1930s glass necklaces, "Made in France"

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I didn't really know about these chunky, French glass bead necklaces until I found one in a pile of things I won at an auction earlier this year. They are serious pieces of jewelry. The one I listed in the shop weighs over 5 ounces and you can feel it sinking around your neck with the weight of all that beautiful glass. The necklaces are strung on sturdy herringbone silver chain to support the heavy beads and the clasps are often barrel style and always marked, "Made in France." So if you are out antiquing or at a flea market and you see a necklace like this, peek at the clasp. They aren't flashy in the way that some Art Deco necklaces are but they are fabulous in their own way.

Fellow's Antique & Modern Jewelry Auction, June 12th

Have you ever bid in a jewelry auction, online or in person? There is one coming up this Thursday, June 12th, that caught my eye. The auction house is Fellows & Sons, a family-owned auctioneers based in the old jewelry quarter of Birmingham, UK. They are a bustling house, presenting nearly 100 auctions a year and (lucky for us!) specializing in antique and modern jewelry. They make it easy to bid online via the-salesroom and they present a sensational full-color catalog. You can download the whole shabang on the Antique & Modern Jewelry auction homepage. I've picked out a few of my favorites here:

a ▴ Lot 105 / mid-century 18k gold, coral and diamond dress ring
b ▴ Lot 385 / Victorian garnet cabochon necklace with enamel hand and woven hair reverse
c ▴ Lot 37 / Victorian 18k gold, pearl and diamond ring
d ▴ Lot 472 / Early 20th century 18k gold diamond and enamel flower brooch
e ▴ Lot 9 / Early 20th century silver, 9 ct gold, sapphire and diamond cluster brooch
f ▴ Lot 87 / Pair of 18k gold ear clips
g ▴ Lot 30 / 1970s 18k gold synthetic color change sapphire ring
h ▴ Lot 81 / Early 20th century gold, diamond and gem-set bird brooch
i ▴ Lot 378 / Late 19th century gold amethyst cameo pendant
j ▴ Lot 287 / Late 19th century 15k gold, turquoise and diamond pendant
k ▴ Lot 361 / Mid 19th century 15k gold, diamond and ruby bangle
l ▴ Lot 11 / Mid 20th century novelty oar pendant
m ▴ Lot 318 / cultured five-row bracelet with ruby clasp

As for me, I'm planning to toss my hat in the ring for one lot on Thursday. If I win, I'll be sure to share a victory photo here and on Instagram!
 
Here's a pro tip: Even if you don't plan to bid this week, I encourage you to check out the catalog. Most of us don't have the opportunity to view such variety and quality of jewelry as this in person but a great catalog is a nice consolation prize. Plus, you can learn a lot from reading item descriptions and it is always interesting to review the hammer/realized prices from past auctions.

This post is part of a collaboration with Fellows & Sons

Bright little things

These little 1930s filigree pins are bright like candies and beautiful worn as pins or as pendants. If you have thick hair, you can probably wear them as hair ornaments, too (mine is too thin to make it work). What is not to love here? All four are currently stocked in the shop.

Sea serpent jewelry

It is fun to imagine the woman who originally owned and wore the SELJORD Art Deco bracelet (first image above), which I just listed in the shop this afternoon. Sea serpents are not for the faint-of-heart and the motif is extremely rare in Art Deco figural jewelry. As I was researching this bracelet I came across some other examples of antique jewelry with sea serpent/sea dragon motifs which I just had to share. All images are linked to their original sources, if you would like to take a closer look. It is worth noting that the red glass necklace, which is for sale over on ebay, is clearly made by the same company that made the Jean Jean bracelet, which is really remarkable. I would like to go back in time and spend a day in the workshop where those were made. Shhessssh.

P.S. If you have a good memory, you will remember a similar bracelet listed in the shop last year - with snakes instead of dragons.

