Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art (314)

We love these royal blue mirror glass earrings which shine a brighter Bristol blue with the slightest head movement. the beveled hand carved edge is a lovely detail which was clearly time consuming for the maker. The plate glass factory at Vauxhall was known for its production of mirror glass, but in addition, the company employed skillful artisans to produce jewelry out of the remaining shards. Thus was created Vauxhall glass jewelry, much loved then and by collectors today...

Unusual lightweight original watch chain of made of gunmetal, an alloy of copper and tin that was used to make decorative chains, purses, brooches, buckles and other items during the Victorian era. Our chain has alternating links and balls throughout and the pattern is consistent and uninterrupted (this is something we look for and is important because it shows the chain is in its original condition with no links removed)...

A good example of the remarkable talent behind the wonderful Austrian Bronze handmade, hand painted bronze miniature figurines. Austrian bronzes are individually cast from sand molds used only once, then sculpted and cold painted by hand with several coats of paint. This rare painted butterfly is approximately 1 inch long and 1 1/4 inches wide. A perfect collection for the entomologist or botany professor in your life...

Antique 9K gold Victorian "message" ring, "Mizpah, symbolizing a bond between two people, comes from a bible quote in the book of Genesis, "The Lord watch between thee and me, when we are absent one from another". Mizpah is the Hebrew word for "Watchtower", a pillar of stones which symbolized the covenant between Jacob and Laban. Mizpah rings were often exchanged between two people in the hope of protecting the two during a period of separation, often by war.

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.

Wonderful antique silver cuff with rose gold flowers and arches and yellow leaves with etched tendrils in between. Silver jewelry was made to appeal to the "everyman" in society and after the Silver Jubilee in the later part of the 1800's silver jewelry pieces like our cuff bracelet was made in abundance, but no two pieces were alike and each had its own unique design. This antique cuff bracelet is 7 ½ inches in circumference and is 1 inches wide. It fits a small to medium sized wrist.

Substantial silver bangle bracelet with an elliptical border of open cutwork featuring delicate daisies and swirl designs. The delicate openwork border surrounds smaller raised ellipse at center which with a delicate carved composition of a bird and a bee together in flight. An arabesque design flanks each side of the elipse to complete the symmetrical arrangement...

Attractive bracelet with 8 nicely proportioned brilliant cut rock crystals set in individual gilt metal rope bezels attached to one another with a double set of links. The bracelet fits a medium-sized wrist and hangs attractively. The clear stones and gilt metal would make a nice addition when worn with other gold bangles as the clear rock crystal stones and gilt metal compliment gold.Fits a small to medium sized wrist.

Lovely early Victorian sterling silver paste pendant with a border of paste stones and royal blue enamel, most likely was a pendant given as a gift to a loved one. The beautiful blue color represented innocence and virtue and was probably given to a young woman by her suitor. Women adored their paste jewelry as much as their diamonds, so the use of paste stones indicates this was likely owned by a member of the "upper crust". The pendant is approximately 1 1/4 inches.

Wonderful silver cuff depicting a classical arch design including rose gold flowers and yellow gold arches with etched tendrils growing in between. There is a Vaughton's Patent trademark inscription on the inside. Vaughton's was an English manufacturer in Birmingham, still in existence, which made silver jewelry to appeal to all classes of society, including the "working" girl...

Our silver bangle is decorated with a five bands of repeating patterns of arabesques and scrolls. The center band is the focal point while the surrounding bands are each repeated once. The Victorians loved geometric patterns, and silver bangles, brooches and the like were affordable to the middle class and could appeal to a broader segment of the jewelry market and thus achieved great popularity around this time...

This sterling pin cushion in the form of a swan, is hallmarked Chester, 1911.

Condition: excellent Height: 1.5 inches Width: 2 inches

This is a Worcester soft paste porcelain tea bowl and saucer, in the the well known Worcester pattern "sworl" or "Queen Charlotte", named for Queen Charlotte, wife of George 111 who bought a service for royal use. Ours is marked with the "scratch B" mark of the Flight and Barr period, c 1795. Priced at $ 1200.

Condition: excellent.

The birthstone for December, this antique five-stone turquoise ring, with its smooth, sky blue, nicely matched stones, is 15K and hallmarked Chester, 1907. Turquoise was thought to have talisman properties and to bring good fortune to the wearer. The ring is a size 7.5

We love the simplicity of this claw set amethyst single cabochon stone ring, made somewhere around the turn of the century or later. The ring is hallmarked 15K and has 3 decorative notches cut on both sides of the band. The single cabochon amethyst stone is a smooth and polished clear shade of purple and perfect. Notice the ring stands high on the hand. The ring is open backed and can be worn everyday and hand washing will not disturb it. US Size 8.5 but it can be resized.

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.

The rare fob pendant that is 3 pieces in 1; it includes a beautiful large niello dog clip which attaches to 3 niello links which further attaches to a 2 compartment round locket, .75 inches in diameter.. Long and elegant, the dog clip allows you to connect the pendant from any metal chain. The beauty of niello is that the colors work equally well with yellow gold, rose gold, silver, or even a niello chain...