Exquisite - Antique 14K Gold Handkerchief Holder on Long Chain With Coral Slide

My friend Hazel said it best. This is exquisite! Somewhat of a mystery piece. It is fairly easy to date just by the design, materials and construction elements. It is 14K yellow gold, coral and enamel. It weighs 34 grams. This antique Victorian beauty dates to the 1860s to 1870s. 

Here you can see this gorgeous tasseled clip. It hangs from a super long (60 inches from end to end) foxtail chain. The clip is 2 1/2 inches long and 5/8 of an inch in width. The tassels are made up of the same foxtail chain. Each tassel has a small gold ball at the end.

The clip is artfully hand chased, front and back, with black enamel in the hand chased recessed areas. This type of enamel is known as Taille d' Epergne. (You may also see this spelled Taille d' Epargne.) The person who made this, was most definitely a highly skilled jeweler and artist.

The clip opens and closes by sliding the little "doughnut" up and down. It holds quite well. 

                                                  

 

In this photo you can see the coral slide that is fitted onto the foxtail chain. The slide is the same, front and back. The slide is 7/16 of an inch by 1/2 of an inch.

Here is another view of the slide. It is very detailed. Even the sides of the slide are beautifully done. The chain is also amazing. It feels so good in your hands. You can feel the quality of the piece. Just beautiful!

So there you have it. A gorgeous piece that I just wanted to share with you. I hope that you have enjoyed seeing it.

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

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The Tulip

Sometimes I see something that just draws me in. This small Georgian tulip vinaigrette is one of them. Often antique jewelry is beautiful as well as utilitarian. This tulip vinaigrette fits into that category. It dates to the early 19th century and was considered, back then, a necessity.

In those days, the streets were...well...no nice way to say this...the streets were cesspools. There is no way to get around that fact. Mud and muck, waste, all just dumped into the streets. Not to mention that people did not bathe on a regular basis. So the smells were deplorable. That is why the vinaigrette was considered a must have!

 

Vinaigrettes were worn to "override" the terrible smells of the day. It would have been worn on a ribbon, chain or chatelaine. The vinaigrette worked by placing a perfume soaked piece of sponge or fabric into the little hidden compartment. Some vinaigrettes had a grille that you could place the fabric beneath. When opened you could take a whiff of the beautiful smell of perfume. Vinaigrettes were also used for holding smelling salts.

Other vinagrettes had small holes in them that allowed the scent to naturally flow through at all times. I cannot say for sure, but I believe that this is one such vinaigrette.

There are some small holes in this piece. It looks as though someone tried to fill them with glue. Such a shame.

Here is another view of the tulip. I can only imagine how beautiful this was when it was new. Now, the enamel is quite worn and missing in places. The gold gilt is also very worn. The bale is loose and has been glued.

It would be wonderful if I could have this restored! Maybe someday. For now, I am content just to own this beauty. Yes, I said beauty. To me it is beautiful just the way it is. Can you imagine the stories this piece could tell! The history! Maybe someone like Jane Austen wore this. Who knows. Well a girl can dream.

Visit my shop, Wicked Darling, for more antique and vintage jewelry.

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Color For Fall

Silver Antique Cannetille Paste Brooch

This is such a great way to add a little color to your fall wardrobe. An antique Victorian silver cannetille brooch with green and pink paste stones. It dates to the 19th century. Just a sample of what you will find at Wicked Darling.

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Crystal Clear - Vintage 1920s Art Deco Pool of Light Ring

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Pool of Lights Ring

I just listed this beautiful vintage Art Deco rock crystal ring in my shop. These rock crystal pieces are often referred to as "pool of light" because they reflect and catch the light around them. Gorgeous! Set in a lovely sterling silver filigree setting. It dates to the 1920s.

                                                                           

You can see the detail. So pretty!

Really catches the light.

I would love to keep this ring all to myself, but it is time to part with it. Stop by my shop, Wicked Darling to see the details.

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Black to Basics

Antique French Jet Brooch C1900

Black. It goes with everything! Here are a few basic black pieces to add to your wardrobe.

Antique Silver Sash Buckle With Black Patina C1870s

Antique Victorian French Jet Brooch Set in 10K Gold

Antique Victorian Matte Enamel Brooch C1880

See something here that you like? Use coupon code WDBLACK10 for 10% off of your purchase of any black jewelry at Wicked Darling.

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September Mood

Just a short little video to show some of the treasures at Wicked Darling. ( please be aware that there is music on this video. I hate to be surprised by that!) See something that you like in the video? Use coupon code WDV10 for 10% off of your purchase.

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For Fall

Antique Enameled Floral Heart Shaped Pin

 Fall is my favorite time of year. Here are a few of my fall favs.

Antique Victorian Locket

1930s Vintage Silver Ring

Stop by Wicked Darling and check out my newly added treasures.

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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.

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June Is The Month For Pearls

Vintage 1940s Cultured Pearl Set Imperial Pearl Service

I adore pearls!! You can wear them with jeans or a ball gown...not that I get the chance to wear a ball gown these days. Pearls are always in style, but this year they seem to really be in. Pearls are the traditional birthstone for the month of June. What a perfect month for pearls! June is such a huge month for weddings and what better jewel for weddings than the pearl!

