Catalog: Estate Jewelry: Silver (342)

Large handmade modernist sterling and rose quartz pin by Sam Kramer, the famous NYC silversmith, c.1948. As usual, one can turn the pin in several directions trying to find the "correct" position - is it a fish wriggling through the water, or a profile with a pony tail, or should we not ask these questions? This large and dimensional piece, measures 3" long by 2 1/4" wide. It curves up and down and has a center oval rose quartz bezel set stone...

RARE LARGE silver and turquoise necklace by MURRLE, BENNETT & CO., England, c.1901. The pendant measures 2 3/8" long by 1 1/4" wide. The entire necklace is 11" long. Signed "MBCO(stylized) 950", it is in excellent condition.......$25 for insured US shipping.

RARE LARGE period arts & crafts brooch of silver with six cabochon garnets set around an enamel portrait of a nude woman figure holding a bird. It measures 5" long by 2 7/8" wide with raised enamel portrait. Excellent condition....$25 for insured US shipping.

Very interesting and gutsy sterling handmade pin by the famous modernist, Sam Kramer(1913-1964), c.1950. Unique and dimensional, it has an applied silver design atop a round disk. Signed "STERLING mushroom mark", it is in excellent condition. Of generous size and very heavy gauge silver, it measures 2" in diameter and 1/2" high. Never seen the above or the other pieces from this collection(see item # 69130). Very strong design!....$27 for insured USA shipping plus applicable NY sales tax.

RARE OFFERING:Copper and brass "CROWN OF THORNS" necklace by Art Smith, NYC modernist, c.1960. Necklace shows a contrast of metals and sizes. The base is a copper neck ring from which brass sticks and balls jut out at various lengths. The copper neck ring is made of 6 hinged moveable sections. Although unsigned, this necklace has been verified as made by Art Smith. A more complicated version appears in Messengers of Modernism on page 94 and on the cover...

EXTREMELY RARE: Large and very substantial(weighs 20 troy oz.) sterling OPEN serving bowl hand made by William Spratling, Mexico, c.1931. Beautifully hand hammered, this piece measures 11" by 7" by 2 1/2" high. It has a rounded bottom and sides with beautiful handles. The sides are rounded inward and will not accept a top. It is complete and was made to be an open bowl and not a casserole dish. Marked "WS 925 MEXICO" and is in excellent condition.......$30 for insured US shipping.

Group of 6 in a study of hand-signed, in script, mixed metal brooches and/or pendants by the late MARCI ZELAMNOFF and from her estate. They are presented separately and made between 1979-1980. Each is one of a kind and are presented in chronological order. Born in 1942 in Philadelphia, she attended the Rhode Island School of Design and studied with Brent Kingston and Olaf Skoogers. She was a painter, sculptor, and silversmith...

STUDY of 6 signed hand made one of a kind brooches and/or pendants by the estate of MARCI ZELMANOFF, US modernist artist who worked in various arts, including jewelry. Each is signed and made of silver, brass, and copper. All in excellent condition except for some wear marks in the background copper. Presented here are # 4-5-6 chronologically...

Large 14k and sterling Gemini astrological pin showing an applied dancing man and woman with fourteen 14k applied stars. This large domed pin measures 2 1/4" in diameter and is made of heavy gauge silver. It is signed "TN(stylized) STERLING", and is in excellent condition......$9 for insured USA shipping & applicable NY tax.

French 800 silver pin with lovely front and back designs. The front shows a beautiful dimensional woman that says "MIREILLE" on the left and "F.GILBAULT LC(maker)" on the right. The back has a floral design and "LC". It is signed "LC with anchor in a lozenge(maker) and boar's head" (mark for 800 silver) on the lock. It measures 1" and is of good weight. Very beautiful....$8 USA insured shipping plus applicable NY sales tax.

Classic William Spratling famous "Petate" sterling pin, Mexico, c.1945. The mysterious "petate" is one of the most compelling designs ever conceived. It is signed "SPRATLING SILVER & WS (around which says)SPRATLING MADE IN MEXICO". Made of very heavy gauge silver, it measures just shy of 3" by 2 1/2". Excellent condition with a bit of silver solder on the back. A must for the Spratling collector and anyone who appreciates great design...

BEST River of Life silver cuff by WILLIAM SPRATLING, Mexico, c.1947. Very large and heavy, it measures just under 2" WIDE and weighs 6 troy oz(120 gms). Measures 6" inside circumference with 1 1/2/ space. Great patina and in excellent condition......$25 for US insured shipping.

Picasso-style sterling face ring by BILL TENDLER, c.1950's. Features are applied shiny silver on oval oxydized face with shiny silver outline. Features and outline stand out over lower face. Measures 7/8" long by 11/16" wide and is size 6. Band measures 1/4" wide. Excellent condition.......$12 for insured USA shipping. NYS residents pay sales tax.

Arts & crafts handmade period silver and moonstones dagger pin, c.1910. Quite LARGE and made of very heavy gauge silver, it measures 4" LONG and the dagger can be removed from the sheath. The silver work is very decorative and intricate. The sheath and the dagger each have pin backs and be worn open(in two pieces) or closed(as one). Very striking and in excellent condition....$9 USA insured shipping plus applicable NY sales tax.

The "WAVY BOW" pin is one of the rarest and LARGEST sterling pins by the famous designer William Spratling, Mexico, c.1940. This glorious HANDMADE` piece of art measures 6 1/2" by 2 7/8" and is signed "SPRATLING SILVER(in oval) WS(in circle-around which says) SPRATLING MADE IN MEXICO". The design is a stylized generous dotted bow looping around with 7 buttercup flowers peeking through the bow. Photographed on page 122 in "WILLIAM SPRATLING AND THE MEXICAN SILVER RENAISSANCE"...

Rare sterling modernist choker necklace by Sigi, c.1952. Extremely heavy, it weighs 5 troy oz(150 gms)and is in excellent condition. The concave necklace houses graduated dimensional silver balls going around the entire piece. Sigi opened his PLATEROS shop in 1952, and one rarely sees the PLATEROS mark. The necklace is signed "PLATEROS TAXCO MEXICO STERLING #17 bellmark-can't read". The choker measures 14" around and is for a small neck...

Hand made modernist sterling and robin's egg blue(front) and white(back) enamel screw back earrings by Willett, c.1950's. They measure 3/4" square and are each signed "WILLETT STERLING" and are in fair condition, with some enamel missing et the edges.....$6 for insured USA shipping & appicable NY tax.

Fabulous, large, hand made Picasso-esque double profile face ring by Joseph Gourdji, NYC, c.1970's. Made of heavy gauge silver, the design shows two faces in profile. Quite large, it measures 1 1/8" tall. It is made so that the design faces out, so that it is size 9 1/4 at the top of the faces and size 8 3/4 at the bottom of the faces. However, if you want to wear it so that it faces towards the wearer, it is size 8 3/4-9. In excellent condition and is signed "GOURDJI STERLING"...