modemodern vintage and antique jewelry accessories and decorative arts
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1980 item #1103026
modemodern
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Glam statement size vintage Yves Saint Laurent necklace in black Lucite beads with a very large asymmetric pendant in black Lucite set in goldtone metal. Goldtone metal clasp and extender. Marked YSL on attached tag and on the back of the pendant. 1970s. 19 inches wearable length and the center drops 2 3/4 inches and is 7/8 inch deep. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail. Display form is life size.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1950 item #763959
modemodern
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Not sure if raisin is an "official" Bakelite color name, but it best describes the unusual rich deep brown with purple undertones color of this hinged bangle. Circa 1940. Tests positive for Bakelite. Guaranteed vintage and original. From a collection. With excellent very deep carving in a roses and leaves motif. Excellent condition. The hinge is tight. It is a bit dusty; I have brushed it but have not cleaned it further so as not to disturb the oxidized finish...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1970 item #1090417
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Fabulous very wearable and versatile long sautoir necklace of very large turquoise poured glass beads and baroque glass based pearls, all wired with dark goldtone metal. Circa 1950 or 1960 or possibly earlier; the clasp is an early spring ring without the thumb tab. Probably French. 44 inches long and 1/2 inch wide at turquoise beads. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail. Display form is life size.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1980 item #1330335
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Fabulous signed Gucci goldtone metal and blue guilloche enameled link long necklace which can also be worn as a belt. Marked GUCCI and MADE IN ITALY. Each link is also marked S in a lozenge shape. 1970s. An iconic vintage Gucci piece, these were also made in shorter (18 to 20 inch) but otherwise identical versions to be worn as necklaces only. The enameled links are slightly convex and curved. They alternate with heavy twisted connecting rings. With a toggle close. Total length is 39 inches...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Deco : Pre 1910 item #697957
modemodern
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A beautiful and early sterling pin in the form of a salamander or lizard, with green and colorless paste stones. Marked STERLING and with an illegible additional mark. Circa 1900 or 1910, with an early C catch and safety closure. Possibly French.

A classic collectible Art Deco piece, and currently perfectly of the moment as well...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Mexican : Pre 1940 item #1063917
modemodern
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Vintage necklace with large openwork drops with incised decoration alternating with smaller drops with silver hemispheres. Circa 1935, with early pre-eagle marks. Marked E BARENA (the R, E, and N are obscured), TAXCO, MEX, and 925. This name is listed in "The Little Book of Mexican Silver Trade and Hallmarks" by Bille Hougart. This piece and most of the other Mexican silver I have listed came from one long time collector's estate. Substantial at 72 grams...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Mexican : Pre 1960 item #691914
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Lovely vintage silver enameled link necklace by Margot Van Voorhies Carr. 1950s. Marked MARGOT DE TAXCO, STERLING MEXICO, with eagle number 16, and with design number 5614. A signature Margot enameling technique, with leaf forms enameled in translucent green and small circular shapes in opaque white with tiny black speckles. Photos do not capture the fine detail of the enameling. Slide clasp. Fresh and beautiful and very wearable.

