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60s Victorian Revival Celtic Pebble Brooch Real Stones
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Ethnic:
Pre 1970 item# 731700
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$19 SALE (Reduced from $29)
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So-called "pebble" jewelry was first popularized by Queen Victoria in the mid-19th century. Her passion for family holidays at Balmoral -- her "dear paradise in the Highlands" -- made a rage of all things Scottish, from tartans to folk art jewels featuring the area's colorful agates in settings that evoked the medieval.
About 90 years later, artisanal jewelry with Celtic flair appealed to another generation: the BoHo hippies of the late 1960s. This brooch dates from that era. Like the Victorians before us, we happily remixed and romanced the past, teaming fluttery long skirts and sleeves with nugget-like natural stones in rustic mountings. Here a rainbow of six colors is arrayed and each highly polished gem has fascinating depths and variegations. The wreath-like circle in which they're set measures about 1.25 inches round. Provenance is a New England estate and condition is excellent.
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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Stunning Vintage 9 Inch Inlaid Red Lacquer Hairpin Set
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Ethnic:
Far Eastern:
Pre 1980 item# 696358
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$35 SALE
(Reduced from $45)
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These gorgeous vintage hair ornaments will fasten your hair up quickly and securely, adding exotic style while also being far kinder to hair than bobbypins and bands. Although they're usually called hair sticks now, these are technically one point hairpins -- a type used by ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, as well as in Asia. These are clearly an Oriental version: longer than the European sort and worn in pairs, often crossed in the middle. That was a Japanese innovation, but the cinnabar red color here also evokes China.
Especially exciting and unusual about these is their highly abstract decoration. Conventional motifs from nature are a great deal more common than these lavish swirls of antique gold and cinnabar black. Each pin also has six inlaid panels of iridescent carved abalone plus a host of smaller accents that appear to be white shell. A lot of hand-craftsmanship went into this ornamentation, which is well sealed under clear lacquer. Presumably there's wood at the core, but none is visible. Overall condition is fabulous, showing no surface wear without high magnification and no losses of inlay.
Each pin is 9 inches long, with an effective length (the undecorated part that actually goes into your hair) of about 4.5 inches. The lower portion is smooth as silk, which is important for avoiding damage, and finishes with the rounded narrow point that also signifies high quality.
Provenance is the New Mexico estate of a lady who acquired them in San Francisco during the mid-1970s. Actual age is unknown, but they have to be at least 30 years old. The 1920s wouldn't be out of the question, since Oriental hair ornaments of this type were exceedingly popular then; if that's the case, they're antique, rather than just vintage.
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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Exotic Vintage Mayan Crystal Pearl Fringe Necklace
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Ethnic:
Native American:
Pre 1980 item# 645589
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$85 SALE (Reduced from $110)
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This stunning piece of paradise came from Paradise Island in the Bahamas, where a jeweler imports items hand-fashioned by the modern Maya (descendants of the ancient Pyramid-builders of Mesoamerica). In like-new condition, it was seldom worn by the lady who purchased it there in the '80s.
Extremely glamorous on, the necklace sways with your every sigh, shimmers with thousands of teensy black, clear and silver crystals and is accented by freshwater pearl drops at the front, where the fringes are longest. A LOT of intricate workmanship went into this beauty. Even the clasp is fully beaded: a ball that slides through a loop.
Total length is 21.5 inches and the fringe length tapers from about 2 inches in front to .25 inch at the very back. Not a bit flimsy, it has a nice weight to it and drapes gracefully. Being hand-crafted, of course it's one-of-a-kind. You'll always stand out from the crowd, wearing something this unusual and dramatic.
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 1970s Turquoise Coral Shell & Silver Necklace
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Ethnic:
Native American:
Pre 1980 item# 628172
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$325
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Layaway Terms Available
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This is a supremely elegant Native American necklace that drapes like silk. You couldn't hope to find more perfectly graduated turquoise beads -- besides which, this jewel has EVERYTHING: accents of both shell and coral, plus wonderful silver beads of the type you seldom see anymore, hollow and ridged at the center.
The turquoise appears to be Blue Gem: the greenish type pooled with blue and loaded with pyrite matrix. The Blue Gem mine hadn't yet closed when this was made, although stones from there are now highly collectible. Most "finished" Blue Gem turquoise today is in private collections and museums, seldom offered for sale. Alternatively, it could be Bisbee, which is also rare (and called the Tiffany of Turquoise).
