modemodern vintage and antique jewelry accessories and decorative arts
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1910 item #632156
modemodern
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A beautiful antique Victorian / Art Nouveau 14KT yellow gold ring in the form of two intertwined snakes, each with a genuine ruby in its head. Circa 1900. Snakes were a popular motif in the Victorian era, signifying eternity and love, and were also a popular motif in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco eras. Marked 14K and also marked with a what looks like a maker's mark of a D in a lozenge shaped cartouche. The rubies are gemologist verified...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1970 item #666383
modemodern
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Stunning and very dimensional vintage articulated collar necklace in the form of branch coral, with many black glass stones, both cabochon and faceted. 1960's, unsigned, probably Italian, by Bijoux Elfe or Bijoux Cascio, both couture makers. The heavy S shaped hook at the clasp, the overall construction, and of course the coral motif, are characteristically Italian...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1980 item #657085
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A fabulous vintage handmade studio modernist bib necklace with black and white glass beads strung on brass wire, and engraved brass leaf or feather form drops at the end of each beaded wire. The overall effect is of a feathered collar. 1970s. Bold and unique and with outstanding impact. Photos do not do justice to this piece. It drapes very nicely and is very easy to wear.

Wearable length is 16 inches. The drops are 3 3/4 inches long. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1950 item #653236
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Completely charming and adorable and beautifully executed vintage 1940s carved wood turtle figural brooch with black and white glass eyes. He is a great size and completely three dimensional and is just as much fun sitting on a table or desk as he is as a pin. A classic 1940s piece and rare to see one so well executed with such excellent detail.

3 inches long by 1 3/4 inches wide by 1 inch tall. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1980 item #741519
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Early Robert Lee Morris sterling heart shaped pendant on a black fabric cord. Marked RLM in script. 1970s, from a Baltimore estate and I am also listing a crescent shaped pendant necklace from this same estate. Robert Lee Morris began designing jewelry in 1970 and has collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld, Michael Kors, and Donna Karan. This piece is yellow gold over sterling silver, with a matte finish. It is solid, and very heavy for its size at 62 grams. 1 3/8inches long...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1950 item #666392
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Very rare vintage Ben Reig hinged bangle in goldtone with coral color thermoset stones and clear rhinestones. Late 1940s. Marked BEN REIG. The American design firm Ben Reig operated from the 1930s through the 1960s and I believe is known more for its clothing than its jewelry.

This piece has a beautiful openwork design made up of many small Maltese crosses studded with thermoset plastic faux coral cabochon stones, and clear rhinestones...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1970 item #680318
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A beautiful vintage signed Italian necklace with a sun form pendant which is also a detachable brooch. Circa 1960s. Marked GM in a circle, which is an Italian mark. (Please see my other piece listed with this same mark, with its original Italy hang tag.) The black beads are lightweight celluloid "sugar beads" with tiny granules covering their surface. The pendant is a lightweight gold painted material, with inlaid glass stones. There are matching spacer beads with inlaid glass chips...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1950 item #596478
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Outstanding and very big Art Deco/Retro Moderne figural layered pin in clear Lucite and 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...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1900 item #732339
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Beautiful antique high relief lava cameo bracelet in 9KT gold with six cameos, two on each end in creamy greens, tans, and gray, and one black and one white cameo in the center. Circa 1900. Not marked but tests positive for 9KT gold. With a slide clasp. It weighs 30 grams. 1 inch wide by 3/8 inch deep and 6 1/2 inches wearable length. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1960 item #951324
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Fabulous vintage bracelet in dark goldtone metal with huge prong set glass cabochons simulating amethysts, framed in rope twist settings. Very weighty and substantial. Possibly French. Circa 1950. With a foldover clasp. The oblong stones are set in crown shaped prongs. 7 1/2 inches wearable length, 1 1/8 inches wide and 7/8 inch deep. The largest stones are 1 inch long. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail. Display form is life size.
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1950 item #653146
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Very big vintage 1940s Elliot Handler designed Elzac figural brooch in glazed ceramic backed with lime green Lucite, with metallic raffia braid, and two blue Lucite beads at top and bottom. This exact piece, in a different color combination, is pictured on page 197 of the Brunialtis' "A Tribute to America" with a 1943 Elliot Handler patent reference cited...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1920 item #662490
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Beautiful large and heavy antique sterling silver sculpted ring with an 8 millimeter pearl in the center. It has a tiny antique hallmark, and tests positive for sterling silver. Probably circa 1900 or a bit later. Heavy and substantial at 17 grams; it is wonderful to wear and it feels like solid silver. Possibly European; it has an Arts & Crafts look, with sculpted foliate designs and oxidized detail. A fabulous statement ring...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1940 item #653105
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Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Bakelite bangle bracelet with applied metal seahorses and faux glass based pearls. Tests positive for Bakelite using Simichrome and 409. Unsigned, made by JHP Paris, which is very well known for its distinctive Bakelite and metal jewelry featuring whimsical animals, most often seahorses...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1900 item #663185
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Exceptional antique 14KT yellow gold ring with a beautifully executed carved black onyx cameo. Victorian, circa 1860 - 1880. Possibly a mourning piece. Not marked but tests positive for 14KT gold with jeweler's acid. Engraved inside with three initials in script. From a Baltimore estate. The cameo has very fine detail; one of the best cameos I have ever had. A fabulous and very wearable antique ring and perfect for wearing with other black jewelry.

Ring size 6. The top is 3/4 inch long b...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1970 item #948657
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Brilliant drop clip earrings in silvertone metal set with large faceted openback and unfoiled lead crystal stones, and one tiny rhinestone in the center of each post. Circa 1960. Possibly French. 2 3/8 inches long and 3/4 inch wide. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1950 item #748516
modemodern
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Charming French bracelet in aged brass with beautiful green glass stones. 1930s or 1940s. Marked MADE IN FRANCE. With very large faceted green glass stones in the center and at the end of the fob charm, and with tiny faceted green glass stones and cabochon cut green glass stones. Spring ring clasp. The back has a very interesting textured pattern. With classic French filigree and stamped metal elements. 1 inch wide at center. Wearable length is 6 1/2 inches. The charm is 2 inches...
All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 1940 item #622711
modemodern
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Fabulous pale green genuine apple jade beaded necklace with a white gold filigree clasp with a lovely genuine opal cabochon. Circa 1930. The clasp is marked 14K. The jade beads are a nice size at 9 millimeters wide. Handknotted with matching pale green thread; the stringing appears to be original and is secure. The beads have beautiful darker green variegated markings.

The necklace is 15 3/4 inches long with the clasp extended, and just under 3/8 inch wide. Excellent condition. Some photos ...

All Items : Archives : Estate Jewelry : Pre 2000 item #662487
modemodern
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A very big and spectacular sterling silver cocktail or statement ring by the contemporary artist Patricia Von Musulin. Marked STERLING and VON MUSULIN. Very heavy and substantial at 32 grams. With a distinctive modernist sculpted form. It has a fabulous patinated finish. Classic but also perfectly of the moment; big statement rings are a very significant current fashion trend.

Von Musulin's jewelry has appeared on American and European runways, and has been featured editorially in major ...