Archive for May, 2010
Silver Charms Comb, Coffee pot, Canoe
Posted by: | CommentsVintage silver charms beginning with C, this concludes my look at charms beginning with C .
Comb charm not often seen on its own. Here is a vintage silver comb charm combined into a hairdressing set.
comb charm
Church charm
Opening church charm
This vintage silver charm is in the shape of a church.The church opens at the base and inside is a wedding scene.The silver charm measures about 2 cms high and could be hung from a silver charm bracelet or as a pendant on a chain.
Coffee Pot Charm
Coffee pot charm
This vintage silver charm is made of silver and set with a citrine coloured crystal. This vintage charm is in the shape of a coffee pot and will date from circa 1970s. It measures about 2 cms long and will add a splash of colour to any vintage silver charm bracelet.
Andy Cap
Andy Cap Charm
Here is Andy Cap immortalized in a silver charm. Andy Cap, according to Wikipedia: Andy Capp is a British comic strip created by Reg Smythe, seen in The Daily Mirror and The Sunday Mirror newspapers since August 5, 1957.
This little silver charm most likely dates from the 9170s when Andy Cap was particularly popular. He measures about 2.2 cms high
Coral, Jewel from the sea
Posted by: | CommentsCoral forms in tree like structures in warmer waters such as the mediterranean and around Japan and Australia. This is the external skeleton of a tiny water polyp which when polished up makes a wonderful Jewel.
Branch coral necklace
Coral can range in colour from pale pink, red through to black. Generally we see the pinky / red colour colour set into jewellery. it can be polished as a bead, a cabochon or carved as a cameo or intaglio.
Coral has been worn as a gemstone since the ancient times, it is known that the Ancient Egyptians wore it as did the ancient Greeks.
Coral can be imitated by glass, shell and plastic. Normally you can tell it apart as it is harder than shell or plastic and colder than glass. You can also look into the stone with a loupe ( 10x lens) when a piece of coral can be closely banded.
Clean coral jewellery with a soft damp cloth and try not to scratch your coral jewellery. Also avoid strong sunlight as it can fade, put it away after wear and keep it separate from your other antique jewellery.
coral bead cross
Antique pendant coral cross Victorian jewellery
A wonderful Antique pendant in the form of a cross made of coral beads. This is a large and impressive piece of jewellery measuring about 7 cms long and 5 cms wide. Each coral bead is wired separately to the metal back.
This cross is in excellent condition especially considering that it is an original Victorian piece.
Coral is now a protected speciese in most places in the world with coral reefs dying out . To help protect the environment and preserve coral reefs for the future we should perhpas just consider buying vintage and antique coral rather than new.
Chrysoprase
Posted by: | CommentsChrysoprase a lovely apple green semi precious gemstone. This gemstone is part of the Chalcedony family, a variety of Agate. The green colour in Chrysoprase comes from the nickle in the stone.
Chrysoprase letter opener
Personally I find it quite difficult to tell Chrysoprase from some other similar gemstones - Aventurine, New Zealand Green-stone and when chrysoprase has faded in bright light it can look quite like Jade. Normally Aventurine is a little more translucent and has metallic flecks in it. Jade is harder and can be differentiated from Chrysoprase with a Gem Testing machine.
Chrysoprase was popular in Greek and Roman times and the art deco era when the shade of green went well with the fashions of the time. There is also a darker shade which is known as prase. The stone is cut as beads, Cabochons and even carved into cameos.
In Gem lore Chrysoprase is said to clarify. to bring self acceptance and help to heal wound. You could also use Chrysoprase as an alternative birthstone for May if Emeralds are out of reach .
Vintage Jewellery News
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s the Vintage Jewellery news for Mid May from AntiquesAvenue.co.uk
As always I have been busy buying vintage jewellery , photographing it and adding the lovely jewels to my shop for you to see. Recent additions include Antique Cameo Jewellery, Lots of vintage rings and some nice vintage glass necklaces.
Here are a few of the more special pieces for you to see:
Vintage cherry amber Bakelite bead necklace art deco
Art deco necklace
Nice! A vintage art deco cherry amber Bakelite necklace. This is one of the sought after classic pieces of vintage jewellery. This necklace is made out of Bakelite beads in a cherry amber colour. The largest bead measures about 2.3 cms long and the necklace measures 44 cms long. It weighs about 38 grams
Antique ring garnet flower
Antique ring
A lovely dainty antique ring which I suspect dates back to the Georgian era. This ring is set with 5 garnets in a flower pattern hand the gemstones have a closed back setting. The yellow metal ring is not hallmarked but tests as about 9 carat gold. This antique ring is finger size UK I.5, USA 4.75. The head of the flower measures about 1 cm wide
Vintage glass necklace red
Vintage glass necklace
A lovely red glass and glass pearl necklace from circa 1940s / 1950s. These glass beads are strung on a metal chain as was quite usual for necklaces from this time. This necklace fastens with a box shaped clasp set with a central red glass stone. The largest bead at the front measures about 13 mm diameter and the necklace measures about 46 cms long.
