modemodern vintage and antique jewelry accessories and decorative arts
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1950 item #763959
modemodern
SOLD
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 : Designer : Pre 1950 item #1318841
modemodern
$145.00
Gorgeous big statement vintage 1940s French wired necklace with very big faceted yellow topaz glass beads, ornate French filigree beads, and snake chains, with a matching link chain section at the back. Great on its own or layer with other similar sautoirs. 32 inches wearable length and 3/4 inch or 20mm at the beads. Excellent condition with some slight flea bites to some beads, not noticeable at a short distance. 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...
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 : 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 : Silver : Period : Pre 1950 item #769696
modemodern
SOLD
Beautiful silver filigree bracelet with 8 panels each featuring a different figure in carved and painted bone. Marked CHINA, circa 1930. With a slide clasp. It tests positive for at least 900 silver. Substantial at 49 grams and with excellent detail. Great size -- 1 1/4 inches wide and 7 1/8 inches long clasped. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
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 : Costume : Designer : Pre 1950 item #818308
modemodern
SOLD
In the signature Chanel colors of red and green, and marked MADE IN FRANCE on the screw barrel clasp, this fabulous necklace is probably by Chanel. Circa 1940, in moghul style, with aged brass chains, large and small glass based faux pearls, red glass beads, and huge teardrop shaped green glass beads. 15 3/4 inches wearable length. The sides are 1 1/8 inches wide. The drop is 4 1/2 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
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...

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...
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 : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1950 item #1207575
modemodern
$175.00
Lovely necklace with black glass beads and groups of dark blue melon beads with pale blue ruffled beads, all wired in dark goldtone metal. Circa 1940, probably French. 58 inches wearable length. The large melon beads are 3/8 inch wide. Excellent condition. One of the small light blue flower form beads is missing a petal -- this is very hard to see and does not show when worn. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Mexican : Pre 1950 item #691471
modemodern
SOLD
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...
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 : 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 1940 item #1288547
modemodern
Sold
Chic vintage French Art Deco modernist necklace with oblong Bakelite beads capped in chrome plated hemispheres, alternating with matching chrome beads and stacks of the chrome hemispheres, with French screw barrel clasp. Possibly as early as 1930s, although I have owned a 1980s Yves Saint Laurent necklace with the same stacked hemisphere design. The Bakelite beads all test positive with Simichrome, and are translucent, some with marbling. Professionally restrung on silk thread for securi...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Strands : Jewels : Pre 1940 item #1260748
modemodern
Sold
Stunning early vintage butterscotch egg yolk amber necklace with 42 matched large round beads hand knotted with matching amber silk thread, and with goldtone spring ring clasp. It weighs 58 grams. 1930s, all original. The beads are variegated in color and range from opaque to semi translucent, with great markings. 24 inches wearable length and the beads range from 12mm to 13mm or 1/2 inch wide. Excellent vintage condition with some slight crazing on some beads and some naturally occurring openin...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1940 item #763963
modemodern
SOLD
Amazing vintage necklace with very big deeply carved Bakelite beads in apple juice and cherry amber color, strung on handknotted dark brown cord, with a brass spring ring clasp with a thumb catch. Circa 1935. Both the apple juice and cherry amber elements test positive for Bakelite. Guaranteed vintage and original. The center apple juice bead is 32 mm in diameter and the large cherry amber beads are 35 mm long. A stunning and unusual piece.

Wearable length is 21 1/2 inches and the...