Most Jerusalem Crosses have purple or pinkish stones, but a very nice blue stone is a “find”. This cross has the representative central cross with four surrounding smaller crosses. It is said that the Jerusalem cross represents Christ and the four Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and the spread of Christianity from its origins in the Holy Land to the four corners of the earth. On the back are religious pictures and markings, “Jerusalem” and “900 silver”. The cross measures 1-7/8” X 1-7/8” and is quite beautiful.
Beautiful and exquisite is this unusual teardrop shaped pendant with a large slab of what looks like maybe amber tourmaline, and amethyst, two small CZ's(I'm guessing)and garnet. It is crafted with flourishes of silver that are damped from behind to give them a spherical shape. The pendant is really unusual and looks like it was made in Mexico, but there are no markings. It is sterling and measures 2-1/2" from top to bottom and 1" wide at the widest point. The garnet at the top articulates while the rest is stationary. It is quite lovely and it is circa 1970's. The chain is sold separately and is 22" long and is $40.00.
This exquisite sterling silver bracelet is a spectacular work of art made by a tribal artisan from Rajasthan, India. It is finely detailed with seven rows of two different patterns of silver rope. Each of the strands is perfectly and meticulously crafted, and joined at five junctures with decorated silver wire. The fastener is actually the highlight of the bracelet with solid silver end caps decorated with chevrons. The clasp is a pin and tube that closes quite securely. It is made of 925 sterling and is so-marked, with another mark of “S”, probably for the artist. It is is 8-1/2” long X 3/8” wide with the clasp measuring little over 1” wide, and weighs 63.7 grams. This bracelet is incredibly fashionable and has a feel of warmth on the arm. It is one of those pieces that you could wear every day as you would an identification bracelet. It could easily be worn by a man or a woman.
Copper jewelry was very popular in the 1950’s and ‘60’s and this cuff bracelet is from that era. It is a remarkable design with pierced brass covering most of the copper, but with cutouts that let the copper peek through. Each cutout is a scalloped-edge circle with a brass dome in between each one. It is a simple, yet intriguing design and is quite stunning. It measures about 6” end-to-end and is 1-1/2” wide. It can be bent to fit most any arm as copper is very malleable. It is in excellent vintage condition and will grace the arm of the buyer with great panache.
This Mexican silver brooch is designed with the Los Ballesteros influence and inlaid with abalone. It can either be worn as a pendant or a brooch, but either way, this magnificent piece was crafted with great ability and precision. The abalone is inlaid as a large background to another inlay of a silver symbol and another circle of abalone. The entire pendant is edged with a wide silver border. It is marked, "Eagle 3, MEXICO", and the maker's mark, "GVE". The rest of the markings are worn, but it looks like it did say, "Taxco, Gto." GVE is referred to in Bille Hougart’s, The Little Book Mexican Silver Trade and Hallmarks”. The Eagle stamp is an old style, so I'm dating it to the late '40's or '50's. It measures 2-1/4" diameter and has a slight convex curve to it. This piece was fabricated by cutting the base from silver sheet and shaping that by heating and forming with chasing tools. The abalone was set after the silver inlay and clasp and bail were soldered to make a very fascinating and premier piece of jewelry. It is a fine example of Mexican silver artistry and craftsmanship. It has tiny fissures in the abalone from age, but it is all intact. This lovely piece is in excellent vintage condition.
This vintage hand made brooch is a silver filigree design with a "foil" or "faux opal" bezel-set in the center. Foil opals are really multicolored foil embedded in glass that sparkles with different colors as do real opals. JoyMex items are becoming very hard to find and this one is a primo example of their work. The filagree is made by carefully bending fine silver wire and soldering to the back base piece. It also has tiny silver balls all around the edge at specific intervals in the scrolls. It is solid sterling silver and was produced circa 1930's in Mexico by JOYMEX. JOYMEX was a noted silversmith during that time and is listed on page 85 of Billie Hougart's book, The Little Book of Mexican Silver Trade and Hallmarks. It is marked, "JOYMEX Mexico", and has a partial symbol of their crown that is part of their hallmark. The brooch measures 1-5/8" wide and 1-1/4" tall. It is in excellent vintage condition. The clasp is intact and works perfectly. This is a very feminine and collectible piece.
This lavish copper bracelet is covered with gorgeous floral engraving. It is made up of five large links with three cabochon faux amber stones in the center of three links. In between the links are hinges with a ladder texture on each one. It is 8” inside diameter and each link is 2” tall. It is absolutely stunning and in great vintage condition, and the clasp works well. It is circa 1950’s.
Straight from the ‘50’s comes this intricately designed copper bracelet. It has 5 links, each with an “S” coil and silver teardrop shapes atop each one. The links are connected by textured wide, ribbed links and the closure is a typical box type that still works well. The bracelet is solid copper and sterling with copper plate on the closure. It is in good vintage shape for its age - no dings, but some scratches from wear as you would expect from a piece like this that someone wore often. It measures about 7” long with clasp closed and each curved link is 1-1/4” X 1-1/4”. It is quite shiny and is very attention-grabbing!
This handsome pendant and ornate hand-hammered chain are made of sparkling yellow brass. The chain is from my own collection, which I have had for 40 years. The pendant was cast and hand finished while the chain was formed by bending brass wire by hand and then flattening each link with a hammer. The chain is a lovely, lyrical design, and I believe from the middle east. The pendant is substantial and has a scalloped edge with an edge decorated by lines and tiny circles. The center has a convex spiral with a ground of floral embellishments with a dark patina overall. The pendant is 2-3/4” at its widest point and 2-1/4” tall, and the chain is 26” long. This is an distinctive and exotic pendant and chain that is fabulous find!
An uncommon style with certain panache is how I would describe the character of this eye-catching bracelet. The six panels host oval green onyx cabochons set with tiny twisted silver wire at the base of each one. Each of the links is embellished with six circles of silver and silver braided wire. While this is 800 silver, it has a great warmth and appeal. It is marked, “Hecho en Mexico, Guard, Jal”, and the artist’s initials “EGS”. Guad is Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco. I would estimate this to be early 1940’s with the lack of an Eagle assay mark. It measures a little over 7” wide wearable length X 1-1/4” wide. It is in very good vintage condition. This bracelet has a very tailored and fashionable look and would be a classical addition for any collector.
This is an extraordinarily beautiful cuff bracelet, crafted with impeccable artisan workmanship. The base is solid brass, with copper wire channel-set in perfect symmetry. It is marked with an "L", which is a mark I am unfamiliar with. This bracelet is one that is a real treasure in design and craftsmanship.
It measures 1-1/2" wide X 2" across the widest span.
This bracelet is so lavishly decorated that words are really lacking to describe it with justice. It is a true Art Nouveau period piece circa 1915-1920’s. Art Nouveau was an important, avant-garde movement that appeared at the turn of the 20th century whose principle was that nature rather than the ancient classicist should be the foundation of all art.
The entire surface of the bracelet is covered with opulent Art Nouveau patterns of flowers, flourishes, and in the center, a raised design of an iris. The craftsmanship on the bracelet is superb and it is still in great condition. It has a snap closure that works well and closes with a strong, “snap”. It measures 1-3/4” tall at the center of the front and tapers to ¾” the rest of the way around. It is approximately 7-1/4” inside circumference. It is an extraordinary bracelet and one that will steal the show. As with all antique and vintage jewelry, you must take care of it to preserve it as well as it has been thus far.