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Vintage 1950s Aurora Borealis Festoon-Style Necklace

Caroline — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:21:12 +0000

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This is an unusually dainty – by 1950s standards – vintage necklace, set with a multitude of tiny aurora borealis rhinestones. It has a festoon-style design of five “loops” flanked by simple runs of rhinestones connecting to a fancy paper-clip style chain. Altogether there are fifteen sections in the front, so the necklace has plenty of flexibility and comfort.

The aurora borealis rhinestones are primarily blue-green, and just 3 mm in diameter. They are set in cups with milllegrain-effect rims and despite their quantity and tiny size, are securely prong-set, not glued. The setting and chain are silvertone and from the lack of wear, probably rhodium plated.

Size: Overall length is 42.5 cm (16.75″) of which half is set with rhinestones. The largest festoon at the centre is just over 3 cm high (1.25″).

Marks: None

Condition: Excellent vintage condition, with no missing stones or damage. Goldtone is visible on the clasp but there are no signs of wear on the chain or setting.

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Antique Victorian Silver Mourning Brooch with Compartment

Caroline — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:29:52 +0000

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Description

This is a striking British late-Victorian (Aesthetic-era) sterling silver mourning brooch, dating to about 1880. It has a “target” design of a central dome surrounded by bead and pestle shapes, with rope-style trims.

The back is gently domed, rising up to a glass window lined with a small piece of black fabric. The window is held in place by two small spurs of metal and opens by being eased out, revealing a small compartment for a memento. At first glance, the compartment appears to be lined with a white clay material but it is actually very pale metal, possibly untarnished silver.

The brooch is fitted with a period tube hinge, extended pin stem and sturdy c-clasp. The pin stem and window frame are a gold colour, most likely a base metal.

Dimensions/Weight

3 cm (1.2″) in diameter. Weight is 10 grams (035 oz).

Marks

There is a scratch mark resembling “VI” inside the compartment, but otherwise it is not marked – not unusual for Victorian jewellery.

Condition

It is in good to very good antique condition for a dimensional brooch of this age with only some slight (not deforming) dimpling to the centre dome, and a small ding at the outer end of two of the pestles. In my opinion, these do not spoil the look of the brooch, especially as it is very reflective. (Any other apparent dings are tricks of the light.)

Vintage WHITING & DAVIS Victorian Revival Bracelet & Earrings, 1950s

Caroline — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:19:20 +0000

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This is a wonderful silvertone bracelet and earrings set, unsigned but easily attributed to Whiting & Davis: the bracelet is one of their best known “Victorian Revival” designs of the 1950s, with a repoussé design of leaves and mesh-textured pineapples. The underlying cuff is embellished with Victorian-style “engraving”, barely noticeable except near the clasp. It’s a big bracelet in every sense - thick, wide and heavy, weighing a full 80 grams (almost 3 ounces). It is fitted with a sturdy full-width hinge, slide-in clasp and safety chain.

The earrings are screwbacks with a repoussé leaf design which is a “good marriage” rather than an exact match to the bracelet. Like the bracelet, there are signed as well as unsigned versions of these earrings – in this case, they are unsigned. They were packed with the bracelet, suggesting they were purchased together as a set.

Size: The bracelet is 3.2 cm wide and almost 1 cm thick (1.3″ by 0.4″). It is suitable for a medium or smaller wrist with the interior measuring 6 cm by 5.5 cm (2.4″ by 2.2″). The earrings are 3 cm (1.2″) in each direction.

Marks: Unsigned – probably sold with the Whiting & Davis hang tag/display card.

Condition: Both the bracelet and earrings are in virtually mint condition, rarely if ever worn. The screwbacks are in good working order and the bracelet clasp snaps firmly shut.

Gallery

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Vintage 1940s Victorian Revival 4″ Fob Brooch

Caroline — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:47:52 +0000

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Description

This is a fun (but not so little) vintage brooch from the 1940s, in the Victorian Revival style. It has a long and flexible fob section of linked “engraved” bars suspended from a top bar set with a red rhinestone. Additional movement is provided by a drop suspended from a starburst riveted to the fob, set with an aqua-coloured rhinestone. The metal is a warm gold tone and the brooch is fitted with a rollover safety clasp.

Dimensions

The top bar is 3.7 cms wide, the bottom is 2 cms wide and the total height is 11 cms. (1.25″ and 7/8″ wide by 4.25″ high)

Marks

No maker’s or other marks.

Condition

This brooch is in very good vintage condition. There is slight discolouration to the top rung of the fob but otherwise the goldtone is in excellent condition. The clasp hardware swivels slightly, as it is riveted on at the centre only, but holds securely.

Antique William B. Kerr Gilded Sterling Silver Griffin Brooch

Caroline — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:39:17 +0000

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This is an unusual and rare antique gilded silver griffin brooch by William B. Kerr, better known for floral and maiden designs.

The griffin was a popular late-Victorian motif, suggesting this is an early (1880-1890) Kerr brooch.

The detailing is wonderful – textural and intricate – from the horned back to the tiny scales on the griffin’s curling tail, and gnarly talons. As you can see, the brooch has not been cleaned for some time but despite this, the raised areas have remained bright and gold – evidently gilded. The brooch is fitted with a simple hinge, c-clasp and extended pin stem typical of the period.

