Catalog: Estate Jewelry (157)

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...

This sweet, quintessentially Victorian, pin consists of a navette-shaped border of rose gold surrounding an oval of yellow gold, which highlights a flower and two leaves of rose gold. Longer than usual, it tests as 10k, and is signed “A.J.C”. Measuring 1-3/4” x 3/8”, it weighs 3.2g. In overall good condition, but it could use a little cleaning up. This pin came out of an important household in Newport, RI as a gift to the family of my consignor. Circa 1890...

This beautiful ring has decorative scroll work on the shank; the center decoration is a horizontal row of seed pearls, with a red stone above and one below. One stone is badly chipped, and both are abraded. One of them might be a doublet, but otherwise we don’t know what they are, because of the abrasions, so assume glass - but we could be wrong. It is stamped 10K, and is approximately size 8. It could be sized. Circa 1900...

This brooch or pin is in the shape of a bow, made from blue and turquoise plique a jour (translucent) enamel with twisted wire work running through it. (The colors in the photographs may be deceptive, depending on your computer monitor). The enamel over the wire spirals is turquoise, and the rest is a medium blue. “Plique a jour” translates roughly as “light of day.” Measuring 1-1/4” x 7/8", it weighs 3.1g...

This brooch features an ancient Celtic design: two birds (probably swans) with enameled wings, bodies and eyes, with interlaced silver above and below. The enamel is in red, blue, green, and white. It is marked 925 for sterling silver, and has several other marks which are illegible. 1-1/2” X 1-1/4”. There are a couple places where the enamel isn’t quite perfect – please see photos...

This splendid Victorian brooch is an example of the Egyptian Revival style. It is silver gilt with a polychrome enamel winged pharaoh. The old style of the tube hinge and C clasp date it as prior to 1900. tube hing. It is marked 800 (for silver content) and has an indecipherable maker's mark. The pin is 1 1/4 " X 5/8". There is a small crack in the enamel of one feather. It is 19th century in age.

This interesting beetle stick pin harkens back to the Egyptian revivals (early 1800s, and then again in the 1920s). Perfect for your lapel, the beetle is in very good condition (the pin is slightly bent, as is usual with gold stick pins), and is set in unmarked but tested 14k rose gold. The beetle itself is 9/16” x 7/16” at the widest points, and is held firmly in place by 4 prongs. The whole thing is 2-3/4” long...

A very lovely Art Nouveau lavalier of 14k gold. The green stone is actually a garnet-glass doublet, and the graceful golden swirls are set with seed pearls. /the lavalier is 1 1/4" by 1" and it comes with a 16 1/2" chain (gold filled).

This lovely pin is 14 k gold. The very Victorian motif of hearts on a crescent is outlined in seed pearls. It is hallmarked but the mark is incomplete; the marks for Birmingham and England are present, along with an unidentified mark. There is no date stamp but the 2" wide pin appears to be circa 1890.

This classic Art Nouveau stick pin is centered by a round amethyst, birthstone for February. (Back in the day, amethysts were thought to prevent inebriation, as well as being a cure for headaches – there’s a theme here!). There is a seed pearl above and one below, all mounted in a (marked and tested) 14kt “whiplash” frame (the whiplash motif was very popular with Nouveau designers). Measuring 1/2” x 2-1/4" long, it weighs 1.5g. It has an illegible maker’s mark...

Here is a very Victorian brooch, featuring a cross, anchor, and heart, symbols of faith, hope and charity. The metal has very nice engraving. Unmarked, but made of a layer of gold on top of what looks like copper. The center of the heart is set with a seed pearl, possibly faux, and the cross is set with 11 tiny turquoise-colored cabs – they are too tiny for us to make a definite ID. It measures 1-3/16 x 7/8"...

This very Victorian grooming chatelaine is from the 1800s. It has a Chinese fish motif at the top, and dangling from that are 3 implements: a tweezers, one for cleaning nails, and an ear-cleaning device. (We saw a similar chatelaine on eBay, and the ear-cleaning implement was advertised as a device for opium users, but we don’t think so! However, as non-opium users, we could be wrong ….) It is unmarked but tests positive for silver, and with a patina consistent with age. It is lacking a belt...

This heavily engraved silver pin is from the estate of Helen Aman, who escaped from Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution to settle in California. It was one of the jewels she brought with her from her childhood. It consists of a bell (with a clapper – but it doesn’t actually make any noise) dangling from an angled bar. Marked 84 for 875 silver, it also has a partial city mark, which we believe is for Moscow (which would make sense, given her history). It measures 1-3/8” x 7/8", and is in...

This pretty and detailed pin might depict St. Catherine (patroness of young maidens and female scholars – we like her!). There is a wheel in the background (possibly a “Catherine Wheel,” but it could also just be a ship's wheel or a spinning wheel), and a flower in the foreground. Her clothing looks very Renaissance-era to us. Marked “SILVER” on the C-clasp, with an illegible maker’s mark, the metal tests as sterling, and she’s a dainty 7/8” in diameter. 2.5g. In excellent condit...

A pretty necklace to liven any outfit! The bright turquoise in this lovely lavalier would be a bright accent for any outfit. The turquoise is an oval cabochon, and it is surrounded by gold 'ribbons' set with seed pearls. The use of 9 ct gold suggests an English origin but it is not hallmarked. It is is signed with the maker's mark SB & SLD in rounded rectangular lozenges. The lavalier comes with a 16" gold filled chain and is 1 1/4" X 1". Circa 1900.

This pretty lavaliere is made of 10 k gold with an especially rich color. The oval gem is actually an amethyst look-alike--a garnet/glass doublet*and the dropper is a fresh water pearl. The pendant is 1 1/4" x 5/8" in size and is on a 16" gold filled chain. Circa 1900. *Check out the blog accompanying item #1416939 for more about garnet/glass doublets.

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...

This stickpin features a burnt orange or caramel-colored oval carnelian – yummy!. It is set in (stamped) 10kt gold and surrounded by an oval gold frame set with 4 seed pearls. The setting measures 13/16” x 1/2", and the whole thing is 2-3/8" long. Circa 1915. The pin has a little bit of a bend toward the top, typical of gold stick pins and not visible when it’s worn, of course. Otherwise in excellent antique condition. The photos are part of the description. Please look at them carefully. ...