CZECH BROOCH c1930s - COLOURED GLASS STONES ON WHITE METAL FILIGREE

I have a passion for early Czech jewellery - filigree and glass stones.  Of course I particular like Max Neiger - but there were so many other good people working at this time - producing wonderful jewellery.  I was particularly pleased

Czech Brooch - coloured stones to get this small brooch because I love these long, flat backed green glass stones.  So often they are cracked - but this brooch is in really good condition. The white metal filigree has darkened but I prefer this so have no attempted to lighten it.  Full details on my web site - as above link.  Price £75 ref: 2966 C45.21

BLUE & WHITE BIRDS VINTAGE CLIP EARRINGS

These vintage blue and white birds clip earrings are cheerful on a grey day and I will be taking them into Vintage Modes, at Grays Antiques (in central London) with me today.  Not sure what sort of plastic they are made of, but they are in good condition, unused, and the clips work well.  I always have a large selection of clip earrings in my shop and have lots of customers without pierced ears.  I also stock some screw topped earrings - they tend to be older.  Price £35 ref: 2965 C45/34

Blue Bird clip earrings

THE ARDENA PATTER IN BOX - ELIZABETH ARDEN

This is an early Elizabeth Arden 'Ardena Patter' in the original box.  At the time it was though that patting the skin in a prescribed manner with Arden products would somehow improve it.  There are full instructions given!  An interesting article can be found on www.cosmeticsandskin.com/patters - which describes how, when and why these were used.  I love the graphics used in the early Arden ads - much more than the actual patter!  Interesting for a collector.  Ref: 2964 C46/48

Arden Patter

AMAMI POWDER BOX - ELDERFLOR - EARLY 20TH CENTURY

This dark blue powder box by Amami has to have been made between 1909 - when the name Amami was first used commercially - and 1927 - when the company was bought out.  It doesn't have the powder in it - but I love it all the same!  Full details and more info on my web site - see link.

Amami Powder Box

VIGNY GOLD TONE VINTAGE POWDER COMPACT - LE GOLLYWOGG

This is an unusual compact.  I can find no reference to it anywhere (if any one else knows anything about it please let me know!).  It is made by Vigny with the famous Gollywogg on it that is on all their quite collectible perfumes.  I presume the date is either side of 1930.  Givny was started in France around 1920.  There is a full description on my website with 6 pictures.  Was it particularly rare?  Why can't I find another one!

Vigny Powder Compact Le Gollywogg

VINTAGE POWDER BOXES

I have bought a large collection of vintage powder boxes from a collector.  This collector seemed to be very interested in the history of powder boxes. The use of make in public didn't take place until around the 1920's.  Women started to use compacts so they could powder their faces when they went out.  These compacts - which were often very beautiful - often needed loose powder - although some had pressed powder.  The early loose powder refill boxes could be highly decorated and very desirable!  However during WW11 the boxes had to be scaled back and were very plain and boring - except to a collector!  They sometimes had something printed on the back to say it conformed to the war time regulations about the use of paper.  These boxes will be going on to the web site as I can photograph them.

CHRISTIAN DIOR - VINTAGE GOLD TONE & FAUX EMERALD NECKLACE

Not sure of the date of this Dior necklace - but it looks very 1980s.  It is of course very good quality gold plated and has a faux emerald glass stone.  It will join my large collection of vintage gold plated costume jewellery in my shop at Grays Antiques - where I am part of Vintage Modes.  Full details of size etc. are on my web site - see link.  Ref: 2956 C45/27 Price £135

Dior gilt & emerald glass necklace

THE LEA STEIN MATCHSTICK BROOCH - MAUVE AND IVORINE

This is the rarer Lea Stein matchstick brooch.  Only the second one I have ever had.  Quite small and not saying too much - but would be so good for a collector of Lea Stein.  I do like to try to get the more unusual ones - either in design or in colour.  Part of the fun!  It is of course a genuine Lea Stein - I do not sell the copies as a matter of principle - but they are not very good anyway!  I usually have a selection in my shop but you can contact me if you are looking for a particular design/colour.

Lea Stein Matchstick Brooch

ARO MIZER ART DECO METAL PERFUME ATOMISER - RED & BLACK

This is an Aro Mizer, Art Deco, small metal perfume atomiser in red and black.  It is just so Deco!  It is in good condition for its age.  Everything works!  Lots of pictures on my web site - see the link.  It is so hard to find interesting objects with such an iconic deco design.  See it in my shop at Grays Antiques in central London.  Ref: 2954 C40/15

Aro Mizer Perfume Atomiser

LEA STEIN BROOCH - SPARKLY FOX

This Lea Stein fox brooch is very sparkley and popular with my customers - but I can't get it very often.  I like it because it can be seen on a black outfit - and certainly jazzes it up!  My customers to like their Lea Stein and I always try to have a variety in my shop at Grays Antiques.  They are always the real deal - no fakes - please do not buy the Chinese immitations.  Marked Lea Stein Paris on the back.  Ref: 2951 C45/2

Lea Stein Sparkly Fox Brooch

MARIE CHRISTINE PAVONE - BLACK BIRD BROOCH

I adore Pavone's sense of humour.  This black bird is so striking!  Love its metal legs and ball feet.  Read the description on Marie Christine Pavone on my web site - under Manufacturers - my blog.  This brooch went out on a magazine photoshoot as soon as it arrived in my shop!  Ref: 2950 C45/11 Price £65.

Pavone black bird brooch

SAPHIRET GLASS STONES NECKLACE - ART DECO PERIOD

I have just finished rethreading this saphiret glass stones necklace - not a job I wanted to do - but the previous threader had not got it right!  Saphiret glass stones from before 1950 are very sought after.  They are two toned - due to the addition of gold to the glass.  There is a full description of this necklace on my web site - see link - and lots of pictures - do take a look!  ref: 2949 C16/27

saphiret glass stones necklace

LEA STEIN BROOCH - THE PARROT - BLUE YELLOW RED AND GREEN

The weather is so awful

Lea Stein Parrot Brooch I long for the sun - and this colourful parrot is very cheering!  It is in vibrant deep shades of blue yellow red and green.  There is a lot of work in making a Lea Stein brooch.  This brooch - which is made of cellulose acetate - is composed of at least 9 different pieces - which have to be joined together.  Each piece is several layers which - often a different colour on the back of each piece.  The back of the parrot tail is a pearlised blue!  This is why they are so quirky and each one is different.  I choose my Lea Steins carefully and tend to stock the ones I like!  ref: 2946 C45/4 Price £65.