Wearable length is 16 inches. 1/2 inch wide...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1980 item #1255317
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Stunning vintage 1970s Judith Leiber very weighty and substantial Chinoiserie style goldtone metal belt with large round stations in green Lucite simulating jade, centered with very detailed and dimensional cast metal elements depicting Chinese dragons. Double chains linked together at regular intervals with thinner metal rings. Marked JUDITH LEIBER. Can also be worn asymmetrically as a necklace. For a small waist...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1980 item #1336403
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1970s chic statement size runway link necklace in heavy sculpted cast metal, in silvertone with goldtone accents, with foldover clasp. Top couture quality, possibly an unsigned Les Bernard. This necklace can be found with the Les Bernard signature. Substantial at 162 grams. Wearable length is 18 1/4 inches and width is just under 1 1/2 inches. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1970 item #1078491
modemodern
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Fabulous signed French necklace in dark silvertone metal with brilliant pink, green, lemon, and colorless glass stones. Circa 1960, and possibly for Dior by Countess Cissy Zoltowska (Cis) or by Francis Winter. Slide clasp. It appears that there originally was a signature tag on the back of the clasp (pictured). I am also listing separately the matching earrings, which are marked very faintly MADE IN FRANCE and with another mark on each earring. The additional mark is very faint. It could possibl...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1980 item #1243755
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Lovely 1960s or 1970s French necklace and matching earrings with pinkish beige glass based faux pearls, goldtone metal rings, and rings constructed from prong set rhinestones wired together. Dark goldtone metal mounted. Clip backs and spring ring clasp. I am also listing a similar French set from the same estate. Possibly by Rousselet. 16 1/2 inches wearable length and 1/2 inch wide. Earrings are 2 1/4 inches long. Some condition issues, including verdigris at places, cracking of the...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1980 item #1076025
modemodern
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Fabulous signed Gucci goldtone metal and guilloche enameled link long necklace which can also be worn as a belt. Marked GUCCI and MADE IN ITALY. Each link is also marked S in a lozenge shape. 1970s. An iconic vintage Gucci piece, these were also made in shorter (18 to 20 inch) but otherwise identical versions to be worn as necklaces only. The enameled links are slightly convex and curved. They alternate with heavy double twisted connecting rings. With a toggle close.

Total length is 3...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Mexican : Pre 1950 item #790686
modemodern
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Early vintage Mexico sterling bracelet with fabulous graphic impact. Circa 1940, made before the eagle assay mark was introduced in 1948. Marked R. RIVERA, 925 SILVER, and TAXCO in a cartouche. These marks are listed on page 56 of "The Little Book of Mexican Silver Trade and Hallmarks" by Bille Hougart. Classic sinuous feather form design with decorative oxidized detail in the recessed areas. It weighs 51 grams. With slide clasp and safety chain. 1 3/8 inches wide and 7 3/8 inches...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1970 item #813763
modemodern
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Luminous vintage glass beaded necklace in pale blue transparent glass beads clustered in groups, with large and small silvertone metal hollow beads, and melon shaped blue glass beads at the ends, with small silvertone spacers. Circa 1965. This piece is French; the shapes of the poured glass beads and the wired clustered construction are distinctively French. A fabulous piece in a great statement size and perfectly of the moment; the statement necklace is the "it" accessory of the season. Weara...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1970 item #723686
modemodern
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Stunning vintage fringed necklace in textured goldtone metal with very big glass based teardrop shaped baroque faux pearls, modernist oblong chain link elements, and decorated connecting links. 1960s. Not marked, however, the design, materials and findings are characteristically French. I have another necklace listed with these distinctive chain links. A fabulous and very modern day or evening piece. Hook closure.

