Catalog (174)

This Art Nouveau stickpin is both simple and simply attractive. It dates from about 1900. The artful knot of 14 k gold holds a small pearl. The pin is ~3" long, and it comes with a clutch to prevent accidental stabbings. ☺

This lovely clothes brush has a sterling top patterned with the classic Art Nouveau Swirling tresses and flowers. The brush is marked F & B for the Theo. W. Foster & Bro. Company of Providence RI. This company was incorporated under that name in 1898 and was among the largest manufacturers of jewelry & sterling silver vanity goods in the Art Nouveau period. The brush is 5 ½" X ¾" and dates from 1900-1910.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, Victorian tastes and habits dominated, with subdued colors, mourning jewelry, and general strictness. The Arts & Crafts Movement reacted to this and gathered strength from a number of world events. Jewelry designers and crafters found inspiration in the Far East and the Victorian interest in mechanization gave them new techniques. The result was a burst of color and innovation. This lovely Arts & Crafts pin is hammered sterling silver with mau...

These beautiful sterling silver cufflinks are marked for Unger Bros and sterling. The flower-patterned ovals are linked by chain and are the epitome of Art Nouveau. One oval, darn it, is a plain replacement. Each oval is 7/8" x 3/4". Circa 1910.

This charming watch pin is a lovely example of Art Nouveau design. A central amethyst is flanked by seed pearls, all set in 14 k gold. The pin is 3/4 X 3/4" and carries the maker's mark L B A. Circa 1900.

An antique pin with a modern vibe. This charming Arts & Crafts is made of sterling silver that has been enameled in artfully shaded blue to chartreuse to look like the wings of a stylized moth. A mother-of-pearl oval centers the body, and there is a small faceted green 'stone' (possibly glass) at the head. The pin is 1 ½ by 3/4 inches in size, not including the small spherical dropper which is enameled in a rich blue. The pin is circa 1900.

Also an embarrassment, since two gemologists can't determine what the stone or the metal might be. However, this is a very beautiful Egyptian Revival piece which ought to be vintage (or even antique) The enigmatic yellow stone does not appear to be glass and the metal tests as 10 k gold, but by this time uncertainty rules! The pin is 2 5/8" overall, and the decorative head is 7/8", so it's large enough to make a statement on your lapel. We think it's circa 1900, but are not sure. There a...

This mixed-metal sash buckle’s design is composed of swirling flowers, leaves, and a bud. The silver plate shows some wear - yellow metal shows through at some of the high points. We believe the gold to be about 9kt, and it’s some type of plating. The buckle measures 3 x 2-1/2" and weighs in 47.5 grams. Unmarked. In overall very good condition, except for the few worn spots already mentioned; the gold might be a little worn in a few places too – it’s difficult to tell because of the text...

We believe this lovely (unmarked but tested) 10kt gold jewel is from a time when cannetille work was the vogue because gold was scarce: very fine gold wires twisted into thin strands and then formed into rosettes and other shapes. The amethyst is a delicate shade of purple, and weighs approximately 2.5 carats – it’s very deep. (Amethysts are said to bring calm, and help banish headaches.) The whole lavalier, including the bale, measures 1-1/2 x 9/16”. Two of the seed pearls are missing but...

This lovely garland or festoon necklace is from the Edwardian/Art Nouveau era. It is pictured in Vivienne Becker’s excellent book “Art Nouveau Jewelry” on page 185. She describes it as having “festoons of gold chain in the Edwardian manner, set with peridots, and decorated with shaded satin enamel, c. 1900.” It is unmarked, but tests as 14k gold. It is centered by an oval peridot, has an accent diamond and several small pearls, also a dropper ending with another oval peridot (birthston...

This elegant stickpin features a stylized flower design, based on a Japanese family crest. It is marked “k20” on the back, and tests as a very strong 20kt, so it might be finer. The flower head measures 1/2 x 7/8”, and the whole pin is 2-1/2” long. It weighs 2.4g. The pin is a little bent, not surprisingly given the high gold content (please see photos), and course that can’t be seen when it’s worn, and could easily be straightened. Otherwise in excellent condition. Circa 1900. Japan...

This intriguing (and slightly strange!) pair of pins is from the Art Nouveau era. They feature a woman’s face flanked by flowers, and her hair is greenish – just a little scary! We have been unable to determine what the metal is, so assume it’s not precious. They measure 1-1/4” x 1/2”. The pin stem assemblies are old, but they may be replacements. Circa 1900. The photos are part of the description; please examine carefully. Thanks! Shipping, handling & insurance within the USA included...

An image of a crowned queen graces the front of this antique locket. Her crown has a row of 7 tiny single-cut diamonds, and one slightly larger full-cut diamond at the top. Her hair cascades down to her shoulder, and gold disks hang from the crown. There is a tiny dent at about cheek bone height. The back has a monogram, perhaps an S, and has several little dents, which are highly exaggerated in the photos. The rose gold (it was very hard to photograph the color accurately) tests at about 12k. I...

This is a classic “cigar band” ring from around the turn of the last century, and moving into the Edwardian era, often called a “gypsy” ring, made from richly-colored 18kt yellow gold. The center stone is a diamond, the outer two stones are rubies. It has decorative scroll work on the shoulders. The hallmarks are for Chester, England, 1903, and there is an illegible maker’s mark. It weighs 4.0g, and is approximately size 5. The shank is a little off round, and it’s possible that it w...

This beautiful old miniature depicts a lovely lady, hand painted, in an asymmetrical frame set with seed pearls. It is a watch pin, meaning that there is a hook on the back (invisible from the front) for hanging a dainty watch or some other dangle – or not, if you don’t wish it. It measures 1-3/8 x 1-1/4”. It is unmarked, but has a French/Art Nouveau flavor, and tests 90-100% silver. I have done a little bit of gentle cleaning of the seed pearls and the silver, but the new owner might choo...

This sweet lady is made of 18kt (tested) yellow gold. Sprinkled with 8 tiny diamonds (the birthstone for April), and with her hair swept up into a bun with whispy tendrils of hair around her ears, she is so charming! She measures 1” x 1” at the widest points, and weighs 2.5g. The gold is a little worn at the high points, and we had the jump ring strengthened, as it was worn very thin – someone clearly loved this piece a lot! On the back, it looks as though a groove was made for testing the...

This dainty pin was made by Hermann & Speck, well-known jewelers of Pforzheim in Germany in the years around the turn of the last century. It is centered by a blue sapphire, and it has a pearl dangle. It is marked 333 for 8kt gold, but when we tested it, it held for 10k (this is not unusual; however we had never seen a mark for 8kt gold before! Very unusual!). It is also marked “Depose,” which roughly translates as “patent.” Measuring 1-7/16” x 1" including the pearl dangle, it weighs ...

This fascinating ring consists of strands of rose gold tied in a knot, and studded with gold spheres. One sphere is missing, which makes it interestingly asymmetrical. The decorated area measures 5/8 x 1/2” and the shank measures 3/16”. The ring has a maker’s mark (“J.M”), the anchor for Birmingham, the date mark for 1903-4, “9”, and “375”, however it tests as 10k (That is not unusual). It’s approximately size 7 (it could be sized), and weighs 5.2g. In places the gold looks y...