Georgian Natural Baroque Pearls Crescent Moon Pin

This beautiful tiny antique crescent moon pin would have originally been part of a more elaborate piece of jewelry. Jewelry that would have been specifically made for a bride in or around the 1820s to 1850s. (Late Georgian into the early Victorian era.) The natural baroque pearls were sewn onto a mother of pearl template using horse hair. This is a piece that was repurposed during the mid to late Victorian era. Made into a tiny pin. The setting is 14K gold.

Art Nouveau 14K Gold Enamel Seed Pearl Pin C1910

This is a beautiful example of an antique Art Nouveau seed pearl pin. It is done in 14K yellow gold with baby blue enamel. It dates to around 1910.

Victorian Natural Baroque Pearl Pin C1880

This is a gorgeous antique Victorian pearl pin. It features seven natural baroque pearls, set in a beautiful buttercup setting. It dates to around 1880.

Now you do not have to be born in the month of June to wear pearls. You don't even have to have a wedding or special occasion to wear pearls. When properly cared for, a strand of pearls gets more beautiful with age. Put your pearl jewelry on after you have applied makeup, hair spray, lotion or perfume. Never clean pearls with harsh chemicals! You can wipe them off with a damp cloth and let them air dry. If you must use a cleaning solution, use a very mild soap such as Ivory. No ammonia or acidic cleaners. Store your pearls in a soft dry cloth. (Not next to other jewelry that may scratch the pearls.) Also when storing antique and vintage jewelry of any kind, it is best never to store pieces in plastic bags. Moisture can accumulate in plastic bags and damage the pieces.

I hope that you will wear and enjoy your pearls! During the entire month of June, for 10% off of any pearl jewelry in my shop, Wicked Darling, just use coupon code: JUNEPEARL10

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The Color Purple....Antique and Vintage Jewelry

Antique Victorian Purple Glass Pin Etruscan Revival C1860s

The color purple is so magnificent! You either love it or hate it. I happen to love it! Purple has long been thought of as a sign of royalty and wealth. The saying "born to the purple", refers to someone who was born into royalty. In ancient times, purple dyes were often more expensive than gold! Purple also is thought of as a mystic color. 

It is said that if you surround yourself with the color purple, you will have peace of mind. Maybe I need to make a trip to the hardware store for some paint! Purple is a combination of red and blue. Warm and cool colors. It is perfect to wear in any season! So being in a purple kind of mood today...I am showing off some of my purple antique and vintage jewelry. 

Gorgeous Purple Art Deco Era Czech Glass Earrings Vintage 1920s

Beautiful Art Deco Purple Rhinestone Ring Uncas Vintage 1920s

Vintage Purple Celluloid Button Earrings C1930

Just wanted to say that these purple celluloid earrings remind me of purple Chiclets gum! Don't they? :) I hope that you have enjoyed today's post. 

For a 10% discount on anything purple in my shop, Wicked Darling, just use the coupon code: BRN2PURPLE

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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!

Locket Love...Antique Victorian Lockets

Antique Victorian Locket C1870s

It's Friday and I just feel like showing off a bit! So please indulge me. I have a passion for antique Victorian jewelry...especially lockets. So I just wanted to share three of them with you. They all have different styles, but were made around the same time. All from the 1870s. On the first locket (above), the hand engraved design is so beautiful! It is different on both sides. Above you can see the flowerpot framed with a checkerboard design.

Other side of the Victorian locket.

On this side, the details continue. A beautiful encircled swallow. Scrolls. A boat on a lake. Forget-Me-Nots. It is just amazing!

The inside of the locket.

It would have held tintypes and or a memento of a loved one. 

Antique Victorian Book Locket C1870s

Here we have a small Victorian book locket from the 1870s. It also has beautifully hand engraved designs, front and back. On this side we have the designs highlighted with black enamel.

The reverse side of the locket.

Here we have the reverse side of the locket. With the highlights done in white and black enamel. To open this locket, you gently pull it open from the top. It opens by sliding or pivoting on a tiny screw. Even the spine of the book is very detailed!

Inside view of locket.

Here you can see the inside with it's hidden compartment. You can also see from this view, how the locket slides open. It is a small treasure!

Antique Victorian 14K Locket with Seed Pearls and Cobalt Blue Enamel C1870s

This is a magnificent Victorian locket! Again, the same time frame as the other two, yet totally different. The front of this locket is so rich! Gorgeous natural pearls surrounded by deep cobalt blue enamel. All in 14K yellow gold. 

Various views of the locket.

Here you can see that this beautiful locket can be worn as a brooch or a pendant. The compartment in the back would have been used to hold a lock of hair from a loved one. You simply lift the glass frame up and out of the locket.

Front view of the Victorian locket.

Here you can see a straight on view of this incredible locket! It is so beautiful!

Thanks so much for letting me share these beautiful lockets with you! For more information on these antique lockets, or to see other antique lockets, visit my shop, Wicked Darling.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!