Necklaces

Description

This colorful necklace features a circa 1930 "apple juice" bakelite dress clip, converted to a pendant.  Vertical rows of clear and amethyst-colored rhinestones add sparkle, while the handwoven brass chain features vintage (circa 1960) faceted lucite links.  An antique glass button dangles from the clasp.

Details

• 24" long
• bakelite pendant is 2" long and 1 3/8" wide
• length can be extended - please indicate desired length when placing your order for this piece

Materials

• vintage bakelite and rhinestone converted dress clip
• brass jump rings
• vintage faceted oval lucite links
• brass lobster clasp

Description

This necklace features a gold-filled antique watch tassel fob and slide charm with seed pearls, hung from an antique watch chain.

Details

• 20" long
• charm and tassel hang 3" from chain

Materials

• antique gold-filled chain
• gold-filled lobster clasp
• antique gold-filled tassel and slide charm with seed pearls

Description

This necklace features a large antique art glass button with paste stones, circa 1890, suspended from brass chain handwoven in a rosette design. The button's high-domed, purple and brown glass cabochon is 1" in diameter and set with prongs that are an extension of the pierced design.  The metal is brass with a golden wash.

Details

• 20" long
• lobster clasp
• one-of-a-kind

Material

• brass and art glass button
• jeweler's brass jump rings
• brass lobster clasp

Origin Story

The antique button was produced during the "Gay Nineties," an American term coined in the 1920's referring to the last decade of the 19th century.  In Europe, this same time period is known as the "Belle Epoque" and in England is called the "Naughty Nineties."  Regardless of its name, it was a period characterized by ornate and decadent styles.  Buttons of this era were large, usually featured a focal glass "jewel," and adorned outerwear.

The original shank of the button is still attached to its backside so as to maintain the integrity of this antique artifact.  When laid flat, the shank causes the button to slightly cant to the side, however this effect is virtually eliminated when the necklace is worn due to its suspension from the chain.

Description

This one-of-a-kind necklace features an antique diamond-shaped, gold-filled slide charm with two ruby paste stones and three seed pearls, and an 8 mm natural fresh water pearl dangle.  The charm and pearl drop from an antique, gold-filled spiral chain.

Details

• necklace is 20" long

Materials

• antique gold-filled necklace and slide charm
• natural, tear-drop shaped pearl
• gold-filled spring ring clasp

Description

This necklace features links from a 1940's bracelet depicting the Tales of Don Quixote.  The metal is silver-toned and shows remnants of gilding or gold-wash.  The individual charms are a little over an inch in height and width, and are connected to a handwoven chain made of jewelers brass.  

Among the tales etched in the charms are Don Quixote's famous windmill battle and his encounter with a caged lion.  The author's likeness is etched on the focal charm.

Details

• necklace is 18" long

Materials

• silver metal
• jeweler's brass jump rings
• brass lobster clasp

Description

This one-of-a-kind necklace features an antique stick pin, converted to a pendant, on an antique gold-filled watch chain [both circa early 1900s].  The bezel-set focal stone is made of cobalt blue faceted glass; there is a tiny clear paste accent stone at the bottom tip of the piece.

Perfect for layering with our longer fob and locket necklaces.

Details

• necklace is 16" long with a 2" extender chain
• pendant is 1" long and 1/2" wide

Materials

• antique gold-filled stick pin converted to pendant
• gold-filled spring ring clasp
• antique gold-filled watch chain

Origin Story

The original pin piece was marked PS Co., which was the trademark of the Plainville Stock Company of Plainville, Massachusetts, which produced jewelry from 1896 to the present day.    

Description

This delicate, one-of-a-kind necklace features a round, rose gold-filled Victorian slide with opal glass accents and a diamond-shaped gold-filled charm with a tiny turquoise cabochon.  They dangle 1 1/2" from an antique watch chain.

Details

• necklace is 16" long with a 2" extender chain
• one-of-a-kind

Materials

• gold-filled watch chain
• gold-filled charms
• gold-filled spring ring clasp

Description

This one-of-a-kind necklace features an antique gold-filled slide with glass seed pearls and an amethyst paste stone paired with a two-toned gold locket, circa 1900.  The base of the locket is rose-gold filled, with raised designs of a swallow and flower in yellow gold.  With the slide, the locket drops 1 3/4" from the antique, rose-gold filled watch chain.

Details

• 20" long
• locket is 23 mm wide and high [including bail]

Materials

• gold-filled locket
• gold-filled slide charm
• rose gold-filled watch chain
• gold-filled spring ring clasp

Origin Story

The maker's mark indicates the locket was produced by the Bliss Brothers, a company founded in 1896 in Attleboro, Massachusetts. 

Lockets gained popularity during the Victorian era after Queen Victoria wore a mourning locket with a photo inside of her beloved husband Albert every day, setting a fashion trend. Prior to his passing, her husband had gifted her with a charm bracelet with eight lockets, each containing a lock of hair from each of their children.

Swallows were a popular motif in Victorian jewelry and symbolized home and heart - swallows were said to be the first birds seen on ships as they approached land, and were also known to mate for life.

Description

This one-of-a-kind necklace features an antique slide and watch fob/locket, circa 1890, on an antique watch chain.  The locket has an inset rhinestone on the front and a cursive monogram on the back [it looks like it is "EJ"].  It hangs from an antique gold filled slide charm with an etched starburst design and embedded glass pearl.

