vintage-brooches

Vintage brooches news March 2010

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:23:00 +0000

Here is the March update from AntiquesAvenue.co.uk including a look at the lovely antique and Vintage brooches which have recently been added to the site .

Blog News
Over on my main blog at http://www.antiquesavenue.com/ I've been taking a look at the A-Z of antique and vintage jewellery materials and have just completed the letter A for Agate, Amber, Amethyst and Aventurine.

Have you seen my Vintage Jewellery Videos yet? They are all shown in the previous post here or you can pop along to You-tube and view the AntiquesAvenue channel

Vintage Jewellery Shop News
As always I've been adding lots of fresh stock including Vintage Brooches. Vintage Brooches have been a popular gift fro Mothers Days again this year and I am selling quite a few which are to be given as Easter gifts. Much less fattening that Easter eggs and much longer lasting too.

Vintage Brooches recently added
Taking a look at a few of the lovely antique and Vintage brooches I've added recently:

Rare gold Mizpah brooch:
Victorian Mizpah brooches are always sought after and even more so when they are made of gold like this one.

Mizpah: The Lord watch between me and thee when we are absent one from another.

This piece of antique jewellery measures about 4 cms long

Jelly Belly duck Vintage Brooch

Jelly Belly duck brooch vintage Lucite and silver
This cute duck brooch is made out of silver ( impressed sterling) , It is set with a clear Lucite "Jelly Belly" and has a diamante eye

Coming Soon:

I've a few nice Victorian brooches to be added over the next week or two including a Whitby jet cameo brooch and some sweet Victorian sentimental silver brooches. Do check back soon.

I'm going to try and update this blog a little more often to show the wonderful variety of vintage brooches available.

Vintage Jewellery Videos

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:10:00 +0000

Have you seen my Vintage jewellery Videos ? Here they all are:

Mothers Day vintage brooches

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:52:00 +0000

Mother Day is one of my favourite gift occasions for giving vintage jewellery and I think the best piece of jewellery you can give Mum is a vintage brooch in the shape of flowers. A lovely vintage brooch can cost as little as a bunch of real flowers and is going to last much much longer. This year mothers day falls on March 14th in the UK so there is still plenty of time to choose your perfect pin.

There is a huge variety of antique and vintage flower brooches to choose from: gold, silver or costume. You can still find some lovely Victorian silver flower brooches, a porcelain brooch which was hand painted with flowers in the early 1900s or a showy flower spray set with diamante from the 1950s or 1960s.

Here are a few favourite vintage flower brooches from antiquesavenue.co.uk

Castlecliff - huge 1940s cocktail era flower brooch silver

A stunning Castlecliff brooch dating from I believe the 1940s. This is made of silver ( sterling is impressed on the reverse). It is huge measuring about 9.5 cms long and 5.5 cms wide. This is in excellent wearable condition. Castlecliff were an American Jewellery company. Here is what I have been able to find out about them:
Founded By Clifford Furst And Joseph Bobley In New York City, Castlecliff Was A Highly Respected Name In The Jewelry Industry, And Its Beauty Was Just As Highly Prized By Women Then As It Is By Those Lucky Enough To Find A Piece Now. Sold In Only The Finest Departments Stores, Castlecliff Was Impeccably Produced In Bold Yet Startlingly Intricate Designs

Antique brooch Pietra Dura Lily of Valley Victorian

Antique brooch Dura Lily of Valley Victorian

This wonderful antique Victorian brooch made of white metal ( tests as silver) and set with a Pietra Dura panel with a picture of a Lily of the valley. The leaves of the flower are made of malachite and the flowers in white agate. This really is a superb piece of antique jewellery.

Material:Silver and hardstonesSize:5.5 x 4.3 cmsAge:Mid Victorian Condition: Excellent

Exquisite flower brooch pansy bouquet

A very pretty enameled flower brooch - a bunch of pansies. This brooch was made by Exquisite and dates from circa 1950s. I believe that this was made as part of the birthdays series and I think that this one is for May. This brooch measures about 6.5 cms long

Or you can view all of my antique and vintage brooches together.

