Knock on Wood - Faux Bois

Antique Victorian Faux Bois Locket

"Faux bois (from the French for false wood) refers to the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains in various media. The craft has roots in the Renaissance with trompe-l'œil."

My latest find! An antique Victorian locket. So unusual. It has a cool faux bois design done in pink and green gold. I have not tested this yet, but believe the outer shell to be gold. The interior seems to be a gold gilt base metal.

The back has the same design. Love that the buckle or strap is "attached" with a silver screw. Reminds me of an old wooden trunk or pirate's chest.

You can see that the inside has some wear to the gold gilt finish.

The locket still has the original glass compartment or photo covers. Also an original piece of paper that came with the locket when it was new. The glass pieces are loose, but may stay in place when photos are added.

An amazing piece! Stop by Wicked Darling  and check out all of my antique and vintage lockets.

I Can See Beautiful Things In Your Future...

I can see beautiful things in your future! No...I am not psychic. I just know that I will be listing some really gorgeous items at Wicked Darling.

                                                    

A wonderful Georgian wax seal fob. Plenty of rings. Art Deco rings, cocktail rings, wedding bands, marcasite rings, Some really pretty brooches as well. Rhinestone arrow jabot. A large hand painted Victorian brooch. A Victorian onyx bar pin and a lovely Victorian locket. Oh...also an arrow and locket brooch from the 1940s.

                                              

I have so much more that is not pictured here. Something for everyone. Some really fun vintage items for spring and summer. Also some pieces for the serious antique jewelry collector. See something that you want all for yourself? Just email me and I can arrange that for you. (pam@wickeddarling.com)

Thanks for stopping by!

                   

March - The Month For Bloodstone

Antique Victorian Bloodstone Fob

Most people associate the aquamarine as the birthstone for the month of March. But did you know that bloodstone is also the birthstone for the month of March? Bloodstone is also known as heliotrope. A green chalcedony with red flecks. The red flecks come from iron oxide present in the stone.

              

                                                 

Back of Antique Victorian Bloodstone Fob

In ancient times, it was believed that bloodstone could stop hemorrhaging. It was also used to ward off negative energies.

  
                                                                 

This antique Victorian bloodstone fob is an excellent example of the beauty of bloodstone. The carved intaglio of a warrior is wonderful. Whether you believe the lore of the stone or not, it makes for a lovely piece of antique jewelry. So timeless. It could easily be worn by men or women. As a charm for a bracelet or placed on a chain or ribbon, to be worn as a necklace.

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

Thanks for stopping by!

Marked...British Registry Marks

Victorian Scottish Luckenbooth Pin

Learning about silver hallmarks, particularly on antique jewelry, can be quite confusing. Especially when you don’t know where to start. This is an article that I wrote several years ago. I hope that you will find it useful in your research.

Looking through my collection of antique jewelry, I ran across a Scottish Luckenbooth pin. The history and lore behind Luckenbooth pins is quite fascinating on it’s own. My sister has traced our family roots back to Scotland. So I thought this pin would make a great gift for her. 

The pin does not have any of the usual hallmarks that I had seen on British silver jewelry. So after a lot of researching (years)…I was at a loss. I did an image search on Google for antique Luckenbooth pins. (I have found the Google image search to be a great research tool.) Of the few pins that looked similar to mine, and were hallmarked, I ran across the words “diamond mark” and “British Registry”. I did a search on these terms and low and behold ...there was my answer. The marks on my pin are not silver hallmarks. They are British registry marks! I was so excited! (OK…It does not take much for me!)

The marks on the back of the pin are kind of like early design copyrights. So I found out that the design of my pin was registered on February 22, 1866. That does not mean that my pin was actually made on that date. It could have been produced a few years earlier or many years later. But that date was the date that the design was officially registered with the British government. I had already formed an opinion as to the age of the pin from it‘s style and construction, and I was pretty close. The British Registry is not only for jewelry, but for all types of items that would need protection for their designs. For example: metal items, furniture, ceramics…etc.

Registry mark on the back of the Luckenbooth pin.

Here is the link to the site that explains the British Registry. http://www.925-1000.com/registry.html

It has a great chart that is easy to use. This site is also a wealth of information for silver hallmarks! I hope that my findings will save you some time. Maybe this is what you have been searching for as well! I think it is information worth sharing. This is a wonderful site that I use and refer people to often. 

I hope that this has helped someone out there! Looking for some really interesting pieces of antique and vintage jewelry? Visit my shop, Wicked Darling.

Thanks for stopping by!

Morning in May...Lily of The Valley

Antique Victorian 18KT Pietra Dura Mosaic Pin Lily of the Valley

Most people know that each month has it's own stone or birthstone. Emerald being the traditional stone for the month of May. Each month also has it's own assigned flower. May's flower is the Lily of The Valley. This beautiful flower is also known as May Bells. To the Victorians, the Lily of the Valley symbolized purity, sweetness, humility and the return of happiness. 

 "Hey why did you always get to sit in Mama's lap???!!!"  

 May first, also known as May Day, is my sister Sandy's birthday. This is a photo of my Mama holding my sister Sandy...me standing next to them. Here's wishing Sandy a month filled with sweetness and happiness!

Thanks for stopping by!