Wearable length is 16 inches and width is 2 inches. Excellent con...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1970 item #1078452
modemodern
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Beautiful vintage marbled translucent Bakelite bangle in malachite green by the French fashion house Carven with goldtone metal mountings in rope motifs. Marked CARVEN, DEPOSE (for registered), and dated 67 with copyright symbol. Tests positive for Bakelite. 7/8 inch wide, 1/2 inch thick, and 2 9/16 inches inside diameter. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail. Display form is life size.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Pre 1940 item #1123699
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Beautiful early vintage Chinese apple jade beaded necklace with a very finely carved and pierced oval element mounted with prongs in a 14KT gold setting with a slide clasp. Circa 1930. Marked 14K and tests positive for 14KT gold. The beads graduate from large to small and back again to large at either end of the center element. 15 inches wearable length and 1 inch wide at the center. The carved gold mounted element is 1 5/8 inches side to side and 1 inch top to bottom. The beads graduate...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Modernism : Pre 1970 item #790716
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Stunning statement size vintage pendant necklace and matching clip earrings. Necklace and earrings are marked STERLING and signed with initials JB. The stone is probably an amethyst but I have not had it verified by a gemologist. 1960s, from a Pittsburgh estate. Heavy and substantial at 106 grams for all pieces together. The necklace links are dimensional and sculpted. The necklace has a wearable length of 30 inches but can be clasped at many points along the chain. The pendant is...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Ethnic : Native American : Pre 1980 item #1301136
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Gorgeous big statement vintage 1970s or earlier Santo Domingo Native American necklace with large graduated turquoise nuggets spaced with small shell heishe beads, and with heishe beads at the ends, and with small silver wire hook clasp. It weighs 191 grams. 25 inches wearable length and the largest bead is 1 3/8 inches wide. Excellent condition with some discoloration of the turquoise stabilizing material on a few beads toward the ends, not noticeable at a short distance. (Please no...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1970 item #691051
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Fabulous vintage beaded necklace in turquoise and jewel tone beads, circa 1965. Marked CADORO on an attached metal hang tag at the spring ring clasp. With seamless Lucite beads in two shades of turquoise, goldtone metal spacers and findings, and amazing huge poured glass beads in glowing jewel tones, including red, green, peach, cobalt, and amber. The glass beads are probably by the French maker Gripoix. The colors are more intense than the photos depict. A stunning statement necklace. Big el...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1940 item #1262498
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Stunning 1930s Art Deco riviere necklace in silvertone metal with large brilliant bezel set openback faceted glass crystal stones. Marked GERMANY. The stones are held by prongs at the front. The backs of the bezels are decorated with a finely detailed flower form motif. The stones have pointed backs. Spring ring clasp. Wearable length is 16 1/2 inches and the stones and settings are 7/16 inch or 12mm. Excellent condition. Some tiny flea bites on some stones; most are only visible with a loupe. D...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1980 item #1166373
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Fabulous unusual glass beaded necklace with multi strands of purple, dark blue, pale lavender glass beads, and silvertone metal beads, with a huge dark brass mounted asymmetrical center element with giant softly faceted and smooth cabochon glass stones and a prong set brilliant purple prong set glass drop. It can be worn as a dog collar with the center as the clasp, or longer as shown, with the center as a pendant. Circa 1970, from the same estate as the Egyptian collar I am listing....
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1970 item #1166370
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Fabulous beautifully detailed French necklace with wired contruction, with black glass beads terminating in very finely detailed goldtone cast metal crown form elements, with a hook close, surmounting a long tassel with matching beads and fine goldtone metal foxtail chains. The glass bead strands on the tassel loop back on themselves. All elements and construction are characteristically French. Wearable length is 20 inches. The drop is 7 1/2 inches long. Excellent condition. There ma...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Rhinestone : Pre 1970 item #1277847
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Very unusual beautiful vintage 1960s clip earrings with brilliant rhinestones set in goldtone metal, and turquoise Lucite molded curved elements simulating Persian turquoise. 3 inches long. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1980 item #823298
modemodern
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Fabulous matched pair of statement size oval bangles in a pale golden slightly matte textured finish resin, with very big brilliant colorless Swarovski stones. Circa 1975. Probably by a European designer. From the estate of a New York socialite. Perfectly on trend; statement jewelry is the "it" accessory this season. Each is 1 1/2 inches wide, 3/8 inch thick, and inside diameters are 2 3/4 inches and 2 5/16 inches. Inside circumferences are 7 1/4 inches. Excellent condition. Photo...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1970 item #1258459
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Stunning statement vintage late 1960s necklace by Mimi di Niscemi for Brania, with many strands of translucent and opaque resin beads, and a huge decorative box slide clasp with very unusual glass rhinestones, prong set in goldtone metal. Marked BRANIA. Stones include small brilliant multi colored stones, crescent shaped opaque black glass stones, a Peking glass stone simulating jade, another opaque green glass stone simulating carved jade, and a large marbled translucent green glass...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Period : Pre 1940 item #696169
modemodern
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Stunning vintage hinged bangle in openwork silver, with an angelskin coral carved rose surrounded by turquoise cabochons. The silver is worked in beautiful dimensional flower and foliate designs. Marked CHINA, and STERLING. Circa 1930. With a slide clasp and safety chain. The silver has a dark aged finish and appears to have a gold wash. The color of the coral is warmer and brighter than the photos depict. A rare Chinese piece, outstanding and very wearable.

