‘Winter Travellers’. Porcelain, enamel. 8.5cm. 1989. Buckley Moss vintage costume jewelry

Buckley Moss vintage costume jewelry
The history of Buckley Moss trademark began in 1978, when American artist Patricia Buckley Moss (b. 1933) founded her company Buckley Moss, Inc. Patricia’s paintings and jewelry are inspired by country landscapes, people, animals and children. The artist’s special passion is geese, embodied in her paintings and jewelry designs.
A philanthropist and charitable person, Patricia began to produce limited quantities of brooches for her foundation, P. Buckley Moss Society For the Love of Children. Faced with learning challenges in school, she dedicates her life to helping children with learning disabilities. Every year she created one or two designs of brooches, pendants and lapel pins, each of which has a serial number.
Traditionally, the jewelers use porcelain, hand-painting her unique subjects, as well as gold, silver and enamels.
More »

Weird Face brooch. Sterling silver, art glass. 1940s. Signed W Lewis vintage costume jewelry

Signed W Lewis vintage costume jewelry
The history of a famous British manufacturer of medals and badges W. Lewis, which began more than one hundred and eighty years ago. In fact, the history of Lewis badges is intertwined with the history of the country itself. Patriotic badges handcrafted during the First and Second World War, badges created for certain organizations, movements, significant events and anniversaries.
Registered as family business of W.O. Lewis, the company’s address was Howard Street West Midlands, Birmingham. Noteworthy, the family business is still active, run by the fifth generations of jewelers and silversmiths since 1832.
Over such a long period, the company has produced thousands of unique, high quality handmade lapel pins, commemorative medals, key chains, shields, plaques and jewelry pieces.
Traditionally, craftsmen use a variety of metals, including gold and silver, and enamel.
The Lewis badges are subjects of Phaleristics, and vintage jewelry is rare and highly collectible.
More »

Silver tone art glass rhinestone Snowman poinsettia vintage brooch. 5.5 cm. 1980s. Symbolic Snowman vintage costume jewelry

Symbolic Snowman vintage costume jewelry
Traditionally, most jewelry companies produce Christmas design decorations. Santa Clauses, Christmas trees, bells, poinsettia, and of course the Snowman can be a great gift for the holiday.
However, the attribute of the Christmas holidays, everyone’s beloved and charming Snowman, turns out to be not as simple as one might think. Indeed, his figure is very controversial, and even endowed with sinister features. So, in medieval lithographs in Europe, snowmen appear to be terrible creatures. Winter time, both in the Middle Ages and now, has been a real test for people. Then the snowman was a symbol of danger and fear, with its own bad omens. For example, it was impossible to sculpt on a full moon, otherwise nightmares would be dreamed. Also, there is a belief, that it is dangerous to look at snowmen in the evening from behind a curtain. And in general, it is undesirable to meet with him after sunset.
Fortunately, St. Francis of Assisi, aka the knight Giovanni Francisco Bernardoni, declared snowmen to be creatures that protect from demons. The explanation was simple. Snow is a gift from heaven, which means a snowman is akin to an angel, protects people and can even convey their requests to heaven. To do this, they molded little snowmen and whispered wishes to them. After it melts, the desire will certainly come true. Since then, sculpting charming snowmen near houses has been a favorite pastime of both children and adults.
In fact, molding a snowman is a prototype of the creation of man, and man himself is the creator! By the way, instead of a nose, carrots “promised” a generous harvest next year, and a bucket on the head – prosperity in the house. And in Romania there is a custom to decorate a snowman with “beads” of garlic, as this promotes the health of family members and protects them from vampires, ghouls, and werewolves.
More »

Star matte gold tone brooch. 1990s. Victoria’s Secret vintage costume jewelry

Victoria’s Secret vintage costume jewelry
Based in Columbus, Ohio, USA, Victoria’s Secret has become the world’s most renowned company selling women’s underwear, swimwear, apparel, cosmetics, perfumery and accessories. Originally a family business founded by Roy Raymond and his wife Gaye Raymond in 1977 in the suburbs of San Francisco, it began with a Victoria’s Secret lingerie store. Within five years they had six stores. However, struggling financially, Roy Raymond had to sell his business to Leslie Wexner for $ 4 million.

