Saturday 27 August 2016

VINTAGE CERAMIC POODLE BROOCH - GREEN

Lots of my customers at Grays Antiques like dogs - especially poodles - so was glad to get this vintage ceramic poodle brooch.  Ceramic brooch were very popular around the 1950's when not so many materials were available to make into jewellery.  Of course they can break - but this one has survived in good condition.  It is 2 inches across.  Taking it into the shop with me today.  If you haven't been to Vintage Modes at Grays Antiques - it is so easy to get to - being 3 minutes from Bond Street underground station.  Price £40 ref: 2977 C47/6
green ceramic vintage poodle brooch

Friday 26 August 2016

BAKELITE NECKLACE - MUSTARD/AMBER COLOURED BEADS

The is a longish - 0 26 inches - row of bakelite beads in two different shapes.  They are a sort of mustard/dark amber colour - but I am not sure of the correct term.  They test positive with Simichrome cream - and I have re-threaded them.  They have a nice original clasp.  I do love bakelite beads and this would be lovely with a couple of my bangles!  Ref: 2976 Price £80
Mustard/amber coloured bakelite beads

Tuesday 23 August 2016

LEA STEIN BROOCH - THE ELVIS PRESLEY

This is the Lea Stein Elvis Presley brooch - one of the more difficult ones to get.  I was lucky to get two but one sold immediately.  This one is in a turquoise/greenish colour with dark blue speckled guitar and black hair and boots.  Great for an Elvis fan!  There are ten different cellulose acetate pieces making up this brooch - some times there are many more.  Each piece is moulded and the pieces have to be carefully assembled.  This is why they cost more than a mass produced piece.The pin is correctly marked - Lea Stein Paris.  Price £78 ref: 2975 B121/6
Lea Stein Elvis Presley Brooch

Friday 19 August 2016

PAIR c1940s GILT DRESS CLIPS WITH RED STONES

I really like dress clips!  This pair are heavier than some and would have been worn on a thick fabric.  They are made in a gold tone on brass metal and have deep red stones that have a cap on the end - to look like fruits or nuts.  There are 3 leaves on each too.  On my web site I have written some notes on ways to wear dress clips.  I would wear one of these on a chain round my neck.  I have not over cleaned this pair but you could clean them a little more if you wanted to.  I always have a good stock of different sorts of dress clips in my shop in central London - many more than is on the web site.  Price £88 for the pair.  Ref: 2974 C44/33
gilt dress clips with red stones

Thursday 18 August 2016

YARDLEY'S POWDER BOX WITH BEE MOTIVE - 1950S - SEALED

I have a great affection for Yardley's products - remembering them from my childhood.  My mother used some of them.  At the time the cream pots and powder boxes had a bee as a motive.  I still have two cream pots.  Also I lived in London's East End and was very near to the Yardley box factory at Bow Bridge.  It is still there - I believe it is to be redeveloped - but the Lavender Ladies - which are on the outside of the building - are to be preserved.  The factory was a little further away - on the site of the new Olympic Park.  I did a work experience in that area and it was well know for being very smelly!  This powder box has the bee on the front - just as I remembered it - and still has the powder inside.  Full details are on my web site - please see the link.  It also has a leaflet inside showing other Yardley products - that is quite delightful!  Ref: 2973 C46/2

Yardley powder box

Thursday 11 August 2016

LEA STEIN BROOCH - FAUX TORTOISESHELL & IVORINE ELEPHANT

I usually have a good selection of Lea Stein brooches in my London shop at Grays Antiques.  This is so easy to get to - being 3 minutes from Bond Street Underground Station.  This is the larger elephant brooch.  It is in a faux tortoiseshell with ivorine ear and tusk.  The elephant is always popular.  Full description is to be found on my web site - www.gillianhorsup.com - there is a link.  Price £65 reference 2970 C45/7
Lea Stein faux tortoiseshell elephant brooch

Tuesday 9 August 2016

BAKELITE BROOCH - CARVED, DARK GREEN LEAVES & BROWN BEADS HANGING

This is a dangley ?grapes bakelite brooch. It has two carved green leaves and lots of brownish bakelite beads hanging from a chain.  There is a metal back place and the leaves are wired onto it.  I am assured by someone whose judgement I trust that this is unsigned Hess for Miriam Haskell. However as it is not marked, and I have not seen it documented anywhere - I am not selling it as Haskell.  It certainly looks as if it could be!  Anyway I love it and would be more than happy to wear it!  Price £88 ref: 2969 C47/36
Bakelite brooch - green leaves

Friday 5 August 2016

MARQUISE SHAPED RED GLASS STONES & GOLD TONE VINTAGE BROOCH

This vintage brooch - which I think is around the 1960s - is on gold tone metal with wire decoration.  It has lots of marquise shaped red glass stones and a central round one.  It is in good condition - being old stock from a shop that closed many years ago.  Great to liven up an outfit!  Ref: 2968 C47/10
vintage red stones brooch

Thursday 4 August 2016

GOLD TONE VINTAGE DRESS CLIP - LEAVES, FLOWERS, WITH GREEN GLASS BEADS

This is a smallish, gold tone, dress clip from around 1950.  Probably Czech.  It has 6 leaves and 3 small flowers - with green glass centres.  It also has a cluster of green glass beads hanging down on wire.  It is such good condition for it's age.  Love dress clips - they are so versatile. See my blog on how to wear dress clips on my web site - under Vintage Dress Clips.  Ref: 2967 C44/35
Gold Tone dress clip - green beads