This is a large and super-chunky silvertone cuff bracelet and earrings set, unsigned but easily attributed to Whiting & Davis – there are signed as well as unsigned versions of the same bracelet and earrings, part of a “Victorian Revival” collection produced in the 1950s. This particular bracelet is one of the better-known designs with scalloped leaves and mesh-textured pineapples. The underlying cuff is textured with Victorian-style faux engraving, barely noticeable except where it peeps out near the clasp. It has a sturdy full-width hinge, tongue-and-groove clasp and safety chain, and is thick and heavy weighing a full 80 grams – almost 3 ounces.

The earrings have a dimensional acanthus leaf design and screwback fittings. They are not an exact match to the bracelet but were found in the same box in identical condition, suggesting they were purchased as a set.

Size: The bracelet is 3.2 cm(1.3″) wide and almost 1 cm (0.4″) thick in places. It is suitable for a medium to small-sized 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 paper 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.

Mouseover main image for fullscreen button

This is a very pretty vintage 1930s Art Deco pendant of sparkling glass rainbow crystals in a rhodium or chrome plated setting – classic Art Deco era materials. The crystals are striped pink and blue with faint hints of green noticed through the loupe but barely visible to the naked eye, set in a simple cluster of a raised centre stone surrounded by eight smaller crystals. The back of the cluster is decorative too, covered with a pronged metal disk embossed with a floral motif.

The cluster is suspended from a single open-backed crystal strung on a fine chain of twinkling flat square links. The chain is also chrome or rhodium plated and almost certainly original to the necklace – it is typical of the era and not detachable fron the pendant except by opening the jump ring. Like most rainbow crystal jewellery, this vintage pendant was probably made in Germany but it is not marked at all.

Size: Pendant is 2.6 cm high, including jump ring, by 1.3 cm wide (1″ x 0.5″); chain is 44.5 cm long (17.5″)

Marks: None

Condition: This vintage pendant is in excellent condition. There is a touch of wear on the bolt ring clasp but no wear at all to the setting or chain, suggesting they are rhodium rather than chrome plated. Crystals are all present and undamaged.

Mouseover main image to reveal fullscreen button

This is a wonderfully versatile “Egyptian Revival” scarab pendant – just small enough that it can be worn as a sizeable charm or pendant, and reversible with a design on each side. The front has a gently-domed scarab design which on closer inspection is actually made up of two cartouche flanked by cobras, with the eyes set in a lotus flower. The back of the pendant is concave and filled with four columns of genuine (rather than “artistic”) Egyptian hieroglyphs matching hieroglyphs from Tutankhamun’s cartouche.

The scarab has an “authentic” rather than purely-decorative look and the silver has a beautiful patina, suggesting it dates to the late 1920s or early 1930s – a few years after Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered in 1923. From the marks it is also genuinely Egyptian, made from a lower grade of silver than 925 (sterling). It has not been tested but colour and patina suggest it is 900 purity silver. Though fairly small it is thick and heavy.

Size: 1.9 cm high and 1.4 cm wide (0.75″ by 0.6″) not including the fixed ring.

Weight: 5 grams (0.18 oz).

Marks: Stamped on the fixed ring with a tiny assay mark which appears to be the pre-1946 Egyptian assay mark, used on 700, 800 and 900 purity silver. I belive this pendant is 900 purity, and certainly no less than 800 purity.

This is a pretty example of Italian filigree work – a light and lacy vintage butterfly brooch in 800 purity silver (a common Italian silver standard) with crisp silver wires and contrasting vermeil on the body and wing tips. There is also a slight wash of pink on the centre and lower wing segments. It has a “corkscrew” textured body, ball-tipped antenna and lots of dimension with the top wings set well above the lower.

Although it looks quite fragile, it is actually quite thick and rigid (see side view below). The back of the brooch is entirely vermeil, fitted with a secure rollover safety clasp. From the style and marks, it dates to the 1950s or early 1960s.

Size: 3 cm wide x 1.8 cm high x (1.2″ x 0.7″)

Marks: “800” for the Italian silver standard of 800/1000, with an indistinct maker’s/city mark.

Condition: Excellent vintage condition.