Details

• locket is a 3/4" square
• necklace is 16" long with a 2" extender

Materials

• gold-filled spring ring clasp
• antique gold-filled chain
• antique gold-filled locket and slide charm

Origin Story

The inside of the locket is etched "S.K.M. & CO, " the maker's mark of S.K. Merrill & Company, Providence, Rhode Island, established by Sylvester K. Merrill in 1871.  SKM produced jewelry until 1915.

The 19th century witnessed many visible comets, including the well known Halley’s comet and Comet Tebbutt, also known as “The Great Comet of 1861”.  These events inspired jewelry design throughout the Victorian era.  This necklace features two etched starburst motifs.  The locket's etching suggests the arc of a comet along with the starburst.

Description

This one-of-a-kind necklace features a Victorian gold-filled slide with an etched design, four tiny emerald green glass cabochons and four tiny seed pearls. A gold-filled 13 mm jump ring is woven into the bottom slide opening. 

Details

• slide charm and jump ring measures 3/8" wide by 3/8" tall
• necklace is 16" long with a 2" extender.

Materials

• gold-filled spring ring clasp
• antique gold filled chain
• antique gold filled charms
• gold-filled jump ring

Description

This one-of-a-kind necklace features an antique rose gold-filled watch pin [circa 1900] converted into a pendant with a period rose-gold filled tube charm and attached to an antique rose gold-filled watch chain.  The focal pendant has an etched floral design with tiny red paste stones; it is marked Gesch [[made in Germany] on the reverse.  The charm has a band with a seed pearl and two ruby paste stones.  

Details

• pendant is 1 1/2" at its widest and 1 1/4" in length

Materials

• rose gold-filled lobster clasp
• antique rose gold-filled fob and charm
• antique rose gold-filled watch chain

Description

This necklace features an antique mother-of-pearl powder horn fob with an ornate cap embellished with ruby and opal glass accents, circa 1890.  The fob hangs from an antique jump ring and is attached to a gold-filled watch chain [both circa 1900].

Details

• fob is 1 1/4" wide
• 21" long

Materials

• gold-filled watch chain
• antique mother-of-pearl fob
• gold-filled spring ring clasp

Description

This one-of-a-kind necklace features handwoven, white gold-filled chainmail with antique turquoise glass beads.  The beads are Chinese glass pendants made in the early 20th century to be used as counterweights to Mandarin court necklaces. Each has a metal cap and some show remnants of iridescent Kingfisher feathers, very popular in court jewelry. 

Details

• length of the drop, cap and small glass bead atop vary from 30-35 mm and the width at the bottom of the pendant beads is 15-18 mm.
• width of the chain is 1/2" and the length is 20."  This necklace can be extended [$15 per inch] upon request.

Materials

• white gold-filled chainmail
• antique glass pendant beads
• gold-filled spring ring clasp

Description

This one-of-a-kind statement necklace features a rare large, mid-20th century bronzed, asymetrical floral brooch signed Renoir and handwoven chainmail embellished with vintage taupe aurora borealis beads, also mid-century.

Details

• necklace is 20" long
• pendant is 2 1/4" wide and 3/4" thick
• pendant can be removed and worn as a brooch

Materials

• bronze S hook clasp in the shape of a snake
• bronze chainmail
• vintage copper/bronze brooch
• vintage glass beads

Origin Story

The Renior jewelry company was founded in California in 1946 by Jerry Fels, and produced jewelry through 1964.  Fels studied at the Arts Student League and the National Academy of Design before serving as a fighter pilot during World War II.  Renior jewelry was largely made with copper, influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement which had valued handmade objects and "humble" materials such as copper and brass.

Description

This necklace features an oval, antique cut steel shoe buckle, converted to a pendant, on handwoven, oxidized sterling silver chainmaille.  The buckle, circa late 19th century, is 2 1/2" in at its widest and 1 3/4" high. 

Details

• 18" long
• one-of-a-kind

Materials

• sterling silver lobster clasp
• oxidized sterling silver jump rings
• antique cut steel shoe buckle

Origin Story

Cut steel jewelry gained popularity in France during the 18th century when King Louis demanded that citizens turn in their diamonds to help fund war efforts.  This type of jewelry features tiny faceted and polished steel studs carved to mimic diamonds and individually riveted in place.  Similar in appearance to marcasite, cut steels sparkle brilliantly when polished.  Pieces can be dated by looking at the size of the cut steels, which were individually hand-riveted, and the number of facets.  Older buckles feature smaller studs with as many as 15 facets.  Cut steel jewelry fell out of fashion in the early 20th century when production quality declined and other trends emerged.

Description

This necklace features a vintage dress clip, circa 1930, converted into a pendant on a handwoven bronze chain.  The focal pendant has taille d'epargne enamel, a multi-layer design with paste stones, and a scrolling foliate etched design.  There are traces of its original gilded finish and the clip is worn in places to reveal the silver-toned metal beneath.  

Details

• necklace is 20" long
• pendant is 3/4" wide and 2" long

Materials

• bronze hook clasp in the shape of a snake
• brass chainmaille
• vintage metal and paste dress clip

Origin Story

Dress and fur clips debuted in the 1920's, when costume jewelry first gained popularity. It is said Coco Chanel introduced the idea of wearing less expensive costume jewelry as art, instead of wearing fine jewelry as a symbol of status and wealth.  When first introduced, dress clips were worn in pairs, often worn opposite one another on the neckline or straps of a dress.  Popularity wanted in the 1950's, when brooches became a more desirable personal ornament.  Today, you'll occasionally see vintage clips attached to the dresses, sweaters, handbags and scarves of trend-setting celebrities.