Vintage brooches for Valentines

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:45:00 +0000

Have you chosen your Valentines gift yet? Here are a few suggestions from antiquesavenue.co.uk where there are lots of brooches, pins and clips with a suitable Valentines theme. Hearts, flowers, cupids and Victorian sentimental jewellery would all be suitable.

Flowers;

How long will a bunch of flowers last? A few days at the most where as a vintage flower brooch will last a life time. Here are a few pretty flower brooches:

A wonderful vintage brooch , Pietre dure brooch which will date from the Victorian era. Pietre dure is the term given to the technique of using small, exquisitely cut and fitted, highly-polished colored stones to create what amounts to a painting in stone. Here we have a typical stone painting of flowers set into a silver mount. This brooch will date from the Victorian era. It measures a little over 4 cms long and fastens with a simple C catch. This Victorian brooch is in excellent condition

A brooch from the mid 1900s:

Vintage flower brooch

A pretty vintage flower brooch made from an early creamy coloured plastic and moulded with flowers and leaves. This brooch measures about 4 cms long and dates from circa 1920s / 1930s

Large Royal Crown Derby porcelain flower brooch

Made by Royal Crown Derby in fine porcelain, this is a wonderful brooch. It measures about 5.4 cms diameter and in in excellent condition. Very delicate and very beautiful. There are full Royal Crown Derby makers marks on the reverse. This brooch will date from circa 1950s

Vintage brooch sale on antiquesavenue

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:43:00 +0000

As January is traditionally the time of the Sale, I am drastically reducing the price of one piece of vintage jewellery each day between now and January 10th.

Here are the the two vintage brooch reductions from Yesterday and today:
Silver brooch scottish thistles vintage
This vintage silver brooch is in the form of three Scottish thistles each set with a citrine coloured stone. This brooch is impressed WBs Sterling in the reverse. This brooch measures about 7 cms wide and is in good wearable condition. It fastens with a simple C catch
Deal of the Day 30 December reduced to £15 one day only. Was £26

Unusual vintage enamel brooch vintage jewelry

A very unusual vintage enamel brooch - I've not seen one quite like this before. The main part of the brooch is circular and domed. It has a small clear diamante at the center. There are three hanging bars each with a diamante at the end. The enamel is in shades of blue, green and a pinky mauve colour. This brooch fastens with a simple catch and measures about 2 cms diameter and 4 cms long. The enamel is in excellent condition

This vintage brooch has been reduced from £30 to £20

Check back on antiquesavenue.co.uk for more vintage brooch and vintage jewellery bargains.

Still time to buy Vintage Brooches for Christmas

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:16:00 +0000

Have you bought all your Christmas gifts yet? There is still time to buy vintage brooches and have them delivered ready for the big day . The last posting day for airmail to the USA to ensure Christmas arrival is Fridays this week ( 11 December) . Orders travelling within the UK can be ordered up until December 22nd and will be dispatched up to December 23rd by Special Delivery during tha last few days.

Here are a few lovely brooches you could buy for a lucky lady in your life:

Antique brooch banded agate Victorian Jewellery
Antique Brooch dating from the mid to later 1800s when Queen Victorian popularised all things Scottish. This antique brooch is made of gold toned metal and set with a central banded agate panel in a decorative surround. This antique brooch measures about 5.4 cms wide

Antique brooch Diamond pearl turquoise snowflake brooch pendant

A superb antique brooch in the shape of a snowflake. This brooch is made of 18 carat gold ( tested not hallmarked) and set centrally with a real diamond. Pearls radiate along the arms of the snowflake and there is a turquoise on alternate points. This brooch has a hook on the back so that it could be worn on a chain as a pendant.

Material:Gold , Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise Size:Just over 3 cms diameter Age: Victorian Condition: Excellent

antique brooch rock crystal in silver mount

This antique brooch really sparkles. It is made from a faceted rock crystal gemstone set into a silver mount. The stone has been cut to show off its beauty and clarity.
Measuring about 4 cms wide this antique Victorian brooch is in excellent condition.

