Collier de chien

As I was preparing to list the Edwardian collier de chien in the shop last week, I searched around a bit for images of other styles. Ten minutes quickly turned to sixty minutes. I don't think I blinked. The collier de chien was popularized by Princess Alexandra (later Queen Alexandra), who supposedly wore the neck-hugging necklaces to hide a scar. The style was quickly adopted by women in England and beyond, making the collier de chien (and plaque de cou) one of the most recognizable styles of Edwardian jewelery. This Pinterest board shows many great examples, including several unbelievable plaque de cou by Lalique and the like.

{all images linked to their original source}

The real deal

These three exceptional rings are now in the shop. A bit of a departure from the costume pieces I normally stock, I know. I will continue to supply those, too! But you can expect to find a few "fine" rings in the Jean Jean Vintage collection from now on. It was only a matter of time, I suppose, before I discovered the thrill of real gold and gemstones :)

Edwardian 18K gold and rose cut diamond snake ring

Edwardian 18K yellow gold and diamond wedding ring

Victorian 15K gold and turquoise Etruscan Revival ring

Little things, big things

I had a lot of fun listing these tiny pins and giant brooches yesterday. Do you have room in your jewelry box for that gorgeous belt slide? Or how about the glowing-green glass pin?

TREFOIL Victorian key pin

NEARER TO THEE Victorian mourning pin

ABSINTHE Edwardian bar pin

NEEDLEPOINT lace pin

KODACHROME Czech glass belt slide

MIGHTY OAK Edwardian faux buckle brooch

For the friend who has everything . . .

This antique pineapple holder (yep, that's right) is up for auction in Lisbon, Portugal today. Could this be a last minute gift for that friend who has everything? I really want to see a photo of this with a pineapple inside. I don't know why I think this is all so funny . . .

Image courtesy of Renascimento

Festoon!

Festoon - it sounds like a party, doesn't it? And it kind of is. It's a party around your neck. The word comes from the Latin festum (feast) or festo (festal garland). Lillian Baker (Art Nouveau & Art Deco Jewelry) defines "festoon" as, "A garland of chain or chains decorated with ornamental drops or pendants which lay on a curve against a woman's upper bosom." Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Raise your hand if you would like a garland of jewels heaving on your bosom. My hand is raised.

I think festoon necklaces are the most feminine of all types of jewelry, especially ones from the turn-of-the-century. These necklaces can reduce me to tears, people. Even hanging on a hook or resting in a jewelry case they look full of life to me. They are the perfect symbols of Edwardian joie de vivre and elegance - just dormant and just waiting to breathe again on the neck of a pretty girl.

Getting on with it . . . I've only had a couple festoon necklaces in the shop (including this one) because 1.) they are really hard to find and 2.) when I do find them, I usually keep them because I love them. But I've been very fortunate this fall and I've found two. One I am keeping (can you spot it in this mess?), and one I am listing in the shop.

So here she is. You can read more about her here.

The rest of the posts here this week will be about festoon necklaces (obsessed much?) I'll do an outfit post featuring one from my own collection, I'll share some old advertisements for them from the 1920s and I'll also post some of my favorites from around the web. Believe me, you won't get tired of them.

Halley's Comet jewelry

Looking for something to start collecting? How about Halley's Comet jewelry? Yes, please.

I had no idea this kind of collectible, commemorative jewelry existed until I spotted a curious, tiny pin at my local antique shop. The design seemed unusual to me, with such a large stone set way at the end of a delicate frame. I had never seen anything like it before, not even in my books.

I didn't buy it but I couldn't stop thinking about it. About a week later, while searching for something else online, I came across an Art of Mourning post about comet jewelry. "That's it! That's got to be it!" I thought to myself. As it turns out, Halley's Comet jewelry was quite trendy around the 1835 and 1910 sightings (the 1986 sighting didn't produce anything noteworthy). Victorian and Edwardian jewelers were inspired by the comet and produced a style of pin set with a single stone trailed by a metal "tail."

I immediately went back to buy it. Can you blame me?

Here are two more gorgeous examples from the Morning Glory Victorian information page.

To see all kinds of cool antique comet ephemera, check out this page. To see more Halley's Comet jewelry, visit here.

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 ♥

rings rings rings!

These six rings are headed to the shop today! Maybe one of them belongs on your finger? My favorite is the brass Art Deco ring.

Really something

This antique (1890s-1910s) hair comb is, as the post title suggest, really something. I just can't believe how beautiful the rhinestone mounting is, like an eagle perched with its wings spread. Wouldn't this be an amazing hair ornament for a bride? You can find it here in the shop.

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