This is a type that dates from the 19th century, as is the hinge with its slight sideways wobble. The pinstem, originally elongated, was snipped to a less hazardous length at some time, as is common with brooches this old. Either Late Victorian or Edwardian, it reached us from a Florida estate. Likeliest dating would be 1900-1910.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. There's no charge for insured U.S. Priority shipping, with an equivalent discount on international delivery. Gift-wrap is always free when desired. Thanks for looking!
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Rare Figural Lucky Horseshoe Suffragette Brooch c1900
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Costume:
Rhinestone:
Pre 1910 item# 1109796
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$125
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Suffragette jewelry is loaded with symbology based on colors, but this fascinating antique brooch adds another layer to the story via its horseshoe form. It's both a lucky charm and a feminist message -- a combination I've never seen before, but why not? Certainly, the Suffragettes could've used more luck; they suffered through a lot to win the vote for women.
As you know if you collect Suffragette jewelry, its quirky mix of colors held deep meaning for those who wore it. Green represented hope, purple signified dignity and white stood for the purity of their intentions. 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 it 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.
Possibly because it did double-duty, this brooch has seen more wear than the typical Suffragette jewel. Often, they look nearly like new because of being worn only to meetings and marches, then tucked away after female suffrage was achieved. Here we have a brooch in good, but not perfect, condition. The stones appear original, all with matching pointed tops, and the fastening system is right for the period (complete with elongated pinstem); however, it seems a bit of brass is missing from one end of the "shoe". I didn't notice this until I was taking pictures, so the loss isn't much of a detraction. No doubt a good jeweler could craft the missing piece, if it bothers you.
Overall size is about an inch in both directions and provenance is a Pennsylvania estate.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. There's no charge for insured U.S. Priority shipping, with an equivalent discount on international delivery. Gift-wrap is always free when desired. Thanks for looking!
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Antique Jeweled Gilt Suffragette Brooch circa 1900
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Costume:
Rhinestone:
Pre 1910 item# 1109724
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
505.205.1404
$165
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This antique Suffragette brooch is among largest I've seen, proudly featuring the colors so important to early feminists: green, white and violet, the first letters of which stood for "Give Women (the) Vote". Green also represented hope; white signified the purity of their intentions; and violet was a reference to dignity ("the royal purple").
Here, in a highly dimensional, domed mounting of gilt filigree, two inches round, a huge cabochon of amethyst paste is framed by a panoply of faux moonstones and jade sets, also cabochon-cut. These are wonderful stones, almost certainly Bohemian (technically Czech, if made after World War I).
As you know if you collect Suffragette jewelry, it was worn from Victorian times until around 1920 in the U.S. and nearly 1930 in the U.K. Dating the jewels can be a puzzle, because of this and also because they usually show little wear. Most women wore them only occasionally to meetings and marches, then tucked them away after the vote was gained.
In the case of this brooch, which is in such lovely condition you could almost mistake it for new, we can rule out the Edwardian era based on size. Edwardian jewels tended to be delicate and airy, as you know, and they often featured white metals. Thus, it must be Victorian or post-World War I. Obviously it has a Victorian look and shows both Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts influences, but some Victorian styles were revived in the 1920s. Either way, it would be antique by American 75-year standards. I'm persuaded to a circa 1900 dating, based on the findings. The safety clasp is of the type introduced around 1890, with two levers instead of one; the hinge is the old 19th century type, which lets the pinstem wobble a bit from side to side; and the pinstem shows evidence of being snipped and filed down at some time -- not a bad idea since the extra-long ones could so easily draw blood, which is why they phased out during the earliest years of the 20th century and seldom appeared after World War I.
This is a very substantial brooch, so it's something you'd want to wear on a jacket or coat rather than delicate fabrics. The original idea must have been for it to appear on outerwear during women's marches and to be big enough for onlookers not to miss. It may well have been present at the historic female suffrage parades in New York City, being from a New York estate.
Forgotten for decades, Suffragette jewelry has been rapidly gaining value since the movie "Iron Jawed Angels" appeared in 2004, revealing what the 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, they're getting much harder to find. We try our best to maintain a good selection, but demand keeps growing. The last time we had a Suffragette brooch of truly grand scale and in pristine condition, it quickly found its way into the collection of Madeleine Albright (former Secretary of State and author of "Read My Pins"), who often made diplomatic statements via the brooch she chose to wear.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. There's no charge for insured U.S. Priority shipping, with an equivalent discount on international delivery. Gift-wrap is always free when desired. Thanks for looking!
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