Antique brooch silver and paste

A superb antique brooch made from silver and set with clear paste stones and a central faux citrine. Paste stones are an early type of imitation gemstone - these are set into the silver with their backs covered and sparkle wonderfully under artificial light. This antique brooch dates from the Victorian era and measures about 3.5 cms long.

The hinge and general construction of the brooch indicate the Victorian date however the original catch has been replaced with a modern one which makes the brooch much safer to wear

Vintage Brooches fresh in stock

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:00:00 +0000

I'd thought you would like to see the fresh stock of vintage brooches which have been added to http://www.antiquesavenue.co.uk/ this week. There are some wonderful brooches below are just three examples , A victorian brooch, an art deco brooch and a lovely trifari elephant brooch.
Look in the shop and you can also find wonderful original victorian scottish brooches, an amazing garnet lizard brooch and some wonderful scandinavian silver brooches. Later this week I am adding diamante brooches and a lovely old Ruskin arts and crafts cabochon silver example.

Antique brooch Dura Lily of Valley Victorian

This wonderful antique victorian brooch made of white metal ( tests as silver) and set with a Pietra Dura panel with a picture of a Lily of the valley. The leaves of the flower are made of malachite and the flowers in white agate. This really is a superb piece of antique jewellery.

Material: Silver and hardstones Size:5.5 x 4.3 cms Age:Mid Victorian Condition: Excellent

Crown Trifari elephant red crystal brooch

A really cute elephant brooch or pin made by Trifari with the Crown Trifari makers mark. This is gold toned metal set with cranberry coloured stones.

Size: 2.4 cms long

Condition: Excellent

vintage art deco enamel silver scarab brooch

Amazing original art deco scarab beetle brooch dating from circa 1920s. This is made of 800 silver mad decorated in red, green, blue and white enamel colours

Material:Silver and enamel Size: just under 3 cms long Age:Art Deco 1920s Condition: Excellent - no damage to the enamel Maker, Designer, Origin:European

Vintage brooches for Christmas

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:14:00 +0000

Of all the types of vintage jewellery you can give as a Christmas gift this year an antique or vintage brooch just has to be one of the most versatile and one with the widest range for you to choose from.

There are antiuqe brooches suitable for most folks too from the youngest baby to the oldest grannie. And dont forget the men too, just call the brooch a badge, a lapel pin or a tie pin and you could find a brooch suitable for most men.

Here are a few I think would go down well as presents:

A brooch for a young girl:

Shell cameo brooch fairy & swan 800 silver vintage

An unusual hand carved shell cameo featuring a fairy holding a swan. She is set into an 800 grade silver frame ( impressed 800)
Age: mid 1900s
Approx Size: Just over 3 cms long

( conversion note: 1 inch = 2.54 cms) Approx Weight: 5.9 grams
Condition: Excellent

A Brooch for Grannie:
vintage brooch enamel violets flowers

A pretty vintage brooch in the shape of a bunch of violets. The flowers on this vintage brooch have been enameled in shades of violet and green. The brooch measures about 4.7 cms long and fastens with a roll over catch. A lovely piece of vintage costume jewellery

Discount on Brooches:
Today only there is a 10% discount on all vintage jewellery including antique annd vintage brooches over at Antiquesavenue.co.uk. If you have missed this then please do sign up for my newsletter where you will get details of special offers in the future.

Vintage gold brooches, a good investment?

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:42:00 +0000

Have you seen the price of gold recently? It seems to be going up every day. You will be amazed at what a vintage gold brooch you purchased a few years ago is worth today. The average price increase for gold over the last five years has been well over 15%. This is particularly favourable to the prices of houses, stocks and shares or the interest you can make on your money in the bank. Now I dont know if this increase will continue or not and I am certainly not qualified to give investment advice. I am just looking at what has happened in the past and posing the question: Are vintage gold brooches a good investment?

We do not buy vintage gold brooches purely as an investment of course, most of the joy of owning vintage jewellery has to do with the craftsmanship, the design and the pure joy of wearing a piece of style or history.
But what, just if, this lovely old brooch you are admiring was to go up in value too? Wouldnt that be wonderful.

