The Exquisite - Georgian Brooch

I am so in love with this Georgian brooch! It is large and ornate. Pink...the center stone is a pink foiled back paste stone. You can see the beaded edge of the setting around the stone. Just one clue that says the Georgian era to me. The fact that the paste stone is foiled is another. The ornate engraved setting. Also in the photos below, you will see the domed or bubbled back of the piece. All indicators of the Georgian era. I believe this beauty dates to around 1800 to the 1820s.

Look at the engraving! Just amazing!

You can see how the edges are done in a repousse design.

The hardware on the back is not original to the piece. Roll over safety type clasps were not introduced until around 1910. The piece can be worn as a pendant or a brooch. When you wear the piece as a brooch, the bale folds down out of sight. As I understand from the previous owner, the engraving is also not original to the piece.

Notice the bubbled or domed back.

Just a lovely, lovely piece of wearable history.

I hope that you will visit my shop and find a treasure! I am having my annual Christmas in July Sale. All items in my shop have been reduced by 15%. I have over 100 pieces of antique and vintage jewelry in my shop. From the Georgian era through to the 1970s. Prices to fit every budget! Shop now for Christmas or treat yourself. Save money in the process! Be sure to follow me here and use the coupon code WDBLOGFREESHIPPING at checkout for your free shipping! Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Collecting!

Christmas in July SALE at Wicked Darling.

Meet the Ladies of Wicked Darling - Christmas in July Sale

Christmas In July SALE Late Georgian Early Victorian Pin - Regency - Lithograph - Fichu - Lace Pin C1840

They may be marked down, but they are still beautiful and respectable ladies. These are just a few of the fabulous pieces that can be found when you visit Wicked Darling. There are over 100 pieces to choose from. All of the items in my shop have been reduced by 15% for my annual Christmas in July Sale. I have antique and vintage jewelry in every price range and to fit in with any budget. Plus...if you follow my blog, you can use the coupon code WDBLOGFREESHIPPING and receive free shipping on your purchases.

Christmas In July SALE Antique Victorian Hardstone Cameo Brooch - Pendant - Seed Pearls C1870

Christmas In July SALE Antique Victorian Portrait Pin - Hand Painted On Porcelain - Civil War Era - C1860

Christmas In July SALE Antique Victorian Porcelain Pin - Queen Louise of Prussia C1890

Christmas In July SALE Victorian Porcelain Portrait Brooch - Lady With Bird - C1880

Thank you for stopping by and meeting the ladies. 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.

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.

Georgian On My Mind - Late Georgian - Early Victorian Bracelet

This is such a gorgeous antique bracelet! For the most part, the research that I have done on this piece suggests that it is Georgian. However, I have also seen this style come up while doing research on Victorian jewelry. It is my opinion that this bracelet dates to the 1830s...possibly 184os. Opinions do change and with more research, I may come to a slightly different conclusion. This antique bracelet is made of silver and is very unique! I will explain more details below.

The bracelet is very wide. There are 16 strands of silver linked chain. There is a safety chain, but I am quite sure that it was added at a much later date. What is so unique about this bracelet, is the fact that there is a clasp on each side. In other words...The chains can be totally removed from the centerpiece. It makes me wonder if this bracelet could have been transformed into a choker by attaching a longer section of chains. I think the loop that you see, was originally used for converting the centerpiece into a pendant. It now holds the spring ring for the safety chain. Of course this is merely speculation on my part. (Speculation...I think I have been watching too much Court TV!)

There are x's engraved on one side of the clasp. Both sides of the clasps work alike.

The centerpiece is beautiful. A small ruby or garnet is surrounded by tiny seed pearls. All encased by black enamel.

Note how ornate the silver work is. Scrolls, flowers and flourishes.

The chain is dainty yet substantial. Each link appears to be handmade.

You can get an idea of how this chain flows when worn. Beautiful!

I hope to find out more about this bracelet. When I do, I will come back and make a post about it. This is just another antique piece that I wanted to share with you. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Collecting!

To see more antique and vintage jewelry, please visit my shop!

Wicked Darling

Striking! Georgian Paste Brooch

Such a beauty! Still debating if I should keep this piece for myself or list it in my shop. Yes...I am greedy for pretty pieces like this! This Georgian era paste brooch has so much sparkle! Very hard to capture in my photos. The small brooch dates to the 1820s.

There are two missing pastes stones. In one of the empty spaces you can see the remains of a gold gilt finish. Can you imagine how striking this brooch would have been when it was first created! To me, it is gorgeous now!

The metal is a bit of a mystery to me. It has rust, yet looks like silver or possibly iron. My husband tried to explain the complexity of this setting to me. He believes, as do I, that it was a very time consuming piece to make.

You can see the remains of the gold gilt finish on the back as well. Also a clue to the age of this brooch, is the extended length of the pin stem. It extends significantly past the actual brooch...which indicates great age.

The paste stones appear to be foiled backed...which is also a quite common feature of Georgian era jewelry. The foil backed stones would be more reflective and beautiful by candlelight. Even precious and semi precious stones were often foil backed for the same reason. Today this practice is pretty much limited to synthetic stones or crystals and rhinestones.

I hope that you have enjoyed seeing this beautiful antique Georgian brooch!

Happy Collecting!

Be sure to visit my shop for more antique and vintage jewelry!
Wicked Darling

Remember Me - 1830s Woven Bead Chain

A little over a year ago I purchased this sweet woven bead necklace. I have been collecting the loomed beaded Victorian necklaces for a while...the ones that date to the 1880s to early 1900s. At the time I purchased this necklace...I just assumed that it was from the same time period but just a different style. Apparently I was not alone in my assumption. Often these are misidentified as American Indian or late Victorian.

Shortly after I purchased this necklace, I ran across a couple of auctions on Ebay that totally blew me away! When reading the descriptions...I learned that my necklace...much like the ones up for auction...actually dated to the early 1830s! WOW! The seller included a link to an article by Lynne Zacek Bassett, titled "Woven Bead Chains Of The 1830s". You HAVE to read her article!

I immediately went to the link and read the article. There are no photos but it is so informative! I could not believe what I was reading. It was primarily a trend and an art form found only in America. Young women of the 1830s would make these woven bead chains...to wear or for gifts. Much like teens and young adults today...making things for their friends and family. The trend was short lived...and only lasted about four years. So these are extremely rare and hard to come by.

Most of the necklaces or bead chains are very long and very delicate! The beads are so tiny that I don't know how anyone made ANYTHING from them. The necklaces are said to be 40 to sixty inches in length and about 1/2 of an inch wide.

Mine is 43 inches long.

Each symbol that is woven into the chain has a meaning. Mine features a hearts (charity)...and anchors (hope)...keys...signifying education and wisdom when worked in gold beads. Keys are also associated with Martha, the patroness of housewives, and symbolize the housewife's keys to storage cupboards and to the house itself.

My necklace is sewn together at the end.

At first glance...my necklace appears to be black and white...but it is actually a very deep brown and white. (I think.)

After reading the article I could not help but wonder how in the world these treasures were made...no electricity for good lighting! How did this wonderful piece of history survive for nearly 200 years? What was she like? The young girl who put so much love into placing each bead! I feel so honored to own such a piece of history! I think that if she were around today...she would be thrilled to see her artwork on the internet for all the world to see! I imagine that she would be texting all of her friends..."OMG.... "
:)