Antique Russian rings

Art Nouveau "ribbon" ring

Russian Belle Epoque "plume" ring

Opal and diamond ring

Empress Maria cipher ring

These rings over at Romanov Russia have me in fits (images linked). I love ribbon/bow rings (you can see mine here) so the top one is pure perfection as far as I'm concerned. This company deals in Russian antiques and pre-WWI Fabergé, as well as rare items from the Russian Royal Family. I'll do another post later about their pendants and lockets. My recommendation: Put on your diapers before you visit their website.

Images courtesy of Romanov Russia

10 Festoon favorites

As promised, here are a few of my favorite festoon necklaces from around the web. Some are costume and some are fine. All images are linked. Have fun! (P.S. My festoon outfit post is coming tomorrow!)

For February babies

I added two pretty amethyst pieces to the shop today, both from the 1910s-1920s. It is a real joy to work with such beautiful things. You can find them here.

Next week on the blog . . .
Fashion Barbies (I promise!)
Dozens of handbags coming to the shop
Severen turns 9 months old, that handsome little devil

Bon weekend! I hope it includes hot cider and tall leather boots ♥

A pretty girl with a hair comb - what more could you ask for?

    

Do you remember this hair comb? Well, it recently found a new home with a sweet gal named Ellen. I wonder how many pretty young ladies have worn this comb over the last 100 years? I bet it has had a wonderful, glamorous life. It makes me so happy to see it out and about in the world again as part of Ellen's fabulous outfit!  

On the topic of girls and Jean Jean Vintage jewels, if you have a photo of yourself wearing something from the shop I would love to see it. It would be fun to have "A pretty girl with . . . " series here on the blog. Please contact me if you have a photo to share!

P.S. Here's a lovely lady wearing a Jean Jean locket.

P.S. Those of you with long locks will enjoy Ellen's excellent hair tutorials.

Necklaces for the Crawley Women

Watching Downton Abbey last night made me think about the accessories on the show. They are starting to change now, with more sautoirs and fewer choker-length, Edwardian necklaces as they approach the 1920s. Can you imagine how marvelous the jewelry box for the show must be? I'd like to go pawing through that, oh yes. 

I've had several necklaces in the shop over the last couple years (yes, it is almost my 2-year shop-versary!) that are Downton Abbey-worthy and I had fun paring them up with the Crawley ladies today. Not to match their dresses in these photos of course, but just to go with the lady and the era. In general, I think I've enjoyed Edith's accessories on the show the most (she almost always has a fantastic hair ornament!) with Her Ladyship coming in a close second. 

Note: All of these necklaces have found new homes except Lady Mary's, which is in the shop now.

Images courtesy of ITV

Something very special

This bracelet is to me what a cream-colored, beaded, 1920s silk chiffon flapper dress is to vintage clothing sellers. That is to say . . . it's something very special. I've only seen one other piece like this online or in real life, back in April on the Erie Basin blog. The width of the panels, the color of the glass, the cast filigree, the enamel accents - it all screams early 1900s Czechoslovakia. I just stocked it in the shop.

Downton Abbey Update

Today's shop update is inspired by that lovely show called Downton Abbey. I haven't seen the second season yet, have you? I hope to get to it next month. In the meantime, here are some period pieces I've been gathering with Lady Mary, Edith, etc. in mind. Oh and do you notice the rogue bead in the purse photo below? I didn't notice it until I was editing the photos! I think it is pretty funny.

1. 1960s HIGHCLERE faux camphor necklace | 2. 1910s LADY SYBIL hair ornament

3. 1920s GRANTHAM briolette cyrstal necklace | 4. 1920s LADY EDITH filigree pin

5. 1920s CRAWLEY glass and faux pearl brooch | 6. 1920s LADY MARY filigree ring

7. 1920s COUNTESS beaded evening bag

I blame Downton Abbey

I've got early 20th century jewelry on my mind lately, thanks to Downton Abbey. But not even Lady Mary had this necklace in her jewelry box! It looks like a bit of lace suspended on a chain, doesn't it? That is the beauty of very, very fine filigree - in this case, platinum set with diamonds and sapphires. It is a perfect example of Edwardian jewelry, which was light, feminine and romantic - a big departure from the styles of the Late Victorian era (think Cousin Violet).

You can see more great examples of Edwardian jewelry here. Prepare to be stunned.

Photos courtesy of Lang Antiques

Egyptian Revival Soap

This gorgeous soap ad is a classic example of America's obsession with all things Egyptian leading up to, and during, the 1920s. (Egyptian Revival jewelry from the 1920s is absolutely rad, incidentally.) The discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 put everyone over the edge. Heck, if they had advertisements like this for Palmolive today I would be buying that stuff by the master case.

Image from the Ladie's Home Journal, February 1917

Who can resist

Who can resist a stern looking man with sad eyes and a superb mustache? This fine fellow, framed safely in his Victorian photo pin, just made a grand entrance in the shop where he is stealing the show.

80 cents never looked so good

Heaven knows I have beaucoup de love for antique coin holders, in fact we've chatted about there here before. You might even recognize this particular case from this post. Well, I though it was high time that I stop blabbering on and on about these lovely things and start stocking some for you! To that end, I just listed this beauty in the shop. It is 1910s-1920s, American made, in near-mint condition and soooo timely. It is, after all, that time of year when we downsize from our beloved leather satchels and practical totes to the tiniest of clutches and beady purses. This coin holder is compact, functional and super glamorous. What better way to carry eighty cents this holiday season?

Cookie locket

I just listed a remarkable locket that is the size of a jumbo Oreo cookie. It is the biggest locket I've ever come across in my hunting, and also one of the prettiest. The name engraved on the locket is Garnett, which was a name appropriate for both boys and girls at the turn of the century in the United States. This locket - which was made by the Bliss Brother's Company of Attleboro, MA in the 1910s or 1920s - was most certainly meant for a young lady. I tried to think of all kind of reasons to keep this one - adding Garnett as a second middle name, buying a pet and naming it Garnett, moving to a town called Garnett . . . you get the idea. Can you blame me?

Tatiana

Ever since I read this article in the November issue of The Smithsonian, I've caught myself thinking about this woman again and again. She was Grand Duchess Tatiana Romanova, the second child of Czar Nicolas II and Czarina Alexandra. Her father was the last monarch of Russia. She, along with her four siblings, parents and four attendants were executed on July 17, 1918. I don't know why I feel so heart-achy for her, in particular. There is just something in her expression that grips me.