modemodern vintage and antique jewelry accessories and decorative arts
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Ethnic : Far Eastern : Pre 1960 item #1207443
modemodern
SOLD
Chinese export long necklace in the form of prayer beads, with carved cinnabar lacquer beads, carved round peach pit beads, carved oblong olive nut or wood beads, and a large pendant or mala with cloisonne enameling in amber, red, black, green, and dark brown tones. Circa 1950. There are six oblong olive nut beads, four with monkey motifs, one with a tiger and one with what looks like a hyena possibly. There are eight peach pit beads and 37 cinnabar beads. 34 inches wearable length...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1960 item #1243768
modemodern
SOLD
Exceptional fabulous French asymmetrical necklace with two strands of metal links and three stations with very big green foiled baroque shaped glass beads mounted in filigree caps with brilliant rhinestone rondelle spacers, and repousse rings at each end. Oversized spring ring clasp with larger repousse ring. Circa 1950 or possibly earlier. Weighty and substantial and all elements are very ornate and beautifully made and detailed...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Strands : Pre 1960 item #1207433
modemodern
SOLD
Lovely vintage natural undyed Mediterranean coral necklace in a medium red or dark salmon color, with two sizes of carved rounded beads, and a silver filigree clasp. Circa 1950. It has been professionally restrung on softflex wire which drapes beautifully. 41 inches wearable length and 1/4 inch wide. The larger beads are about 6mm by 5mm. It weighs 54 grams. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Pre 1960 item #1255296
modemodern
Sold
Beautiful classic 1950s Francisco Rebajes copper link bracelet with stylized hearts in dark copper backed with silvertone metal. Marked REBAJES. Box slide clasp. The links are curved to conform to the wrist. 1 5/8 inches wide and 7 inches wearable length. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Designer Signed : Pre 1950 item #845696
modemodern
SOLD
A lovely sterling necklace with an asymmetrical centerpiece with an amazing and huge blue glass openback and unfoiled stone. Marked OTIS STERLING. Circa 1940. With brilliant paste rhinestones. The color of the blue stone is more intense than the photos depict. A classic collectible Art Deco piece, and currently perfectly of the moment as well...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Mexican : Pre 1950 item #691379
modemodern
SOLD
Outstanding vintage signed Los Castillo heavy sterling bracelet with a repousse foliate motif. 1940s, pre-eagle mark. Marked LOS CASTILLO TAXCO, STERLING MADE IN MEXICO, and with design number 116. Very substantial at 94 grams/3.3 ounces. With a hook closure and safety chain.

Great size -- 1 3/4 inches wide and 7 1/2 inches long. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Strands : Jewels : Pre 1950 item #1178253
modemodern
SOLD
Fabulous vintage very long necklace of carved round creamy white or celadon jade beads graduating from 8 mm to 13 mm at the center. With original silver screw clasp. Circa 1940. Possibly Chinese. The beads have a slightly matte finish. Very weighty at 198 grams. It has been professionally restrung on very fine silvertone fabric covered soft flexible wire. 48 inches long and 1/2 inch wide at center bead. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1950 item #743229
modemodern
SOLD
Fabulous French Art Deco beaded rope necklace with beads made of glass, glass based faux pearls, antiqued brass, carved stone, and composition or celluloid. Circa 1930 or 1940. From the estate of a serious glass collector. I've owned many of these necklaces, in rope and bib form. All the beads are wired on brass wire. Continuous strand, 18 inches wearable length. The largest beads are over 20 mm long. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1950 item #744439
modemodern
SOLD
This beautiful necklace is pictured on page 137 of "Miriam Haskell Jewelry" by Cathy Gordon and Sheila Pamfiloff. It has seven clusters of genuine red coral spezzati, turquoise glass beads, and brass bell shaped caps, attached to a brass braided chain, with a spring ring clasp and extender chain. Each cluster has a large turquoise bead at the top, and three turquoise beads at the bottom. The turquoise beads have painted detail simulating the matrix in turquoise stone...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Strands : Pre 1950 item #1132649
