Things To Come....

Antique Art Nouveau Peridot and Pearl Pin

Finding pieces to offer in my shop is always exciting! I just wanted to show you a few of the antique and vintage treasures that I will be adding to my shop, Wicked Darling, very soon. I am doing the last bit of testing and research on them before I list them. Hope that you will enjoy the sneak peek!

Vintage Art Deco Camphor Glass Pendant With Diamond

Antique Arts and Crafts Movement Pin

Small Antique Victorian Hoop Earrings

I have a large selection of antique and vintage jewelry listed at Wicked Darling. Would love for you to stop by and take a look! For free shipping (within the U.S.) on your purchase use coupon code: WickedDarlingFS

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Merry Christmas!...Christmas in July SALE

Small Antique Victorian Earrings Hand Painted On Porcelain - Acorn Setting - C1850

Merry Christmas early! Yes...it is time for my annual Christmas in July Sale! All of the items in my shop have been reduced by 15%. Plus if you follow me here on my blog, you can also get free shipping! That's right! Just use coupon code WDBLOGFREESHIPPING

What you see here is just a small sampling of what you will find in my shop, Wicked Darling. I have over 100 items for sale, in a price range to suit every budget. Items from the Georgian and Victorian eras up to the 1970s. My specialty is the Victorian era. :)

Antique Victorian Black Enamel Bar Pin C1880

Vintage Garnet Crown Ring 10KT Yellow Gold Size 6.5

Victorian Locket Gold Filled Enameled C1875

Antique Victorian Hardstone Cameo Necklace - Choker C1870

Cupid Cherub Riding In Sea Serpent Gondola Antique Victorian Gutta Percha Brooch C1870
I hope that you will visit my shop and find a treasure! Shop now for Christmas or treat yourself. Save money in the process! Be sure to use the coupon code at checkout for your free shipping! Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Collecting!
Christmas in July SALE at Wicked Darling.

This Is It - Art Nouveau Enameled Face Pin - May Look Familiar

Does this face look familiar to you? It does to me! Every time that I look at this Art Nouveau enameled stickpin, I think of Michael Jackson! The eyeliner, the kind smile...and (OK...don't kill the messenger) the nose. It is almost as if someone in the 1890s climbed aboard a time machine and landed in the year 2005...saw Michael Jackson...became a fan...traveled back to the 1890s...and made this stickpin!

As you can see this is signed on the pin "P.S.CO". This is the mark of the Plainville Stock Company out of Plainville, Massachusetts. In business from 1896 to the present time.

You can see the beautiful color in the enamel. It has an iridescent and luminous quality.

The pin is a rolled gold and shows wear to the finish.

This shows the construction from the back of the stickpin.

These enameled Art Nouveau pieces are extremely hard to come by and I am happy to have this one, even with the damage to the enamel. I hope that you have enjoyed seeing it and I hope that it brought a smile to your face. One last thing that you should know. I have always been a fan of Michael Jackson. I feel like we grew up together! So no disrespect was intended by this post.

Happy Collecting!

For more antique and vintage jewelry, please visit my shop.
Wicked Darling

The Flower Girl - Art Nouveau Charm

Since June is such a popular month for weddings, I thought I would share this Art Nouveau flower girl charm with you. Actually...she would be a poppy girl. The image of the poppy was used frequently during the Art Nouveau era. This sweet flower girl dates to around 1890. She sure doesn't look her age!

It was quite hard to capture the true color and detail in this charm. The flower has a green cast and her hair is very golden.

Her face is so expressive. Especially her eyes!

Her face reminds me very much of a classical Roman statue.

This is the back side of the charm....obviously! :)

Her gaze seems to change each time I look at her. She is just beautiful! I hope that you have enjoyed seeing her. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Collecting!

