Archive for March, 2010
Bakelite
Posted by: | CommentsVintage Jewellery A-Z continues with Bakelite. Bakelite is one of the most highly collected forms of Vintage Costume Jewellery.
Bakelite is a form of plastic, in fact it was the first synthetic plastic and was first made in the early days of the last century. Bakelite was most popular for use in Jewellery between the 1920s and about 1950. It was popular because it was one of the first materials that could be moulded, coloured and shaped, was light weight and relatively low cost.
Bakelite brooch
Bakelite was made into all sorts of jewellery brooches and bangles, earrings and necklaces. The colours and shapes used were those that were popular in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s ( The art Deco era). Bakelite was made in Ivory colour, Green, Red, Yellow and black as well as marbled colours and translucent pieces. You can also fine Bakelite set with Rhinestones / diamante and mixed with other costume jewellery materials.
Identification of Bakelite
The collector of Bakelite needs to be able to distinguish the real thing from other types of early plastics and this is not easy and something I do struggle with myself. The most commonly recommended way to tell the difference is by heating the piece gently and then smelling it. If your piece of jewellery can be safely immersed in water you can dip it for a second into boiling water. Apparently the hot Bakelite gives off the smell of carbolic acid, the problem with this is that you need a good sense of smell and you need to know what carbolic acid smells like.
A few characteristics which may also help identify Bakelite are that it is heavier than other plastics and makes a clunking sound when two pieces are knocked together.
I have heard that there is a polish known as “Simichrome” which when you polish the Bakelite with it leaves a yellow smear on the cloth.
Also check how the metal findings ( clasps , catches and hinges) are attaches. If they are screwed into the plastic rather than glued on then this would indicate Bakelite.
Care of Bakelite:
Store pieces separately to prevent scratching, avoid bright sunlight and harsh chemicals including those in perfume and hairspray.
A couple of books which might help:- Bakelite Style by Tessa Clark pub Chartwell books
- Collecting Art Plastic Jewellery by Leigh Leshner pub KP Book
Bakelite Necklace
This amazing vintage art deco Bakelite necklace is so long that i have had problems showing it to good advantage in the photos. There are two shapes of Ivory and black coloured Bakelite panels joined by silver toned metal chain. There is a hook which joins the two ends as a necklace as can be see in the third photo.
The hollow panel measure about 6 x 1.5 cms with the total length of this art deco necklace being about 125 cms. The Bakelite is in excellent condition although there is a little fading to the silver tone metal.
Antique porcelain brooches hand painted beauty
Posted by: | CommentsHand painted porcelain is a popular material in antique and vintage jewellery, it is most usually found in brooches although I have seen earrings and necklaces set with porcelain plaques too. You can often find older brooches , especially Victorian brooches, set with porcelain plaques which have been painted or printed. These brooches are quite decorative and very collectible.
Try looking out for some with classical European paintings:
Hand painted with Birds brooch :
Or how about a collection of hand painted vintage floral brooches?
These three types of vintage brooch all have the inset porcelain plaque in common. They vary in age with the top one being mid-Victorian, the central one being later Victorian and the lower one being an Edwardian brooch.
All should be treated with reasonable care as porcelain chips easily and the pictures would come off if they are subjected to harsh cleaning materials. How should you clean them – hopefully a gentle wipe with a soft dry cloth. If this doesn’t work a well wrung out damp cloth or just a touch of washing up liquid if really necessary. Do not let the damp get to the setting if you can help it as most likely the settings are just costume jewellery and will tarnish and rust easily.
Porcelain plaque brooches can be found from just a few pounds upwards depending on the quality of the painting ( a named artist would increase the price) and also the metal it is set into.
Antique porcelain brooches hand painted beauty
Posted by: | CommentsHand painted porcelain is a popular material in antique and vintage jewellery, it is most usually found in brooches although I have seen earrings and necklaces set with porcelain plaques too. You can often find older brooches , especially Victorian brooches, set with porcelain plaques which have been painted or printed. These brooches are quite decorative and very collectible.
Try looking out for some with classical European paintings:
Hand painted with Birds brooch :
Or how about a collection of hand painted vintage floral brooches? These three types of vintage brooch all have the inset porcelain plaque in common. They vary in age with the top one being mid-Victorian, the central one being later Victorian and the lower one being an Edwardian brooch.