modemodern
SOLD
Sumptuous vintage necklace with two strands of graduated oxblood red undyed Mediterranean coral spezzati, or branches, with a gold washed silver clasp. The color is a true red and darker than the photos depict. Best representation of color are the photos on light background. Circa 1940. The clasp is not marked but tests positive for at least 900 silver. 18 1/2 inches wearable length on the inside strand. It drops 3 1/2 inches in the center. Excellent condition...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Rhinestone : Pre 1950 item #1043866
modemodern
$545.00
Fabulous articulated bracelet in silvertone rhodium plated white metal / pot metal with large and small square emerald cut invisibly set blue openback unfoiled glass stones and tiny colorless strass stones. Examples of this type of French bracelet are pictured in "European Designer Jewelry" by Ginger Moro. Slide clasp with safety chain. Wearable length is 7 1/2 inches. 5/8 inch wide...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1950 item #1207639
modemodern
SOLD
Vintage long necklace of graduated Gripoix poured glass beads in green and purple, wired with dark goldtone metal, with ornate filigree caps, and cylindrical stamped dark goldtone metal beads, with a screw barrel clasp, circa 1940. Marked MADE IN FRANCE. 37 1/4 inches wearable length. The largest center bead is just under 3/4 inch wide or 17mm. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Mexican : Pre 1950 item #790686
modemodern
SOLD
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 : Silver : Mexican : Pre 1950 item #1063924
modemodern
SOLD
Beautiful dimensional bracelet with repousse work in pre-Columbian style motifs. Circa 1940. Marked STERLING 925 TAXCO MEX and signed CP or OP. It weighs 51 grams. This piece and most of the other Mexican silver I have listed came from one long time collector's estate. 3 3/4 inches wide in front and with a wearable length (when the edges meet) of 6 1/2 inches. Overall excellent condition. The tips of the longest "fronds" have some very slight unevenness which is most likely from the ...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Deco : Pre 1950 item #850068
modemodern
SOLD
Beautiful matched pair of white gold eternity rings, one ruby and one sapphire. Both have square cut stones mounted in 14KT white gold. The gold tests positive for 14K with jeweler's acid. Both are from the same estate. The stones on both are just under 2 millimeters square. Together they weigh 3 grams. Both are ring size 6 1/4 and are 2 mm wide. Excellent condition. A few of the ruby stones have very slight edge abrasion and one has a tiny flea bite; nothing is visible without a ...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Mexican : Pre 1950 item #1063926
modemodern
SOLD
Beautiful earrings in classic MATL style. By Matilde Poulat of Mexico City. Circa 1950. Marked MATL in script, 925, and MEXICO, and both earrings are marked with eagle 129, which is the correct number. The screwbacks, which are original, are marked ALPACA, which is of course a white metal alloy. With detailed baroque wirework, tiny turquoise cabochons with beautifully aged green color, and pyramidal amethysts. 1 1/2 inches long and just under 1 inch wide. Excellent condition. One ame...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1950 item #1207616
modemodern
$275.00
Very unusual vintage sautoir necklace in dark goldtone metal with very large double sided green glass faceted glass stones in bezel settings. Circa 1950 or possibly earlier. 55 inches wearable length. The green stone stations are 7/8 inch long and 5/8 inch wide. Excellent condition with some slight losses on the edges and points of a few stones. This is pictured but not noticeable when worn. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Rhinestone : Pre 1950 item #707849
modemodern
SOLD
Fabulous vintage glass beaded necklace with color changing alexandrite lead crystal glass beads and tiny clear glass spacer beads. Circa 1940. With a beautiful geometric Art Deco pave diamante slide clasp in silvertone metal. From a Baltimore estate and I also have listed several 1940s signed pins and clips from this same estate. The color is a pinkish lavender in natural light, and a pale aqua in white artificial light. Both colors are more intense than the photos depict.

