Collector's Items

Everything that creeps: Fine Jewellery brooches from Bentley & Skinner, antique and new. (Collage by Collector’s Items)

Starting at 12 o’clock, continuing clockwise: Victorian gold fly (£1,650.00, sold) / Late nineteenth century bee (£4,250.00, sold) / Enamel and diamond wasp (new & in stock for £5,950.00) / Victorian garnet and diamond beetle (in stock, £3,600.00) / Late victorian fire opal and diamond beetle (£4,250.00, sold) / Late victorian pearl and diamond spider (£4,950.00, sold) / Late victorian garnet and diamond bee (£12,750.00, sold) / Nineteenth century tigers eye and diamond bee (£4,650.00, sold) / center: Edwardian Essex crystal bumble-bee (in stock, £4,250.00)

A CORAL, ENAMEL, CHALCEDONY AND DIAMOND BROOCH - Bentley & Skinner 

An angel skin coral, enamel, chalcedony and diamond-set brooch after Julien Duval comprising a carved angel skin coral putti with rose diamond-set silver wings riding upon the back of a firefly with a carved pale green translucent chalcedony body, gold legs and irridecent enamelled gold wings, harnessed with twisted gold wire reins, measuring approximately 4cms x 3.5cms, in fitted, shaped leather presentation case with tooled gilt decoration and bevelled glass front, gross weight 8.5 grams. This is a hand crafted piece, after Duval, made by Bentley & Skinner.

Price: £19,500.00

Found through Dragonflies, a board on pinterest.

The most interesting accessories of the coming season (in my opinion): Lanvin Fall 2013 (Photos from Style.com)

Once more from Bell and Bird.
Victorian Niello Love Knot Bangle (sold) and Georgian Garnet Locket Ring ($1,750.00).

More pictures of Dali’s famous eye brooch, both found on Retronaut.

GEORGIAN WHITE CORAL LINK HAND BRACELET
ENGLAND
1800’S
A carved white coral English Georgian link bracelet showcases a hand forecasting a full life and pointing to seven charms that wish the wearer all the bounties each one represents. A sparkling ruby ring, on the pointing finger, further punctuates the importance and magic of these delicately sculpted amulets. Nautically inspired links are bond together by 18K yellow gold rings and a gold clasp is beautifully etched and adorned by two natural pearls. This good luck charm bracelet is a wonderful way to make sure that a loved one is looked after in style.

The collection of contemporary eye-brooches is growing…This one is by Lanvin (Price: $690). ”Les Yeux D’Elsa” also features a mouth and hands. Clearly a hommage to Dali’s set of brooches…

British Nelson Period Micro Ivory Ship Garnet Ring

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Gold, Enamel & Diamond Bulldog Pin
France, circa 1960
“The Toff” bulldog pin, designed as a whimsical, British bulldog, analogous to Winston Churchill, with white enameled wingtip collar and black enameled bow tie, circular-cut ruby eyes and gold chained, circular-cut diamond monocle, mounted in 18k yellow gold, with double pin stem in 18k yellow gold at back, numbered 77.551, signed Van Cleef & Arpels. 35mm length and 28mm width at widest point. Price $25,000. 

Original source 1STDIBS.COM

Perfection. RARE Victorian 14k Gold & Shell on sale ($1.187) on Ruby Lane.

And that was that. After discovering antique lover’s eye jewelry only last year by doing research about this (and unveiled that) I have realized there is a lot of buzz about it in the faster than quick internets. Finally, a big exhibition in the Birmingham Museum of Art accompanied by a wonderful exhibition catalogue made it better known than ever before. And this is how it ends: a (quite nice) £10.00 version by Topshop.

Jennifer Trask. Very talented goldsmith turned artist. Fantastic craftsmanship.

Picture: “Marion’s Morifolium” Neckpiece
Antler, 23.5k gold leaf, Found 18th cen frame fragments, various teeth and bones, cast resin with bone powder.

One of the weirdest and most beautiful pieces of that kind of jewelry I have ever seen. Usually, jewelry with real insects/beetles from that era (The Egyptian Revival) looks more like this. Now on ebay. Update: Sold for $279,99.

These whimsical celluloid Popeye brooches seem to be pretty rare. I found one on ebay by chance, then got curious and tried to find out more of & about them. They all vary a tiny bit from each other, it looks as if they have been handsawn and -painted! I think these pieces may have been made around the 40’s (maybe even earlier) in Europe, as most of them are sold from there and they are most likely unauthorized versions of Popeye. I couldn’t find out what happened to the one’s right foot - it is too absurd.

On top left: was ebay (sold for £3,99) / right: was eBay (sold for £10.11) // bottom left: now on Ruby Lane (75,- USD) / right: now on ebay (75,-USD)

Another carved bone hand brooch. The interesting part is, that it is supposed to be hold by a button hole. The fastener has a screw thread! Now on eBay, will soon be unaffordable. Update: Sold for £157,88 (198,-Euro)