All should be treated with reasonable care as porcelain chips easily and the pictures would come off if they are subjected to harsh cleaning materials. How should you clean them – hopefully a gentle wipe with a soft dry cloth. If this doesn’t work a well wrung out damp cloth or just a touch of washing up liquid if really necessary. Do not let the damp get to the setting if you can help it as most likely the settings are just costume jewellery and will tarnish and rust easily.
Porcelain plaque brooches can be found from just a few pounds upwards depending on the quality of the painting ( a named artist would increase the price) and also the metal it is set into.
Antiques Master, your chance to be on TV
Posted by: | CommentsI see the BBC are making yet another antiques quiz / games show. Antiques Master will be on BBC 2 and is currently looking for competitors with a good knowledge of antiques. The following two quotes are from the Antiques Mastger website
Are you an amateur antiques aficionado with the knowledge and know-how to win the title of Antiques Master 2010?
Antiques Master is a brand new prime time quiz show and we’re looking for passionate, knowledgeable amateur antiques experts.
You’ll be battling it out over a series of challenges and questions to prove that you have the all-round knowledge to become Antiques Master 2010.
All amateur antiques enthusiasts are invited to apply.
Antiques hunters, collectors, society members, etc – all are welcome as long as you don’t earn your living in the antiques business.
To apply
Age limit: Applicants must be 18 years of age and over.
You must not work in a professional capacity within the antiques trade
BBC2 has secured comedian and actress Sandi Toksvig to front a primetime series touted as MasterChef for antique lovers.
Antiques Master will see heirloom lovers from around the country compete in a string of challenges designed to test their knowledge of different collections, periods and the value of antiques.
The 12 x 30-minute series will be produced by BBC’s in-house team at Manchester and is expected to debut in a weekday slot over the summer
The programme is the latest
antiques show being trialled by BBC2, including the primetime Cracking Antiques from Silver River and new daytime series Antiques Road Trip and Restoration Roadshow..
The Antiques Master website is at http://www.antiquesmaster.co.uk/
I’m barred from applying as I work in the antiques trade but I am interested if any of you decide to give it a go and test out your skills. Please do get in touch if you apply and let me know how you get on and I will publish your experiences here.
Articulated gold charms – Letter C
Posted by: | CommentsTaking a look at vintage silver charms beginning with C. I have been lucky enough to find three very articulated gold charms all of which are currently available at http://www.antiquesavenue.co.uk/
An unusual vintage caravan charm. This charm is made from fully hallmarked nine carat gold . The top reads “Happy Days”. The caravan opens and inside is a movable prop which reads ” Wot no horse”. The prop can be used to keep the roof of the caravan open. This charm measures about 2 cms long and weighs about 3.5 grams
Articulated gold charms – Letter C
Posted by: | CommentsTaking a look at vintage silver charms beginning with C. I have been lucky enough to find three very articulated gold charms all of which are currently available at http://www.antiquesavenue.co.uk/
An unusual vintage caravan charm. This charm is made from fully hallmarked nine carat gold . The top reads “Happy Days”. The caravan opens and inside is a movable prop which reads ” Wot no horse”. The prop can be used to keep the roof of the caravan open. This charm measures about 2 cms long and weighs about 3.5 grams
Gemstones in your jewellery, Whats in a name?
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve been looking at a lovely piece of vintage jewellery today made of French Jet. Did you know that French Jet is not actually real Jet at all but an imitation made of black glass? There are lots of similar gemstone terms that have the name of the gemstone with an additional name alongside. This can be quite confusing and its only fair that when you are looking to buy a piece of jewellery you know what you are getting for your money.
Here are the names that I have come across, the list may not be complete so please do let me know if you come across any and I will add them here.
