Author Archive
Kigu concerto musical compact
Posted by: | CommentsA lovely musical compact made by Kigu. This has a royal blue enamelled top and is set with a marcasite style panel on the top. There is a button on the front which is pressed to open the top. Inside it is both a powder compact and a musical box. This Kigu musical compact comes in its original Kigu box. The compact measures about 8 cms wide. Here is a little video so you can hear how this lovely musical compact sounds Its a jaunty little tune, any ideas what its called? This is one from a collection of vintage accessories from AntiquesAvenue.
Lovely lockets
Posted by: | CommentsVintage lockets are one of the most popular gifts for valentines day. The locket is used to hold precious photographs or mementos close to a person – on a chain near to the heart. Heres a slideshow of some of the lockets you can choose from. Visit AntiquesAvenue vintage jewellery to see more:
Jet jewellery in Whitby museum
Posted by: | CommentsJet jewellery is a favourite amongst many collectors of antique and Victorian jewellery. I have written all about jet jewellery in the past but recently I was lucky enough to visit the museum in Whitby where they have the best collection of jet jewellery Ive ever seen. Whitby Museum allow photography and so I was able to get a few snaps to show you here. AntiquesAvenue occasionally has a few pieces of jet jewellery to offer you but these are getting harder to find in good condition at a reasonable price.
Vintage Valentines Day Jewellery
Posted by: | CommentsLooking back over the years Ive been writing this blog, it seems that every year I’ve had something to say about Valentines Day and Valentines Jewellery. This year Ive decided to pull all these posts together so you can find them all in one place.
antique silver angel brooch
Love Jewellery gifts for Valentines day
Vintage Jewellery for Valentines
Most Vintage Jewellery is romantic and so is a suitable gift for Valentines day however some have special sentimental meaning attached. Hearts, Cherubs, Flowers. Engagement rings and Mizpah brooches.
The word Mizpah comes from the Bible, from it follows the agreement between Laban and Jacob in Chapter 31.49 of Genesis:
“This mound,” said Laban, “shall be witness from now on between you and me.”
That is why it was named Galeed – and also Mizpah, for he said:
“May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are out of each other’s sight.”
This paragraph has been condensed to just the word Mizpah and that has been given to be a symbol of agreement between lovers
Lockets are often given as gifts between lovers as they can hold a lock of hair of photos. Whichever piece you choose you can order from www.antiquesavenue.co.uk up until February 12 mid day for delivery on Feb 13 this year.
antique heart brooch
Sulfide Art Deco Jewellery
Posted by: | CommentsHave you ever seen pretty cameo type figures set into paperweights or under glass in vintage jewellery? These are white or a silvery white in colour and depict all sorts of things including classical figures a bunch of flowers, a dog , cherub or angel. These white cameos in glass are known as sulfides ( or possibly sulphides).
The sulfides I find most attractive are the winged creature set under glass and over the top of butterfly wings in art deco jewellery. These date from circa 1920s / 1930s and are usually mounted in silver although costume jewellery and gold ones are also sometimes available.
sulphide pendant
The term sulfide is thought to have been given to these little pictures as they originally had a very silver appearance looking like silver which is a little tarnished. The tarnish on silver is silver sulfide. Im not sure if this is true or not but I cant find a better explanation.
Sulphide brooch
Sulfides are not actually made of silver or glass but are a type of porcelain plaque made in the same way as the sprigged cameos on Wedgwood Jasper ware. The porcelain melts at a higher temperature than glass enabling the plaques to be placed into the glass without damage. Heres a Wedgwood cameo to compare the sulphides with
Wedgwood cameo ring
Vintage jewellery for Chistmas
Posted by: | CommentsStill looking for Christmas presents? AntiquesAvenue has a selection of over 2000 lovely pieces of vintage jewellery ranging in price from £20 to over £400. I am accepting orders for Christmas delivery up to 9.00 am on December 20th.
Heres a few vintage jewellery suggestions by price and remember prices include world wide delivery
Stocking fillers under £30
Vintage brooches, glass necklaces and vintage silver charms . Brooches can be worn all year round with a variety of outfits, a glass necklace is very colourful for party time and its great to give a charm which has meaning.
