Catalog (525)

A charming piece composed of a sterling silver fish pendant on its original chain, this necklace exhibits the fine workmanship typical of mid-century Italian jewelry. The fish’s features are enhanced with cobalt and green enamel, and its tail moves on a hinge. All the pieces are riveted together, and the cable chain features flattened, oval links. The pendant and chain bear the Italian mark for sterling, registered Arezzo, dating 1944-1968. The pendant measures 2 inches long (including the bail) by 1½ inches wide; the chain measures 13 ¾ inches long when doubled. Weight: 24.1 grams total

A highly decorative piece in gilded sterling silver designed with a graceful movement, this starfish pin has a rich, textured look. It features yellow-green guilloche enamel with raised graduated disks running down each arm enameled in white. The entire piece is jag edged, and has a convex shape. It dates from the 1960s and bears the maker’s mark of Ivar T. Holth of Oslo. Please note that the first two images show the truest color. The pin measures 1 ¾ inches wide. Weight: 8.3 grams

This festive necklace is composed of large, faceted Bakelite beads interspersed with round one. The necklace has been restrung with a new yellow metal spring-ring clasp and jump ring, so is quite secure. The beads come in butterscotch, black, cherry, root beer, dark brown, orange and marbled green, to name a few shades. There is one round bead that appears to be Prystal. All beads definitively pass the Simichrome test except for the black. They are probably from the 1940s. The necklace measures 21 inches long; the large beads are ½ inch wide.

This dramatic necklace is composed of linked panels of various shapes, decorated with applied brass wirework and pink stone beads, possibly untreated tourmaline. The modified figure-eight chain is brass. It dates around 1960, and the design is often attributed to the Mexican jeweler Maya, although there is only a partial mark for Mexico on the back. The necklace measures approximately 18 ½ inches long; the pendant measures 6 ½ inches long by 2 3/4 inches wide.

These 1920s two-sided cuff links are nicely decorated, with molded circular centers reminiscent of engine-turned engraving and black enameled, eight-sided borders. They are marked sterling on the backs and the buttons are securely connected with soldered bridge links. Each measures ½ inch wide. Weight 5.6 grams

An elegant, early 20th-century pin decorated with tour á guilloché enamel within wire reserves. A mauve zigzag pattern borders a diamond-pattern white center bisected by silver wire and a band of mauve. Gold stars and flying birds are embedded around the edge and at each end. It has a strong pin stem that hooks into a hooded C-clasp. The back is marked sterling and ‘Genuine Cloisonne’; it bears the maker’s mark of Watson Co. of Attleboro, MA. The pin measues 2 inches long by 1 ¾ inches wide. Weight: 9.9 grams

Featuring a delicate, butterfly-like design, these earrings are unmarked except for a 925 sterling mark, but read Mexican in design. They measure 1 5/8 inches long by 1 inch wide. They are secured by kidney wires with hooks and are worn perpendicular to the ear. Weight: 5.8 grams total

These oval undecorated sterling cuff links feature undecorated convex centers and recessed edges. They bear the mark of Link & Angell, a premier cuff link maker in Newark, NJ; they date c. 1910. The cuff links are of a good quality with securely soldered bridge links. Each button measures ¾ inch long by ½ inch wide. Weight: 6.7grams total

An enameled violin is suspended from an enameled treble clef, both enhanced with marcasite. The clef bears a rollover clasp on the back, and the violin is marked Germany/sterling silver. When worn with the clef at a slight angle, the 1960s pin measures approximately 2 inches long by ¾ inch wide at the violin. Weight: 5.2 grams

Featuring a clean impressed linear decoration enhanced with oxidation, this unmarked bangle looks to have been inspired by Mexican or Native American design of the U.S. Southwest. It has a graduated width and interesting, irregular-shaped terminals. There is a little bit of give in the fit, but the bracelet is quite strong and has retained its shape. It tests definitively for sterling silver. The bangle has an inner circumference of just under 8 inches and measures 2 3/8 inches across the opening. The width ranges from 1/4 inch to just over 3/4 inch at the terminals. Weight: 47.1 grams

These petite earrings feature central disks of faux turquoise set in pinwheel-like frames, reminiscent of southwest U.S. or Mexican design. They have working screw backs and can be easily converted to posts. The screws are marked sterling with a capital F in circle, possibly for George H. Fuller & Son, Pawtucket, RI. (The mark may apply to the fittings only.) They measure ½ inch in diameter.

This pin is a late 20th century rendition of a traditional Russian balalaika composed of sterling silver strings and fittings on a triangular piece of amber. The neck has a layer of what looks like pressed wood to serve as the fingerboard. There is a mark for sterling on the back of the frame and what are probably the maker’s initials of SP; the Polish mark for sterling, 1986 to the present, is on the pin stem. There is a small flake to the back of one corner of the amber body that is visible with a loupe. The pin measures, approximately 2 ½ inches long by 1 inch wide.

These unmarked Mexican earrings feature lacy wirework on a half-moon-shaped frame. They test strongly for silver and sit perpendicular to the ear. They date from the 1950s and are secured by kidney wires with hooks. They measure 1 3/8 inches long by ¾ inch wide. Weight: 7 grams total

These cuff links are formed as gnarled bark, and appear to have a surface of light copper luster. They bear the mark of Pentti Sarpeneva of Finland (1925-1973), who worked primarily in bold designs during the 1950s and 1960s. The cuff links are securely hinged and measure 1 inch long by ½ inch wide.

Reminiscent of machine-age design, these mid-century silver cuff links are composed of applied semi-circular bars spanning the width of a flat, rectangular bar. The anchor bars are flat, plain panels with hinges. They are marked 830, with the maker’s mark of Eiler & MarlØe of Copenhagen (1920-1967). They measure 1 inch long by a little over ¼ inch wide at the areas where the curved bars are attached. Total weight: 18 grams

This twisted enamel bangle of sterling silver resembles the work of Canadian metalsmiths such as Guy Vidal and John Larin, who produced highly textured designs during the late 1960s and 1970s. This bangle features a ribbed surface on both sides, with alternating pockets of burnt orange and dark maroon enamels, with one pocket left undecorated — possibly for stamping what looks like a mark of some kind on the reverse. (The metal tests definitively for sterling.) There is a tiny flaw in the metal of one pocket; the enamel is in lovely condition around the entire bangle. The bangle’s interior circumference measures about 7 ¼ inches; the inner diameter is about 2 ¼ inches.

This disc pin features a large faceted citrine in a bold prong setting. The stone has a light yellow-brown tinge and shows no signs of damage or wear. It is quite secure in its mount. The disc has a warm patina from age; the piece dates conservatively 1960-1970. The back has a secure rollover clasp and bears the marks for Mexican silver (eagle 42, circular 925 Sterling) as well as the maker’s mark for Los Ballesteros. There appears to have been a pendant bale or hook that has been removed. The pin measures 1 5/8 inches in diameter.

A stylized geometric openwork design characterizes this handmade bronze ring, made around 1965-1970. The band is adjustable, and bears the unidentified maker’s mark of P.N., in addition to the Finland mark. The tiny bumps of metal on the edges are from the casting process. The top measures 1 ¼ inches long by 1 inch wide; the band is currently sized at approximately a 7.