WEC: Thoughts about Jewelry

To celebrate Independence Day this year, I offer a combination of flag facts and photos of flags in costume jewelry. Have a safe and festive 4th of July! Civil War Era Needlework When asked about the American flag, the first fact most people will recite is that it was designed by Betsey Ross. However, there is evidence to suggest that her name never came up in conjunction with the flag until 40 years after her death when her grandson first brought up the connection in a speech. She was a flag maker and was given drawings from which she created flags....

Part II of my blog on Canadian Jewelry designers. If you want to read Part I first, just click here.  RAFAEL ALFANDARY Rafael Alfandary, an Israeli born Toronto designer, gave one of his pieces to his English teacher as a thank you gift. The gift was so well received, it led to the opening of his own shop. Rafalel in known for  creating kinetic and abstract designs made of hammered brass or copper, and bezel set with natural stone or glass cabochons. Rafael Afandary Bracelet, Photo Courtesy of Yolanda Dewijk and Yos Finds, an Etsy Shop    Rafael Afandary Necklace, Photos Courtesy of Yolanda Dewijk and...

2017 marks the 150th anniversary of the formation of Canada into a semi-autonomous nation (it was previously a set of colonies) and to celebrate, I'm showcasing Canadian jewelry designers. A quick google search will lead to dozens of contemporary Canadian jewelry designers, but I want to focus on those whose work in the 20th century is still popular among collectors. The designs range from a heavy use of rhinestones to brutalism and abstraction to enameled works.  SHERMAN A Montreal company started by Gustave Sherman and in business from 1947 through 1981.The company is noted for its quality rhinestone pieces and many...

I was doing  some reading about Buddha and discovered I knew very little. So, a blog post with jewelry photos and facts is in order. Born into wealth and named Siddartha Guatama, he left his station in pursuit of the path to truth after witnessing the extreme poverty and disease of the common man.  Unsigned Pin Buddha lived in Nepal, 4-6 centuries B.C. Rose Quartz and Jade Necklace Buddha is often depicted as a fat, happy character probably because chubbiness was seen as synonymous with happiness. In fact, he practiced everything in moderation and fasted regularly. Silver and Jade Bracelet...

Moonstone is the birthstone for June, along with pearl and alexandrite. (June and December are the only months with 3 birthstones). Moonstone, a member of the feldspar family, has a glowing appearance. That glowing sensation is because the stone is made of thin layers and as light hits it, the color scatters in a phenomenon called adularescence. The stone's name was probably coined by the ancient Greeks to describe the way the stone mimics the light and glow of the moon. The Greeks and the Romans valued moonstone as a lover's stone as it was said to bring out the passion of lovers. In India,...

Hobe jewelry is among the most collectible brands of costume jewelry. Hobe, (pronounced HO-BAY) was founded in 1887 as Hobe Cie, fine jewelry line in France, by goldsmith Jacques Hobe. The costume jewelry division was added 40 years later by his son, William Hobe. The company slogan was JEWELS OF LEGENDARY SPLENDOR. The younger Hobe was commissioned by Flo Ziegfeld to design and manufacture jewelry for his Ziegfeld Follies costumes. Folklore has it that this connection was the origin of the phrase COSTUME JEWELRY.  There is a wide range of designs from Hobe. Among the most sought after and recognizable are the...

Today's blog is dedicated to dance and movement. It's an all photo blog of costume jewelry. I hope you enjoy the selections. Daisy Mae Chasing Li'l Abner - She Wants to go to the Sadie Hawkins Dance WALTZ Pendant Dorothy Bauer Dancing Couple Pin and Earrings Set HULA Hobe Pin Sterling Silver Charm FLAMENCO Unsigned Pin Sterling Silver Charm Unsigned Pin GOGO Sterling Silver Charm JAZZ Silver Pendant    Copper Bracelet FOLK Unsigned Pin Wooden Pin Trifari Nanette Pin Czechoslovakian Pin CARIBBEAN: CALYPSO and LIMBO Silver Charm Silver Charm BALLET Artel Silver and Enamel Pins Unsigned Pin Pin from Germany Boucher...

Georg Jensen is both the name of Denmark's famous silversmith and the company he founded. World-renowned for flatware, hollowware, and jewelry, pieces by Jensen are sought after by collectors and can be priced to reflect that demand. Georg Jensen was born in 1866. After trying his hand at goldsmithing, sculpture, and pottery, he found his niche in silversmithing and opened his Copenhagen shop in 1904. Within a year, his work was featured in an exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Copenhagen and his popularity catapulted. In fact, business was so successful Jensen had to close shop periodically because he was...

Margot von Voorhies Carr, commonly referred to as Margot de Taxco, is a designer known for her high quality sterling silver jewelry, both with and without enamel.   Not a great deal is known about Margot's early life, but in 1937 the American-born divorcee left San Francisco for Mexico City. It was there she met and befriended Antonio Castillo with whom she traveled to Taxco, the Mexican city known for its design, crafting, and production of silver jewelry, flatware, and objects. Castillo would later become her second husband. He opened Los Castillo Taller where Margot worked as the principal designer. Their marriage ended after about...

Earth Day—April 22—marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement which was first celebrated in 1970. Events are held worldwide to demonstrate support of environment issues such as reforestation, protection of endangered species, and climate change.In honor of our planet, here is a collection of costume jewelry in the shapes of leaves, trees and other plants. Please enjoy. LEAVES Silver Pin and Earrings Set by Alice Caviness Prydz Silver Pin Silver Pin by Meka Napier Pin Lisner Pin Lisner Pin Lisner Pin Fur ClipKramer Pin Kanda Pin Sterling Silver Pin N.E. From Pin Finn Jensen Silver Pin...