Wearab...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1950 item #1262736
modemodern
Sold
Stunning vintage 1940s unsigned Miriam Haskell memory wire bracelet by early Haskell designer Frank Hess. Guaranteed Haskell Hess design, pictured on page 157 of "Miriam Haskell Jewelry" by Cathy Gordon and Sheila Pamfiloff. With slightly marbled opaque glass beads simulating salmon coral, strung on memory wire, with a center element with goldtone metal leaves set with tiny rhinestones. The center element is wired onto a clear plastic circle, per early Haskell construction documented in the book...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1950 item #1288550
modemodern
Sold
Gorgeous large signed Joseff brooch in Victorian Celtic style with brilliant openback unfoiled faceted glass stones in bezel settings. Marked JOSEFF. Circa 1940. Joseff jewelry was designed and made for costuming in top Hollywood movies in the 30s through the 60s, and also sold to consumers in exclusive stores such as Nieman Marcus. A key signature of Joseff jewelry was the matte metal finish which was intended to reduce glare under studio lights during filming, and was used in the r...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1950 item #763947
modemodern
SOLD
Fabulous vintage Bakelite bangle with very complex carving. Cherry vanilla marbled, with pierced decoration around the edges. Tests positive for Bakelite. Guaranteed vintage and original. From a collection. Standard 2 1/2 inches inside diameter, 1 inch wide, and 7/16 inch thick. Excellent condition. It is a bit dusty; I have brushed it but have not cleaned it further so as not to disturb the oxidized finish. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Strands : Pre 1950 item #1119447
modemodern
SOLD
Beautiful vintage necklace of large round beads made from genuine natural translucent cherry amber. Probably circa 1930. Hand knotted with the original pale pink silk cord. Guaranteed genuine vintage amber. Three of the beads have small inclusions but most of the beads are clear, which is considered very desirable. The color is dark reddish brown under white photo lights. Under yellow incandescent light it is a warmer more red color. The beads have a beautifully aged patinated finish. 4...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1950 item #763950
modemodern
SOLD
Stunning deeply carved bangle in cherry red. Circa 1940. Tests positive for Bakelite. Guaranteed vintage and original. From a collection. Standard 2 1/2 inches inside diameter, 7/8 inch wide, and 3/8 inch thick. Excellent condition. It is a bit dusty; I have brushed it but have not cleaned it further so as not to disturb the oxidized finish. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1950 item #763957
modemodern
SOLD
Beautiful glowing marbled tequila sunrise bangle in the popular rope pattern. The color is much better than the photos. Circa 1940. Tests positive for Bakelite. Guaranteed vintage and original. From a collection. Standard 2 1/2 inches inside diameter, 1/2 inch wide, and 3/8 inch thick. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1950 item #1166354
modemodern
SOLD
Amazing huge vintage signed Ledo bracelet in rhodium plated metal with pave large and small brilliant strass rhinestones in an Art Deco design. Marked LEDO. This is the mark of the Polcini jewelry company, founded in New York in 1911. The Ledo mark dates from the late 1940s. With slide clasp and safety chain. Great size -- 1 3/4 inches wide and 7 inches wearable length. Excellent condition. All stones are bright and much better than the photos. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged ...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1950 item #637422
modemodern
Sold
Outstanding vintage Art Deco/Retro Moderne horse form figural brooch in 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.

With an embedded pin back and with silver decoration, including beads around the collar and along the mane, and thin wires above and below the beads around the collar....

