Catalog (382)

Lovely gray lava beads which were inspired by the ruins of Pompeii in Italy. Lava jewelry was actually made from the lava of Mt. Vesuvius as souvenir jewelry fro travelers on the Grand Tour. Notice how the beads are properly graduated, as one would only see on early jewelry made before mass production. The smallest beads at the clasp gradually getting larger until the central bead, which is appropriately the largest and the place where the eye is drawn to.

Early C1860 Victorian Marquise shaped ring of 15K gold, silver, enamel and diamonds set in a floral and leaf design. Wow! how fantastic! The stylized leaf form with young diamond buds harkens to the expression “nipped in the bud”, when mourning one who dies too young. The ring is a size 5.5 and can be resized to fit.

Wonderful Edwardian moonstone necklace set in silver. It is said if your lover gives you a moonstone necklace when the moon is full you will always have a passion for each other. Moonstones became popular during the Art Nouveau period as a talisman for fertility, love, protection, and sleep! This beautiful moonstone needs little excuse for ownership. The necklace measures 16 3/4" long.

Bold Newhall floral porcelain oval dish with cobalt background. The dish measures 11" long by 8" wide. There are two available.

Stunning early 19th Century Berlin Iron earrings with a floral motif which is highlighted with polished steel. Berlin Iron was sought after by Napoleon who invaded German and captured the factory, confiscated the molds and took them back to France in 1806. Today this unique and fascinating jewelry is as prized as it was back then. The earrings measure 2 1/2" long and 3/4" at their widest.

Classical pair of Jackfield Ware candlesticks with turquoise colored Roman figures on a black background. This pottery was first made at Jackfield, Shropshire, England, in the 18th century with a red clay body often decorated in relief and distinguished especially by its thick black glaze. These elegant candlesticks date to 1860 and would grace a mantle or dining room table.

Lovely Georgian five stone paste ring set in 15K gold and silver. The center stone is set in an ornate basket setting. This rare ring is great to wear alone or stacked with other rings. The ring is a size 9.

Exquisite Georgian verre églomisé, or gilded glass, portrait ring surrounded by seed pearls. Verre églomisé is a French term meaning gilded glass and is a decorative technique in which the back side of glass is gilded with gold leaf. The gilding may also be combined with reverse painting on glass as in this case. This ring has very large verre églomisé panel with a black silhouette of a peasant girl against a gilded background. The back of the glass panel is curved for comfort when ...

Fabulous Georgian Pinchbeck muff chain with a hand clasp set with colored paste stones. Christopher Pinchbeck developed an alloy of copper and zinc in 1720 that had the look of real gold and did not tarnish. The jewelry made with this alloy survives today giving us the enjoyment of its beauty. A muff chain is a long chain worn around the neck fastened to ladies muffs. This chain measures 49" long by 1/4" wide.

The dove of peace soars through the skies. Made of pique, tortoiseshell inlaid with gold, this charming brooch can rest on your shoulder or perch on your lapel.

Lovely pique pansy pendant can be worn with a gold or silver chain. Pique, tortoiseshell inlaid with gold and silver, was developed in France and became popular in England in the late 19th century.

Eye catching 15K gold and amethyst ring surrounded by pave set chrysoberyls from Portuguese mines in Brazil. Fabulous jewelry was made from the various gemstones exported from these mines until the French invasion of Portugal in 1809. The ring is size 8 1/4 and can be sized to fit.

Bold pave set chrysoberyl ring in 18K gold. The stones came from Portuguese mines in Brazil. Fabulous jewelry was made from the various gemstones exported from these mines until the French invasion of Portugal in 1809. The ring is size 7 1/4 and can be sized up or down.

Fantastic 18th century black dot paste drop earrings set in silver with a bow motif. These elegant earrings are rare and desirable, wonderful to wear for evenings on the town. The earrings measure 3 1/4" long and approximately 1" at their widest.

Amazing "Queen Anne" amethyst paste necklace and earrings set in gilt metal. This style of jewelry has been historically misnamed for Queen Anne, who reigned from 1695 to 1714, as it was made in the mid 18th century. The vivid purple paste stones used are faceted as rose cuts. The earrings have back to front fittings and fit close to the earlobe. The necklace is fastened with a ribbon.