Great size -- 1 3/4 inches wide ...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1980 item #946400
modemodern
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Stunning studio pendant in bronze or brass set with a pink stone which looks like a rhodochrosite. Circa 1970. This would be great on a ribbon as shown or on a neckring. Great size -- 4 1/8 inches long and 2 1/8 inches wide. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail. Necklace form is life size.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Rhinestone : Pre 1970 item #1316650
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Beautiful vintage French wired necklace in silvertone metal with rhinestone balls with prong set stones, clear faceted glass beads, and glass based faux pearls in champagne and very pale gray. With early spring ring clasp with a collar instead of the thumb tab. Probably 1950s or earlier. 52 inches wearable length. The glass beads are 11mm or just over 3/8 inch. Overall excellent condition with some verdigris on some of the wires, and some losses on two or three of the faux pearls. Not noticeable...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1980 item #717663
modemodern
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Outstanding vintage necklace in heavy gunmetal gray chain links with quatrefoil shaped elements which are made of translucent tortoise Bakelite. This piece can also be worn as a belt. Marked YSL on an attached metal tag. 1970s. The quatrefoil form is of course a classic medieval and Moorish motif and is here translated into a stunning modern look. Very wearable and versatile -- there is a hook at each end, allowing it to be arranged in many lengths and configurations. Also perf...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1970 item #1069999
modemodern
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Amazing statement size signed Coppola e Toppo bib necklace in silver finished oblong glass beads with round smoke gray margarita Swarovski beads at the end of each drop. Circa 1960. All beads are glass. Collectors will recognize this as an important book piece. With the signature Coppola e Toppo beaded end pieces mounted in silvertone metal and with an extender chain with goldtone rings and colorless beads. Marked MADE IN ITALY BY COPPOLA E TOPPO. All the beads have an iridescent fin...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1970 item #712851
modemodern
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Beautifully constructed necklace with large green and copper Murano glass stones and glass based faux pearls in heavy antiqued goldtone metal. Marked CHRISTIAN DIOR BY KRAMER. 1960s. With a hook clasp with a colorless rhinestone. With dogtooth prongs and crimped settings on the backs of the stones. Articulated and drapes beautifully. A fabulous day piece.

Wearable length is 17 inches. The center drop is 1 5/8 inches. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1980 item #1178263
modemodern
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Really fabulous vintage long clip earrings in heavy cast goldtone metal with poured glass beads in jewel colors of blue, red, green, iridized gray, and amber, with goldtone beads, and red poured glass beads at the tops, with opaque gold rhinestones. The tops have openwork detailing. Very substantial couture quality, possibly French. 1970s or 1980s. Great size -- 4 1/2 inches long and 1 1/8 inches wide. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1980 item #653232
modemodern
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Very cute vintage layered plastic pin in white and navy blue in the form of a sailboat, with red painted detail. This is a French piece; several similar figural sailor pins are pictured in the 2003 edition of "Plastic Jewelry" by Lilian Baker, with updates by Ginger Moro and Karima Parry. This piece is 1960s or 1970s. From a Baltimore estate. I also have the matching sailor pin, from the same estate, listed.

Nice size -- 2 5/8 inches long by 3 inches wide. Excellent condition. There is what...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1970 item #1129592
modemodern
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Fabulous vintage long clip earrings with faceted black glass beads wired on dark goldtone metal with matching clips and findings. Marked MADE FRANCE. Circa 1950 or 1960. Great size -- 3 inches long and 5/8 inch wide. Excellent condition. One tiny open air bubble (pictured but not noticeable). New grip pads included. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Strands : Jewels : Pre 1930 item #1143686
modemodern
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Lovely Art Deco pools of light necklace circa 1920 or 1930, made from 19 genuine rock crystal orbs, undrilled, held in silverplate wire, with a spring ring clasp and connecting jump rings. The clasp is marked but illegibly except for the number 211 in a cartouche. The metal is dark brass or other goldtone base metal with traces of silver or white gold plating, however most of the plating is lost. Guaranteed genuine rock crystal; images viewed through the orbs are shown upside down and backwards....