modemodern vintage and antique jewelry accessories and decorative arts
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 : Gold : Deco : Pre 1950 item #850068
modemodern
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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...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Strands : Pre 1950 item #1298457
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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...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Designer Signed : Pre 1950 item #845696
modemodern
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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 : Strands : Pre 1950 item #1207448
modemodern
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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 : Mexican : Pre 1950 item #691523
modemodern
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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...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1950 item #763943
modemodern
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Fabulous group of very similarly carved tube shaped Bakelite bangles, two in slightly different greens, one in rust, and one in milk chocolate. Circa 1940. All test positive for Bakelite. Guaranteed vintage and original. All are from the same collection. They make a stunning statement worn together. All are standard 2 1/2 inches inside diameter, 3/8 inch wide and 3/8 inch thick. All are in excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1950 item #1022035
modemodern
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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 : Silver : Mexican : Pre 1950 item #691471
modemodern
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Outstanding vintage Los Ballesteros Mexican bracelet in solid sterling silver. Marked with the Los Ballesteros mark, also marked HECHO EN MEXICO, STERLING 925, and with design number 39. An early piece, circa 1940. With slide clasp and safety chain. Very substantial at 87 grams/3.1 ounces. Very flexible and drapes beautifully because of its weight. A stunning and super wearable collectible piece.

1 1/8 inches wide by 1/8 inch thick and 7 inches long clasped. Excellent condition...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Mexican : Pre 1950 item #691379
modemodern
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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 : 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...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Mexican : Pre 1960 item #691914
modemodern
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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. Excellent cond...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1960 item #1090430
modemodern
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Fabulous very long French poured glass sautoir with thin dark goldtone metal chains and luscious glass beads simulating carved jewels in six colors: green, blue, cranberry, purple, topaz, and a beautiful dark pink tourmaline color I have not seen before in French jewelry. Circa 1950 or possibly earlier; the clasp is an early spring ring without the thumb tab. 60 inches long and just under 5/8 inch wide at the largest beads. The largest beads are 7/8 inch/24 millimeters long. Excellen...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1960 item #1229137
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Beautiful 1940s or 1950s French Renaissance revival two strand necklace in dark goldtone metal with ornate repousse elements with fine dark enameling, and red and black opaque poured glass stones. Marked MADE IN FRANCE. In the style of Chanel jewelry of the period. With large ornate box slide clasp. I am also listing the matching bracelet. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1960 item #1166367
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Beautiful French necklace with amazing huge green melon shaped beads, small red glass spacer beads, and brilliant rhinestone rondelles held in dark brasstone metal. Possibly an early Chanel. It has been professionally restrung. There are probably one or more green beads missing, as they are not exactly perfectly graduated, however, this is not extremely noticeable when worn. There are also rhinestones missing from some of the rondelles; these have been strung at the back. The clasp, ...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Period : Pre 1960 item #753276
modemodern
$1195.00
Stunning and very big vintage gold and genuine angelskin coral ring with 10 diamonds. Circa 1950. Marked 14K and also with a maker's mark which I cannot interpret. Substantial at 12 grams. The diamonds are about .03 carat each and are set in white gold or platinum. The coral is 16 mm in diameter. With a great asymmetrical design and excellent rope form motif. Statement jewelry is a very significant current fashion trend. Photos do not capture this fabulous piece. Ring size 6. The ...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1960 item #837276
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Stunning matched pair of spring hinged cuffs in celluloid or other plastic, with heavy thick applied silvertone cast metal elements with oblong curved green Lucite stones, and tiny pave colorless rhinestones. Circa 1950. From the estate of a New York socialite who had a huge quantity of Chanel and other French jewelry, as well as American designer jewelry. They are weighty and substantial. The decorative elements are mounted on the bracelets with pins inserted into drilled holes.The...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1960 item #1037194
modemodern
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Fabulous French necklace in dark goldtone metal with five swagged chains suspending a quatrefoil element with fired enameling in green, red, black, and white, and a long tasselled pendant. The clasp has matching enameling. The quatrefoil and the clasp are made from French filigree elements. The clasp hooks on both sides and can be opened from either side. Circa 1950. Many French makers, including Chanel, have used this necklace design. Wearable length is 17 1/2 inches. The drop is 7 i...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1960 item #710142
modemodern
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Stunning vintage necklace strung with dozens of rondelles with brilliant colorless stones. With an asymmetric buckle motif and a slide clasp with pave stones. There are four strands strung with alternating rondelles and round beads; The two outer strands are brass or goldtone base metal and the two inner strands are silvertone base metal, creating a fabulous and versatile gold and silver effect. This piece is most likely French, circa 1950. The metal at the clasp is goldtone.

