There's something in your drink

The devil isn't in the details - it's in the cocktail shaker silly! I think someone's mother was trying to send a clear message with this little 1950s charm. All I can say is if you ever do think you see the devil pop out of your shaker, you've probably had one too many cocktails.


Images courtesy of A. Brandt and Son.

Le Samedi shop update

JUMBLEBERRY PIE 1940s intaglio necklace

ADO ANNIE 1940s lucite ring

PRETTY PENMANSHIP 1950s initial ring

LAGO DI COMO 1950s Italian micro-mosaic earrings

Fit for a queen

This necklace looks like it could be 4000 years old, brought forth from some Mesopotamian ruin. But it wasn't - it was crafted in the 1940s by the Modernist artist/jeweler/sculptor Harry Bertoia. I don't know anything about American Modernist Jewelry, but this piece makes me want to learn. My heart is glued to my ribs right now.

See more examples of American Modernist jewelry at modernsilver.com.

Advice please

(I have very small handwriting :) You might want to click to enlarge!)

Not a prude

Until now, I haven't had much time to spend reading the style section in the NYT, following blogs, etc. This means that I am about two years behind popular culture trends. Ex. I just started watching Mad Men this summer, I placed my first ebay bid last year, etc. In the case of jewelry designer Lulu Frost, I am more than five years out of touch. I'll be honest - I have mixed feelings about her pieces. I guess I'm kind of old fashioned when it comes to wearing vintage jewelry. Let's wear bar pins on cardigans, dress clips on necklines, and lockets on chains, shall we? And I usually think that less is more (i.e. one rhinestone accessory is better than seven). But now I'm not so sure! In Frost's collections, turn-of-the-century steel-cut boot clips look like they were always meant to be bracelets and deco dress clips are lovely as earrings. And I suddenly have the urge to drape a mesh curtain of vintage bobbles around my neck, so in the end I guess I'm not as prudish as I thought.

You can see more of Frost's Deco-Victorian collection (my favorite) here.

A days work

1. 1960s firecracker rhinestone earrings / 2. 1930s crystal drop earrings
3. 1920s tiny enamel Art Deco pin / 4. 1940s rhinestone bar pin
5. 1920s open work enamel bird pin / 6. 1930s Czech glass link bracelet
7. 1950s faux pearl double strand bracelet / 8. 1960s large costume locket
9. 1940s sterling & rhinestone ring / 10. 1930s sterling & chrysoprase necklace
11. 1950s gold filled engraved locket / 12. 1920s carved glass necklace
13. 1950s faux coral earrings / 14. 1940s Austrian flower studs
15. 1940s brass ivy earrings

I went thrifting/antiquing earlier this week with Lauren of Dear Golden Vintage. We packed some sandwiches, piled in the car and set off to do some heart-pounding, small-town shopping. By the end of the day I was almost cross-eyed and had a terrible headache - the result of hours of focusing intently on tiny things behind glass. But no matter - it's is a small, small price to pay for these beauties.

Shirley Jane

I found a ring ring last month that puzzled me. It was a.) certainly from the 1930s b.) marked Made in Czechoslovakia and c.) featured a photo of a young Shirley Temple behind the glass. Side note: Ms. Temple served as the U.S. Ambassador to Czechoslovakia in her later years (1989-1992).

I learned that there was actually a series of Shirley Temple portrait rings produced in the mid 1930s when she reached childhood stardom, featuring her in a variety of expressions. I found a photo of six of them that went for auction earlier this year and was excited to find my ring in the line up!

I assume that these rings were intended for children, as mine is barely as size 3 and the auction lot were all size 5. I think it would be really cool if someone made rings like this today! Has anyone seen any modern portrait rings? Movie stars or otherwise? Can someone make these for Mad Men characters please? If you wore a portrait ring of a movie star, who would it be?

Suddenly blue

All of a sudden, there is a lot of blue in the Jean Jean jewelry box! I did a quick inventory last night and here is what I found. Some of these pieces are already in the shop, the rest are headed there soon.

Save a little love

Is there anything more attirant than antique purses? I am partial to beaded (not mesh) purses from the 1920s, especially ones with brass frames and chains. I have two purses that I really love from this era - both damaged, but oh well. They hang on my wall in my Jean Jean office. I love how they look poofy and full all the time, because of the weight and texture of the tiny seed beads. They feel cool to the touch and they have the most wonderful silk lining. Lovely, lovely.