I finished the Trifari Jewelry video. It is some of my pieces with my vintage ads set to music. The pieces are arranged chronologically, starting with my 1930's bracelet and ending with a late 1970's piece. Most of what I have photographed is from the 1950's and 1960's. I would love to find more from the 1930's- especially the bracelets.
I found an old newspaper (1958) tucked in an old wooden chest, over the weekend. It is yellowed and brittle with pieces breaking off as I carefully open it. I like seeing the old advertisements.
What is really fun in this paper, is an article with excerpts of a diary from 1858. The diary was presented to the Minnesota Historical Society (in 1958) and was featured in the Minneapolis
Tribune throughout Statehood week (Minnesota Centennial). I love reading through old articles and journals, it is like peeking into a window of the past.
I had the pleasure of giving a presentation at the Minnesota Historical Society, back in 2007. The presentation was sweetheart jewelry of World War II ; about the souvenirs and sentimental items sent back to loved ones during the war. It was especially popular during World War II. During the war many people here at home would wear jewelry reflecting the branch of service a loved one was serving as well as patriotic themed jewelry.
Shown above is a Burt Cassell cameo brooch. Burt Cassell was a high end designer from the early 1950's. The pieces were gold-filled and often included semi-precious gemstones, carved ivory, or carved shell cameos. His line included many beautiful carved rose pins, scarab jewelry, and cameo pieces. Here is a link to the signature on the back of a rose pin.
I found this beautiful 1940's carnival or rainbow glass bead necklace marked Japan. I really like the J hook on this piece. (The first J hooks were used in the 1940's.)
True antique jewelry is 100 years or older.
Shown above is a jet bracelet with cameo focal.
Krementz jewelry was established in 1866. Originally their pieces were made of 14K gold. Later, during the 1880's they begin the thick rolled gold plating giving costume pieces the look of fine jewelry.
They were known for their cufflinks and collar buttons and later, during the 1930's, they expanded into women's costume jewelry. During the Great Depression costume jewelry was in greater demand as many could no longer afford fine jewelry. The rolled gold overlay is a base metal between two thick layers of gold and fused.
It is getting colder and the evenings are getting darker soon. Add some brightness with a bit of festive sparkle. Brooches can be worn on more than just sweaters. You can pin them to jackets, scarves, your mittens, and hat! Along with pins, hair accessories are always fun for the upcoming holiday parties. Our hair jewelry is retro in style and includes some fascinators. And, some of our pieces are a blend of old and new, such as this one of a kind Crystal French Barrette, shown above.
2 Halloween pins photographed on black velvet. The large pin is from the 1930's, and the jack-o-lantern pin is made from vintage bakelite. Happy Halloween!
From the 1930's through the 1940's jewelry had lots of feminine curves and sweeping lines. Franklin Roosevelt began his first presidential term in 1933- his Scottish Terrier traveled extensively with him. You will find many pieces of jewelry with the Scotty dog.
During the 1940's the war affected the materials used in costume jewelry production. Wood, plastics, and sterling were popular to use in jewelry production due to rationing and conservation of strategic materials.
Sweetheart jewelry was popular; pieces soldiers sent or brought home for mothers and sweethearts.
