Catalog: Estate Jewelry: Silver (346)

A nice quality pin with a graceful design, set with a dyed blue chalcedony. It is American, with a maker’s mark of conjoined JM for Joseph Masaniello, a New York jewelry artisan who worked during the 1940s and 1950s, and was a friend and contemporary of Carl Ruopoli. The pin is formed as stylized calla lilies and leaves, with vine-like curls. It’s a substantial piece and measures 2 3/4 inches long by 1 1/8 inches wide. Gross weight: 15.8 grams

This lovely pin has hand-applied calla lilies and leaves on a shaped flat panel, with lovely detail and nicely aged patina. The safety clasp is secure, and the pin is marked sterling on the back. It measures 1 3/4 inches long by nearly 1 inch at its widest part.

This bracelet is constructed of six hinged panels designed as leaves and berries, with a fold-over hook clasp. It is marked on the back of the clasp with the Mexican maker’s mark of ETD, which is unidentified. It has a nice warm patina, and two of the berries have very minor impact marks. The bracelet measures 7 1/4 inches long by 3/4 inch wide. Weight: 34.4 grams

Formed in the shape of coral-like branches and set with what appears to be a gray pearl, this delicate sterling silver pin was made by Otto Robert Bade of New Hope, PA. Bade was a prominent designer for Francisco Rebajes, and purchased the company in 1958 from. Bade renamed the firm Orb, which ended production in 1971. The pin is marked ‘Orb’ on the reverse and is secured with a safety clasp. It measures 2 inches long by 1 1/4 inches wide.

Here is a nicely designed, solid pair of Mexican sterling silver earrings. They are decorated with balls and curls around center squares, defined by a subtle patina. They are marked sterling, but bear no maker’s mark; the clip backs are in good working order. They measure about 1 inch square.

Decorated with applied grapes, vines and gold leaves, set with an amethyst, this arts and crafts cross pendant is probably English and reminiscent of the work of Henry George Murphy, though it is unsigned. The gold is of a low (probably 10) karat. The cross is suspended from a later sterling chain. It measures 3 inches long by 2 3/8 inches wide; length including chain is about 14 1/2 inches. Gross weight: 22.4 grams

This Victorian sterling silver hinged bangle bracelet has hallmarks for Birmingham, 1884, and the unidentified maker’s mark of RJD. It is richly decorated with an applied embossed band of tiny starbursts within ovals, rimmed with delicate openwork. There is some roughness at the clasp, but it is secure and the pieces of the bracelet fit together nicely with a strong click. There is a shallow area of impact on the back near the clasp that is very hard to notice, as well as some scratches that contribute to the softened patina. Interior circumference is about 6 3/4 inches, and diameter is 2 1/4 inches; the bangle width is 3/4 inch. Gross weight: 24.6 grams

This delicate and detailed sterling silver gilt and fresh water pearl pin was made by the Newark, N.J., firm of Link & Angell, c. 1910. It is in the form of a maple tree seed and pods, and is beautifully and realistically formed down to the veins in the seedpods. The pin measures 1 5/8 inches long by 3/4 inch from the tip of the pod to the curve of the stem. It is stamped on the back with the L&A mark and ‘sterling.’ It has a modified C-clasp indicative of the early 20th century. Condition is excellent; there are no breaks to the silver, and no repairs. The pearl is very secure, and the clasp is in good working order.

These earrings have a crafts-like and substantial feel, composed of applied sterling flowers, leaves and vines on a sterling silver backing. The clip backs are very secure; the earring backs bear what looks like a partial C, possibly for Cini. They measure 1 inch by 3/4 inch. Weight: 8.1 grams total

Here is a substantial 1970s handmade ring composed of a hammered disc mounted on a thick band. It is marked 925; there is no maker’s mark. The disc measures 1 inch in diameter; the ring size is about 8 1/4; the band is adjustable.

This substantial 1950s sterling silver pin is formed as molded leaves, with applied flowers and a vine at the base. It was made by the Bauring Company of Long Island City, NY, and is so marked on the back. There is a secure safety clasp. The piece measures 3 1/4 inches long by 2 1/8 inches wide.

Delicate, leafy openwork distinguishes the sterling silver frame of this 1950s pin. It is set with a chrysoprase disk that has a transluscent ‘cobblestone’ pattern when held to the light. The back is marked sterling, and has a secure rollover safety clasp. The stone is in lovely condition; the pin looks to have been hardly worn. Total diameter is 1 3/8 inches.

This handmade sterling silver stylized oak leaf has an arts and crafts feel. It has incised ‘veins’ and applied branchlike stems. On the back is a safety clasp and a mark for sterling. It measures 3 1/2 inches long by 2 1/4 inches wide.

A sturdily cast piece, this leaf pin is formed as seven fronds with incised veins that are enhanced by oxidation. It has a safety clasp and is marked sterling on the back. It measures 3 inches by 2 1/2 inches at its widest part.

These sterling silver minimalist earrings are formed as abstract triangles, each with an undecorated surface. They have a nice patina from age, and look to have been hardly worn; dating is the 1960s. They have working clip backs, and the mark of Brdr. Bjørklund, Copenhagen, on the back. They measure 1 1/4 at the longest point, and a little over 3/4 inch at their widest point. Weight:10.9 grams total

This colorful bracelet is made of various Scottish chalcedonies set in sterling silver bezel mountings, for a total of seven panels. Each panel features four raised pieces of bloodstone set in individual mounts; the centers are set with a pointed and faceted piece of chalcedony in shades of red, white, brown, and blue-gray. All pieces of chalcedony are intact, with no loss; the backs exhibit only very minor scratches in the silver. The bracelet links are secure, as is the tongue-and-groove clasp. There are no marks. The bracelet measures 7 1/2 inches long (clasp not included) and 3/4 inch wide.

This bracelet is made of six linked stylized flowers alternating with bars decorated with incised circular elements. The flower 'petals' are actually formed as coffee beans. The box clasp is secure, as are the connections between each flower. There is an Iguala/Mexico/925diamond-shaped mark on the back of the clasp with the unidentified maker’s initials, which look like EHP but may actually be EMB according to the third edition of Bille Hougart's book of Mexican maker's marks. The center beads of each coffee-bean element show some wear; there is a nice, soft patina of some 50 years. The bracelet measures nearly 8 inches long and 5/8 inch wide. Weight: 20 grams

Here is a nice Norwegian pendant from David-Andersen in a stylized spade shape, decorated with a pattern of impressed and textured half-circles. According to an internet source, it was designed by Toril Bjorg for David-Andersen in 1977. It is well marked on the back, and measures 2 inches long by 1 1/4 inches at its widest part. Weight: 15.4 grams