modemodern vintage and antique jewelry accessories and decorative arts
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1980 item #663181
modemodern
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Beautiful classic vintage 1970s cocktail or dinner ring in sculpted 14KT yellow gold with an ornately carved lapis lazuli stone, and three diamonds. Marked 14K. The lapis stone is carved and pierced in Chinese motifs. The diamonds are each 2 to 3 mm in diameter, about .03 to .1 carat each. A heavy piece at 15 grams. With fabulous modernist detail. Big statement rings are a very significant current fashion trend.

Ring size 4 1/2 or somewhat larger...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1980 item #663116
modemodern
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Diva size vintage 1970s 14KT yellow gold and smoky quartz cocktail ring. Cocktail and statement rings are a very significant current fashion trend. Marked 14K. The stone is gemologist verified. It is a rhomboid shape and is a beautiful smoky yellow color. The stone is 20 mm wide by 40 mm long. The ring weighs 18 grams. With a ring guard which is needed to hold this heavy ring upright on the finger...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1980 item #663112
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Fabulous and big vintage modernist 14KT gold ring with a huge roughly triangular sky blue turquoise stone. 1970's. Not marked but tests positive for 14KT gold using jeweler's acid. The setting is very ornate and heavy with a deep decorative border. The stone has a beautiful chocolate brown matrix. I believe the turquoise is Chinese. The photos do not capture the beautiful color of the stone -- it is much richer than the photos show. It weighs 7 grams. The stone is 13 mm long by 12 mm wide...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1980 item #662517
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Massive and fabulous vintage modernist cocktail ring by the Finnish designer Erik Granit. In sterling silver with a huge cut faceted rock crystal stone in a very dimensional setting with applied silver beads and an open frame. Dated 1970. Marked E GRANIT & CO, DESIGN JEWELLERY, 925H STERLING FINLAND, R7, which is the date code for 1970, and with Finnish silver town mark and maker's mark.

It weighs 17 grams. The stone is much more brilliant than the photos portray. A spectacular piece...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1920 item #662490
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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...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 2000 item #662487
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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...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1990 item #657093
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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. Photos do not capture the color; it is very clear and warmer than the photos show. Perfect for resort and beach wear.

Great size -- 3 7/8 inches long by 1 1/2 inches wide by 1 inch deep. Excellent conditio...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1980 item #657085
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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 1940 item #657041
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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 1960 item #656983
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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 1990 item #653934
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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 1980 item #653928
modemodern
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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.

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

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1950 item #653236
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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 1940 item #653211
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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. The Weber ...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1950 item #653146
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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. Elzac produced jewelry from materials such as ceramic, Lucite, fur, feathers, cloth, and wood during World War II when other materials were ...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1940 item #653105
modemodern
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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. The metal is brass with a ...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1970 item #632162
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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 1910 item #632156
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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. Each is 2 mm in diameter, which is approximately .05 ...