Kaleidoscope effect

Victorian design gold filled watch pin. 1930s. Robert Fitz Simmons vintage costume jewelry

Robert Fitz Simmons vintage costume jewelry
The history of Simmons jewelry dates back to 1873, when Robert Fitz Simmons, with his partners Joseph Lyman Sweet and Edgar L. Hixon, founded jewelry company in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Each of them invested $ 2,500 in the business, which then paid off. Fourteen years later, the company employed 200 people, and its offices and representatives appeared in New York, Berlin, Barcelona, ​​Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Sydney.
Initially, the company produced watch chains, eyeglass chains, key chains, bracelets, and even cane handles. Noteworthy, the company became the first jewelry house to publish a catalog (1881). Innovative jewelers, they were the first to stamp products with manufacturer ID and offer customers a quality assurance (1880s). They were also the first to use “combination – link chains” (1890s) and the practical Marlow lock bracelet in 1899.
Fine quality, gold-filled or sterling silver jewelry by Simmons is highly collectible now.
The RF Simmons Co founded by Robert Fitz Simmons (1842, New York – 1894, Attleboro MA) ceased to exist in 1952.
Read more »

Flower brooch. Gold tone alloy, Swarovski crystals. 5.5 cm. 1980s. Allison Reed vintage costume jewelry

Allison Reed vintage costume jewelry
Formerly known as A&Z (1909), WEH (1957), and Hayward (1970), Allison Reed jewelry history began in East Providence, Rhode Island, in 1964. The president of the company is Lawrence J Cohen (born 1955). Jewelry manufacturer and distributor, Allison Reed specializes in vintage design and antique treasures. Allison Reed’s company name is random and not associated with any living person. Noteworthy, for more than a hundred years of operation, Allison Reed Group, Inc. has registered several jewelry brands. In particular, Spencer (1962), S (1968), America’s Fashion Jewelry (1986), David Donahue (1999), Bamboo Jungle (2005), and Tupelo Hill (2007).
Traditionally, the company’s craftsmen create classic design costume jewelry with the use of mixed metals of silver and gold tone, Swarovski crystals, and enamel. Also, they use archive designs of early 1900s to create vintage look earrings, pendants, pins, bracelets, and lockets. According to their motto, everything old is new again. The markings on the back side of each piece include Allison Reed’s full name in stylized writing.
Read more »

Nutcracker gold plated brooch pin. 8.5 cm. 1992. Sutton Hoo vintage costume jewelry

Sutton Hoo vintage costume jewelry
The history of the American jewelry brand “Sutton Hoo” spans three decades, from 1975 to 2002. Its founder – Katharine Carlton Ridge, born December 31, 1946 in Louisville. She studied art and teaching in Holy Spirit School and Sacred Heart Academy. Also, she graduated from Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia in 1968. Beautiful woman and talented artist, she founded her own jewelry brand Sutton Hoo in 1975.
Traditionally, she used 24-carat gold-plated jewelry alloy, artificial pearls and art glass to create her brooches, earrings and pendants. The markings on the back side include the initials “SH” with the copyright sign and the year the product was created.
Katharine Carlton Ridge died 6 Oct 2015 at the age of 68 in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA.
Read more »

Symbolic thistle flower brooch. Sterling silver, art glass. 1960s. Ward Brothers vintage costume jewelry

Ward Brothers vintage costume jewelry

The history of the Scottish jewelry brand “Ward Brothers” began in the late 19th century in Glasgow. Handcrafted from sterling silver in Celtic, Victorian and Scottish style, the pieces had a symbolic meaning. For example, the Lucky Heather and Horseshoe designs were worn to attract good luck and success. Another traditional design is the thistle, an element of the Scottish coat of arms, symbolizing tenacity, tenacity, and resistance. According to belief, a thistle ornament is a powerful talisman that protects a person from damage and the evil eye.
Made with great craftsmanship, the company’s jewelry became very popular, and as a result, the company expanded its business. So, jewelry production began in Edinburgh and then in Birmingham. Traditionally, the craftsmen of this brand made jewelry from sterling silver, as well as using gold plating. Also, they used both natural stones – Scottish agate, and glass imitations of ruby, amethyst, zirconium and garnet.
Noteworthy, the markings on the back of the items differ, according to the year and place of production of the jewelry. In particular, the initials WBS, also the anchor mark of Birmingham, followed by the lion, and the year; the purity of gold or silver; Chester 1921 (for Ward Brothers); thistle with towers and letter B. The company ceased to exist in the 1970s and became the property of another British brand that still specializes in Celtic, Irish and Scottish style jewelry.
Read more »

