modemodern vintage and antique jewelry accessories and decorative arts
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...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Designer : Pre 1950 item #743230
modemodern
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Early Elsa Schiaparelli bib necklace in goldtone metal with glass drops in a classic French color combination of red, blue, green, and topaz. Circa 1940. Marked SCHIAPARELLI in script. With a hook clasp and rope twist extender chains. The metal elements are decorated with delicate engraved designs. Wearable length is 17 inches. 1 1/8 inches wide. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Designer Signed : Pre 1950 item #850066
modemodern
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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 : Silver : Period : Pre 1950 item #769696
modemodern
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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 : Costume : Designer : Pre 1950 item #744439
modemodern
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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 : 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 : 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 : Unsigned : Pre 1950 item #637422
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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 : Silver : Modernism : Pre 1950 item #790710
modemodern
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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 : Costume : Designer : Pre 1950 item #1262740
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Rare early vintage Joseff of Hollywood heavy double chain Byzantine or Etruscan revival ornate necklace in dark antiqued goldtone metal with hook clasp. 1940s. Marked JOSEFF HOLLYWOOD. 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...
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 : Mexican : Pre 1950 item #691924
modemodern
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Beautiful baroque style sterling necklace with a very large brilliant synthetic color changing alexandrite stone as a centerpiece. Marked NESTOR 925 and STERLING MEXICO. 1940s, without an eagle mark. The stone changes color from intense warm purple under daylight and yellow light, to violet blue under white light.

15 inches wearable length by 1/2 inch wide along the sides. The centerpiece is 3 1/2 inches wide by 2 inches long. Excellent condition...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1950 item #796550
modemodern
$245.00
Fabulous very unusual vintage copper cuff with inset navy blue leather. From a Philadelphia estate that had a large quantity of Arts & Crafts and Art Deco jewelry. Circa 1940. 1 1/2 inches wide and 7 1/2 inches inside diameter including the gap, which is 1 3/8 inches. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Period : Pre 1950 item #769701
modemodern
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Stunning and very substantial vintage Chinese bracelet with five sections connected by hinges, in gold washed silver filigree backed with solid silver panels, each with a charming carved genuine apple jade Buddha figure. Not marked but tests positive for sterling silver. Circa 1940. It weighs 71 grams. With a slide clasp and safety chain. Great size -- just under 1 1/4 inches wide, 1/2 inch deep, and 7 3/4 inches long clasped. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Strands : Jewels : Pre 1950 item #1305342
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Beautiful vintage genuine Baltic translucent honey amber necklace with graduated faceted beads. Guaranteed tested, genuine, untreated, natural Baltic amber. 1940s. It has been professionally restrung with new goldtone spring ring clasp. It weighs 46 grams...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1940 item #1262498
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Stunning 1930s Art Deco riviere necklace in silvertone metal with large brilliant bezel set openback faceted glass crystal stones. Marked GERMANY. The stones are held by prongs at the front. The backs of the bezels are decorated with a finely detailed flower form motif. The stones have pointed backs. Spring ring clasp. Wearable length is 16 1/2 inches and the stones and settings are 7/16 inch or 12mm. Excellent condition. Some tiny flea bites on some stones; most are only visible with a loupe. D...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1940 item #761017
modemodern
$195.00
Fabulous heavy vintage Bakelite bangle in true black (did not start out as another color). Tests positive for Bakelite and guaranteed vintage and original. 1930s. Deeply carved in a classic Art Deco bubble motif. 1 inch wide, just under 1/2 inch thick, and standard 2 1/2 inches inside diameter. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
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 : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Pre 1940 item #1141280
modemodern
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Beautiful early vintage long sautoir necklace in small coral glass beads with larger lapis glass beads and brilliant strass rondelles. 1920s or 1930s. Such a fabulous contrasting color combination. Continuous strand. This has been restrung for security and one set of rondelles are new replacements but this is not at all noticeable. 64 inches long. The blue beads are 3/8 inch/10mm wide. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1940 item #766335
modemodern
SOLD
Vintage Bakelite necklace simulating cherry amber, with very large graduated oblong beads ranging in size from 30 mm long to 12 mm long. It weighs 62 grams. Circa 1930. It has been professionally restrung for security. Tests positive for Bakelite and guaranteed old and original. 18 1/2 inches wearable length and 7/8 inch wide. Excellent condition. One large bead has three small flaws, as shown, but this is not noticeable when the piece is worn. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Deco : Pre 1940 item #697979
modemodern
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A fabulous fringed necklace, wearable for day or night, in sterling silver with very big glittering purple openback and unfoiled glass stones in prong settings. Circa 1935. The clasp is marked STERLING and the other elements test positive for sterling. The color is much more intense and slightly warmer than the photos depict. Huge stones, statement necklaces, and the color purple are all very significant current fashion trends. Also perfectly of the moment because it is a classic Art Deco p...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1940 item #748507
modemodern
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Beautiful vintage bib fringed necklace with long black glass rods and small marbled blue glass beads, and a huge heavy center fob pendant with a blue glass stone and faux pearls, all suspended from a brass bookchain. 1930s. This piece is most likely French; the long glass rod shaped beads and the fob form charm are French elements. A fabulous dramatic piece. Wearable length is 16 inches and it drops 2 3/4 inches in the center. Excellent condition with no damage to glass. Photos enl...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Period : Pre 1940 item #696169
modemodern
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Stunning vintage hinged bangle in openwork silver, with an angelskin coral carved rose surrounded by turquoise cabochons. The silver is worked in beautiful dimensional flower and foliate designs. Marked CHINA, and STERLING. Circa 1930. With a slide clasp and safety chain. The silver has a dark aged finish and appears to have a gold wash. The color of the coral is warmer and brighter than the photos depict. A rare Chinese piece, outstanding and very wearable.