Dramatic 18K gold marquis shaped ring in royal blue and white enameling surrounded by pearls and centered with a pearl pansy. This distinctly English style of enameling on jewelry was invented in 1775 and became popular with royalty and is often seen on jewelry displaying royal crowns.

Royal Worcester porcelain scent bottle decorated in the style of Japanese Satsuma. The design features a Geisha and a fish on one side and a lady with a fan on the other. The silver CAP is stamped with the hallmarks for Birmingham, England, 1891. The pieces measures: 2 1/4" high by 1 7/8" wide by 1/2" deep. View

Blue Willow pattern scent bottle with silver gilt cap by Sampson Mordan. The silver is marked with the year mark for 1885. This scent is a large size measuring 2 1/4" in diameter. A wonderful addition to a scent collection or a collection of blue

Unusual Victorian porcelain scent bottle in the shape of a clam shell. The silver lid is stamped with the hallmarks of Sanders and Shepherd and the date letter for 1889. The bottle is 2" high by 1 1/2" wide and 1 1/4" at its deepest.

Fanciful Victorian silver collar with a silver locket embellished with two-color gold. The necklace and locket are adorned with geometric arch motifs and engravings. The necklace measures 16 1/2" long and 3/4" wide and the locket measures 1 5/8" long and is hallmarked 1881.

Three inch long day-night earrings with a lovely rococo design that incorporates foliate and shell motifs set with Persian turquoise and enlivened by the two-color 15K gold. The earrings have a secure hook on the back of the drop part of the earring, not typically seen on Georgian day-night earrings. This enables enabling them to easily be separated and worn with just the tops (for day), or both top and bottom (at night). The mechanism attaching the two pieces can be viewed in the photos.

Red Vauxhall Glass floral motif necklace will mirror your gaiety when wearing it. Made at the Vauxhall Glass Works in London from the 18th century through the middle of the nineteenth, it was sold at the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens nearby.

Wonderful Victorian 18k gold fringe earrings that will swing and sway as you walk down the street or dance the night away. Beautiful cannetille bead work, the earrings measure 2" long from the top of the ear wire to the bottom ball of the longest fringe.

Dramatic Victorian agate bead necklace is fastened with an agate clasp. The striking banded agate beads are black, brown and white and can be worn day or night. The necklace measures 17" long, circa 1870.

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

Bold Victorian banded agate bead necklace with three large beads tapering down to smaller ones. There are 34 beads in the necklace which has a bead clasp. Agate beads have become very collectible as many believe they have mystical qualities. The necklace is 20 1/2" long.

Bold Victorian cut steel cuff bracelet is an unusual and amazing example of the popular cut steel jewelry of the Victorian era. Cut steel was developed as a substitute for diamonds when the royalty and wealthy traveled to the seasons in Bath and London. The bracelet measures 1 1/2" wide, its interior measures 2 3/4" by 2 1/8".

Antique silver acorn earrings are wonderful and easy to wear. The acorn is a symbol of hope and was often used in heraldry. Earrings measure 1 5/8" long and 3/4" at their widest.

Lovely silver and gold bangle bracelet with a flower in vase motif. This boldly designed bracelet is engraved with an embossed background design of squares with a leaf motif. The bracelet measures 1 1/2" wide, the interior measurements are 1 7/8" by 2". An unusual and unique piece.

Victorian silver and three color gold locket with a raised floral and foliate design. Wonderful to wear on a chain, either short or long as shown here. The locket measures 1 3/4" high by 1 3/8" wide.

C1880 Victorian buckle bracelet beautifully engraved with clover leaves and a geometric design. The bracelet is stamped "Sterling". Buckle bracelets became very popular when Queen Victoria wore the Order of the Garter on her arm. The bracelet measures 1 3/16" wide. The interior dimensions are 1 7/8" wide by 2 1/8" long.

Bold and avant-garde, these silver cufflinks were set by hand with onyx and silver and with their classic rectangle on rectangle design, look like they might have been made today, and not 7 decades ago. Perfect for the office or a any occasion, our cufflinks are hallmarked and attributed to Antonio Pineda, an internationally renowned Mexican silversmith and jewelry artist who plied his trade in Taxco, Mexico. Apprenticed to the renown William Spratling in the early 1930s, Antonio emerged from t...

