Catalog: Estate Jewelry: Silver (346)

A bold sterling silver bracelet set with six large cabochons of dyed green chalcedony. The stones are set on round bezel mounts and secured by scored long prongs. The stones exhibit surface wear but no cracks or chips; they are unpolished, or possibly have lost the luster. It is well made, down to the soldered rings that link each mounting. The clasp is secure and there is a sturdy safety chain. The maker’s mark, which appears to be an interlocking MA or MR, is unidentified. The bracelet dates from the 1950s and is also marked Mexico Sterling. It measures 6 ¾ inches long by ¾ inch wide by ¾ inch high.

This c. 1910 buckle brooch is beautifully decorated with turquoise tour a guilloche enamel work, with round white enamel accents around the perimeter. The enamel is in excellent condition, save for two minute spots on two of the round white decorations. It is marked sterling on the back and features a secure C-clasp. The shade of the enamel appears to vary in the photo, but it actually is the same consistent, vivid turquoise throughout the pin. Also, the pin appears to be gilded in the photo, but it is not; the back is highly oxidized. It measures 2 ¾ inches long by 2 3/16 inches wide. Weight: 39.1 grams

Each of these five late 19th-century heart charms is decorated with embossed scrolls; included is also an engraved faux lock of the same period. The hearts are identical, with one showing minor impacts; the lock looks to be hardly worn. All have their bails intact and are marked sterling on the back. Each heart measures 1/2 inch wide by 3/4 inch long, including the bail; the locket measures just under ½ inch wide by 5/8 inch long. Weight: 4.8 grams total

Composed of two rectangular layers of sterling silver, top one curved and with a cutout comma-shaped design exposing a highly oxidized interior. The ring is marked sterling and has Joseph Skinger’s script signature mark. Skinger was a Vermont studio metalsmith who was most productive during the 1950s and 1960s; he died in 1967. I am told by Carol Skinger, Joe's daughter, that the design is known as 'Mountain Shadow' and was produced as choker necklaces, bracelets and pins. The top of the ring measures ¾ inch by 5/8 inch. It is a size 6 full. Weight: 5.3 grams

Sterling ring of adjustable design decorated with white guilloche enamel in a geometric motif. The enamel shows no damage or wear, and the ring is at its original size. It bears the mark of Aksel Holmsen of Sandefjord, Norway. It is a size 5.

A stunning design of rectangular panels with applied calla lilies, vines and 12-kt gold-filled leaves. This maker is unknown, but produced an impressive series of calla lily jewelry with hand-applied decoration. A folded end panel forms a very secure hook clasp. The bracelet has two safety chains. There is no maker’s mark, only marks for sterling and 1/20 12-kt. gold-filled decoration. The bracelet measures 1 ½ inches wide by 7 ¼ inches long. Weight: 86.3 grams

This silver bracelet is composed of a complex series of interwoven links, some cast to appear as wound with wires. The tongue-and-groove clasp is quite secure, and there are jump rings for connecting a safety chain if needed. The back of the clasp is marked Argentina with an obscured lozenge mark that most likely indicates silver content, likely .900. The bracelet shows a strong test for silver. It measures 7 ½ inches long by about ½ inch wide. Weight: 26.4 grams

Composed of hollow-cast embossed panels with a geometric design, enhanced by oxidation. The necklace is secured by a hook closure that bears the maker’s initials of JSE, as well as marks for sterling and a partial mark of some sort. The back of one panel is also marked sterling. The necklace measures 15 ¼ inches long by 1 inch wide. Weight: 40.6 grams

Formed as a stylized starburst of forged wire with a central sterling silver bead, this pin is based on the Joseph Skinger design, but made and signed by Martin Lasak. The pin has a delicate look but is sturdily made. The back sports a secure rollover clasp, as well as a sterling mark. Lasak, of Bar Harbor, Maine, was trained by and worked for Joe Skinger during the 1960s in Skinger's Vermont studio, according to Joe's daughter Carol. The Skinger design is titled 'Snowflake.' The pin measures 1 1/4 inches in diameter. Weight: 3.1 grams

A lovely sterling bracelet composed of applied leaves, berries and curled stems on sterling wire frames, reminiscent of the contemporary Danish style. The large fold-over clasp is also handmade and in excellent condition; it is stamped sterling. There is no maker’s mark. All connecting links are securely soldered, and the silver shows no signs of stress or serious wear. The bracelet has been lightly polished, but still shows much oxidation. It measures 7 3/8 inches long by 1 inch wide. Weight: 43.2 grams

Set with a large pink agate cabochon that shows very little wear. The setting is nicely constructed with a complex design of tiny tiered and small cylindrical elements encircling the stone. Four wide ridged prongs secure the agate. The inside of the band is marked Handarbeit, with a lozenge that appears to be either a country or maker’s mark, as well as what could be a mark of 925. The ring tests definitively for sterling. The setting measures 1 inch long by 3/4 inch wide by about 5/8 inch high. It is a size 7 full.

Decorated with curled thick silver wire within rectangular frames. The frames are connected with curved flat panels; the frames are decorated with small nicks to imitate tool marks. The back of each frame is marked sterling; two have the complete maker’s mark of a conjoined JM, for New York jewelry artisan Joseph Masaniello. The bracelet measures 8 inches long by 5/8 inch wide. Weight: 34.5 grams

This geometric openwork pin depicting snakelike creatures is distinguished by its design, which draws from ancient Mexican imagery. The pin is sturdily made and has a secure C-clasp. It is unsigned but stamped on the back Taxco 980, which indicates a higher-than-sterling silver content. It likely dates from the 1940s-50s. The metal exhibits a very strong test for sterling silver and exhibits a nice patina from age. The pin measures a little over 2 ¼ inches long by 1 5/8 inches wide. Weight: 16.5 grams

The larger sides are designed as abstract forms with a pocked layer on a thin, flat surface. The opposite sides are undecorated rectangular panels. They are marked on the bridge bars with Ed Wiener’s name on one side and sterling on the other. The larger sides measure ¾ inch long by 3/8 inch wide. Weight: 14.2 grams total

Formed as a stylized flower and decorated with purple enamel surrounded by embedded sterling frames. It is hallmarked Edinburgh and bears the date mark for 1972. The pin has a secure rollover clasp, and measures about 1 ½ inches long by 1 3/8 inches at its widest area. Gross weight: 9.1 grams

This dynamic pin by a renowned New York modernist designer Ed Wiener is composed of a sterling silver angular form applied to a triangular, oxidized sterling silver panel. The original rollover clasp is in good working order; the back exhibits the mark of Ed Wiener/Sterling. The pin measures 1 7/8 inches long by 1 1/8 inches at the widest part. Weight: 10.3 grams

This bracelet exhibits a classic Scandinavian style extremely popular during the 1950s and 1960s. The dramatic enameling is in vivid colors, featuring panels of Nordic scenes alternating with blue and white cloisonne panels. The tongue and groove clasp is very secure and bears the mark of Ottar Hval, of Oslo. The bracelet measures 7 ½ inches long by 5/8 inch wide. Weight: 26.4 grams

This bracelet is composed of folded panels incised with a Precolumbian-style motif. It is secured by a hook clasp and bears the circular mark of A. Munoz surrounding a 925 to indicate sterling. The bracelet measures just over 7 inches long by ¾ inch wide. Weight: 30.3 grams