Catalog: Estate Jewelry: Silver (46)

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.

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...

This one piece sterling silver buckle would be stunning on a black velvet sash! It was made by Unger Bros in the early 20th century. The ornamental design is a classic scroll and acanthus. The buckle is 4 1/4" x 2 1/2". Marks are 925 (sterling) and the Unger Bros markIt is in excellent condition.

Good things come in small packages. This charming pin is small but beautiful. It is made of 800 silver, enameled on both front and back, and centered with a square-cut peridot. The pin is 3/4" in diameter. Enamel is slightly worn on the front, but is in better condition on the back. There is a small chip in the stone...

This interesting fob is the setting for a sterling coin. It is a Prussian 2 Mark coin. On one side is the face of Friedrich (presumably) and his wife, a Maltese cross, and the words “FRIEDRICH * I * 1701 * WILHELM * II * 1901”; on the other side is an eagle with a crown above, and “DEUTSCHES REICH 1901 ZWEI MARK”. The rest is white metal. The swivel clasp has a mark, which looks like a plow. We haven’t been able to track it down...

This unusual enameled sterling pendant comes out of the Arts & Crafts movement, roughly 1880-1920 (it can be argued that it still continues!) The enamel colors are associated with the women’s suffrage movement in the UK: green (Give), white (Women the), and violet (Vote) – or at least, that’s the story! The free-standing wire work (so unusual!) interlaces around the body of the piece, and holds an oval of mother-of-pearl in place. Also unusual is the use of some brown enamel...

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...

This silver buckle is so perfectly Art Nouveau and so perfectly William B. Kerr. It is 5 1/4" wide and 1 5/8" high and bears these markings: PATENTED JUNE 25, 1901; STERLING; 1564; and the fasces [maker's mark for Kerr]. It is in excellent condition, and the patina of age has been left undisturbed. Circa 1900.

These fun collar tips feature an Art Nouveau-style design of a lady (or possibly a fairy?) in profile with flowers in her hair. She looks very serene. They are silver plated, and the mounts are made out of white metal. They are in good used condition, and we believe they’re vintage. Measuring 1-3/8” x 1-1/8”, they weigh 18.5g. The photos are part of the description; please examine them carefully. Thanks! Shipping, handling & insurance within the USA included.

Here is a coral garland (also referred to as “festoon” or “swag”) necklace, consisting of 8 coral cabuchons of graduated lengths and sizes. The three longest drops are on rigid bars. The coral is a lovely dark ox-blood red. Coral was believed to prevent bad luck, and to be an aid to meditation. The length is 15-1/4” (but it would be easy to get an extender if needed – we can help with that; just ask), and the decorated portion is 4-1/4” x 2-1/8” at the longest point...

This pretty pin features an oval purple cabochon, possibly amethyst, possibly glass (it’s hard to get a reading on this stone), centered between two hammered silver leaves (very A&C in style), all in a very Art Nouveau framework. Marked “DEPOS” (probably meant to be “DEPOSE”, which translates roughly as “patented”), it is probably from Germany. There are two illegible marks, one on the C-clasp, and one on the back. It tests as silver, measures 1-3/4” x 3/4", and weighs 4.4 g...

This elegant pin/pendant consists of an oval of onyx in a sterling frame. The bale tests as 14kt, the pin stem tests as 10k yellow gold In the center are inlaid gold stars, and along the periphery are inlaid flowers, most likely platinum. The frame is decorated with a silver twist, and a floral motif. It measures 1-15/16 x 1-5/8 inches, and weighs 25.9g. Circa 1880. There is some loss to a couple of the flowers, but it’s still a striking piece.

Natural Bohemian garnets are featured in this antique pin. Two round elements are made up of three tiers of rich red rose-cut garnets. Each garnet circle is surrounded by a row of tiny rose-cut garnets. Suspended from these elements are three droppers featuring more garnets, round and marquise in shape. These droppers add eye-catching motion to the piece when it is worn. All of the gems are beautifully prong set. The pin is unmarked but is silver and is 1 ¼” wide...

This serene lady is shown with lotuses or water lilies in her hair. (The lotus, a variety of water lily, has symbolized purity, enlightenment, and resurrection.) This lady is remarkably similar to a piece made by the Unger Bros., but marked only STERLING – and the stamp is reversed! We believe her to be a copy, but still made around 1900 – this seemed to have happened fairly frequently back in the “olden days.” She has the patina of age, a pin stem assembly which is correct for the turn ...

Recycling isn't a new idea! This charming pin was made with an Art Nouveau era button. The detail of the lady, the flowers, and the bow is wonderful. The pin is 1" X 1/2"; the button is 1/2" in diameter. Circa 1900.

This plique a jour pendant is centered with an oval white opal and accented with eight colorless brilliants. The dropper is a fresh water pearl. The translucent enamel is an unusual and lovely blue in color. Plique a jour, that unusual, difficult, and beautiful technique, dates from the 15th century. It was used by Cellini, then revived in the late 1800s in France. The metal frame in this lovely piece is 900 silver, suggesting that the piece is most likely German or Austrian in origin. Circa ...

The Charles Horner company of Halifax was renowned for beautiful silver and enamel Arts & Crafts jewelry. This moth pin is sterling silver with blue and turquoise enamel and is 1 3/4" wide. It is fully hallmarked, for Chester, England, 1908, and carries the Charles Horner maker's mark.

This sweet brooch depicts two adorable cupids, a boy and a girl, looking serene and loving. Their plique a jour (translucent enamel) wings are a pale purple or mauve color, nicely complimenting the 900 silver. The girl is wearing a tiny necklace of roses. The pin measures 1” x 1-3/4” and weighs 5.7g. The clasp might be a replacement, but the rest is all original, and the pin is in excellent antique condition. It is stamped “DEPOSE” (“patent or registration in France,” but other count...