So what factors should we look for in a vintage gold brooch?
As with all vintage jewellery these are important ( in no particular order):
1. Condition
2. Style
3. Maker / designer
4. Age
5. Size/ weight
6. Materials
7. Price

I will look at each of these over the next week or so and examine what makes a vintage brooch desirable. For now lets look at a couple of vintage gold brooches which might just be an excellent investment as they are hallmarked gold:
vintage brooch black Opal oval gold 1980s

There is a super oval black opal set into this 9 carat gold brooch. The hallmarks date it to the 1980s. The opal is a doublet. A very collectable piece of vintage jewellery
Approx Size: 2.2 cms long ( conversion note: 1 inch = 2.54 cms)

Approx Weight: 3.2 grams
Country of origin: England

Vintage brooch gold pearl garnet leaf spray

A vintage brooch made of fully hallmarked nine carat gold in the shape of a spray of fern leaves ties up with a bow. This vintage brooch is a lovely piece of jewellery being set with three garnets and three pearls. This brooch measures about 4.2 cms long

Vintage Silver brooches

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:17:00 +0000

AntiquesAvenue.co.uk is featuring Vintage Silver Jewellery at the moment and so I thought I would show you some of the Vintage silver brooches available.

silver turquoise bird and flower brooch

A very pretty piece of antique jewellery. This brooch is made of silver ( stamped 900) and set with tiny turquoise cabachons . There is a seed pearl at the center of each floewr and the bird has tiny red glass eyes. What a wonderful vintage brooch to wear or to collect.

This measures about 4.5 cms long and fastens with a simple C catch. It dates from the Edwardian era and is a very exceptional piece of vitnage jewellery

Castlecliff - huge 1940s cocktail era flower brooch silver

A stunning Castlecliff brooch dating from I believe the 1940s. This is made of silver ( sterling is impressed on the reverse). It is huge measuring about 9.5 cms long and 5.5 cms wide. This is in excellent wearable condition.
Castlecliff were an American Jewellery company. Here is what I have been able to find out about them:

Founded By Clifford Furst And Joseph Bobley In New York City, Castlecliff Was A Highly Respected Name In The Jewelry Industry, And Its Beauty Was Just As Highly Prized By Women Then As It Is By Those Lucky Enough To Find A Piece Now.

Sold In Only The Finest Departments Stores, Castlecliff Was Impeccably Produced In Bold Yet Startlingly Intricate Designs

vintage brooch silver enamel rose

This Vintage brooch is really wonderful. The leaves, stem and buds are made of silver enameled and with inset marcasites. The rose flower is actually made of a hand carved early plastic. The silver is fully hallmarked and can be dated to 1963. There are a few minor signs of age to this brooch but still a very attractive piece of vintage jewellery.

This lovely piece of vintage jewellery measures about 8 cms long.

Victorian sentimental brooches

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:25:00 +0000

The Victorians loved their sentimental jewellery of all types, sweetheart jewellery and mourning jewellery were widely worn. During the Victorian era the development of mass producton of silver jewellery and especially silver brooches made it possible for people from all walks of life to own a sentimental brooch . These sentimental silver brooches were made in thousands and thousands of different designs and many of these have survived for todays collector and researcher of vintage jewellery and antique brooches.

Here are a few victorian sentimental silver brooches :

Name Brooches:

Just as necklaces with names on were popular in the 1980s , the later 1800s and early 1900s saw a fashion for silver name brooches. Here is a very Victorian name brooch made for a lady called Fanny:

This antique brooch dates from the Victorian era when name brooches like this were popular. Made of silver "Fanny" is entwined with leaves.This is an unusually large antique name brooch being 6.4 cms long. As with most brooches of the victorian era, this fastens with a simple C catch.

The Victorian Mizpah Brooch
These brooches are normally made of silver although occasionally a rare gold one does turn up.
A wonderful Mizpah brooch made from sterling silver and fully hallmarked for Chester 1898. Antique Mizpah brooches are popular collectables and as gifts between parted lovers.

MIZPAH, The Lord watch between me and thee when we are absent one from another.

