modemodern vintage and antique jewelry accessories and decorative arts
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1960 item #593988
modemodern
SOLD
Lovely vintage sterling mid-century modern biomorphic pin. Circa 1955. Not marked but tests positive for sterling silver. With a cabochon cut and bezel set genuine moonstone.

1 7/8 inches wide by just over 1 inch long. Excellent condition.

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1950 item #596478
modemodern
SOLD
Outstanding and very big Art Deco/Retro Moderne figural layered pin in clear Lucite and ebonized carved wood with inlaid silver detail. Circa 1945. Unsigned, most likely by Elzac Inc., which produced jewelry from materials such as ceramic, Lucite, fur, feathers, cloth, and wood during World War II when other materials were in short supply...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1940 item #622670
modemodern
SOLD
Beautiful Art Deco beaded necklace with very big genuine carved rock crystal "pools of light" beads. Circa 1920 or 1930. With twenty five 17 millimeter drilled beads strung on white cotton thread with brass spring ring and jump ring closure. The thread and clasp are original and are secure. The thread is hand knotted between each bead...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1940 item #622711
modemodern
SOLD
Fabulous pale green genuine apple jade beaded necklace with a white gold filigree clasp with a lovely genuine opal cabochon. Circa 1930. The clasp is marked 14K. The jade beads are a nice size at 9 millimeters wide. Handknotted with matching pale green thread; the stringing appears to be original and is secure. The beads have beautiful darker green variegated markings.

The necklace is 15 3/4 inches long with the clasp extended, and just under 3/8 inch wide. Excellent condition...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1910 item #632156
modemodern
SOLD
A beautiful antique Victorian / Art Nouveau 14KT yellow gold ring in the form of two intertwined snakes, each with a genuine ruby in its head. Circa 1900. Snakes were a popular motif in the Victorian era, signifying eternity and love, and were also a popular motif in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco eras. Marked 14K and also marked with a what looks like a maker's mark of a D in a lozenge shaped cartouche. The rubies are gemologist verified...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1970 item #632162
modemodern
SOLD
Fabulous vintage 1960s 14KT gold and genuine Persian turquoise pierced hoop drop earrings. The backs are marked 14K ATL and the other elements test positive for 14KT gold. The gold has a slight rosy tone. With Persian turquoise beads and tiny coil shaped elements strung on hoops, with gold balls at the top posts. Very classic and modern and super wearable with everything, day or evening.

Each is 1 1/2 inches wide by 1 3/4 inches long. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1940 item #653105
modemodern
SOLD
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Bakelite bangle bracelet with applied metal seahorses and faux glass based pearls. Tests positive for Bakelite using Simichrome and 409. Unsigned, made by JHP Paris, which is very well known for its distinctive Bakelite and metal jewelry featuring whimsical animals, most often seahorses. I have owned several marked French pieces.

This piece is beautiful, in a great width and in a marbled butterscotch or peanut butter color Bakelite...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1950 item #653146
modemodern
SOLD
Very big vintage 1940s Elliot Handler designed Elzac figural brooch in glazed ceramic backed with lime green Lucite, with metallic raffia braid, and two blue Lucite beads at top and bottom. This exact piece, in a different color combination, is pictured on page 197 of the Brunialtis' "A Tribute to America" with a 1943 Elliot Handler patent reference cited...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1940 item #653211
modemodern
SOLD
Vintage Art Deco Bauhaus style demi-parure in chrome, the early plastic Galalith, and so-called "Peking glass" beads simulating jade, by the German maker Jakob Bengel. This set dates from the early 1930s. The wrapped chrome elements are the same as those in a necklace pictured on page 162 of the Jakob Bengel monograph by Christianne Weber.

The large pale yellow and green marbled beads are Galalith, which is an early plastic similar to Bakelite, which was used primarily in Europe...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1950 item #653236
modemodern
SOLD
Completely charming and adorable and beautifully executed vintage 1940s carved wood turtle figural brooch with black and white glass eyes. He is a great size and completely three dimensional and is just as much fun sitting on a table or desk as he is as a pin. A classic 1940s piece and rare to see one so well executed with such excellent detail.

3 inches long by 1 3/4 inches wide by 1 inch tall. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1980 item #653928
modemodern
SOLD
A beautiful and unusual vintage beaded necklace strung with chunky clear Lucite beads, copper colored metallic glass seed beads, and copper colored plastic paillettes, or sequins. Circa 1975. Probably French or Italian. With a goldtone metal slide clasp. From a Philadelphia estate from which I purchased many fabulous pieces of 1970s bohemian chic American and European designer jewelry...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1990 item #653934
modemodern
SOLD
A brilliantly clear vintage bib necklace in free form Lucite beads with antiqued goldtone metal elements, and with glowing mirror backed Lucite drops framed in molten goldtone metal. Circa 1985.

Clear Lucite accessories are a very significant current fashion trend, and are being featured by many designers.

18 inches long by 2 7/8 inches wide at center. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1960 item #656983
modemodern
SOLD
Fabulously chic and very big vintage French black tested Bakelite drop earrings. Circa 1950 or 1960. The open wire clip earring backs and filigree findings are French. With aged goldtone metal. Tests positive for Bakelite using Simichrome. True opaque black Bakelite; did not start out as another color. From a Philadelphia estate which had other French costume jewelry.

1 3/4 inches long by 3/4 inch wide. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1940 item #657041
modemodern
SOLD
A fabulous vintage classic six, that is, a six dot Bakelite bangle. Circa 1935. Guaranteed vintage and original, from a Philadelphia estate. In heavily marbled tortoise with six inset dots in pale yellow creamed corn. The bangle and the dots test positive for Bakelite using Simichrome.

1/2 inch wide by 3/8 inch thick and with standard 2 1/2 inches inside diameter. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1980 item #657085
modemodern
SOLD
A fabulous vintage handmade studio modernist bib necklace with black and white glass beads strung on brass wire, and engraved brass leaf or feather form drops at the end of each beaded wire. The overall effect is of a feathered collar. 1970s. Bold and unique and with outstanding impact. Photos do not do justice to this piece. It drapes very nicely and is very easy to wear.

Wearable length is 16 inches. The drops are 3 3/4 inches long. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1990 item #657093
modemodern
SOLD
Fabulous signed Christian Lacroix clipback earrings in matte goldtone with clear and orange marbled Lucite elements, and large matte goldtone elements, both in the form of coral spezzati or branches. Marked CL in script, CHRISTIAN LACROIX, and MADE IN FRANCE. I believe these are 1980s...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 2000 item #662487
modemodern
SOLD
A very big and spectacular sterling silver cocktail or statement ring by the contemporary artist Patricia Von Musulin. Marked STERLING and VON MUSULIN. Very heavy and substantial at 32 grams. With a distinctive modernist sculpted form. It has a fabulous patinated finish. Classic but also perfectly of the moment; big statement rings are a very significant current fashion trend.

Von Musulin's jewelry has appeared on American and European runways, and has been featured editorially in major ...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1920 item #662490
modemodern
SOLD
Beautiful large and heavy antique sterling silver sculpted ring with an 8 millimeter pearl in the center. It has a tiny antique hallmark, and tests positive for sterling silver. Probably circa 1900 or a bit later. Heavy and substantial at 17 grams; it is wonderful to wear and it feels like solid silver. Possibly European; it has an Arts & Crafts look, with sculpted foliate designs and oxidized detail. A fabulous statement ring.

Ring size 5 1/2, although I can easily fit it on my size 6 fi...