Our Deco 15K emerald eternity band is crafted with an engraved 15K white gold band with decorative flourishes along the platinum edge. It features 24 clear green emeralds with a carat weight of approx. 1.15 carats. The inside of the band has squares providing a window into the green emeralds. Eternity bands symbolize everlasting love and are given on special occasions to commemorate an anniversary, a wedding, the birth of a first child, or as a holiday gift. The band measures US 3 ½ and is NOT ...

Our Deco era sapphire eternity band is crafted of polished 15K white gold. The ring features 25 clear blue sapphires and approximately 1.15 carats. The inside band provides a window into the sapphires. Eternity bands symbolize everlasting love and are given on special occasions to commemorate an anniversary, a wedding, the birth of a first child, or as a holiday gift. The band measures between US 7 and is NOT size-able. It measures an unusually wide 1/8 of an inch and is heavy for an eternity...

Eternity band with a "twist". The band is set in half sapphire and half ruby with the ring switching from one to the other as you rotate it. The band is made of platinum and dates from about 1930. The sapphires are a lovely dark royal blue and the rubies a pinkish-red. Such rings were called "day and night", ruby side for day and sapphire for night, or the other way around if you desire. Eternity bands are meant to be given to commemorate special occasions such as anniversaries as they signif...

Ashworth ironstone dinner plate in an imari pattern, known as the "Rose Pattern", c1865 priced at

Condition: excellent Height: 10 inches

We love this pale pink coral carving of a classical maiden with the depiction of a maenad (maenads were female followers of the God Bacchus, Roman mythological god of wine) carved in 14K along the ring's shoulder and on the coral head of the ring. The gold shoulder carvings add to the allure. Coral has the hardness of agate but can be carved to a level of fine detail and precision. The hallmark "14" indicate this ring is likely German/Austrian, which used the 14 designation for karat, as opposed...

A rare example of the remarkable talent behind the wonderful Austrian Bronze hand painted bronze miniature figurines which were made around the turn of the 20th century in foundries in Austria and Vienna following a period (mid nineteenth century) when realism and and naturalism were in vogue. The bronzes were individually cast from sand molds used only once, then sculpted and cold painted by hand with several coats of a special and an unknown enamel paint that can no longer be replicated, resu...

Antique 19th century Berlin Iron necklace with a Berlin Iron heart and cross. Berlin Iron jewelry is highly prized for its intricate work and rarity. During the Napoleonic Wars wealthy Germans gave their precious jewels for the war effort and substituted them with iron jewelry. Some of the pieces were inscribed, "Gold gab ich fur Eisen"; meaning "I gave gold for iron". Today these pieces are as desirable as in the early 1800's. The chain measures 22"long and the drop with the cross measures 6 1/...

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. As the Victorians were never to leave a surface unfinished, note the pleasing vertical stripes ad...

How rare it is to find an early soft paste porcelain platter of this size, 16" X 20". This platter in excellent condition is made by the "Bow" factory circa 1765

Condition: excellent Width: 16 inches, Length: 20 inches

Lovely early Victorian bow pin of white woven hair set with turquoise in 15K gold. Hair jewelry was primarily of a romantic or loving nature. Queen Victoria was given a brooch made from her mother's hair for her 16th birthday. This pin measures 1 3/4" wide by 1 3/4" high by 1/4" deep.

Essex crystal carving of a horse and jockey surrounded by rose diamonds. Perhaps they are symbolic of the winners wreath. The crystals are carved in reverse or intaglio into the flat back to create a three-dimension trompe l'oeil effect. The image is then painted in realistic detail. The pin measures 15/16 in diameter.

Finely carved brooch of the goddess Demeter (Roman: Ceres), goddess of agriculture, her hair wrapped in what appears to be a scarf of grain or corn. The important Greek goddesses were a popular theme in cameo carvings of the 19th century, with Demeter arguably the most important because of her association with fertility and the harvest, or sustenance. This cameo is an example of early 19th century neoclassical cameos, with the drape of her collar, the carved lines showing her hair wrapped in a s...

Renaissance 22 Carat signet ring with a deeply carved intaglio puzzle in the form of a pictogram which uses pictures and letters to spell out words that convey its meaning. The rebus reads "Love You" with the heart symbolizing love and the V (based off the old Latin alphabet) for the letter U, representing the vowel U which represents "You". The ring is unmarked and a size 6 and in excellent condition.