1 1/...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1960 item #1123946
modemodern
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Luminous vintage aqua teal textured glass beaded clip earrings with all beads wired in dark brass and hanging from matching fine chains. French, 1950s or 1960s. Each earring has the same number of beads at the top and in the drops. 3 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1960 item #837277
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Beautiful French rope necklace in the style of Chanel; possibly an early unsigned Chanel. Circa 1960. With large Gripoix poured glass beads, glass based faux pearls, rhinestone rondelles, and distinctive fluted goldtone metal beads which I have had on two other confirmed French pieces. The chain elements are also French. The green beads are 17 mm long, the red beads are 21 mm long, and the blue beads and pearls are 10 mm in diameter. 44 inches long and 5/8 inch wide. Excellent condi...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Strands : Pre 1960 item #1207433
modemodern
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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 : Unsigned : Pre 1960 item #1207473
modemodern
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Ethereal long wired glass beaded sautoir with pale blue beads, glass based faux pearls, and large molded opaline glass beads, circa 1950. Probably French. 54 inches wearable length. The large opaline beads are just under 3/4 inch or 18mm wide. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Modernism : Pre 1960 item #691485
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Vintage sterling articulated necklace with a detachable matching pendant with cabochon cut genuine amethyst stones. Circa 1955. A studio piece, not marked or signed but tests positive for sterling silver. With a hook clasp. The color of the stones is a bit warmer than the photos depict. Very versatile and wearable and an excellent length.

The necklace is 17 inches long clasped by 1/2 inch wide. The length can be adjusted by hooking anywhere along the necklace links. The pendant is 3 1/2 i...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1960 item #1022038
modemodern
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Stunning statement size bangle in shiny black celluloid with dark cream celluloid applied dimensional flowers with black celluloid centers. Circa 1950. 2 5/16 inches wide, 5/8 inch deep, and 2 9/16 inches inside diameter. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail. Display form is lifesize.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1960 item #1392431
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Gorgeous heavy vintage circa 1950 French necklace with three strands of large blue glass beads wired in dark goldtone metal with a matching slide clasp with a large matching cabochon poured glass stone. With large and medium size poured glass beads in honeycomb shapes, and faceted transparent beads with a slightly iridescent finish. 16 1/2 inches wearable length on the inside strand and the center drops 2 1/2 inches. Excellent condition with a side loss to one small honeycomb bead; pictured but ...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Pre 1960 item #1255296
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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 : Costume : Designer : Pre 1960 item #748499
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Stunning vintage French fringed bib necklace with a very complex construction. 1940s or 1950s. Marked FRANCE. With glass beads simulating turquoise suspended from brass chains, and framed by layers of petal form brass elements. With a slide clasp and safety chain. Extremely wearable for day or evening and fabulous with white or black. Wearable any time of the year but especially perfect for resort and spring. Wearable length is 16 inches and it drops 3 inches in the center. Excell...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Strands : Pre 1960 item #1318844
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Fabulous lush vintage circa 1940 or 1950 red coral necklace, natural and undyed, in graduated very large branches, with a dark silver spring ring clasp. It weighs 92 grams. 23 inches wearable length and 1 inch wide at center. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1960 item #710133
modemodern
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Excellent vintage flower form fur clip with brilliant smoke gray stones in gunmetal japanned metal settings, with a very large faux pearl trembler in the center of the flower. French, marked DEPOSE, and a possible Roger Jean Pierre piece.

Great size -- 4 inches long and just under 2 inches wide and 1 1/2 inches deep. Very good to excellent condition. There is a slight amount of yellowed glue residue on the front right side, and a tiny dark spot on the faux pearl, however these are no...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1960 item #1090424
modemodern
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Beautiful unusual French sautoir necklace with large dark violet blue and white translucent glass beads, opaque molded glass beads simulating carved lapis, small brilliant faceted blue and lavender purple glass beads, and large ornate stamped goldtone metal beads, all wired in dark goldtone metal. Spring ring clasp. 55 inches long and 5/8 inch wide at the metal beads. Excellent condition. One metal bead has some loss to the finish; pictured but not noticeable when worn. Photos enlarg...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Mexican : Pre 1960 item #1063923
modemodern
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Fabulous vintage necklace with thirteen glowing "dragon's breath" glass cabochons simulating fire opals, in baroque, deeply worked settings. Marked STERLING, TAXCO, EMMA, and numbered 279. This is the mark of Emma Melendez of Taxco, active 1953-1971. Slide clasp. 16 inches wearable length and 7/8 inch wide. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail. Display form is life size.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1960 item #1243768
modemodern
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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. Versions of the cutout shapes are most often found on...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1960 item #715187
modemodern
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Fabulous vintage necklace in gunmetal gray with brilliant openbacked topaz crystal stones. Circa 1950, French. A possible Roger Jean-Pierre piece based on the design, the stones and metal, and the construction. With a lacy leaf and branch motif. Also with a slide clasp with a very large matching stone. Articulated to drape smoothly and comfortably, with the side sections encircling the neck and the center section dropping right at the collarbone. (It is not draping properly on my neckl...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Mexican : Pre 1960 item #691073
modemodern
SOLD
A stunning, very big and weighty vintage Mexican silver cuff by Margot Van Voorhies Carr, or Margot de Taxco. 1940s or 1950s. Marked MARGOT DE TAXCO, STERLING MADE IN MEXICO, with eagle #16, and design number 5291. With her signature swan motif in a very stylized form. Very substantial at 75 grams/2.6 ounces. A fabulous piece from the estate of a serious Baltimore collector.

Great size -- 2 inches wide by 7 inches inside circumference, including the gap, which is 1 inch. Overall excelle...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Period : Pre 1960 item #1262629
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Classic vintage circa 1950 bracelet with carved agate scarabs mounted in 14KT yellow gold. Marked 14K. With scarabs in carnelian, rock crystal, tiger eye, banded onyx, unakite, and bloodstone. 7 1/4 inches wearable length and 1/2 inch wide. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.