For more antique and vintage jewelry, stop by my shop.
Wicked Darling

Walk Like an Egyptian - Art Nouveau Jewelry Casket

At some point, my antique and vintage jewelry collecting branched into other areas of collecting. Antique jewelry caskets being one of them. Today we call them jewelry boxes or trinket boxes. All though I only have a few left in my collection, I still long for more of them. This has been one of my favorites! It is an Art Nouveau Egyptian Revival box made by the Benedict MFG. Co. out of East Syracuse, NY. They were in business from 1894 to 1953. This box dates to around 1900.

While this piece features Egyptian symbolism, it also borrows some of it's design elements from the Arts and Crafts Movement as well as the Victorian era.

Here we have the back and side of the box. Egyptian winged scarabs or beetles and lotus blossoms are flanked by tendrils of ivy leaves. The ivy leaves being very Victorian.

This photo shows the side and front. Notice the very dark patina. (and the hole in the side.) Maybe someone used it to burn incense. That will remain an unsolved mystery! Anyway...the box is a dark grayish black. It looks a little darker in my photos. The box is made from a very heavy metal, with only the slightest trace of silver remaining. I think originally it was made to look as though it were just unearthed from an ancient Egyptian tomb.

The inside would have held a beautiful padded silk lining. This is all that remains inside of the box now. I have chosen to leave it as I found it. (The inside does look like it has been buried!)

Look at the little scarabs! Once again...the ivy leaves.

Here you can see the details on the side. A winged scarab. Again, it looks much darker in my photos, but you can see the traces of silver here. The overall shape of the box looks very Arts and Crafts movement to me. This antique jewelry casket is a great example of overlapping eras of design. Very unique.

I hope that you have enjoyed seeing this!

Happy Collecting!

For more antique and vintage jewelry and treasures, stop by my shop.
Wicked Darling

Ladies' Night - Art Nouveau Lady Lockets

Isn't she lovely...Isn't she wonderful...I just wanted this post to be about Art Nouveau "lady" lockets and how art imitated life...always has and always will. The Art Nouveau Era was at it's best from around 1880 to about 1915. There are elements of the era that show up before and after these dates...as different trends and styles merged.

The Art Nouveau era was influenced by beauty and nature. Curves...flowers...water...creatures...and yes beautiful women. Slowly getting away from the very formal Victorian Era...which also featured elements of nature...just in a different and more conservative way. Art Nouveau...which is French for new art...had a light ethereal feel to it. Dreamy...fairy like. Very much an homage to the beauty of women and nature.

In this post I have included photos of antique Art Nouveau lockets that were part of my collection at various times...Just looking at them makes me kind of sad that I have parted with them! They are just beautiful! I have also included photos of women from the same era...so you can see the correlation of art and real life. Enjoy!

This photo reminds me so much of the very first locket pictured in this post. Elegant. Refined. Is she breathing??? Look at that tiny waist! She has to be holding her breath!

Flowing hair...water...the sunrise...a swan...

Again...a beautiful lady or maiden with flowing hair.

Are you getting the picture now? I guess...pun intended! :)

Japanese influence was also strong in the Art Nouveau era. Lovely Geisha with her lover...I am presuming a lot I know...surrounded by curves and flowers. Maybe they are just friends...who knows!

The solemn lady...again curves and flowers. Even the locket itself has been transformed from the standard round Victorian locket. It accentuates the Art Nouveau style.

Flowers in her flowing hair.

A different view of the locket above. Note that the lady on the locket is wearing a locket.

She looks almost child like or nymph like. Very tranquil.

This photo looks so Art Nouveau yet so today as well. One of my favorite photos!

This Art Nouveau locket was most likely a fob for a man's watch chain and would date to the earlier part of the Art Nouveau era...

...While this locket would date to around 1910 or so. This lady is holding a steering wheel! Yes! She is actually driving! Note the flowing scarf on her head.

This lady locket is almost a combination of the photo above and below it.

You can just see it in her eyes..."The times, they are a changing" for women...and I must say...she looks pretty damned pleased about it! Thank you very much! :)

Be sure to visit my shops Wicked Darling on Etsy and Love And Honor on Ruby Lane for antique and vintage jewelry.