£50 and under
How about a locket, a silver ring, or a silver brooch? Silver lockets start from £35 and theres a choice at £50 and under. Lockets are a timeless piece of jewellery . They are given by friends and loved ones and tend to have a sentimental attachment as you can hold a special photo or memento inside.
£100 and under
At this price range you have a huge choice of pieces of vintage or antique jewellery. A cameo brooch? A gold brooch? A pair of earrings, silver bangle or a piece of amber jewellery. Cameos are popular gifts as they are eternally popular and will be passed through a family from one generation to the next.
A most attractive antique Victorian cameo brooch. The brooch is carved with a
pastoral scene of a mother and child playing with a dog. The carving is in shell
and the cameo is set into a gold toned mount. This is quite a large piece of
jewellery measuring about 6.2 cms long. The frame is gold toned metal. Minor
cosmetic signs of age but a very decorative and wearable piece
The sky is the limmit
An unlimited budget or £500 limit? A gold bracelet, a charm bracelet maybe? Theres a huge selection of vintage cocktail rings made of gold and set with diamonds and other precious stones.
antique wedgwood ring
What ever gifts you choose the Christmas , a piece of vintage jewellery will delight and be treasures for many years.
Bracelets and bangles
Posted by: | CommentsBracelets and bangles, jewellery to wear on your arm. Vintage bracelets are a popular choice but which should you choose?
Bracelets are any piece of jewellery you wear on your wrist, a bracelet can be flexible or solid. A bangle is a special form of bracelet which is solid, it either hinges open or it is completely solid and it slips over the hand. The advantage of a bangle which hinges open is that it will fit closer on your wrist than one which has to slip over your hand.
Gold charm bracelet
Both bangles and bracelets can be made of a variety of materials but the most popular are silver and gold. They can both be decorated with gemstones, be left plain, enamelled, be engraved or have charms added to them. Bracelets can be worn singly or multiple bracelets on either one or both wrists. It was a Victorian fashion to wear a matching pair of bracelets one on each wrist.
Bracelets and bangles come in a small range of sizes as wrist sizes do not vary quite as much as finger sizes do. The average size is 18.5 cms or 7.5 inches. This will fit most wrists except very small or large and most bracelets are this length. You can find them varying from between 17 cms ( about 6.67 inches) and 24 cms ( about 9.42) inches. The smallest size would fit a very slim lady or teenager. The largest size would be for a man.
AntiquesAvenue offers a great range of antique and vintage bracelets and bangles including vintage silver bangles, charm bracelets, tennis bracelets and antique Victorian bracelets too.
Citrine Bracelet
Silver bangle
Silver bangles are one of the most popular types of vintage bracelet. They come with engraved decoration and can be quite fancy like this buckle bangle with hinges open. This particular piece is from the Victorian era.
5 vintage brooches for a sparkling Christmas
Posted by: | CommentsBrooches are my top reccomendation for Christmas gifts. One size fits all and there is an excellent choice of colour , shape and price to suit all. Here are 10 vintage brooches which would add a touch of sparkle to your Christmas giving this year. All are available from antiquesavenue.co.uk but remember as these are genuine pieces of vintage jewellery there is only one of each available.
Antique star pendant brooch
Antique star pendant brooch
A stunning and versatile piece of antique jewellery. This is made of nine carat gold ( stamped 9ct), it is star shaped and set with seed pearls and a central ruby gemstone. This can be worn as a pendant or brooch with the loop for hanging being detachable if you wish. The star measures about 2.5 cms long. This will date from the Edwardian era – the early 1900s. A great gift for Christmas
Silver crystal art deco brooch
Silver crystal art deco brooch
Huge harlequin diamante vintage brooch
huge harlequin diamante vintage brooch
A huge and stunning piece of vintage jewellery. This brooch is set with glass diamante in harlequin colours some of which have an aurora borealis finish. The stones in this brooch are all glass and prong set. The brooch is about 10 cms long and up to 6.5 cms wide. I believe this brooch is from the 1950s harlequin diamante vintage brooch
Diamond bow brooch
diamond bow brooch
Antique silver angel brooch
antique silver angel brooch
