Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art: Jewelry (231)

Georgian diamond ring in a snowflake motif set in silver with an 18K band will sparkle in sunlight and candlelight. Notice the gorgeous back, a work of art in and of itself. The ring back is cut down so that the metal is cut to fit the stones and gives a more refined appearance to the ring. The ring is size 6 1/2 and can be sized to fit.

Victorian gilt metal collar is beautiful, flattering and wearable for any occasion

Georgian ring of green paste in a basket setting flanked by two clear pastes on each side. Paste is colored or clear glass, often lead or flint, cut in the same fashion as gemstones and used as a substitute especially while traveling. Antique paste jewelry was valued on its own merits and not as an imitation of another piece of jewelry. This Georgian 15K gold, green paste ring is a size 7 1/2 and can be sized. It measures 1/4" at its widest.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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...

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...

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...

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.

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.

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.