There are some minor signs of age to this necklace ( a little wear to the pearl finish) and so I am offering this necklace at a bargain price
AntiquesAvenue.co.uk Changes
Ive been fiddling with the categories a bit hoping that you will be able to find the jewellery a bit more easily. The Vintage jewellery category has gone as it was duplicating other areas. I have renamed vintage costume necklaces as glass necklaces . Other vintage necklaces will just be in the vintage costume jewellery section,
There are also now more pieces on the front page
Blog Changes
All my blogs have been concentrated here – I’ve added pages for Brooches, charms and rings so you can easily access the posts in one category . I’m continuing the series I was writing on my vintage brooch and vintage ring blogs here on AntiquesAvenue.com
Give Away
Ive a give away running for the next few weeks – leave a comment on the Cameo pendant give away thread and the best ( in my opinion) will be set a lovely vintage cameo pendant for free.
Coming soon
Whats in store for the next few weeks? Lots more vintage glass necklaces, I purchased someones life time collection and there are literally hundreds for me to add gradually over the coming weeks. This week and next some more cameo Jewellery, mainly brooches with some pendants. I also have a small selection of antique Jewellery to add, Lavaliere pendants and brooches which are always popular
That’s it for now – Enjoy, Anne
Cameo Habille
Posted by: | CommentsA few days ago I wrote about Cameo Jewellery and mentioned a special type of Cameo the Cameo Habille. Now I am luck enough to have a Cameo Habille to show you.
Cameo Habille Brooch Pendant Diamond
Cameo Habille
A very rare cameo indeed. This is a Cameo Habille which is French for Dressed Cameo . This lady is wearing a diamond necklace which is set with a real diamond. The cameo sits in a fully hallmarked 9 carat gold frame.
This cameo is a very versatile piece of vintage jewellery having both brooch and pendant fastenings on the rear. The cameo brooch or pendant measures a little over 3 cms long.
Have you a Cameo Habille? If so I would be keen to see a picture and if you agree add it to this post to build up a gallery of these special pieces of Jewellery. So far I have seen Cameo Habille as Rings, Brooches and Necklaces , I would be particularly impressed to see a cameo habille as a charm, bracelet or locket.
Cameo Jewellery Give Away
Posted by: | CommentsDid you read my article About Cameo Jewellery? I’ve a lovely piece of vintage Cameo Jewellery to give away. This cameo pendant is made of glass and set into gold tone metal and hangs from a sterling silver chain.
Cameo Pendant
This pendant measures about 3.3 cms long and the silver chain is about 38 cms long and is about 40 years old. The picture on this cameo pendant features a classical style lady and is probably a representation of a Greek or Roman Goddess.
Would you like this pendant for your own? I am giving it away and prepared to send it anywhere in the world. Being a piece of vintage jewellery, I only have one of these cameo pendants to give away. The lucky recipient of this pendant will be the person who in my opinion best answers this scentence about my jewllery shop at www.antiquesavenue.co.uk in less than 10 words..
“AntiquesAvenue is the best vintage jewellery site on the Internet because ……..”
Please leave your answer in the comments box of this blog. I will choose a winner by June 10th .
Thanks for your entries and looking forward to picking a winner. Anne
Vintage Costume Jewellery Brooches
Posted by: | Comments
I’ve a lovely collection to show you, lots of vintage costume Jewellery brooches and available as one lot so that you can keep a few and probably sell the rest at a profit . There are 25 brooches in this lot for £100 which makes them just £4 each including postage.
Every one of these brooches is in excellent condition. They include gold and silver toned brooches, leaf and flower brooches, a cat brooch. There are diamante brooches, glass set brooches and brooches in the shapes of rose.
Vintage Costume Jewellery Brooches
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve a lovely collection to show you, lots of vintage costume Jewellery brooches and available as one lot so that you can keep a few and probably sell the rest at a profit . There are 25 brooches in this lot for £100 which makes them just £4 each including postage.
Every one of these brooches is in excellent condition. They include gold and silver toned brooches, leaf and flower brooches, a cat brooch. There are diamante brooches, glass set brooches and brooches in the shapes of rose.