Of princess length (18 inches), this strand is quite heavy: about two ounces, aka 60 grams. It finishes with an old fish-hook fastener of silver. I love those for being so easy to wear (compared to nasty spring rings), the necklace is quite hefty: about two ounces. It appears that none of the silver has ever seen polish, so an extremely rich patina is present. If you want the tarnish off, be sure to polish by hand with a non-abrasive cream, so as not to disturb all this very valuable oxidation. Condition of the necklace is excellent. The irregularities around the edges of a few beads are not signs of damage; they're at points of heavy matrix, which often lies a bit below the adjoining surface.
From a New Mexico collection, the necklace was purchased in 1975 or 1976 by the original owner, in whose family it remained for the last 30-odd years. The original box of issue is with it and includes a brochure from the Bien Mur Indian Market Center. This is a fascinating piece of history, in that the shop used to be the only public structure on the reservation, but now is part of an enormous hotel, casino and amphitheatre complex just outside the city of Albuquerque. This would have been the market's very first brochure, because the shop opened in spring of 1975. (Its 32-year anniversary will be celebrated throughout the month of May.)
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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New Mexican Hand-Crafted Vintage Turtle Earrings
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Ethnic:
Native American:
Pre 1980 item# 628039
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$45
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In Pueblo Indian symbology here in the Southwest, Turtle is a very significant figure -- a particular annoyance to Coyote, because Turtle is impervious to his tricks. In fact, Turtle is even able to defy death. As such, he stands for long life, as well as strength and perseverance. Perhaps I should say "she," instead of "he," since the Turtle fetish is associated with feminine power.
Besides bringing you all these worthy attributes, our turtle earrings are pure delight with their wonderfully whimsical shapes (each a little different, which testifies to hand-craftsmanship). They appear to be fashioned of hand-hammered heavy brass wire. That they're a golden color makes them very different and desirable; there isn't much Southwestern jewelry that you can wear with gold.
Not being silver, the jewels aren't required to have marks, so we can't be certain they're Native American-made. That's highly likely, though, as they originated in northern New Mexico. The prior owner recalls purchasing them at a crafts fair around 1980.
On posts for pierced ears, they measure a little more than 1 3/4 inches long and are very light and comfortable to wear. Condition is excellent.
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 Silver Dangle Earrings Exotic Asian Tribal
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Ethnic:
Far Eastern:
Pre 1930 item# 611878
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$80 SALE (Reduced from $95)
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If you enjoy exotic jewelry, you'll love these hand-made silver earrings. Two inches long, they're highly decorative -- combining stamped, cast, hammered, soldered & wire wrap details. Even the ear wires are hand-drawn.
Exact metal content is uncertain. Several small spots seem to reveal another metal, but may simply reflect the vagaries of coin silver, which was always an alloy. Provenance is an estate in New Mexico, where unusual jewelry has always been an element of high style. Condition is quite good, relative to age. These are definitely very old. I don't know enough about Asian jewelry to date them with precision (or identify the ethnic origin) so, if you help with that, please let me know. I'm calling them pre-1930, but they may well be 19th century.
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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Boho Feather Beads Brooch and Earrings Set 1 of a Kind
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Ethnic:
Pre 1980 item# 412019
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$45 SALE (Reduced from $75)
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If you walk on the Wild Side, you'll be crazy about this huge 5 1/4-inch vintage brooch and the matching earrings. Created by a New Mexico craftswoman around 1980, this set has been in my personal collection since then. I've decided to sell it on, since I have another brooch that's similar (even bigger). Mine will be worn a *lot* this season, now that feathers are all over top designers' runway shows.
The central portion of the brooch and the earring tops are made of some sort of glitz-imbued plastic that's black with shiny gold flecks. Feathers and beads hang from the earrings - and the feather-crowned brooch, in which quite a few stunning beads are embedded, has others rising on wires at adjustable angles. All the jewels finish with dramatic saber-toothed dangles of dyed bone and are in original condition. (There's a teensy chip at the top back of one dangle that's been there all along and doesn't show when worn.) Steel earring posts and a brooch clasp mechanism are embedded in the backs.