Late renaissance memento mori skull ring. "Memento mori" jewelry translates to "remember thou must die", a reminder to all to live life fully, as death awaits. Memento mori rings were meant to encourage the practice of reflection on one's mortality. This is a very early ring with black enamel etching along the sides and back and a perfectly shaped skull in intaglio on the front. The ring is silver gilt with black enamel carving. Circa 1620. US size 8 1/2.

A late Medieval signet ring of silver engraved with strong cross cultural references of the pelican in her piety and navigation symbols of the moon and stars. During the medieval period many were illiterate and pictorial signet rings served the practical purpose of bearing a mark that when impressed upon clay would authenticate documents. The Pelican in her piety refers to the medieval fable of the pelican drawing blood from her breast to feed her chicks. The Pelican thus is a strong symbol ...

Georgian rose diamond cluster ring set in silver with an 18K gold embossed band. Rings of this period are very scarce and hard to find in such wonderful condition. This is a real collector's piece. The ring is size 6 and can be sized to fit.

Queen Anne period (1740) large beautifully faceted octagon cut amethyst solitaire ring in a later 18K gold band. This style of jewelry has been historically misnamed for Queen Anne, who reigned from 1695 to 1714, as so called Queen Anne jewelry dates to the mid 18th century. Among other details, we love this ring for its eighteenth century octagonal shape, the quality of the amethyst and the crimped collet gold setting. Beautiful in its simplicity, this ring is sure to attract attention. ...

This is an original 18th century Gouyn period porcelain Chelsea fob seal. This seal features Cupid, quiver slung over his shoulder, standing by an altar sacrificing a heart and reads, Je Vous L'offre, "I offer it (my heart) to you". These seals were given as love tokens by the wealthy and known as "toys". Charles Gouyn, a French jeweler , with Nicholas Sprimont a silversmith founded the Chelsea Factory in 1743. This is an original seal from the era in which Gouyn was manager of the Chelsea F...

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...

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". These seals were given as love tokens by the wealthy and known as "toys". This particular seal features Cupid holding a spy-glass to his right eye, his left hand on a globe a quiver slung behind him, concave bottom. It reads in crisp read letters, "'ouvrage pour autrui", "work for others". Charles Gouyn, a French jeweler , with Nicholas Sprimont ...

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 woman dancing and holding out her apron on either side. She has a low cut pink bodice and a skirt with a mini print pattern on the front and stripes on the back, and reads "Toujour gai", meaning "Always happy". Charles Gouyn, a French jeweler , with Nicholas Sprimont a silversmith founded the Chelsea Factory in 1...

C 1760 Rare Chelsea seal of a harlequin boy in black face mask with a metal ring at the top. The colors are magnificent. The seal evokes the Commedia dell'Arte, an early form of popular comedic masked theater originating in Italy and popular in Europe from the 16th to the 18th century. The harlequin alone is rare; a harlequin in blackface, rarer still. Blackface was a familiar theatrical device in Europe which made its way to the American colonies and blackface characters appeared on the stages ...

Our C1780 muff chain has an unusual link in the shape of bows. These hand forged bow links continue all around the chain. Georgian muff chains were worn by women who would attach a muff to the chain to conveniently keep their hands warm and the chain was designed to allow the muff to fall at just the right place. This is why original muff chains were always long (shorter chains were generally part of a larger muff chain that has been cut down to make 2 or 3 necklaces). Our chain has a round s...

Utilizing the natural features of the blush and gray speckled agate with a lovely mottled appearance and demonstrating the fine carving that this circle of Italian carvers were known for, our ring is a sensitive portrayal of Sappho, an early poetess who came of age in the time of the Ancient Greeks in the Archaic period. The quality of the carving is reminiscent of the circle of carvers in Rome during the mid eighteenth century which included Anton Pichler and his sons Giovanni and Luigi. K...

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.

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". It is not clear that the signature stood for any particular gem engraver; however there are...

Rarely seen George III commemorative brooch with George III in profile at the center and decorated with a border of blue and green Vauxhall glass. This historical brooch was thought to have been made to celebrate George III's recovery from porphyria in 1789. The individual pieces of Vauxhall glass are positioned flat against the metal, as is appropriate to the genre. Other details relating to the construction of the brooch are also consistent with a genuine Georgian era brooch, such as the pin e...

Lovely Georgian garnet cluster ring set in 18K gold. The garnets are a bright and lively color giving the ring great panache. The ring is a size 8 and measures 5/8" at its widest.