Noteworthy, it was Leslie Wexner who subsequently made this brand one of the leading in the market. An important factor in the company’s success was the expansion of the product range in the 1990s. So, having launched its own line of cosmetics and fragrances in 1991, seven years later it was a multi-billion dollar business.

In addition to perfumery, underwear and cosmetics, the company launched lines of accessories and bijouterie in 1990s. Among more than one and a half thousand registered trade marks for the production of lingerie, cosmetics, and accessories, there were eight jewelry trade marks. In particular, The Supermodel (1998-2010), Colin & Colette (2006), Sloane Street (2008), Angel Wings (image), filed in 2012, Adore Me, Adorn Me (2005-2014), Victoria’s Secret (2000), and Our Secret Garden (2011).

In fact, most fashion houses created jewelry for their fashion shows in 1980-1990s. Also, for advertising such products as perfumery, and the brand itself.
More »

Heart brooch pin. Textured gold plated metal alloy, rhinestones. 5 cm. 1980s. Signed Venue vintage costume jewelry

Signed Venue vintage costume jewelry
Beautiful vintage haute couture pieces labeled “Venué USA” have their own unique design. The most characteristic of it is the delicate filigree work, where each piece shows carefully elaborated ornamental and floral patterns. Exquisite and elegant, classic-style jewelry can be a good addition to any vintage jewelry collection. Traditionally, the company’s craftsmen used metal alloy, pewter, as well as gilding and silvering, faux pearls, art glass imitating natural stones, crystals and rhinestones. By the way, French word “Venué” means “Arrival”. Everything about this jewelry is flawless, except for its history, which remains a mystery.
According to scant information, the company operated for a short period of time, no more than a decade, around the 1980s. Unfortunately, there is no information about the registration of this trademark, or patents, or the founder and owner of the company.
The eponymous company VENUE USA, INC. (owner Gordon Scott Warren) incorporated in December 2009 in Florida is still active. However, the company activities have nothing to do with the jewelry business. Besides, it is sometimes possible to revive the dead trademark of another business.
There is also a Venue Jewelry store in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, founded in 1992, but it is not known if it is related to the Venué USA jewelry brand.
More »

Geometric design natural gems sterling silver pendant. 1960s. Wiggers Handmade Denmark vintage jewelry

Wiggers Handmade Denmark vintage jewelry
The history of the Danish jewelry company Wiggers covers a fairly short period of the 1960s. Perhaps this is the reason for the lack of information about the company and its founder. However, the Copenhagen-based company was a renowned manufacturer of tableware in teak. Early 1960s Wiggers made teak kitchenware for Copenhagen firm Illums Bolighus owned by Danish entrepreneur Kaj Dessau. Wiggers artisan teak kitchenware included salad bowls, ice buckets, pepper and salt stands, matchboxes, and other items. Sold at the most prestigious auctions, these items are now collectible.
In addition, the company produced high-quality handcrafted jewellery in a modernist and avant-garde style, dominated by geometric designs. Traditionally, the company’s craftsmen used silver, silver plated pewter, gold and metal alloys. Also, semi-precious stones – moss agate, amethyst, quartz, amber, carnelian, zircon, rock crystal and even rough natural stones that look like pebbles. The marking on the back of each item includes “Wiggers Handmade Denmark”, without the copyright mark.
Jewelry created by Scandinavian company Wiggers is rare and highly collectible.
More »

Conch Shell sterling silver pin. 1950s. William Spratling vintage silver jewelry

William Spratling vintage silver jewelry

Legendary American silver designer and artist William Spratling (1900-1967) was a huge influence on the revival of Mexican silver design in the 20th century. An architect by training, Spratling began rebuilding Taxco’s silver industry in 1931. Initially, he created silver items from pre-Columbian and traditional motifs. In founding his workshop, Taller de las Delicias, he hired local jewelers to implement his designs in silver. Already at the end of the 1930s, more than 500 artisans worked in his workshop. His pieces were sold through the Montgomery Ward catalogs, as well as on Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. Noteworthy, he marked his earliest works with interlocking initials WS.
In the 1940s Spratling in partnership with Victor Silson of New York manufactured silver plated jewelry. Accordingly, the marking of this period includes Spratling of Mexico Silson Inc and initials WS. In mid-1940s, he sold most of the shares to Russell Maguire, which eventually led the company to bankruptcy.
However, Spratling rebuilt his workshop in Taxco and began producing silver jewelry and decorative objects in 1952.
More »