This striking white metal locket is engraved on the front in a stylized pattern. The back is plain. The inside has some scratches in the metal. The photo rings and celluloid are not present, but perhaps it was used for a lock of hair or other memento – that was a very popular tradition, back in the day. It measures 1-1/4” x 7/8" and the paperclip chain is a bit over 22". The back has a few dark marks which might clean up. Generally, a handsome Edwardian or Victorian piece...
This fascinating ring consists of strands of rose gold tied in a knot, and studded with gold spheres. One sphere is missing, which makes it interestingly asymmetrical. The decorated area measures 5/8 x 1/2” and the shank measures 3/16”. The ring has a maker’s mark (“J.M”), the anchor for Birmingham, the date mark for 1903-4, “9”, and “375”, however it tests as 10k (That is not unusual). It’s approximately size 7 (it could be sized), and weighs 5.2g...
This adorable puppy stick pin is unmarked, but the gold tests at about 12kt. The total length is 2-1/8”, the dog’s face is 1/2” x 7/16”, and it weighs 0.9g. He may be a Weimaraner. They were bred as hunting dogs in the early 1800s in Germany, and were named after the Grand Duke Weimar. In real life they are a silvery color, but this guy is made from a nice warm gold...
Seamlessly marrying sterling silver and stone, Enrique Ledesma created some of Taxco’s classiest modernist jewelry. The specific bracelet with its curved, sculptural “cut pyramid” links is set with warm, mossy azur-malachite in which browns and greens are prevalent. Perfect for the season the bracelet measures 6 1/2” in inner circumference (clasped) and it's 15/16” wide...
One of the most energetic Taxco modernists, Sigi Pineda enjoyed a long, creative career. Prolific and ever “on the move”, he was at his best working within the confines of minimalist design. Sigi rarely used “unnecessary” ornamentation, depending more on fluidity of lines to imply motion, colored stones to impart texture, oxidation to add dimension to what are mostly flat surfaces in his jewelry. The floral brooch at hand provides a good illustration of the above...
This is an unusual ring that is a crossover between American Colonial and English Victorian. The ring has as its face an actual $2.50 Liberty coin from 1861 but is wrapped in a polished 18K English mount. Minted from 1840 - 1907, our American Liberty coin ring with the authentic gold USA Gold Quarter Eagle was originally legal tender worth $2.50. This was a substantial amount of money at the time of minting in 1861. The USA Liberty Gold Coin is 90% pure gold and weighs 0.1209 troy ounce...
Our C1790 ring is an 18th century glass intaglio of an ancient signed gem depicting the head of a laughing satyr, or faun (a young satyr). Such carvings were called Tassies (explained further down). "Gems" in this case refers not to precious stones, but to ancient classical Greek carvings, highly valued miniature works of art.
Our glass intaglio is signed in Greek for Ammonioy, meaning "by Ammonios"...
Authentic Victorian 15K Albert Link Chain with original T BAR and dog clips from which to attach your favorite locket or pendant. The chain is stamped on every link with the 15Ct 625, indicating English heritage, and is 17.8" long. The T bar and dog clips are stamped the same. Alberts are named for Prince Albert who popularized the wearing of a vest with pocket watch and a fob on a chain, the watch in the vest pocket, with fob and T-Bar dangling...
This pretty ring is composed of a cluster of 7 amethysts, birthstone for February (and in legend, thought to guard against poison and drunkenness) and on either side of the cluster, a bezel-set accent diamond and one tiny half seed pearl. The ring is approximately size 6.5, and would be easy to re-size. It is marked 10K and signed “ECI”. In excellent condition, with just a bit of patina...
A mid century modernist pendant reminiscent of the designs of American studio jewelers, Betty Cooke or Frances Holmes Boothby. This piece depicts three cut out birds on a round satin finished sterling disk.
The pendant measures 1 1/2" in diameter. Marked Sterling on the back. Has a little tarnish and a few minor surface scratches.
Suspended from a 19" sterling chain that has a secure spring clasp. Marked 925 on the clasp.
Striking design.
This Victorian-style ring has a Gothic design sensibility. The elaborate prongs set off the large iolite (approx. 2 ct.) very nicely, and it includes 4 small single cut accent diamonds. The setting measures 7/8” north to south, and 3/4” east to west. Approximately size 8-1/2. It is marked 14k, the setting is rose gold and the shank is yellow gold. The stones are in excellent condition. The photos are part of the description; please examine them carefully. Thanks! We do lay-away. Shipping, ...
A sterling silver modernist bracelet with nine disks and offset orbs by Danish silversmith, Niels Erik (NE) From. This example is not signed. However it is the same design and measures exactly the same as a signed example. Not sure how that occurred. Priced accordingly.
Measures about 7 1/4" long and 5/8" wide.
Leaf shaped toggle clasp holds securely. The bracelet is in fine condition with a little tarnish.