To Ride on a Sea Serpent - Antique Victorian Brooch

I absolutely adore this antique Victorian brooch! A cherub riding on the back of a sea serpent gondola. Amazing details! The top portion is gutta percha...possibly vulcanite, sitting on a pressed horn or tortoise shell foundation. I will not test this piece, as I feel it stands on it's own merit. Most likely a mourning piece. This Victorian beauty dates to the 1870s. This is just one of the many antique treasures that you will find at Wicked Darling. You can see the intricate detail. The flowers and the face of the sea serpent. The back view of the brooch. Just a simple C clasp. A side view of the brooch. When held to the light, the base looks to me like tortoise shell...but again I will not test it, for fear of damaging the piece. Such a beautiful and unusual antique brooch! Be sure to stop by my shop, Wicked Darling, for more antique and vintage jewelry. I have pieces from many eras. From the Georgian era through to the 1970s...in a price range to fit any budget. During the month of July, all of my jewelry has been reduced by 15%. It is my annual Christmas in July Sale. For free shipping, follow me here and be sure to use the coupon code WDBLOGFREESHIPPING at checkout. So stop by and shop now for Christmas...or just treat yourself. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy collecting!

Christmas in July Sale at Wicked Darling.

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.

Sitting On Top Of The World - Victorian Lion Locket

You never forget your first!...Locket that is. If you are a collector, you know exactly what I mean. You most likely remember that moment in time when you caught the fever. When you discovered what would begin a life long quest for another...and another. This locket was my first. It is the locket that gave me locket fever. I can remember where I found it. The day I found it. The weather on that day! Let me say that I usually cannot remember what I did earlier in the day, but I found this antique Victorian locket almost 30 years ago and I still remember the details! I had to rescue it from a tangled mess of beads and chains. It was in a box of "junk" at a housewares - antique shop. I was so determined to set it free from this lowly junk box. It seemed to take forever. I purchased the locket and went on my way. We were on a road trip. A very long road trip. I remember holding it in my hands and inspecting it for the next 10 hours. What a treasure!

It also appears that it held a stone at one time. Perhaps in the mouth of the lion. You can see here that part of his face is flattened and has a different color metal. You will see below, in one of the photos, that someone attempted a crude repair from the inside of the locket.

At the time I knew very little about Victorian jewelry, but I knew that was about to change. I bought every book about antique jewelry that I could get my hands on. This was long before we had computers or the internet. Look how majestic this lion is! Sitting on top of the world. I now believe that he represents Great Britain. He dates to the 1870s.

You can see the detail in this locket and why I became obsessed!

Just amazing! My photos do not do this locket justice!

Just look at the intricate hand chased or hand engraved details on the back of the locket. The engraving was actually what fascinated me about the locket. I had worked in a fine jewelry store and had done engraving using a machine. That was difficult enough...and I knew what kind of skill was required to do the level of engraving that was on this locket.

You can see the crude repair. Also, there is hair under glass. Original to the locket.

I have really enjoyed this locket! It has given me so much pleasure and strangely enough...the locket with a globe and a map on the front, may have set me on a course that would ultimately change the direction of my life. A course that I happily travel on everyday! :) Thanks for stopping by! 

Happy Collecting!

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

Wicked Darling

Embellishment - Victorian Locket

Isn't this locket a beauty! So ornate. Totally embellished to the hilt! It would have been just as pretty with only the hand painted enameled center...but wait! Let's add some green gold leaves. OK...are we done yet? No...I think it needs some applied pink gold flowers and some raised nodules or points on the sides. OK! Now we are done? Nope! Let's add some seed pearls set in buttercup settings. OK. Now we are done? Well at least for the front.

This piece is typical of the 1860s to 1870s. Large and ornate, yet very feminine and soft in nature.

Now for the back of the piece. It once had a pin stem and a bale for wearing as a pendant and a brooch. But why stop there! It is also a locket. This hidden locket compartment would hold a photo or memento of someone special. Allowing the wearer to hide her secret affections. No one would be any the wiser of this lady's feelings towards that someone special. With the onset of photography and the technology of making photos widely available to the common folk, lockets became hugely popular and they remain so even to this day.

Here you can see the side view of this locket. You gently pull up on the rim at the top, and the glass cover will lift off. This piece still has the original tinted paper insert and glass.

Just a beautiful locket in need of some minor repairs. Then it can once again hold that secret someone close to the heart.

Happy Collecting!
To see more antique and vintage jewelry, stop by my shop.
Wicked Darling

Show and Tell Monday - Locket With a Past

It's Monday and time for Show and Tell! Today I want to share this wonderful locket with you. I am always touched when I find a photo in a locket. Especially when it has obviously been there for so many years. SO many collectors and dealers will remove these photos and I think it is such a shame. Part of the locket's soul...gone forever. (OK...so I am a drama queen!) I can say for sure that as long as I own this locket, this handsome man's image will remain inside.

As with the locket that I showed you on Sunday, this is a huge locket. It measures approximately 2 1/2" x 1 3/8". Not quite as heavy and not quite as ornate as the locket that I showed you yesterday, but stunning in it's own ways. It also dates to the Civil War era. C1860 give or take a few years. It has gorgeous granular work that is typical of the Etruscan styles seen in this era.

Look at those delicate gold flowers! All handmade and applied by a master craftsman. In the center we have five tiny natural pearls.

A closer look at the artistry that makes this a fabulous locket!

You can see how well made the bale is on this piece. Beautiful from every angle!

Here he is. This handsome young man with a mustache and wavy hair. Hand tinted cheeks. Piercing eyes.

I will always wonder who he was. This well dressed young man. One also has to wonder just who carried his photo so close to their heart and treasured this locket so many years ago.

I hope that you have enjoyed today's Show and Tell!

Happy Collecting!
For more antique and vintage jewelry, be sure to visit my shop! :)
Wicked Darling