This mizpah brooch measures about 5.1 cms long, the hinge has been moved at some time long ago and is quite solid now

Victorian sweetheart brooch
These are covered with hearts, flowers, and love birds. Occasionally these victorian sentimental brooches have tiny lockets set into them to contain a lock of a lovers hair.

This example is fully hallmarked for Chester 1895:

One of the most sentimental forms of Victorian Jewellery of all was mourning jewellery which was worn for many years after the death of a close relative. Early on in the mourning period mourning jewellery would be black but before comming out of the mourning period the lady could wear mourning jewellery made of silver or gold. Try searching out victorian mourning brooches made from silver - you will find genuine examples of antiuqe jewellery at very affordable prices.

Favourite cameo brooches

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:45:00 +0000

Here's just a few of my favourite Cameo brooches. Some have long gone to their new homes but their pictures remain.............

Victorian Lava Cameo

Aurora Goddess of the dawn:

I believe this chap is Asclepius who was the son of Apollo and the God of Medicine:

Hebe In Greek mythology Hebe is the Goddess of youth & Eternal beauty. In this cameo she is giving the nectar of life to Zeus ( her father) who has taken the form of an Eagle:

And I think this lovely lady is Flora:

More Cameo Jewellery on my website http://www.antiquesavenue.co.uk/

Special Scottish Silver Brooch - Ola Gorie

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:31:00 +0000

I wantd to show you this special brooch - It is available from my website shop at http://www.antiquesavenue.co.uk/ where a kind shopper noticed it and let me know that it was designed and made by a lady called Ola Gorie in the Orkney Islands , Scotland. The brooch has the initials OMG which are her trademark and it also has full silver hallmarks.

I've visited Ola Gories website hoping to find out a bit more about the design which I suspect is taken from a similar Scandinavian design I have seen. It appears that she is not currently selling a piece of jewellery in this design.
This brooch appears to have two birds ( Doves or Love Birds?) sitting in a tree eating small fruit such as cherries. Do you know the tradidiotnal design this is based on? Please do get in touch I would love to know.

Scandianvian silver leaf brooches

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:25:00 +0000

Yesterdays blog post on leaf brooches inspried me to take a look at some very special vintage brooches in the antiquesavenue colleciton - Scandinavian silver leaf brooches. As many of you know Scandinavian jewellery is highly regarded and some of the Scandinavian silver craftsmen and designers are amongst the best in the world. Many Scandinavian pieces of jewellery take their inspiration from nature, leaves and flowers included.

Aksel Holmsen Sterling Pin Brooch Norway

In the form of three twining leaves: this Sterling silver brooch was made by Aksel Holmsen in Norway and has the manufacturers back stamp . A complex triple fern leaf design. This fastens with a simple C catch Approx Size: 2 inches long Approx Weight: 12.2 grams Country of origin Norway Condition: Excellent vintage condition

Flora Danica Eggert Silver leaf Brooch

This Leaf brooch was made by Eggert in Denmark as part of its Flora Danica range. It is made of Sterling silver with a gold plating. The brooch measures just over 5 cms long and weighs about 14.8 grams
This brooch looks like it has been cast from an original leaf

David Andersen silver enamel brooch Scandinavian

This David Andersen silver brooch has a very modernists design. The silver brooch has been gilded gold and has also been enameled in white. The leaf measures a bit over 6 cms long. Nice to see an enameled leaf brooch
Vintage David Andersen silver jewellery is now very collectable.

Scandinavian silver brooch J Tostrup Modernist

This Scandinavian silver brooch has a very modernists design. This silver brooch in the form of a leaf was made in Norway by Jacob Tostrup. This is quite a large brooch measuring about 7.5 cms long .
Note how the center piece of this Scandinavian brooch stands proud of the textured background

Swedish silver brooch Michelson dated 1957

This Swedish silver brooch is in the shape of a leaf. According to the hallmarks on the reverse it was made in 1957 . This vintage brooch has the markers logo MIC which is for the Danish company A Michelson who carried out some jewellery manufacture in Stockholm in the later 1940s to early 1960s.
The brooch also carries the signature Neugel ( The designer?) , it measures about 5.7 cms wide
I wonder what sort of leaf this is?