Great size -- 1 3/4 inches wide ...

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 : Bakelite : Pre 1940 item #763963
modemodern
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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...

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 : Strands : Jewels : Pre 1940 item #1255298
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Beautiful early vintage Chinese carnelian beaded necklace with graduated large oblong beads with silvertone spring ring clasp. 1930s. The beads have great surface variations and shaded colors. 88 grams. This necklace has been professionally restrung on silver color soft flex wire for security. 22 inches wearable length and the largest bead is 22mm by 15mm. The smalles beads are 8mm by 7mm. Beads are in excellent condition. The clasp is slightly off center from the large center bead a...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Deco : Pre 1940 item #705642
modemodern
SOLD
A beautiful vintage sterling necklace with brilliant rhinestones in channel settings, in flexible links with detailed engraved decoration. Circa 1930. With a slide clasp and safety chain with a spring ring catch. Marked STERLING. Substantial at 53 grams and drapes beautifully. The links are connected at the inner edge and fan open at the outer edge.

14 1/2 inches long clasped and 1/2 inch wide. Overall excellent condition. All the stones are bright with the exception of three in one lin...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Pre 1940 item #1178258
modemodern
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Fabulous early Art Deco Egyptian revival necklace with five tiers of colorless round beads festooned between two sterling silver mounted incredible green glass paste scarabs, with sterling filigree slide clasp. 1930s. The clasp is marked STERLING. Probably French. The colorless beads are probably rock crystal. They don't look like glass. There were a few missing beads when I acquired it and I had it completely restrung with matching rock crystal beads which are scattered randomly amo...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Strands : Pre 1940 item #1277824
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Gorgeous vintage translucent rich dark genuine cherry amber necklace with graduated round beads. 1930s. Tested with acetone. It weighs 27 grams. The largest center bead is 13mm and the smallest beads are 6mm. Wearable length is 19 1/8 inches. 1/2 inch wide at center. Excellent condition. It has been professionally restrung with the original matching amber screw barrel clasp. One bead has a small depression, pictured. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Deco : Pre 1940 item #697976
modemodern
SOLD
Beautiful sterling articulated necklace with many glittering crystal round and baguette stones and a pendant with a huge brilliant peridot green glass openback and unfoiled stone. Marked OTIS STERLING. Circa 1940. Substantial at 49 grams. The green color is much more intense than the photos depict.

A classic collectible Art Deco piece, and currently perfectly of the moment as well. The fashion world is in the midst of a major Art Deco revival, with top houses such as Marc Jacobs, Lanvin...

All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Mexican : Pre 1940 item #1063922
modemodern
SOLD
Early pre-eagle large bracelet with a lacy flower form pattern. Circa 1940. Marked STERLING 925 TAXCO. With a darkened aged finish. It weighs 59 grams. This piece and most of the other Mexican silver I have listed came from one long time collector's estate. 4 inches wide in the front and with a wearable length (when the edges meet) of 7 inches. Excellent condition. No dents. Photos enlarged to show detail. Display form is life size.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Strands : Jewels : Pre 1940 item #1277829
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Lovely Art Deco pools of light necklace circa 1920 or 1930, made from 19 genuine rock crystal orbs, undrilled, held in silver plated brass tone wire, with a beautiful openwork flower motif slide clasp also in brass tone metal, with brass tone connecting jump rings. Guaranteed genuine rock crystal; images viewed through the orbs are shown upside down and backwards. The metal on the wires holding the rock crystal orbs is mostly still silver plated with some slight loss of plating. The clasp and co...
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Bakelite : Pre 1940 item #761027
modemodern
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Vintage Bakelite bypass bangle in marbled Mississippi mud with carved stylized snake heads. It has a slightly oval shape. Tests positive for Bakelite and guaranteed vintage and original. Circa 1935. 1 inch wide at crossover. Inside diameters are 2 1/2 and 2 5/8 inches. Just under 1/2 inch thick. This piece is slightly larger than average diameter. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Strands : Jewels : Pre 1940 item #1288104
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Lovely Art Deco pools of light necklace circa 1920 or 1930, made from 14 genuine rock crystal orbs, undrilled, held in sterling silver wire, with dainty decorative connecting links, and a hook close. Guaranteed genuine rock crystal; images viewed through the orbs are shown upside down and backwards. The orbs are 13mm in diameter. Nice size -- 18 inches wearable length. The stones are in excellent condition with no chips. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Costume : Unsigned : Pre 1940 item #1362911
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Beautiful vintage 1930s bib necklace in dark goldtone metal with festooned chains with solid metal drops with a cross hatched design, with hook clasp. Most likely French, based on quality and construction. Substantial and very well made. No missing elements. 18 1/2 inches wearable length and the center drops about 1 5/8 inches. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.