Mouseover main image for full screen button

Description

This is a quirky American Arts and Crafts brooch of brass and faux verdigris, dating to about 1915. It has a simple acid-etched abstract design and appears to have been gilded with a brighter metal, followed by an application of faux verdigris. The whole has then been rubbed down to achieve a “distressed” or rustic appearance.

Overall, it is very similar to the simplest Forest Craft Guild brooches, often finished with an “antiqued forest green” – and often considered too basic – but it is not signed. It is fitted with a simple c-clasp.

Dimensions

6 cm wide by 4 cm high (2.4″ by 1.6″).

Marks

None

Condition

The style of the brooch makes it deliberately “flawed” but I would say it is in close to original condition, which most likely included the mottling and discolouration visible on the back.

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.)

]]> http://www.catminter.com/antique-aesthetic-victorian-silver-mourning-brooch/feed 0 http://www.catminter.com/vintage-1950s-amber-aurora-borealis-filigree-necklace http://www.catminter.com/vintage-1950s-amber-aurora-borealis-filigree-necklace#comments Sun, 25 Dec 2011 05:00:39 +0000 Caroline http://www.catminter.com/?p=4839

A vintage necklace providing a touch of 1950s glitz in a single strand of amber-coloured aurora borealis crystals and filigree beads.   More details

More pictures below

This vintage necklace delivers some 1950s glitz in a single strand, making it more wearable than most 1950s necklaces. It is a warm-toned necklace of glass amber crystals and filigree beads, interspersed with fluted bead caps and rope-twist spacer beads.

The amber crystals have a half-bead coating of aurora borealis providing interesting glints of purple, peacock blues and gold, and reduce in size towards the back of the necklace. The filigree beads are a gold-tone metal, with a glistening blackberry texture.

The necklace is fitted with a hook and crystal extender chain so it can be worn collar or choker length.

Dimensions: The length is adjustable from 38 cm (15″) to 43 cm (17″). The largest bead at centre is 1.3 cm (0.5″).

Marks: None

Condition: This vintage 1950s necklace is in good to very good vintage condition. Some gold-tone bead caps and spacers have dulled, mainly towards the back of the necklace, but the filigree and crystal beads are in excellent condition. It has been securely re-strung at some point with nylon.

SimpleViewer requires JavaScript and the Flash Player. Get Flash.

Text and images © Catminter.com

]]>

This is a simple vintage 1950s necklace of facetted black glass beads with a silver coating for added sparkle, similar in effect to a dark facetted hematite. Measuring 0.5 cm (0.2″) in diameter, the beads are a good size – small enough for day, but noticeable enough for evening wear too. The necklace is collar length, with a brass bolt-ring clasp.

Dimensions: 42 cm long (16.5″), including the clasp.

Marks: None

Condition: Very good vintage condition.

This is a bright and cheerful – and very wearable – vintage Czech necklace of randomly-arranged multi-coloured glass beads, often referred to as “harlequin” beads. They are finished with fluted gold-tone bead caps, interspersed with black seed beads, also glass. Being handmade in the 1930s, possibly 1920s, the beads have slight variations in size and shape, and some original flaws – striping at the equators, a few specks of embedded grit, dimples and so on – typical in this type of bead.

It is a choker length necklace, securely strung with a basic brass bolt-ring clasp.

Dimensions: 40 cm long, including clasp (15.75″)

Marks: Unmarked

Condition: This vintage Czech necklace is in very good vintage condition with some original flaws as noted above, but no damage. The gold-tone beads caps are bright, with only slight signs of wear.

This is a large vintage flower brooch dating to the 1930s, of silver-tone metal and marcasites. It is quite dimensional with long curling leaves surrounding a two-tier flower. Except for the stem it is completely covered in pave-set marcasites.

The brooch is fitted with a rollover safety clasp and from the position of the pin is most likely meant to be worn horizontally (as above), perhaps at the centre of the neckline, but it sits nicely when worn vertically too.

Dimensions: This is a large vintage brooch – 6.5 cm (2.6″) high and 4 cm (1.6″) wide.

Marks: None

Condition: The brooch is in very good vintage condition with virtually no wear. The clasp works well, the silver is bright and there are no missing marcasites.