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

High Hopes - Victorian Earrings

Aren't these Victorian earrings gorgeous! They were the very first pair in my collection. I am always amazed when I see a pair of Victorian earrings. Not only for their beauty, but for the simple fact that they have remained "a pair" for over 100 years! I cannot tell you how many times over the last 40 years that I have purchased a new pair of earrings, only to lose one shortly there after. How many times have you swept the hair off of your face and tucked it behind your ear, only to realize..."Uh Oh! I have lost my earring!" I hate when that happens. That is why I think that pairs of antique earrings will become increasingly harder to come by. Below are some beautiful examples of single Victorian earrings from my collection, that have sadly lost their mates.

This is one of my favorite single Victorian earrings. This beautiful gold bird sitting on a two toned gold crescent moon and holding a diamond. I have always had high hopes that I would find a mate for it. It would actually make a beautiful ring or pendant.

Here is another grouping from my collection. They are beautiful, but lonely. That is a pair on the left, but one earring is missing the top with it's wire.

This group is gorgeous! I would LOVE to have complete pairs of these earrings.

Here is an example of one complete earring and just the top of the other. It really would make a lovely pendant or charm for a bracelet. All done in green, pink and yellow gold with turquoise. Very delicate and dainty.

Here we have one single earring in the center, surrounded by beautiful top pieces from earrings.

This grouping would actually look beautiful hanging from a charm bracelet. Maybe with some pearls thrown into the mix. Being an optimist, I always hold out hope that I will find a mate for these beauties...somewhere...out there...in this big world! What are your ideas for single earrings? I would love to hear about some of the creative things that you have done with them! Post your comments below. I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

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

Those Tiny Victorians - Antique Victorian Peacock Bracelet

I so wanted to wear this bracelet! I have tried everything and to no avail. It just does not fit. This antique Victorian bracelet was made for an extremely small wrist! Even my super thin friends have tried it on and it is too small. It is like looking for Cinderella! Surely there is a wrist in the kingdom that could wear this beautiful bracelet. :) Could a piece this elaborate have been made for a child or perhaps a teenager? Or were Victorian women just really tiny?

The peacock symbolized resurrection, beauty of the soul, and immortality. It was often used in Victorian mourning jewelry. I have been collecting antique Victorian peacock jewelry for years now. This is from my collection. This bracelet dates to C1875 - C1880. Made of a rolled gold with gold and silver applied designs. There are beautiful engraved details on the front panel. Look at those sweet little birds.

It has a place for a safety chain, but the hardware for this chain is missing. Long gone. The shape of the bracelet is a little off kilter.

Look at all of that detailed applied granular and wire work. All done in the Etruscan revival style that was so popular during this era.

The back of the bracelet. You can see that it has a slightly pink tint...and lots of wear to the finish.

I think that a wrist reduction is out of the question for me...So you may see this beautiful bracelet listed in my shop sometime in the near future.

I hope that you have enjoyed seeing this bracelet.

Happy Collecting!

To see more antique and vintage jewelry, visit 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

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

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

Show and Tell Sunday - Victorian Locket - Best of the Best!

Sometimes I have trouble parting with my treasures, so I decided to have "Show and Tell" posts. I could not think of a better piece to start with than this magnificent Civil War era locket. It dates to the 1860s. During this era, just prior to the Civil War and during, it was a sign of status and wealth if you had the biggest house...the biggest dresses...and the biggest jewelry! This locket does not disappoint! It measures approximately 2" x 1 1/4" x 1/4". It is massive, very solid and very heavy.

The attention to detail is so amazing! It is done in the Etruscan style. The wire work and granular design work is so intricate! Each tiny green and pink gold leaf is hand applied with so much skill and expertise. Only a master jeweler could have accomplished this.

Even the inside is very impressive. You can see the workmanship in the hinge.

And finally a side view.

I hope that you have enjoyed seeing this beauty!

Happy collecting!

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