Classic N E From design.
An inspired lapidary and an ingenious designer Felipe Martinez opened his workshop “Piedra y Plata” in 1950. His work is a testament to his exceptional talent and his commitment to impeccable craftsmanship and the use of choice materials. I love all his jewelry but I believe that he was at its best working within the confines of modernism which he enriched with references to Mexico’s archeological past. Piedra y plata, silver and stone, come together here in perfect union, the soft glow of...
A classic Mexican Deco jewelry design element silver repousse semi-spheres were used by well-known designers like Fred Davis and anonymous Taxco maestros alike. They come in all sizes and combinations, in all-silver or adorned with stones and glass, and they unfailingly make for stunning jewelry. In this hinged bangle bracelet they are clustered together in fours to create little florets with bezel-set amethyst centers. In the back, they are simply stacked in rows. Impressive in its sculpturalit...
This pretty navette-shaped pin is from the Arts & Crafts era. It measures 2-1/8 x 7/16”. It has a leaf and berry motif, centered by a deep purple amethyst. (Amethysts are thought to bring calmness and clarity to the mind.) It is marked STERLING, and the pin-stem assembly is original. The silver has a nice patina. In excellent condition, and circa 1900. The photos are part of the description; please examine them carefully. Thanks! We do lay-away. Shipping, handling, and insurance within the ...
Vintage sterling Georg Jensen pin no. 366 designed by Nanna Ditzel. This pin is not often seen and I love the simplicity of the design. Measuring 1 3/4" by 1 1/4" and weighing 18 grams, it is in fine original condition. Signed as shown. Elegant mid-century modern
design.
Pair of high content silver, pre-owned, Turkmen forearm cuffs, with inset carnelians. Very heavy, these are 310 grams each or 620 grams total. Inner circumference sizes are: 17.2cm and 19cm on and 17.9m and 20cm on the other. These can be presumably be adjusted silversmith or someone with just a good grip!
Vintage Indian “paizbh”, girls chainmail anklet with leaf and flower shaped links, 125 grams, may be worn as a bracelet. Inner diameter 16cm. Good silver with screw in fastener.
This pretty and detailed pin might depict St. Catherine (patroness of young maidens and female scholars – we like her!). There is a wheel in the background (possibly a “Catherine Wheel,” but it could also just be a ship's wheel or a spinning wheel), and a flower in the foreground. Her clothing looks very Renaissance-era to us. Marked “SILVER” on the C-clasp, with an illegible maker’s mark, the metal tests as sterling, and she’s a dainty 7/8” in diameter. 2.5g. In excellent condit...
William Spratling sterling and ebony necklace
Mexico
1930s
Wearable length - 16 1/2" long
Weight - 30 grams
Hallmarked
Very good vintage condition
Stylized Flower Band ring of 18K and platinum with an individual flower stem adorned with hand carved leaves emerging from a gold vertical strip on each side of the band and circling in 2 directions to reach the single flower 180 degrees around the ring. The leaves and flower have small diamonds that give it a touch of elegance.
One thing to note is how different the ring looks from different angles, yet another reason we adore this ring. The organic open work design makes an ideal stackin...
Substantial 18K C1840 diamond cluster ring with 8 round diamonds in a crimped collet setting surrounding a central natural gem, sherry brown topaz and hand set with a decorative band with carved flourishes along the shoulders. The gem topaz was extremely popular and much loved in jewelry during the Georgian period
Georgian goldsmiths believed the back of the ring should be as decorative as the front; the underside is carved to resemble the back of a budding flower petal and reveals incredibl...
15K Rare Georgian diamond cluster ring consisting of 6 large stones cut en cabochon (no facets and polished smooth) and set in a radial pattern around a large center diamond. 6 smaller stones are set along the border. The border is crimped, a feature of hand wrought gold-work of this period. The diamonds are set in silver. There is nary a claw in sight as the Georgians believed claws detracted from the beauty of the diamonds. The diamonds are cut, unusually, en cabochon; this means they are no...
18K Late Victorian five stone diamond ring, also known as half hoops, set a jour, with no foiling and open in the back to reflect light and air. The five stone was a classic late 19th century pattern, for good reason; it was great design then and still is today. The generous amount of gold means it can be worn next to other rings without fear of damage to the stones. Note the beautifully hand rendered scroll pattern carved into the gold below the stones.
This variation of the half hoop is fou...
A most interesting mourning ring style of the period; the two sided mourning ring with a swivel bezel. One side has a lock of hair under crystal and is bordered with pearls, representing tears, in a pinched gold setting. The other side is a black enamel rectangle inscribed with Mark Hodgson ESQ died 12 July 1810 aged 52 in gold letters. Our ring is in near perfect condition and appears as if it could have been made yesterday, impossible of course, as the Georgian goldsmith's skills cannot be...
