This fancy gold lined iron band reads "Gold Gab Ich Fur Eisen", meaning "I gave gold for iron", and was part of a patriotic effort to fund the Austro Hungarian War whereupon German citizens were asked to donate their gold jewelry and other gold articles and in return they would receive iron rings with these patriotic inscriptions...
Lovely carved bracelet of polished jet. Jet was a form of fossilized coal that was discovered in the town of Whitby, England in the late 18th century...
Our glass earrings, in the form of a Latin crosses, are made of Vauxhall glass, popular as jewelry in the 1860's and sold along the pleasure Gardens in Chelsea, where courting couples strolled on summer evenings. Made by skilled artisans who were employed by the Vauxhall Glass Company in an effort to make use of the leftover glass shards from the mirror glass they produced, the jewelry was much loved for the skillful carving of the glass into unique and creative forms...
Lovely sapphire ring with three large sapphires and four small diamonds, an unusual variation of the form of a classic five stone half hoop diamond ring (the each pair of small diamonds read as one larger diamond). Five stone rings were crafted to show emphasis on the gemstones. The ring is set with the gemstones "a jour", or "open to the day", meaning the ring can be worn for hand washing and is appropriate for everyday wear. The stones are polished and clear...
We love these late Victorian 2 color gold coral earrings and the contrast between the yellow gold and rose gold of the three leaf arrangement. Each leaf is topped with a single coral rose. The leaf form is espaliered to a 15K textured gold "frame". The earrings are 1.5 inches long and hang from shepherd's hooks. Please be sure and ask us about the matching brooch to these earrings.
Substantial silver bangle bracelet with an elliptical border of open cutwork featuring delicate daisies and swirl designs. The delicate openwork border surrounds smaller raised ellipse at center which with a delicate carved composition of a bird and a bee together in flight. An arabesque design flanks each side of the elipse to complete the symmetrical arrangement...
Fantastic Whitby jet earrings in the form of concentric circles, a classic geometric shape that we love. The material is made of Whitby Jet, a form of fossilized coal that came from the coal mines of Whitby England in the 18th and 19th centuries. Jet was especially popular during Victorian times because it was acceptable as a form of mourning jewelry...
Georgian almandine garnet ring circa 1770, in an 18K gold basket setting flanked by two cushion cut diamonds. Almandine garnets are purply red and were flat cut as seen here. This lovely early ring is a size 6 1/4 and the stone measures 5/8" wide by 1/4" high
An essential chain for one's jewelry collection, this 18 inch long 9k Albert curb link chain has 2 dog clips attached for use as a clasp or to hang a pendant from. Each individual link and dog clip is individually stamped 9 and 375 (for 9K). "Albert" chains are a style of watch chain named after Prince Albert and were worn by both men and women in the 19th and early 20th century...
We love our wonderfully esoteric Grotesque man (or "other") crafted by a talented unknown carver in the 19th century from a chunk of the most desirable orange-red toned coral. Connoisseurs of literature or theater or the arts understand the term Grotesque as referring to fantastical, exaggerated or distorted representations, usually of the human face or figure...
Delicate and ephemeral Victorian necklace woven from gold to create a light transparent woven gold necklace. Such necklaces often took the goldsmith weeks to make, and were entirely crafted by hand.
The necklace is lightweight around the neck and literally weightless and is 16.5 inches long.
Garniture containing brooch and long earrings made of gold with rubies, pearls and details of enamel.
Marvelous assembly with a great deal of movement. Possibly Russian, circa 1800 (there are no visible seals or markings) and is in its original box.
Dimensions:
Brooch: 8 cm. length X 5 cm. width.
Earrings: 6.3 cm. length X 2.3 cm. width.
Our star stamped chain link bracelet is made up of two strands of 9 carat gold chains set parallel to each other and soldered together in at three places along the length of the bracelet, which gives it movement. The bracelet has small round links each of which are stamped with little stars. The back of the bracelet is identical to the front, also stamped with stars on each round link...
A very modern looking Niello locket with a modern design on its face and back in black enamel and silver. This most unusual locket would look wonderful hanging from your silver chain. The locket has a Weiner Workstatte (English: Vienna Workshop) graphic style. It is likely this locket design was a Victorian predecessor to this most creative and short lived Austrian movement in the Fin de Siecle...
This is a silky smooth gorgeous original French watch chain. Silky smooth about the neck, it has a wonderful texture as only 18K gold has. There is a French eagle's head on the clasp showing its French provenance.
Bold Victorian banded agate bead necklace with a silver dog tag clasp. The 19 large banded agate beads are interspersed with small black agate beads. The necklace measures 17 1/2" long, c 1870
Georgian 18K gold cannetille work ring set with a carved turquoise in the shape of a pair of clasped hands, a symbol of friendship. On either side there are set an opal and a garnet. This is truly an unusual and rare ring. It is a size 7 and measures a bit over 1/4" at its widest.
This is an original 18th century Gouyn period porcelain Chelsea fob seal. These seals were given as love tokens by the wealthy and known as "toys". This particular seal features a nun with her gilded black cape holding a staff and reading from a book. The seal reads in red letters, "Amour Spirituel", ("Spiritual Love"). The black cape with gold edging is in particularly fine condition.
Charles Gouyn, a French jeweler, with Nicholas Sprimont, a silversmith founded the Chelsea Factory in 1743...