3 WIDE BROWN BAKELITE BANGLES

Just bought a collection of bakelite jewellery.  There are 3 brown bakelite bangles - roughly 1 inch wide.  These would look good for autumn.  They are quite wide so one would look good with a couple of contrasting spacers.  I love my bakelite bangles - the feel of them - and the 'clink' they make.  In the shop at Grays Antiques I always have a good selection of the plain ones - which are popular with my customers.  Please see my web site (follow the link) for details of each bangle.  Ref: 2995 price £48 each.

3 Wide Brown Bakelite Bangles

LEA STEIN BROOCH - RED LADYBIRD WITH BLACK SPOTS

Back to one of my favourites today - the Lea Stein ladybird brooch.  Not my best photo - the red colour is quite even - but cannot get it to look that way!  Round the sides of this particular ladybird are bands of colours - cream, mustard green etc.  These are the various layers of cellulose acetate that go into the making of a Lea Stein brooch.  They are hand made - not reproduction - so everyone is a bit different and they are not 'perfect' like a mass produced item.  The other day I went to a vintage fair and saw lots of Lea Stein copies from China - at £10 each.  In my opinion they are horrid and I would not want to own one - but I specially object to people copying the work of someone like Lea Stein.  She has spent a lifetime developing her brand and designing her jewellery.  It annoys me that another manufacturer cannot be bothered to design their own goods and develop their own brand - just to make money - and I hate it when professional dealers sell these copies!  Ref: 2994 C50/6

Lea stein Brooch - Red Ladybird with Black Spots

MULTICOLOURED CLIP EARRINGS

Not sure how old these earrings are - or what material they are made from. The plastic is clear and painted from behind in red, blue, green and yellow.  They have clip fittings and measure approx 2 1/2 inches top to bottom.  Love the vibrant colours - and they are extra light to wear.  Always have a good selection of clip earrings in the shop as so many of our customers do not have their ears pierced.  Price £55 ref: 2993 C50/48

multicoloured clip earrings

NAPIER VINTAGE GOLD TONE CHAINS BROOCH

I have recently bought Melinda Lewis's book - The Napier Co. - published by Life by Design.  The huge book charts the history of the Napier company from 1878 through to the sale to Victoria & Co. in 2012.  The wonderful thing about the book is that it also provides a history of American costume jewellery - and the pictures are wonderful.  I always by Napier jewellery when I can - especially the gold plated items - as the quality is so good.  This brooch consists of two sets of chains to look like tassels on a bar brooch. I love tasselly jewellery!  I really wish they were earrings!  Very smart and in good condition.  Ref: 2992 C46/8 Price £58.

Napier chains brooch

LEA STEIN BROOCH - THE HORSE - BLACK/GREY AND BROWN

Trying to get all my Lea Steins photographed and up on to my web site - www.gillianhorsup.com - but find them difficult to get pictures without reflection from the shiny surface!  One day I must invest in a really good light box.  This one is the Lea Stein horse brooch in a black/grey pattern with brown trim.  Horses are popular in the shop - along with most animal jewellery.  Do pay a visit - the shop is a few minutes from Bond Street underground station in central London.  Full detail about how to get there are on my web site.  Price £65 ref: 2993 C50/5

Lea Stein horse brooch

LEA STEIN BROOCH - THE HEDGEHOG - PINK SILVER & BLACK

This colouring is not my usual choice for Lea Stein brooches - but I thought it was interesting.  The body of the hedgehog is in a pinky silver glittery pattern with the head and legs in black.  Great for a night out!  I do try to have a complete range of colours/patterns/styles in my choice of jewellery for my shop at Vintage Modes.  I buy whatever I find interesting.  Would love some feedback on this piece - do you like the pattern - or do you prefer my usual choices for Lea Stein?

Lea Stein Hedgehog - pink silver black Ref: 2992 C50/3 price £65

GILLIAN HORSUP VINTAGE JEWELLERY - MAGAZINE SHOOTS

I love working with magazines and loaning my vintage costume jewellery and accessories for photoshoots.  The latest one to appear in print was some earrings I loaned for the September issue of Vogue India.  Love this shoot - photographed by Jason King and styled by Fabio Immediato (one of my favourite stylists!) - it is Sade inspired.  It is always exciting to see how my jewellery has been used in the shoots - sometimes it is quite a surprise!  It is great to meet all the stylists who come into the shop to choose - some of the young and just starting out - and some very experienced.  It livens up my day to talk to young people - full of enthusiasm and energy.  The earrings in this picture are gold tone and black.