Mustard and cornichons

Last week's Monday update was pale and sweet but today's collection is a bit more savory. The yellows and greens remind me of whole-grain mustard and briny cornichons, two things that I always try to keep well-stocked at my house! The pieces range from Czech deco to mid-century "every day" and you will find them in the shop beginning at 9 AM EST. Oh - and I've got a sweet mustard seed charm for the first gal who orders something from this collection!

Red, green, waterfall

Art Deco earrings, ca. 1920 | Platinum, coral, diamonds, enamel

Tiffany & Company Art Nouveau jadeite pendant earrings, ca. 1915 | 18K gold, jadeite

Waterfall chandelier earrings, ca. 1860 | 18K gold, natural pearls, diamonds

Just. So. Beautiful.

Images courtesy of Macklowe Gallery

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

Here to stay

Suddenly, it is summer here. I went for a jog yesterday and it was noooottt pretty. I thought to myself, "Oh s*&t, I'm that runner that I feel sorry/embarrassed for when see while I'm driving!"  Anyway, me and my very red face made it home OK. The last shuffling mile or so I was planning my outfit. I'd been saving the skirt for a sunny day and it was a great match for the necklace, which I'm stocking in the shop today. I do believe my love of antique plastic jewelry is here to stay!

skirt || Anthropologie sale rack
top || Purple Deer Vintage
shoes || Adelaide's Homesewn
necklace || 1940s lucite necklace

Happy birthday, Monsieur Lalique

René Lalique and his wife Alice, 1903 | carbon print photograph, Musée d'Orsay, Paris

   Side element of a corsage ornament with pinecones, 1900-1902 | gold, enamel and cast glass
   Pendant brooch with pink carnations, 1901-1902 | gold, enamel, pink sapphire, and cast glass

Vine and berries hair comb, about 1900 | gold and ivory

 Branch brooch with cherry blossoms, 1900-1902 | gold, diamond, and cast glass
Fringe necklace with blister pearls, about 1902-1903 | gold, enamel and pearl

Today is the 151st birthday of René Lalique (b.1860, France), the most important jeweler of the Art Nouveau period. His jewelry is fascinating because it flawlessly incorporates so many materials - metals, precious and semi precious stones, glass, enamel - in such sophisticated designs. It is difficult to believe that these pieces are over 100 years old - they seem so relevant! If I could go back in time and spend one day watching any artist at work, it would be him. Joyeux anniversaire, Monsieur Lalique!

All images taken from Imperishable Beauty: Art Nouveau Jewelry by Yvonne J. Markowitz and Elyse Zorn Karlin, with contributions by Susan Ward

Just browsing

These photos of people shopping for jewelry make me feel sad somehow, but I don't know why. Also, is there anything more earnest than an image of a woman looking at herself searchingly in the mirror?

Photos courtesy of the Life Image Archives

With steamed milk and sugar

I am excited to have some creams and pales to play around with in the shop, thanks to faux pearls, Danish enamel, and some lovely vintage plastics. These goodies will be stocked in the shop no later than this afternoon - I hope you have fun looking around! Side note: When I put these pieces together and started writing about them, their colors reminded me of fancy espresso drinks (does someone love coffee??) Hence many of the names today.

Big time

I have a hankering for a men's vintage watch.  I found these awesome ca. 1970s working wrist watch faces on Time Mill - I think they would look lovely with either a canvas or leather band. Which one do you like best?

The other woman

The first thing I do when I get a locket home is take it apart. Especially if it has photographs in it. It feels a bit like snooping, but oh well. After all, people hide all kinds of neat things in lockets. Bits of ribbon, strands of hair, tiny drawings, extra photos of other women . . . wait, what?! That's what I found in this Victorian pocket watch style locket when I opened it the other day - a hidden photograph of a striking lady and a lock of golden hair.  It obviously hadn't been opened for a long, long time. So what's the story with these three?

At auction

Egyptian revival brooches ca. 1925 || $1,744

Georgian foiled quartz necklace ca. 1820 || $10,256

Victorian tortoise-shell and citrine bangle ca. 1860 || $3,282

Edwardian diamond and emerald lavalier ca. 1905 || $4,923

Early 20th century diamond ring ca.1915  || $9,641

Here are a few beautiful pieces - Georgian through Art Deco - that sold at a Christie's jewelry auction in London early last year. There is another auction coming up on April 20th that everyone is talking about because one of the world's largest pearls - La Regente - is going up on the block. More about that later!

Photos courtesy of Christie's Inc.

Cuddle up necklaces

These fabric necklaces from LoveandDream look so comfy. Like perfect bedsheets. I like their color and their bulk.