Gemstone Ring
These are not real Diamonds
- German diamond: quartz
- Herkimer diamond: double-terminated quartz
- Bohemian Diamond: quartz
These are not real Emeralds
- African emerald: green fluorite
- Bohemian emerald: green fluorspar
- Broghton emerald: green glass
- Chatham emerald: synthetic emerald
- Cape emerald: Prehnite
- Gilson emerald: synthetic emerald
- Emeraldine: chalcedony that’s dyed green
- Oriental emerald: sapphire
- Evening emerald: peridot
- Spanish emerald: glass
These are not real Rubies
- Adelaide ruby: Australian garnet
- Australian ruby: garnet
- Bohemian ruby: garnet
- California ruby: garnet
- Cape ruby: garnet
- Montana ruby: garnet
- San Diego ruby: red tourmaline
- Siberian ruby: tourmaline
These are not real Sapphires
- Brazilian sapphire: blue tourmaline
- Burma sapphire: synthetic sapphire
- Hope sapphire: synthetic blue spinel or lab grown sapphire
Real Opals
This is not real Jade
- African jade: garnet
- Colorado jade: feldspar
- Honan jade: soapstone
- Indian jade: aventurine
- Manchurian jade: soapstone
- Swiss jade: jasper
These are not real Pearls
- Atlas pearls: calcite beads
- Delta pearls: imitations
- Roman pearls: glass beads
- Swarovski pearls: glass beads
This is not real Opal
- Ceylon opal: moonstone
- Blue opal: lazulite
- Gilson Opal: Synthetic opal
- Opal Doublett or Tripplet, part opal part glass
Not real Lapis Lazuli
- Swiss lapis: chalcedony or dyed jasper
- German lapis: dyed jasper
- Canadian lapis: sodalite
Turquoise Immitations
- African turquoise: jasper
- Chinese turquoise: calcite, soapstone
- Sacred turquoise: smithsonite
- Utah turquoise: variscite
- Vienna turquoise: simulated at one time but may contain reconstituted turquoise
- Yellow turquoise: often jasper or serpentine
Jet Immitations
- French Jet: Black Glass
Remember also that anything with the term “Faux” is not real. It is a term used a lot ( including by me) . The word “Faux” is actually French for false.
Vintage Jewellery care, Pearls
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve just been cleaning a lovely vintage set of cultured pearls, it was such a shame to see them grubby but after a little work they look as good as new. Fortunately these cultured pearls have been kept in their original box and so there was no damage just years of grime. Do you own a string of cultured pearls and do you know how to look after them?
What are cultured pearls?
Cultured pearls are similar to natural or pearls in that they are grown inside an oyster. The pearl starts forming when a foreign body such as a piece of grit or sand enters the shell. The oyster coats the grit with layers of “Nacre” which form the pearl. With a cultured pearl there is a small piece of plastic inserted into the oyster shell by hand and the oysters are kept in pearl farms. The dept of the coating determines the size of the pearl. The very best Cultured pearls are genuinely considered to be from Japan with the most famous name being Mikimoto.
Mikimoto pearls
Storage of pearls
This advice applies to both cultured and natural pearls. The coating on a pearl can be damage if the pearls are stores along silver silver and gold jewellery in a jewellery box. If possible store the pearls in their original box, if this is missing you can wrap them in a little acid free tissue paper to protect them from other jewellery.
Wearing pearls
Pearls should be put on last after make up and perfume as both of these can attack the nacre. After wearing the pearls given them a gentle clean with a soft cloth. If you do get make up or perfume on the pearls if would be best to give them a gentle clean
Cleaning pearls.
Please take specialist advice if the pearls are set into jewellery with other stones. If your jewellery is made of pearls and stung on as a necklace or just set with gold or silver you can follow this method:
A little water with a drop of soft soap (Not harsh detergents). Dampen a soft cloth in the water and soap mixture and wring out well and the wipe the pearls with care. I recommend that you do not soak strings of pearls as the stringing material may stretch. wipe off the soap mixture with a damp cloth and pat dry.
Do not put pearls into an ultrasonic jewellery cleaner or into standard jewellery cleaner as the nacre can easily be damaged.
Stringing pearl necklaces.
Pearl necklaces can be strung with knots between the pearls or with out the knots. The knots on the string protect the pearls from rubbing together and also if the string breaks you do not loose as many pearls. Check the stringing regularly, if it is stretched or worn then you can take your pearls to your local jeweler for re-stringing. I suggest that you have them strung in the same way ( knotted or unknotted) as they were originally. The current cost for a single string of peals of average length will start at about £25. A more complex or longer string will cost more. Do shop around and check the quality of the work before you leave the shop.
How long will my pearls last?
If you follow the advice given here your pearls should last for many many years and could well become a family heirloom. Looking to buy some pearl jewellery? AntiquesAvenue usually has several nice pieces of vintage jewellery set with cultured pearls.