This spectacular mourning band is of black enamel with accents of white enamel and bordered in gold accents. With its breathtaking miniature painting of a young girl, this ring is a fine example of the neoclassical influences of the Georgian period on mourning jewelry. The heavy graphic representations of death so prevalent before this time no longer suited the lightness of the Georgian era. The urns painted in gold over white enamel, the garland or wreath surround, are all examples of the neocl...
Hardstone Portrait Cameo signet ring of a gentleman in profile. The ring was likely commissioned by a wealthy individual or statesman as a self portrait. The ring has a maker's mark for Henry Griffith & Sons, is hallmarked for the year 1852, Birmingham and stamped for 18ct. It was one of the earlier rings made by Henry Griffith & Sons which began in the year 1850 and continued in business until the early 1970's.
The ring has slight engraved indentations along the shoulders which follow the sh...
Here is a very Victorian brooch, featuring a cross, anchor, and heart, symbols of faith, hope and charity. The metal has very nice engraving. Unmarked, but made of a layer of gold on top of what looks like copper. The center of the heart is set with a seed pearl, possibly faux, and the cross is set with 11 tiny turquoise-colored cabs – they are too tiny for us to make a definite ID. It measures 1-3/16 x 7/8". The gold shows wear here and there, and it has a nice patina. Overall it is in very g...
A Mid Century Modern pendant in sterling silver by Kultaseppa Salovaara, Ky of Turku Finland with eight light blue faceted bezel set stones. The pendant has a curved bale which is part of the design for an interesting effect.
The pendant measures 2 1/8" high and 1 1/2" wide at the center. Currently suspended from a 17" sterling chain that has a secure spring clasp.
The pendant is marked with the polar bear mark for the maker and 925H. The chain is marked 830S for the silver standa...
This stickpin features a burnt orange or caramel-colored oval carnelian – yummy!. It is set in (stamped) 10kt gold and surrounded by an oval gold frame set with 4 seed pearls. The setting measures 13/16” x 1/2", and the whole thing is 2-3/8" long. Circa 1915. The pin has a little bit of a bend toward the top, typical of gold stick pins and not visible when it’s worn, of course. Otherwise in excellent antique condition. The photos are part of the description. Please look at them carefully. ...
I love zodiac jewelry and thankfully so did the old Mexican maestros! Yet over the years I have noticed that no matter what their form (rings, brooches or bracelets), they are being snatched up with increasing fervor. So saying that they are becoming more difficult to find would not be an understatement, especially for rings which are an already challenging area of collecting in the vintage Mexican jewelry world. It is therefore understandable that I am thrilled to have come upon this mid-centur...
Impressive Georgian diamond cluster ring with nineteen diamonds in set in a silver setting with an 18K delicately incised and unusually shaped gold band dating to c. 1780. The pictures speak for themselves.
The ring is oriented radially around a large central Georgian diamond and surrounded by 12 smaller Georgian diamonds with three diamonds are fitted into the remaining space around each side in a perfectly symmetrical form.
The ring is a size 7.25 and sizeable.
This terrific Edwardian watch chain is complete with swivel clip and T bar (most aren’t), and with very nice detail. It weighs a satisfying 36.5g. It is unmarked, but tests as gold fill. 13-1/2” in length; the long bar links measure 1-1/8” each. The T bar is 1-7/8 long. We just love the details! It would be the perfect accessory for your Dickensian outfit, cosplay in general, or it could be altered to make a necklace or bracelet. It shows some wear, so its previous owner loved it very much...
This interesting fob is the setting for a sterling coin. It is a Prussian 2 Mark coin. On one side is the face of Friedrich (presumably) and his wife, a Maltese cross, and the words “FRIEDRICH * I * 1701 * WILHELM * II * 1901”; on the other side is an eagle with a crown above, and “DEUTSCHES REICH 1901 ZWEI MARK”. The rest is white metal. The swivel clasp has a mark, which looks like a plow. We haven’t been able to track it down. The coin and split ring weigh approximately .40oz, and ...
This is a spectacular vintage hand wrought sterling silver brooch by the well known Boston silversmith, Ella L. Cone. Looks like a surreal silhouette.
Measures 4 3/8" high and 1 5/8" at the widest. Roll over clasp holds securely. Marked Sterling, Hand ELC Made on the back. Has a little tarnish and minor surface scratches.
Reminds us of the surreal pieces by Paul Lobel and Ed Wiener.
Well made, fine quality. The best piece of jewelry by this artist that we have ever encountered.
This sweet pin is so very Art Nouveau! A lady’s face is surrounded by ribbons and flourishes, some set with seed pearls. It is gold filled, and measures 1-1/8” x 7/8”. Her nose and chin show some wear, and it has a patina consistent with age – this piece was very well loved! The pin stem assembly is mounted in an interesting fashion – please see photos. Circa 1900. The photos are part of the description; please examine them carefully. Thanks! Shipping, handling & insurance within the U...