Charming engraved Victorian pin reads: “Hattie.” This brooch was made from an 1883 Morgan Silver dollar. The reverse of the brooch still bears it’s original Lady Liberty Head, E Pluribus, a boarder of stars and the year 1883. There is a very small letter M on Lady Liberty’s neck indicating that this was in fact, a Morgan Silver dollar. The style of pin back, with the pointed end extending past the edge of the coin denotes that the coin was converted to jewelry sometime shortly after it was crafted. Certainly before the tuen of the century.

Measurements

Coin measures 1.5 inches in diameter.

Condition

There is minor surface scratching throughout including heavy wear in one spot (center front) and many deep scratches to the back.  Someone also carved J.A. into the face of Lady Liberty,

Grade: Good

Charming brushed silver Christmas tree pin by Tortolani.  Metal branches are decorated with a metal pine cone, star and bell sprinkled with red and green rhinestones topped off with a candle.  This three dimensional brooch can also stand up on the flat round base and prove to be a tiny decoration around the house each December in addition to it’s wearability.

Measurements

Brooch measures 2 ^5/8 inches tall by 1 ^5/8 inches at it’s widest.

Condition

Some surface scratching.

Grade: Excellent

Beautiful ribbons of round and baguette cut rhinestones create a stylized feather brooch by Marcel Boucher.  This brooch is marked © Boucher with the inventory number 8135P.  It is said that the copyright symbol was added to the Boucher stamp after 1955.  I would guess that this is a late 1950s or early 1960s piece.  Bright silver toned rhodium plating simply shines.

Measurements

Brooch measures 3.5 inches by 1.25 inches

Condition

We replaced one of the baguette stones, but it is underneath one of the ribbons and you can’t see it.

Grade: Very Good

Hollycraft made excellent rhinestone pieces and this brooch in varying shades of purple is no exception. Hollycraft was among the very few costume jewelry companies to date their jewelry. This piece is from 1952. Tiered three dimensional pin has round, marquise, and oval stone in a variety of sizes. Colors range from a light lavender to a deep amethyst.

Measurements

Brooch measures 2 inches by 2.25 inches

Condition

Just a little glue residue and some loss of plating to the pin back.

Grade: Excellent

Fantastic three dimensional brooch has an unfoiled, tear drop, topaz colored stone front and center.  Graduated swirls of aurora borealis rhinestones and one of topaz colored rhinestones.  Navette cut rhinestones alternate shades of topaz.  Brushed gold toned metal.

Measurements

Brooch is 2 inches long and `1.75  inches at it’s widest point.

Condition

I dare say this pin is near mint condition.  Strong and sturdy pin and clasp, and no chips to stones.  No scratches to the aurora borealis finish.  After looking hard enough, I found the only noticeable flaw.  A small amount of excess glue.

Grade: Excellent

Fall in love with autumn with this acorn and nut necklace.  I believe that the seed beaded acorns and hollow seeds/nuts are vintage although the findings appear to be more contemporary.  Perhaps someone put these older pieces together in this fashion more recently.  In any event, the large scale of this piece and color combination are sure to enhance any turtleneck sweater and pencil skirt combination.  Quite the conversation starter.  Not recommended for the faint of heart.

Measurements

18.5 inches from end to end.

Acorns are 1.5 inches long and 1 inch at their widest.

Seed pods/nut clusters drop 2.5 inches.

Condition

Other than the mixing of old and new as noted above, I see no visible flaws.

Grade: Excellent

1930s Floral spray brooch with scrolling foliage in sterling silver, is tied together at the bottom. This brooch can be found on page 216 of the 4th Edition of Collecting Rhinestone & Colored Jewelry by Maryanne Dolan ©1998 with a value of $1000-$1500. Reverse is stamped EISENBERG ORIGINAL STERLING and I think there is a 2 stamped on the back as well.

Measurements

Brooch is 3 inches by 2.5 inches at it’s widest point. The book measures it at 3 X 2.25 inches.

Condition

I used a polishing cloth to shine up this beauty. There is still a lot of patina on the front, as I didn’t want to use silver paste and water. Clean at your own risk. I think it adds depth to the design. A couple of smaller pavé set stones appear to be slightly chipped or coated with silver paste polish. Or both. Two (maybe three) of the pavé set stones also appear to be replacements. All large stones are original and excellent condition.

Grade: Very Good

Three galloping gazelles add an air of Art Nouveau style to this 1930s or more likely 1940s necklace by Coro.  Necklace bears their Pegasus mark with Coro in a tapered rectangle and Des. Pat. Pend. below.  All of this can be found on the fold over clasp.  The links at the back of this necklace have a pattern stamped on them.  Set in silver toned metal.  I was surprised to discover all the “stones” are plastic.

Measurements

15 inches in wearable length

1 inch at it’s widest point

Links are .5 inches wide.

Condition

My mother replaced several of the turquoise colored stones, although she did such a good job, I can’t tell which of the small ones are originals or replacements.  The larger ones are all original to the piece.  There is some wear to the metal on the reverse.

Grade: Very Good

Breathtaking brooch in pink with prong set rhinestone accents appears to be by Miriam Haskell. Upon closer inspection, one finds a heart shaped, applied plaque on the reverse that is marked Amourelle ©. The mistake is easily made as jewelry marked Amourelle was manufactured by Kramer of New York in the early 1960s. Wonderfully created by former Miriam Haskell head designer Frank Hess after his departure from her firm. Pieces marked Amourelle were only manufactured for a few years, which explains to their scarcity. These pieces are hard to find, so snatch this one up while it lasts.
Soft pink seed beads are wired to filigree and assembled in three floral shapes. Pink art glass beads (Venetian? Murano?) have wavy white lines. Filigree has floral motif with fleur de lis. Fantastic design in magnificent detail.

Measurements

1 inch in length 1.5 inches in width

Condition

This brooch has a few flaws to note. The large rhinestone has some visible foil loss. There are a few spot of corrosion on some of the wire. It’s visible in some photos, but looks much worse than it does in person. I thought there was seed bead loss on the medium flower, but I can’t find any loose wires in that area. None of these flaws are noticeable while wearing.

Grade: Very Good

Ribbons of pavé set rhinestones and baguettes create a pinwheel design. This 1940s brooch is very much in the design of Bogoff although it is actually marked ALBION.

Measurements

This brooch measures over 3 inches in diameter.

Condition

This brooch is in very good condition with very few flaws. One baguette appears to have come loose and been glued back in upside down. It is visible in the last photo. There are some points of wear to the plating on the reverse. Just a couple of very small spots where the plating is missing.  Rhinestones have a hint of yellowing, but it appears far worse in photos than in reality.

Grade:Very Good