Please do get in touch if you have any Scandinavian silver leaf brooches you would like to share.

Collecting leaf brooches

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:56:00 +0000

The Autumn leaves are falling outside my window . It occurs to me how many vintage brooches and antique brooches have been inspired by leaves of all shapes and sizes. In the AntiquesAvenue collection I have leaf brooches from the Victorian era right the way through to the 1970s.

These leaf brooches are made of gold, silver and of costume jewellery. They can be set with precious and semi precious stones and enameled in naturalistic leaf colours. Some leaf brooches are by designers, others are just very attractive but unnamed pieces of jewellery.

Lets take a look at a few:

Victorian Name brooch with leaves

This antique brooch dates from the Victorian era when name brooches like this were popular. Made of silver "Fanny" is entwined with leaves/ This is an unusually large antique name brooch being 6.4 cms long. As with most brooches of the victorian era, this fastens with a simple C catch

Victorian pebble brooch
This must be one of the best Victorian Scottish hardstone brooches I have ever seen. Queen Victorian set the fashion for silver brooches set with Scottish hardstones and agate and they were made in all shapes and colours. This one is in the form of a fern leaf and is set with banded agates that tone wonderfully with the silver setting. The fern leaf curls in two directions giving the appearance of movement to the piece.
On the back there is an impressed Victorian registration lozenge which would allow the piece to be accurately dated and a maker identified. The brooch measures about 7.3 cms long. One of the tiny agate panels is actually vacant but it tones so well with the brooch that is is difficult to see this.

Vintage gold brooch , leaf spray
A vintage brooch made of fully hallmarked nine carat gold in the shape of a spray of fern leaves ties up with a bow. This vintage brooch is a lovely piece of jewellery being set with three garnets and three pearls. This brooch measures about 4.2 cms long

Next time I will take a look at some special Scandinavian silver leaf brooches

Vintage Brooch for Bonfire night?

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:53:00 +0000

I believe that there is a Vintage brooch for every occasion , with Bonfire night just a few weeks away I was wondering which brooches would be most suitable to go allongside fireworks.

Our November the 5th commemoration of Guy Fawkes bungled attempt to blow up the houses of parliament in 1605 is all about colour, show and flash. We dress up warmly and so any vinage brooch needs to be large enough to pin to a jumper or coat or perhaps to keep a scarf in place.

How about these suggestions?

Danish Silver brooch Anton Michelsen star burst
A wonderful star burst silver brooch made by Anton Michelsen of Denmark. I presume that this vintage brooch was made during the 1960s / 1970s when start busts was high fashion ( just think of the star burst clocks which were made about that time. The start and central area have a light gold tint. This one even looks like a firework.
This vintage silver brooch measures up to 7 cms long

Vintage brooch enamel blue flower
Vintage brooches with enamel are always colourfull. This vintage brooch is in the shape of an exotic flower and is enameled in shades of blue and set with diamante in the center and along the silver toned petals. It measures about 5 cms diameter and is in excellent condition. Big, bright and showy - ideal for a jumper or coat.

Victorian banded agate brooch Scottish hardstone pebble
Pebble brooches are made from Scottish hardstone pebbles and were popularised by Queen Victoria when she had a passion for all things Scottish. This pebble brooch is Victorian and is set with a particularly well figures piece of banded hardstone - I have included a picture with the light behind so that you can see how beautiful it really is. This antique brooch measures about 6 cms wide and is set in a gold tone frame. True bonfire colours in this antique brooch.

A little Bonfire night Poem I remember from childhood.......

Remember remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder,treason

Should ever be forgot...

Vintage Brooches, Jewellery News

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Vintage Jewellery Blog:
Vintage Brooches blog is all about Antique and Vintage brooches but what about other types of vintage jewellery and antique jewellery? Now I have a new blog dedicated to all types of vintage jewellery please do take a look over at http://www.vintage-jewellery.info
I will still be bringing you the latest on vintage brooches from antiquesavenue here on this blog

Jewellery news update from Antiquesavenue.co.uk
I am currently featuring all types of jewellery to wear around your neck - pendants, lockets and necklaces. You can get a 15% discount on all neck jewellery until the end of the week , just mail me if you would like to take up this offer. The next feature coming later this week will be charms and charm bracelets

Vintage Brooch news
Ive been adding more lovely brooches including some special Scandinavian ones by some of the top Scandinavian jewellery designers.

