La Vie Parisienne Locket Pendant With Long Chain

Here we have another gorgeous piece done by La Vie Parisienne (see my April 2nd post).  It features a very long chain donning a hinged rectangular locket with charms (a heart, moon, and sun).  Each individual piece that makes up the pendant is done in "old silver" and has a different texture; from stipes and polka dots to flowers.  Catherine Popesco is the founder of this wonderful contemporary costume jewelry company that uses jewelry molds from designs dating back to the early 1900s in France.  

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Thank you to the following website(s) for the historical content of this blog post:

The Artful Soul. Retrieved 4/30/2011 from http://www.artfulsoul.com/store/pagelv2.html?vm=r

German Silvertone Wrapped Wire Demi Parure

I am astonished at the wide variety of costume jewelry I have seen from Germany.  This set is really pretty, and I believe it is from the 1920s through 1940s.  It looks like sterling silver, but there are no hallmarks other than the word "GERMANY" on each earring clip.  They are possibly made of German Silver, which ironically does not contain any silver at all, rather an alloy of copper with nickel and sometimes zinc.  German Silver can also be referred to as "Nickel Silver", "Nickel Copper", or "Alpaca," and the usual content is as follows:  60% copper, 20% nickel, 20% zinc.

Aside from what this lovely set is made of, I have been feverishly researching its design.  I have not come across any other pieces locally like this, but have seen a few online.  I would like to call it a type of "filigree" work, as it is using metal threads, but unlike filigree, this technique appears to only use wrapping and bending without any soldering.  The artist also used purple thread to decorate a border around each flower petal on both the earrings and the brooch. 

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Thank you to the following website(s) for the historical content of this blog post:

Wikipedia. Retrieved 4/29/2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_silver

Napier Ajoure Fleur De Lis Clip Earrings

These bold but intricate earrings were made at some point before 1955, as their clasps are marked "Napier Pat. Pend."  This is one way a person is able to date a piece of costume jewelry, along with the help of a great online reference guide like http://www.illusionjewels.com/. There are also hundreds books available on pricing and dating jewerly and antiques, but I like to use the internet.

The earrings are done in goldtone ajoure.  "Ajoure" jewelry is often confused with "filigree" jewelry but they are not the same at all.  The filigree process involves metal threads be twisted and soldered together, while the ajoure process involves punching, cutting, and drilling holes into a once solid sheet of metal. 

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:

Illusion Jewels. Retrieved 4/28/2011 from http://www.illusionjewels.com/costumejewelrymarksn.html

Vintage Jewelry Lane. Retrieved 4/28/2011 from http://vintagejewelrylane.com/information/filigreejewelry.htm

Vintage Avon Sales Pin

This cute little door knocker lapel pin was given to Avon sales representatives from 1964 through 1983.  The pin is actually moveable, and works like a regular sized knocker.  It features the recognizable catch phrase "Avon Calling" and is made in goldtone metal. 

Avon added jewelry to their already popular fragrance and make-up lines in 1971 (yes, ironically the year I was born!).  David McConnell founded Avon in 1886 (originally called the California Perfume Company until its official name change to Avon in 1939-although products were sold under the name Avon beginning in 1928).  Wow, I never realized Avon was started in that long ago...

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:

Collecting Vingtage Jewelry. Retrieved 4/27/2011 from http://collectingvintagejewelry.blogspot.com/2010/01/todays-featured-vintage-designer-avon.html

Etsy. Retrieved 4/27/2011 from http://www.etsy.com/listing/46585828/avon-calling-doorknocker-pin

Pop Art Rosie The Riveter Dangle Earrings

These earrings are clearly mass-produced, and I do not know who made them, but what is more important is their subject matter.  Rosie the Riveter is an American pop icon.  During World War II, the United States workforce was diminishing due to the enlistment of American men in the service.  One of the many slogans heard at the time included "The more women at work, the sooner we win!"  More than six million women, including mothers, wives, and even schoolgirls began filling the various positions that were vacant.  They helped build the planes, tanks, and weapons that eventually won the war, proving they could do those jobs only previously known as "men's work." 

The first mention of Rosie the Riveter was in 1942, in a song by Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb.  The following year, the famous illustrator Norman Rockwell was commissioned by the Saturday Evening Post to create a "Rosie" image (the one you see above on these cool earrings).  This original illustration graced the front cover of the Saturday Evening Post on the Memorial Day Issue, printed May 29, 1943.

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:

US History. Retrieved 4/26/2011 from http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1656.html

Folk Art Sterling Silver Unicorn Pendant

Well, there is little known about this student or studio made unicorn pendant.  It features an illegible cursive signature on its backside and appears to made of Sterling silver.  I am eventually going to test its silver content, but I have been afraid to ruin it.  It is very large and heavy, and a bit primitive, which adds to its whimsical charm.  I believe this piece is from the early eighties, when the unicorn motif was hugely popular (remember friendship pins, Jordache jeans, rollerskating, and Pacman?).  It could also be a more modern piece simply made by a dreamer.  If anyone recognizes this pendant, I would love to know more about it.    


The website www.magicstables.com mentions the following about the unicorn myth: "The unicorn is a legendary animal commonly portrayed as a white horse with a goat's beard and a large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead.  First mentioned by the ancient Greeks, it became the most important imaginary animal of the middle ages and Renaissance when it was commonly described as an extremely wild woodland creature, a symbol of purity and grace, which could only be captured by a virgin.  In the encyclopedias its horn was said to have the power to render poisoned water potable and to heal sickness. Until the 19th century, belief in unicorns was widespread among historians, alchemists, writers, poets, naturalists, physicians, and theologians."


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 www.rubylane.com is coming soon.

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


Magic Stables. Retrieved 4/25/2011 from http://www.magicstables.com/TheUnicornMyth.html

Miriam Haskell Goldtone Necklace With Murano Glass Beads

This chic long necklace is from the 1950s, by Miriam Haskell.  It features green glass beads along a gold gilt chain amongst 4 larger rectangular links (very Art Deco!).  I highlighted an interesting pair of clip earrings by Miriam Haskell here on 3/26/2011.  In my research, I am seeing that Miriam Haskell jewelry is quite collectible, and some ornate vintage pieces can bring several hundred dollars or more.  They began selling their extremely high quality, intricate hand crafted jewelry in Manhattan in 1926.  Designs prior to 1947 were rarely marked, so be on the look out for misrepresented "fakes."

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 www.rubylane.com is coming soon.

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

Illusion Jewels. Retrieved 4/24/2011 from http://www.illusionjewels.com/costumejewelrymarksh.html

Morning Glory Jewelry. Retrieved 4/24/2011 from http://www.morninggloryjewelry.com/miriam-haskell-jewelry-aid-7.html