You'll get loads of attention whenever you wear this spectacular set, and the mix of colors makes it go with practically everything: black, brown, tan, dark blue, blue-green and any shade of coral or rusty red.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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Rare Pueblo Deco Beaded Tassel Necklace c 1925
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Ethnic:
Native American:
Pre 1930 item# 411991
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$115
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Very briefly in the early 20th century, the Pueblo Deco style appeared as a fusion of Native American artwork with Art Deco design. Its legacy is largely architectural, including such cultural treasures as Albuquerque's KiMo Theatre. Antique jewels from the era are rare and highly collectible.
A wonderful example is this antique necklace from the 1920s, which has Flapper Girl tassels and also evokes the Egyptian Revival style popular at the time. It's a thick, supple rope of emerald green and white glass beads strung in a spiral pattern, undoubtedly handcrafted by a Native American artisan in New Mexico. After being collected by a visitor to 'The Land of Enchantment' during the first years when the Santa Fe Railroad and enterprising hoteliers began courting tourists, it lay in a bank vault for 80+ years - and emerged like new, to our good fortune. Almost 30 inches long including fringe, the necklace is exceedingly well-made and versatile. Its beaded slide allows you to adjust the strand for wear as a choker or even a headband.
Please e-mail for additional photos showing greater detail. BTW, we also have two other beaded necklaces from the same era and estate, both in mint condition - one matching the style of this, but in red and white and another that's of bib form and museum quality. If you're interested in one or both of those, too, we can work out special pricing. Thanks for looking!
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Rare Pueblo Deco Beaded Bib Necklace c1925 - Mint
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Ethnic:
Native American:
Pre 1930 item# 410367
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$325
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(& gift wrap if desired)
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Layaway terms are available for all our items priced over $150.
Briefly in the 20th century, the exciting Pueblo Deco style briefly appeared as a fusion of Native American artwork with Art Deco design. Its legacy is largely architectural, including such cultural treasures as Albuquerque's KiMo Theatre. Antique jewels from the era are very rare and highly collectible. This necklace is the finest example I've ever seen, which also evokes the Egyptian Revival style popular at the same time. It's truly museum-quality.
It was undoubtedly handcrafted by a Native American artisan in New Mexico during the 1920s, when 'The Land of Enchantment' was popularized by its burgeoning arts communities, enterprising hoteliers and the Santa Fe Railroad. Collected then by a visitor from Texas, this treasure subsequently lay in a bank vault for 80+ years - emerging like new, to our good fortune. Almost 4" wide including fringe, it's exceedingly well-made and very heavy to drape beautifully. As you move, it follows the natural curves of your neck and shoulders like a second skin. To show off its exquisite beading all around, wear a white or green blouse with a wide neckline and put your hair up. You'll be breathtaking, whether coming or going.
Other beaded necklaces of collar or bib form are offered elsewhere online for $400 to $500 and they lack the rarity of Pueblo Deco jewels, so ours represents a superb investment value. Please e-mail for additional photos showing greater detail.
BTW, we also have two tasseled rope-type beaded necklaces from the same era and estate, both in mint condition (one matching the colors of this bib exactly and the other in red and white). If you're interested in one or both of those, too, we can work out special pricing. Thanks for looking!
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Gorgeous Big Retro Pendant, Faux Turquoise & Silver
Catalogue:
Estate Jewelry:
Ethnic:
Native American:
Pre 1960 item# 321782
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GlitzQueen History and Art to Wear
Phone: 505.205.1404
$16 (Reduced from $28)
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Now that it's chic to wear several pendants and necklaces at once, we're all buying more - so there's never been a better time for a bargain like this! I'm not completely sure these stones aren't real - they're that good - but the low price assumes they're plastic. They really do look like "Nevada blue" turquoise with dark spiderwebbing, and the pendant comes from a Nevada estate. However, the setting isn't sterling and the stones are glued in. Regardless, the color's fantastic and the size is perfect for wearing at middle length, between a choker and a longer, even larger pendant.
Probably dating from the 1950s, the pendant measures about 1 1/2" tall and 1 1/4" wide. There's no chain, but personally I think it would look best on a black cord or leather thong. I'm putting a lot of my own pendants on those this season, for a more pulled-together look when they're piled on by the bunch. It also gives you the opportunity to adjust lengths very freely.
Please e-mail to confirm availability, order or request more photos. Thanks for looking!
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