Avant-garde design 925 sterling silver brooch. 4.2 cm. 1960s. Andreas Daub vintage costume jewelry

Andreas Daub vintage costume jewelry
The history of the German jewelry brand “Andreas Daub” began about 150 years ago in the jewelry capital of Germany, the city of Pforzheim. The young jeweler Andreas Daub founded his family business in 1872, which has worked for five generations. Already at the beginning of the 20th century, the company became one of the leading companies in the German jewelry industry and one of the leading jewelry companies in Europe. Kurt Daub, the fifth generation jeweler, leads the company today.
The company produces premium, avant-garde, Victorian and Art Nouveau jewelry. Traditionally, jewelry markings include the initials A * D, as well as the purity of the metal. Noteworthy, the “Amerikaner” stamp is guaranteed to indicate the presence of gold in the product. Along with gold and copper, the company’s jewelers used sterling silver and natural stones such as corals, amethysts and even diamonds. Also, faux pearls, and glass cabochons imitating precious stones. High quality hand-made vintage jewelry hallmarked “Andreas Daub” is rare and highly collectible now.

Read more »

Art Nouveau Griffin Dragon pin. 14k Gold, pearl, ruby. Carter Gough antique costume jewelry

Carter Gough antique costume jewelry
Born on January 17, 1817 in Newark, New Jersey, Aaron Carter was the founder of the jewelry company later known as “Carter, Gough & Co”. Aged 15, he studied jewelry for 6 years at local goldsmiths Taylor and Baldwin. After completing his studies in 1938, he began working as an apprentice at Newark jewelry factory, and from 1941 he started an independent business, in partnership with other jewelers. In particular, A. Pennington and Michael Doremus (1841-1844), and John R. Pierson (1848-1856). Accordingly, with the change of partners, the name of his company also changed – Carter & Doremus, Carter & Pierson; Carter, Howkins & Uodd; Carter, Howkins & Sloan. In 1876 Aaron’s eldest son William joined his business, when the company’s name was Carter, Howkins & Sloan.
Aaron Carter died on 31 Jan 1902 in Orange NJ. His fifty-three-year-old son William Tuttle Carter (born 28 September 1849) took over the company, which in 1915 changed its name to Carter, Gough & Co.
The company produced handcrafted jewelry in Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles. They used gold plating, enamel, pearls, amethyst and other stones to create cufflinks, bar brooches, circle pins, charms and pendants. Traditionally, they marked their pieces with a “C” inside an arrowhead. Lovers and collectors of vintage and antique jewelry appreciate the company’s work for its high quality and exquisite design.
Unfortunately, there is no exact date for the closure of the company or the date of William’s death.
Read more »

Kachina pendant. 1970s. Sterling silver, mixed metals. Work by Native American goldsmith Charles Loloma (1921-1971)

Native American goldsmith Charles Loloma (1921-1971)
Third Mesa, Arizona based goldsmith Charles Loloma stood firmly in the tradition of contemporary American gold smithing. He studied ceramics at the School for American Craftsmen at Alfred University in upstate New York, but moved into jewelry making in the 1950s. For more than twenty years he traveled the world both to teach and to study. True to his original vision, Loloma used to say “I could appreciate what was done in Egypt, but when I got home, I did my own designs”.
For a thousand years, Loloma and his ancestors have lived in the Hopi village. A member of the Badger Clan of the Hopi Nation, Loloma’s distinctive Native American style springs from the combination of artistry, materials, and imagination. Jewelry pieces created by the artist is the essence of the Hopi in Loloma, the closeness with the land, the connection with his tribe and his traditions.
Traditionally, Loloma used gold, sterling silver, turquoise, coral, ironwood, and ivory, lapis and other natural stones. He artfully signed his pieces “Loloma”. The jeweler has created truly timeless museum worth designs, which are highly collectible now.
Loloma died in 1991 at the age of 70.
Read more »