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

We All Love a Beautiful Purse - Victorian Enameled Purse Locket

We all love a beautiful purse and the Victorian ladies were no exception. This gorgeous antique Victorian purse locket dates to around 1875. It is gold with an over all blue enamel. The color of this enamel is often referred to as "robin's egg blue". There is also black enamel in the hand engraved recessed areas. This type of enamel is known as Taille d' Epergne. (You may also see this spelled Taille d' Epargne.) Set in the center, is a tiny natural seed pearl. Although this beauty is in need of a repair, I wanted to share it with you. It simply needs a pin replaced in the hinge.

This is the front and back of the beautiful locket. It is becoming hard to find these enameled antique lockets. Especially lockets that do not have a lot of damage to the enamel. That being said, even the lockets with quite a bit of damage to the enamel, are highly sought after! As a collector, damage to the enamel does not deter me. To me it shows that the piece was treasured and worn with love. However, some collectors want pristine pieces. To each his own. This locket has a teeny flee flick out of one of the enameled ivy leaves.

The inside of this tiny purse locket reveals the original paper inserts and photo rims, as well as a remaining glass cover on one side.

The side view shows the detailed craftsmanship that went into the making of this locket.

The bottom view of the locket. Notice how flush and precise the gold work is on the hinge and edges. These types of enameled lockets are found in gold and silver.

The back is just as detailed and ladylike as the front.

I hope that you have enjoyed seeing this tiny treasure from my collection. I have many more treasures to share with you! Thank you so much for stopping by!

Happy Collecting!

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

Wicked Darling

Struttin' Your Stuff - Vintage Peacock Brooch

Such a magnificent piece! This huge vintage peacock brooch has plenty of reason to strut! The craftsmanship is so beautiful. It has rubies and emeralds set over the entire piece. Even on the peacock's lower body. I am still researching this piece...so the jury is still out as to the metal content and exact age. I do believe that it is Middle Eastern in origin.

Notice the granular work that covers the entire front of the brooch.

You can see that the stones are open backed and really catch the light.

There is a hook on the back as well as a pin. So this can be worn as a pendant or a brooch.

The pin stem does extend past the actual brooch itself. This normally is an indication of age, but in this case I cannot say for sure. The nature of the construction could be a technique specific to a certain region.

Just a lovely piece that I wanted to share with you. I am really enjoying the research aspect of this piece and hope to bring you an update soon. Thanks for stopping by!

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

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