Newsletter Update
Have you subscribed to antiquesavenue's news letter? Its sent out once a month and includes all the recent updates form antiquesavenue jewellery , details of whats new , give aways and special offers. Subscribers to the newsletter received and exclusive discount during September. Just enter your e.mail address - I promise never to pass the details on and you can unsubscribe at anytime.

Victorian mourning brooches for Halloween

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:20:00 +0000

Victorian mourning brooches are very collectable but they do always have a somber mood to them. But , just think how wonderfully suitable they would be to wear to a Halloween party this year. Not only are these original antiques black in colour they have the connection with the dead which is celebrated each October 31st.

The materials most often used in Victorian black jewellery are Jet, French Jet ( polished black glass), Bog Oak and enamels however early forms of resin and plastics were also found. Here are a few nice Victorian mourning brooches available from antiquesavenue:

Victorian Jet Brooch
A superb Victorian Whitby Jet mourning brooch which has been carved in 3d with a lily of the valley flower. The lily of the valley was a sentimental flower to the Victorians: – sweetness, return to happiness; humility, purity, you've made my life complete, birthday flower for May, Legend says that Mary’s tears turned into Lily of the valley at the foot of the cross
This Whitby jet brooch measures about 4.8 x 4 cms and is in lovely antique condition , if you look very closely you can see a small nick to one of the leaves

Victorian Pietra Dura Brooch
A wonderful Pietre dure brooch which will date from the victorian era. Pietre dure is the term given to the technique of using small, exquisitely cut and fitted, highly-polished colored stones to create what amounts to a painting in stone. Here we have a typical stone painting of flowers set into a silver mount. This brooch will date from the Victorian era. It measures a little over 4 cms long and fastens with a simple C catch. This victorian brooch is in excellent condition

Victorian Mourning Locket brooch
This antique brooch will date from the victorian age. It has a central locket compartment which is currently occupied by a picture of a lady. This central locket compartment is surrounded by a black enamel panel . The metal is gold tone. It measures 4 cms long. This brooch will date from time following the death of Price Albert when mourning jewellery was high fashion. The reverse shows signs of light wear to the gold colour of the metal

This one is a little older - A georgian brooch, not black but containing a lock of the deceaseds hair:
Georgian Mourning Brooch
A genuine antique brooch which is approximately 200 years old. This Georgian brooch has a central glass covered compartment and the metal will be gold filled ( a gold outer with metal core) The central compartment contains a weave of hair with a gold scroll over. This antique brooch is typical of Georgian jewellery.This brooch fastens with a simple C catch, it measures about 1.8 cms wide - crikey perhaps its haunted

What ever piece of antique jewellery you choose this Haloween - Happy Haunting!

Vintage brooches, new selection at AntiquesAvenue

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:45:00 +0000

AntiquesAvenue is always looking to bring you the freshest selection of genuine vintage brooches. Here are a few of the latest in stock for you to look at:

Trifari vintage brooch gold tone costume jewellery

Made by Trifari, this brooch is a wide swirl in gold tone metal. Trifari are famous costume jewllery designers. This vintage brooch measures over 8 cms long and would make a bold display on a dark coat or dress.

Scandinavian silver brooch white enamel I Holth

This Scandinavian silver brooch was made by I Holth in Norway. This brooch is decorated with white enamel and a silver filigree overlay. The brooch has the makers stamp in the reverse and the brooch measures about 3.8 cms long

Vintage brooch Ruskin Orange pewter arts & crafts

A Vintage Brooch dating from the early 1900s. This brooch is set with a high fired orange "Ruskin" stone and set off in hand crafted pewter. Brooches like this are typical of the arts and crafts work carried out in the Edwardian era an the earlier 1900s. The brooch measures about 6 cms diameter

vintage brooch silver enamel bird

A wonderful old vintage silver and enamel brooch from the early to mid 1900s. This brooch is impressed sterling silver. This is quite a dramatic piece of vintage jewellery with the enamel bird and the diamante set flower. The brooch measures about 7.2 cms long

Vintage Brooches , whats your favourite?

