Vintage Weiss Rhinestone Clip Earrings

Ahhh, my first pair of Weiss earrings which were most likely made in the 1940s or 1950s.  These clip earrings feature beautiful Austrian crystals in purple and dark pink.  Weiss is a very collectible line of vintage costume jewelry which prospered in the 1950s and 1960s. 

Albert Weiss founded the Albert Weiss & Company Inc. in 1942 in New York City.  He was a jewelry designer and manufacturer who had previously worked for Coro.  Weiss jewelry is known for its exceptional quality and clarity, featuring Austrian crystal rhinestones (clear, colored, and aurora borealis) and faux pearls set in antique goldtone, silvertone, or Japanned (gun metal in color) metal settings.  The company ceased operations in 1971.

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in purchasing this piece.  Questions, comments, and additional information are always appreciated.  My online shop on http://www.rubylane.com/ is coming soon.

Thank you to the following website(s) for the historical content of this blog post:

Jackson Jewels. Retrieved 5/7/2011 from http://www.jacksonjewels.com/Reference/Jewelry_Companies_U-Z.htm

Vintage Gold Filled Brooch With Pearl

This cute vintage brooch is marked 12KT G.F. but I cannot figure out who made it.  It features a faux pearl in the middle and has a maker mark on the back that has a shield with letters/images I cannot read inside.  If anyone has any information on this piece, please let me know.  Gold filled jewelry has been made for years, by various designers, and is still popular today.

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in purchasing this piece.  Questions, comments, and additional information are always appreciated.  My online shop on http://www.rubylane.com/ is coming soon.

Thank you to the following website(s) for the historical content of this blog post:

Collectible Jewels. Retrieved 5/6/2011 from http://www.collectiblejewels.com/goldfilled.html

Florenza Renaissance Revival Pendant On Goldtone Double Chain Necklace

Sometimes I find a great piece and do not realize what I have found.  This necklace features a double goldtone chain (both done in different link styles), a large intricately carved green stone in the middle (made to resemble jade), with a dangling natural tear drop stone, and double chains dangling from the sides of the pendant.

I am continuing to learn about costume jewelry, and this gorgeous design was made in the 1950s by Florenza.  Florenza was a trademark used by manufacturer Dan Kasoff Inc., of New York City.  The company was founded in 1937 and produced jewelry from 1950 through 1981.  Florenza jewelry featured Renaissance Revival (like this necklace/pendant) and Victorian designs, often finished in antique gold with unique pastel stones using very high quality materials.

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in purchasing this piece.  Questions, comments, and additional information are always appreciated.  My online shop on http://www.rubylane.com/ is coming soon.

Thank you to the following website(s) for the historical content of this blog post:

Collectics. Retrieved 5/5/2011 from http://www.collectics.com/education_jewelrydesigners.html

Napier Silvertone Asian Fish Scarf Clip

I try to stick with jewelry, but I love this silvertone scarf clip that I found made by Napier.  It features two Asian-looking fish with faces that resemble Foo Dogs.  I do not believe this piece is very old, as Napier jewelry is still currently being manufactured and unfortunately mass-produced overseas for large department store chains. 

The Foo Dog (also spelled Fu Dog) or Lion Dog, dates back in Chinese Art to 208 B.C., and is a very prominent motif in the Buddhist religion and culture.  These creatures resemble lions (the master of the feline race), and signify protection and the defense of law.  Like this pin, they are usually seen in a male/female pair. 

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in purchasing this piece.  Questions, comments, and additional information are always appreciated.  My online shop on http://www.rubylane.com/ is coming soon.

Thank you to the following website(s) for the historical content of this blog post:

Asian Art Mall. Retrieved 5/4/2011 from http://www.asianartmall.com/foodogarticle.htm?vm=r

Antique Horn Clip Earrings

Ok, I am stumped.  These are some of the strangest, yet most interesting earrings I have come across over the years.  I am not sure what they are made of, but it appears to be animal horn, bone, or teeth.  They feature goldtone clips with attached round "horn" discs and dangling "horn" spheres.  They are hand-carved and set, as each part is uniquely shaped.  Did you know that animal horns and bones have been used in making jewelry since 38,000 B.C.!  Please let me know if anyone has any information about these earrings.  I could not find any similar pieces anywhere.

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in purchasing this piece.  Questions, comments, and additional information are always appreciated.  My online shop on http://www.rubylane.com/ is coming soon.

Thank you to the following website(s) for the historical content of this blog post:

Beads by Mail. Retrieved 5/3/2011 from http://beadsbymail.com/bone_details.htm?vm=r

Ceramic Flapper Brooch

I adore this ceramic studio made brooch.  It is approximately 3 inches tall and signed on the back by the artist (one curved line followed by two straight lines so I cannot make out a name).  It is glazed on the front of the brooch, except where you see the gray background (which actually looks like hair, but is not). 

This pin sure looks like a "flapper" to me, with her short hair and reds lips. The website http://www.suite101.com/ describes what it was to be flapper:  "The image of the "Flapper" is almost synonymous with the Roaring Twenties. Short skirts, bobbed hair, and "bee stung lips" immediately come to mind.  The Flapper was young, independent, smoking cigarettes and drinking illegal liquor. Indeed, the younger generation was embracing a lifestyle that was completely foreign to their parents and grandparents."

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in purchasing this piece.  Questions, comments, and additional information are always appreciated.  My online shop on http://www.rubylane.com/ is coming soon.

Thank you to the following website(s) for the historical content of this blog post:

Suite 101. Retrieved 5/2/2011 from http://www.suite101.com/content/the-flapper-a84845

Spoontiques Pewter Birdhouse Brooch

This whimsical brooch by Spoontiques is made of pewter (one of my favorite jewelry materials next to sterling of course!) and features a picket fence shadowed by three bird houses and an attached bird (uniquely placed as if in the foreground).  Spoontiques is located in Stoughton, Massachusetts and has been in business for over 30 years.  They manufacture a wide variety of giftware including a jewelry line that offers bold, yet inexpensive figural jewelry, with designs made of pewter (some designs feature copper and brass accents).   

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in purchasing this piece.  Questions, comments, and additional information are always appreciated.  My online shop on http://www.rubylane.com/ is coming soon.

Thank you to the following website(s) for the historical content of this blog post:

Sowers Gifts. Retrieved 5/1/2011 from http://www.sowers-gifts.com/spoontiques.html?vm=r

One Source Sales. Retrieved 5/1/2011 from http://onesourcesales.com/free/Spoontiques-Inc/Company/Profile/44451745