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Strands : Pre 1950 item #1207448
modemodern
SOLD
Stunning statement vintage 16 strand necklace of undyed natural Mediterranean salmon to red coral beads, with a large goldtone metal sliding element with cannetille wirework, and a matching goldtone metal hook clasp. Circa 1940. 17 1/2 inches long and about 1 inch wide. It weighs 126 grams. The beads are about 1/8 inch wide or 5mm by 4mm. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Modernism : Pre 1950 item #790710
modemodern
SOLD
Chunky heavy early modernist ring with a large faceted genuine amethyst stone. With two tiny marks on the outside of the shank. One is 800 or 900 (I can't be sure which), for silver content, and the other is a tiny hallmark or maker's mark in a cartouche. Circa 1940. Most likely European, based on the silver content and the other mark. Very well worked, with deep parallel ridges, in a great Deco/modernist design. Heavy for its size at 20 grams. Ring size 6. The top is just over 3/4 ...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1950 item #818298
modemodern
SOLD
Fabulous vintage bib necklace which is most likely a Frank Hess design for Miriam Haskell, from the 1930s or 1940s. With graduated sizes of beautiful solid glass dark blue beads in lily form, mounted on chains in a characteristic Hess for Haskell style, and with long dimensional brass leaves. The color is warmer than the photos depict. Slide clasp. 16 inches wearable length. The center drops 3 1/2 inches. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Strands : Pre 1950 item #1298457
modemodern
Sold
Lovely vintage 1930s or 1940s genuine butterscotch egg yolk honey amber necklace with graduated oval beads and silvertone spring ring clasp. All the beads are about half opaque and half translucent. Professionally restrung on silk cord. The clasp has an early collar opening, without the thumb tab. It weighs 24.5 grams. Guaranteed genuine amber. Wearable length is 19 1/2 inches. The largest center bead is 18mm by 7mm. The smallest end beads are 10mm by 7mm. Excellent condition with some miniscule...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Mexican : Pre 1950 item #691523
modemodern
SOLD
Fabulous and iconic vintage Mexican silver feather or leaf form clamper by Alfredo Villasana. Early 1940s, pre eagle mark. Marked with the conjoined AV for Villasana, TAXCO, HECHO EN MEXICO, and STERLING 925. Substantial at 78 grams/2.7 ounces. A stunning collectible piece.

Great size -- 3 1/4 inches wide at center front and 6 1/2 inches inside circumference. Excellent condition. There is oxidation on the hinge on the inside only; this does not show when the piece is worn. Photos enlarged to ...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Ethnic : Far Eastern : Pre 1950 item #1207445
modemodern
SOLD
Beautiful vintage circa 1940 Chinese export drop screwback earrings in gilt/gold washed silver filigree, with blue enameling and genuine carnelian cabochons. Not marked. 2 1/4 inches long and 5/8 inch wide. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1950 item #1022035
modemodern
SOLD
Stunning rare true black Bakelite clamper with a carved bow in the center, accented with engraved brass decoration. Tests positive for Bakelite and true black in that it has not oxidized to black from another color. Circa 1940. Guaranteed vintage and original. 1 1/4 inches wide at center, 6 3/8 inches inside circumference and inside diameters are 2 7/16 and 1 3/4 inches. Excellent condition. Spring is tight. Photos enlarged to show detail. Display form is lifesize.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1950 item #763946
modemodern
SOLD
Incredible very dimensional carved bangle with rose, leaf, and floral motifs. The floral motifs have "worm" style carving around the center flowers. Circa 1935. Tests positive for Bakelite. Guaranteed vintage and original. Standard 2 1/2 inches inside diameter, 15/16 inch wide, and 7/16 inch thick. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Designer Signed : Pre 1950 item #850066
modemodern
SOLD
Beautiful chic and modern signed Tiffany gold bracelet great to wear alone, layer, or use as a starter charm bracelet. Marked TIFFANY and 14K. Circa 1950. With slide clasp and safety catch. It weighs 18 grams. Wearable length is 7 1/4 inches. 1/4 inch wide. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1950 item #1368948
modemodern
$195.00
Gorgeous vintage 1940s or 1950s French five strand bracelet with glittering pink faceted glass bezel set open back unfoiled pointed back stones and glass based faux baroque pearls mounted in goldtone metal with an early oversized spring ring clasp with a thumb collar rather than a tab. Excellent condition with two small losses to two pearls, pictured but not noticeable when worn. Slight wear to the goldtone finish at the clasp is also pictured but again not noticeable when worn. Display form is ...