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:27:00 +0000

Do you have a favourite vintage brooch? Many of us do have that one special signature brooch which is worn with several items of clothing. Other are lucky enough to have a brooch which has been handed down by grandma or even great grandma.

I was thinking what a wonderful idea it would be to create a gallery of all our favourite vintage brooches and we could list them here on the vintage brooches blog.

If you are interested please do get in touch through my vintage jewellery shop or leave a comment here.

In the meantime here is one of my favourite brooches:

This Vintage brooch is really wonderful. The leaves, stem and buds are made of silver enameled and with inset marcasites. The rose flower is actually made of a hand carved early plastic. The silver is fully hallmarked and can be dated to 1963. There are a few minor signs of age to this brooch but still a very attractive piece of vintage jewellery.
This lovely piece of vintage jewellery measures about 8 cms long.

Anne

Vintage brooches Owl and Pussy-Cat

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:57:00 +0000

Just looking through the Vintage brooches and other Vintage Jewellery I have for sale on AntiquesAvenue I was reminded of the nonesense poem by Edward Lear about the Owl and the Pussy-Cat. There is such a variety of owl and cat brooches and what an excellent collection they would make. Here is the poem and pictures of a few of the vintage owl brooches and cat brooches available.

The Owl and the Pussy-Cat by Edward Lear:

The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea

In a beautiful pea-green boat.

They took some honey and plenty of money

Wrapped up in a five-pound note.

The Owl looked up to the stars above,

And sang to a small guitar,'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,

What a beautiful Pussy you are,You are,You are!

What a beautiful Pussy you are!'

Pussy said to Owl, 'You elegant fowl!

How charmingly sweet you sing!O let us be married! too long we have tarried:

But what shall we do for a ring?'

They sailed away, for a year and a day,To the land where the Bong-Tree grows

And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood,With a ring at the end of his nose,

His nose,His nose!With a ring at the end of his nose.

'Dear Pig, are you willing to selling for one shillingYour ring?'

Said the Piggy, 'I will.'So they took it away, and were married next day

By the Turkey who lives on the hill.

They dined on mince and slices of quince,

Which they ate with a runcible spoon;

And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand

They danced by the light of the moon,

The moon,The moon,They danced by the light of the moon

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Do you collect vintage jewellery? If so do you have a theme for your collection? The owl and the pussy-cat would make a good theme for any vintage jewellery collection . Perhpas we can think of some more themes for the next blog entry

How to tell vintage jewellery from new

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:29:00 +0000

Just wanted to show you all this blog article about telling your vintage jewellery from your new jewellery . I'm working on more detail for each of the 16 ways to tell your vintage piece from new . Hinges is already complete and on antiquesavenue blog and catches is on its way soon.
Do get in touch if you have anything to add to this list I would like to make it a comprehensive reference on vintage jewellery.
Thanks for you help
Anne

Blog moving home

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:44:00 +0000

For now this blog is moving to http://www.antiquesavenue.com/ - sorry cant keep up more than one at once!

Victorian Micro Mosaic brooch

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:17:00 +0000

An amazing Victorian Micro mosaic brooch I just had to show you. It is in the shape of a cross. This is set with 5 pictures - grapes an anchor, two flower panels and a central bird. The reverse has a hook which I believe was originally used to wear this as a pendant with the brooch clip being added in the later 1800s. Note that the triangular section on the right hand side is missing its tiles otherwise this is in excellent condition. It measures about 4 cms wide

Currently this antique brooch is for sale by AntiquesAvenue on eBay with a very reasonable start price.

More on Micro Mosaics in vintage brooches coming soon

porcelain plaques for antique brooches

anneh@antiquesavenue.com (AntiquesAvenue) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:24:00 +0000

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.