Images via: necklace and pendant (ebay) / ring (Tadema Gallery)

Unfinished Art Deco rings

Looking for a new project for the New Year? How about finishing these Art Deco rings? This vintage jewelers case of unfinished rings is up for auction on eBay right now. I've gone to visit the listing many times, needless to say. Some of the settings are really fantastic. All they need is a little gold plating and some faceted glass stones! I would love to see the before/after photos. Happy New Year!

"most attractive ever created"

The Art Deco rhinestone necklace and earrings I just listed in the shop are part of a trend of "brilliant set," American costume jewels from the early 1930s. Women of that era lusted after the platinum and diamond creations of the great jewelry houses like Cartier (don't we still!?) which were inaccessible to most of the population. It didn't take long for jewelry manufacturers to draft costume versions of these highly desired styles to meet the demand of fashionable ladies.

For the price of $7.50 in 1932 (about $130 today) you could purchase an "exact copy of an expensive French creation" from stores like Montgomery Ward. The jewelry was always done in silver, either sterling or plated with rhodium, and always pavé set with clear rhinestones - usually chatons or baguettes. The necklaces always featured a drop portion and the earrings were usually chandelier style.

The craftsmanship on these pieces is always excellent and they are right on the line of Edwardian and Art Deco styling . . . dripping with jewels and delicate with lacy piercings but also non-figural and often geometric in design. Hands down, one of my favorite styles from the era. As the copy in one of my catalogs says about this jewelry, "As a gift for any occasion, nothing could be more acceptable."Agreed! Although I think these things would be especially lovely for a bride.

Images scanned from my copies of the 1932 Fort Dearborn Gift Book & Catalog, Answers to Questions About Old Jewelry, 1840-1950, 7th Edition (C. Jeanenne Bell, G.G.), and Warman's Vintage Jewelry, Identification and Price Guide (Leigh Leshner)

In the flesh

If you like lapis lazuli (which you must!) you will love this Art Deco necklace. It is simulated lapis - also sometimes called Czech or Swiss Lapis - which is glass mottled and colored to mimic that wonderful blue. This piece is German-made and featured in one of my favorite jewelry identification and pricing references, "Popular Jewelry, 1840-1940" by Roseann Ettinger. I am so excited to offer it in the shop! Fun fact: I sold the faux chrysoprase version of this necklace (see above!) over two years ago.

1930s update

There are six new 1920s-1930s pieces in the shop this morning. How cool is that squiggly bar pin? Each photo is linked. Happy Monday!

Egyptian revival

I've never offered an Egyptian Revival piece in the shop, not because I didn't want to but because I couldn't acquire any. This stuff is *super* collectible and I think you can see why. Egyptomania + Art Deco design makes for some truly beautiful jewelry.

You can check out these three pieces in the shop (images linked). Tomorrow, I'll share some photos of a few of my favorite Egyptian Revival jewelry from around the web. Prepare to get your undies in a bunch, as my mom would say.

P.S. Check out this gorgeous Egyptian Revival soap ad.

Colorful carved glass

I love these pretty carved glass deco pieces. They are so fun and colorful. I just listed the ring this afternoon and the necklaces are tucked away in the Jean Jean Vintage necklace drawer.

Pretty green Monday

You will find these four beauties at the top of the shop today! Also, do you recognize that little Art Deco brooch? It has the same face as this ring from the Jean Jean "sold" archives. Cool!

Loveday Antiques

If you happen to live in London, and you have £14,000 to put to good use, I suggest you go out and buy these three items immediately (images linked)! I wish I could visit the Loveday Antiques showroom in person and whisper sweet nothings to this Art Deco dining table. Mama Mia. I'm also quite smitten with this reclining black leather chair from the 1830s and this Victorian Partner's writing table.

Art Deco buckle bracelet

I'm listing this gorgeous Art Deco buckle bracelet in the shop today. Buckle motif jewelry is one of my favorite styles. Victorian, Retro, silver, gold . . . no matter the era or material. I love it. Deco era bracelets with this motif are pretty hard to find and - in my opinion - super glamorous. Here are a few other examples of 1920s-1930s rhinestone buckle bracelets from one of my favorite antique jewelry sites. Need to see more? You can see many more examples of buckle motif jewelry right here.