modemodern vintage and antique jewelry accessories and decorative arts
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All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1940 item #1115004
modemodern
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Fabulous unusual early vintage necklace made from marbled Bakelite beads in honey amber with a hint of cherry and butterscotch/egg yolk colors, and carved black wood beads, all wired in darkened brass with brass caps and clasp. Marked MADE IN FRANCE, and MOD DEP, which stands for Modele Depose. Circa 1935. The honey/cherry and butterscotch beads test positive for Bakelite using Simichrome. It weighs 84 grams, but that of course includes the wood beads and the metal findings. Wearable length i...
All Items : New Century : Jewelry : Necklaces : Contemporary item #1103043
modemodern
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Luminous French poured glass bezel set necklace in goldtone metal with glass paste stones in opaque black, transparent opaline, and gold foiled opaline. With drops evenly spaced throughout the length. Marked HISTOIRE DE VERRE, MADE IN FRANCE, AND H DE V on the attached metal tag. Lobster claw clasp.

From an estate, it was made by Thierry Gripoix, the grandson of Suzanne Gripoix, who made haute couture jewelry for jewelry for Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, and others. Thierry Gripoix has ma...

All Items : New Century : Jewelry : Bracelets : Pre 1990 item #1178277
modemodern
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Showstopping 1980s signed Hermes bangle in heavy gold plated metal with two horse heads. Marked HERMES PARIS, with the Hermes logo, and MADE IN FRANCE. A classic fabulous equestrian piece. Substantial at 97 grams. 1 inch wide at the center. The horse heads are 1 1/2 inches long together. Inside diameters are 2 5/8 and 2 1/8 inches. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1980 item #717664
modemodern
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Beautiful vintage engraved chain necklace with a toggle closure, in gunmetal gray. Not marked but the style of chain, and the overall look, is characteristically French, and it came from an estate with other signed French jewelry. Probably 1970s. Perfectly on trend; oversized chains and gray tones are key current looks.

Wearable length is 15 1/2 inches. Just over 5/8 inch wide. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1980 item #813771
modemodern
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Vintage French necklace with a huge green Gripoix poured glass center drop surmounted by a fluted goldtone disk shaped bead, chunky resin faux pearls, and disk shaped goldtone metal elements with matching green poured glass cabochons. With hook clasp and textured extender chain in goldtone metal. Marked FRANCE on the hook of the clasp. Circa 1960 or 1970. A fabulous piece in a great statement size and perfectly of the moment; the statement necklace is the "it" accessory of the season. Wearable...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1980 item #1123950
modemodern
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Very glam vintage circa 1960 or 1970 French necklace of gathered goldtone mesh and snake chains, with a center element of poured glass beads and prong set aurora borealis stones, and two tassels with matching poured glass beads in pink, peach, and green, with matching faux pearls. Hook clasp with matching bead. Wearable length is 27 inches. The center drop is 6 1/4 inches. Excellent condition. There is some slight verdigris at the top of the tassels and in the wiring of some of the beads...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1970 item #818307
modemodern
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Heavy brilliant green glass beaded necklace with silvertone hook and matching extender chain. The hook is marked MADE IN FRANCE. The beads are strung on fine metal wire. The beads are lead crystal and possibly Swarovski. Circa 1960. 17 1/2 inches wearable length. The center drops about 3 inches. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : New Century : Jewelry : Necklaces : Pre 1990 item #1362863
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Gorgeous vintage 1980s four strand torsade necklace mounted in heavy cast slightly matte goldtone metal with iridescent polyhedron glass beads in a violet purple blue color that changes from warm to cool depending on the light. With Givenchy logo on metal tag at the terminal. Hook clasp. 16 1/2 inches wearable length and 2 inches wide. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1980 item #1103022
modemodern
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Stunning vintage sautoir in heavy goldtone metal with 8 different two sided stations with poured glass cabochon stones simulating carved jewels, in topaz, ribbed molded amethyst, ruby, sapphire, emerald, onyx, carnelian, and garnet, plus one solid metal station. In the Renaissance revival style which was popularized by Chanel. Incredible construction -- each chain link is individually soldered, and the stone settings are all very finely detailed. Very heavy and substantial. Probably circa 1970 o...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1980 item #1103029
modemodern
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Very interesting vintage French statement size cuff bracelet in what feels like black suede (or possibly Ultrasuede) with large prong set stones, tiny gold glass beads at each end, and fine gold metal chain weaving between the stones, and with embroidered edges. With a magnetic clasp in goldtone metal with tiny brilliant strass stones on each end. The large stones feel like Lucite. This piece is typical of the type of French couture jewelry made by Lina Baretti for various designers, in unusual ...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1960 item #837277
modemodern
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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 : New Century : Jewelry : Necklaces : Pre 1990 item #1178270
modemodern
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Beautiful unsigned Chanel necklace, 1980s, with lengths of heavy sculpted goldtone metal chain links and elements alternating with handknotted large white baroque Gripoix glass faux pearls. Very heavy and finely made. It weighs 227 grams. The form, a long sautoir with handknotted pearls alternating with chain, and the materials and construction, are Chanel standard. These necklaces typically are signed with an attached metal hang tag. Continuous strand with no clasp and long enough t...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1980 item #948634
modemodern
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Lovely necklace of woven multi colored silk in red, blue, and green, with two very large knotted silk beads which slide along the strand. Also with a knotted button and loop close, and a long tassel in the center. Circa 1970 or 1980. Possibly an unsigned Yves Saint Laurent. From the same estate as the YSL black silk tasseled necklace I am listing. Wearable length is 22 inches. 1 inch wide at the silk beads. The tassels are 5 1/2 inches long. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to sho...
All Items : Vintage Arts : Decorative Art : Textiles : Accessories : Pre 1950 item #725766
modemodern
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A simply exceptional vintage French Art Deco evening bag covered in glittering paillettes (sequins) in soft colors of slate blue, pale green, and pink, on a black background with tiny clear glass bugle beads around the borders. With a rose goldtone frame with decorative engraving, and a matching rose tone chain. Circa 1940. With a kiss snap closure, black fabric lining and a fabric tag embroidered MADE IN FRANCE. The colors are brighter than the photos depict.

5 1/2 inches by 6 1/2...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1940 item #1022032
modemodern
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Fabulous and unusual apple juice Bakelite bangle with applied chrome plated metal decoration, and inset brilliant colorless strass stones. This piece is French, circa 1930. Tests positive for Bakelite. Guaranteed vintage and original. 7/8 inch wide, 3/4 inch thick, and 2 1/2 inches inside diameter. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail. Display form is lifesize.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1970 item #715014
modemodern
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Stunning vintage French clip drop earrings in silvertone metal with prong set colorless strass stones, faux pearls, and melon shaped openback poured glass stones in a fabulous green. With open wire clip backs. The connecting elements have dainty engraved decoration. The stones are probably Gripoix. Circa 1950 or 1960.

Nice size -- 2 3/4 inches long and 1 1/8 inches wide. Excellent condition. There are a few tiny fleabites on one pearl but it is not visible when the earrings are worn. The ...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1940 item #1288547
modemodern
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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 : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1940 item #818300
modemodern
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Fabulous torsade necklace with a sliding pendant, in aged brass, with purple and jade beads and "Peking" glass accents. 1930s French. I have owned a signed French necklace with the same repousse enameled decoration. The necklace has a strand of purple glass beads wrapped around several strands of twisted brass wire in classic French style. The torsade ends in filigree caps, large green and purple glass beads, and a screw barrel clasp. The pendant has a huge openback unfoiled purpl...