Dimensions/Weight

The brooch is quite small – 2.5 cm (1″) wide and 3.5 cm (1 3/8″) high – a typical size for the period.

Marks

A cartouche on the reverse is stamped with the William B. Kerr maker’s mark of an axe with cross-marked handle, “STERLING” and the design number “162“.

Condition

Excellent antique condition with heavy tarnish but no damage of any kind.
The pin stem rises up to about a 45 degree angle only – presumably made this way – and remains secure in the c-clasp.

Vintage 1930s Sterling Silver & Marcasite Rocking Horse Brooch

Caroline — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:39:34 +0000

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Description

This is a wonderful little 1930s vintage rocking horse brooch in sterling silver and marcasite. It is cleverly designed to create a 3D effect – the horse’s body is slightly domed and one rocker seems to be “behind” the other. Although small – just 3 cm (1.2″) wide – it has nice details. including saddle and harness straps and a textured mane and tail, with a red rhinestone eye adding a pop of colour. The marcasites are neatly set and the rockers are edged with millegrain – overall a finely-made piece of jewellery with plenty of sparkle, difficult to capture in photos.

It is fitted with a barrel-shaped rollover safety clasp and from the workmanship and 925 mark (on a brooch of this age), it was most likely made in Germany.

Dimensions

3 cm at widest and 2.5 cm high. (1.2″ x 1″)

Marks

Stamped “925” on the bottom rocker. No maker’s marks.

Condition

This brooch is in excellent vintage condition with no missing marcasites.

Large Vintage 1950s Rhinestone ‘Artichoke’ Brooch

Caroline — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:37:07 +0000

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This is a large and unusual 1950s vintage brooch featuring two leaf shapes with the look and texture of elongated artichokes. The texture of the ‘artichokes’ is created by deep layers of overlapping navette-cut rhinestones, in cognac and olive green. They are trimmed with small amber-cloloured rounds which continue down the stems to a dainty pair of leaves, set with matching navettes.

The rhinestones are very securely prong-set and the setting is goldtone, fitted with a secure rollover safety clasp. From the position of the pin stem, the brooch would usually be worn horizontally (as above) but it sits well worn vertically too. Surprisingly for a brooch of this quality, it is not marked or signed at all.

Dimensions: 8.5 cm wide x 5 cm high (3.3″ x 2″)

Marks: None

Condition: Excellent vintage condition. A few amber rounds have darkened somewhat but otherwise, the rhinestones are bright and undamaged, with no chips to the ends of the navettes. The goldtone is in virtually mint condition.

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Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Bow & Buckle Brooch

Caroline — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:49:20 +0000

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Description

This is a late-Victorian (Aesthetic era) brooch of British origin, dating to about 1880, featuring a buckle and bow in sterling silver. It is a sentimental piece – the bow represents love and eternity; the buckle represents loyalty, strength and protection.

The ribbon appears to thread through the buckle but the buckle is actually wired onto the ribbon. It also has a lip around the edges that makes the brooch look thicker and more solid than it really is. It is fitted with a tube hinge, sturdy c-clasp and extended pin stem typical of Victorian brooches.

Dimensions/Weight

5 cm (2″) wide by 3.2 cm (1.25″) high. Weight is 7 grams (0.24 oz).

Marks

Not hallmarked – common with Victorian Jewellery – but guaranteed sterling silver.

Condition

This brooch is in good to very good antique condition with a couple of contact scratches on the top right ribbon and a pin-head sized hole in the lipped edge, but no other issues. It has not been cleaned.

Vintage 1950s WEISS Moonstone & Aurora Borealis Brooch

Caroline — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:05:20 +0000

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This is a large, dimensional vintage brooch by Weiss, dating to the 1950s, featuring a base of marquise-shaped cabochon ‘moonstones’ surmounted by a tier of large and small aurora borealis rhinestones.

The moonstones are a deep French blue and the aurora borealis stones sparkle in a multitude of pastel and jewel tones. The overall shape is triangular with the pin positioned so that the brooch displays point down, as above. The layers are connected by hook-and-eye and the metal is silvertone, fitted with a secure rollover safety clasp.

Marks: Signed “WEISS” on a cartouche affixed to the back.

Dimensions: 5.3 cm wide x 4.8 cm high (2.1″ x 1.9″).

Condition: Very good vintage condition, with no damage or missing stones.

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Vintage Art Deco Galalith & Chrome Sceptre Brooch

Caroline — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:59:33 +0000

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Description

This is a classic vintage “zig Zag Moderne” Art Deco brooch dating to the late 1920s, with a sceptre or baton design. The rod of the sceptre is filled with rounded lengths of red and black Galalith secured by angled folds of metal, creating a zig-zag effect. The “jewel” at the top is a red plastic diamond, faceted and prong set. The setting is chrome-plated base metal, fitted with a simple safety-pin type clasp.

Dimensions

0.5 cm (3/16″) wide at the rod, 1 cm (3/8″) wide at the top. Overall length is 7 cm (2.75″).

Marks

There is a hand-scratched mark of “500/58” on the back, possibly a design or inventory number, but no other marks.

Condition

This vintage Art Deco brooch is in good vintage condition. The chrome plating has just a slight shade of darkening on the top prongs and some wear on the clasp. The only issue is a small blurry dark spot in the top diamond which is ingrained in the plastic, not damage, and is more noticeable in the pictures than it really is.