Kensington House Antiques and Sterling Silver Kensington House
Antiques
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Pre 1492 item #1481514
Kensington House Antiques
$16,000.00
A magnificent bracelet comprising seven gold coins spanning the reigns of six Medieval and Renaissance French kings from 1429 to 1610. L to R: (1) écu d’or au soleil from the reign of Henri III, dated 1587; (2) écu d’or au soleil from the reign of Charles IX, dated 1566; (3) écu d’or au soleil du dauphiné from the reign of François I, issued 1515-1528; (4) royal d’or from the reign of Charles VII le Victorieux, issued 1429-1431; (5) écu d’or au soleil from the reign of François I, issued 1515-1519; (6) écu d’or au soleil from the reign of Henri IV, issued 1590-1610; and (7) henri d’or from the reign of Henri II, dated 1559. The larger center coin is 24K gold and the other six are 23K. The coins are mounted, probably around 1900, in simple 18K gold collet settings that do not detract from the beauty of the coins. All of the coins are very near the top rarity ratings for coin collectors, and had they not been set into the bracelet, their current numismatic value would be around $22,000. The pendant came from the family that owned the Medieval French coin pendant in our collection.

Henri III (r 1575-1589) was the last king from the House of Valois. He was bullied by his mother, Catherine de Médicis, tried to marry Queen Elizabeth I despite being openly gay, and was eventually assassinated by a Catholic zealot.

Charles IX (r 1562-1589) was Henri III’s older brother and was also bullied by their mother Catherine with whom he orchestrated the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre that killed 70,000 French Protestants.

François I (r 1515-1547) was France’s Renaissance king, known for building projects such as the Châteaux at Fontainebleau, Amboise, and Chambord, and for bringing Leonardo da Vinci (and the Mona Lisa) to France in the artist’s later years.

Charles VII “le Victorieux” or "le Bien Servi (“the Victorious” or “the Well-Served”) (r 1422-1461) was put on the throne through the efforts of Jeanne d’Arc who helped him win the Hundred Years’ War. The coin was minted right around the same year Jeanne was burned at the stake for witchcraft.

Henri IV “le Grand,” “le Bon Roi,” or “le Vert Galant” (“the Great,” “the Good King,” or “the Green Gallant”) (r 1590-1610) was the first king from the House of Bourbon. Though he was originally a Protestant, he converted to Catholicism to claim the throne, famously remarking “Paris is worth a Mass.” He pardoned all Protestants with the Edict of Nantes and was promptly assassinated by yet another Catholic zealot. He was called “le Vert Galant” because of his prowess with numerous simultaneous mistresses even at what was considered the very advanced age of 56.

Henri II (r 1547-1559) was responsible for bringing the previously mentioned notorious Catherine de Médicis to France as his bride. He created the world’s first patent system for new inventions but spent much of the rest of his time cutting out the tongues of Protestant ministers or burning them at the stake. All three of his sons became Kings of France, including one that Henri married off to Mary, Queen of Scots. He was struck in the eye with a lance during a jousting tournament and died of sepsis and brain damage.
  • Origin: France, 1429-1610
  • Condition: excellent; sharp detail on coins
  • Dimensions: 8” long, 1-3/16” maximum width
  • Weight: 37.8 grams.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Period : Pre 1492 item #1481513
Kensington House Antiques
Sale Pending
A classic coin pendant in a simple 18K gold frame, but featuring a spectacularly rare and beautiful “Franc a cheval” coin from the reign of Jean II “le Bon” (“the Good.”) The coin was minted in Paris for just a little more than three years, December 1360-April 64. The front of the coin depicts the king charging on horseback, wearing full armor and a fleur-de-lis crown and with his broadsword raised. The horse, too, is decked out in armor decorated with fleurs-de-lis. The image is surrounded by a Latin inscription translated as “Jean, by grace of God, King of the Franks.” The obverse features a cross surrounded by fleurs-de-lis, in turn surrounded by the Latin motto, “Christ vanquishes, Christ reigns, Christ commands.” The coin is 24K gold and is mounted in a non-invasive 18K frame. The frame probably dates to the mid-20th century and bears French 18K gold hallmarks. The pendant came from the family that owned the Medieval and Renaissance French coin bracelet in our collection.

Jean ascended to the throne in 1350 at a time when France was suffering from the Black Death and was thirteen years into the Hundred Years’ War with England. He was captured by the Black Prince at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 and taken to the Tower of London. A treaty with King Edward III promised Jean his freedom if he could pay a ransom equal to three times France’s entire annual revenue. He was granted freedom in exchange for offering his son as a captive while he returned to France to raise the ransom. On December 5, 1360, he issued an order to create an entirely new gold coin to be used for the ransom. The word “franc” meant “freedom,” and thereafter French currency has always been known as the franc. Jean’s son escaped captivity in England in 1363, but in chivalric gesture, the King volunteered to take his place, saying “If good faith were banned from the Earth, it ought to find asylum in the hearts of kings.” He returned to England, where he died the following year.
  • Origin: France, 1350-54
  • Condition: excellent, sharp detail
  • Dimensions: 1-1/4” diameter (excluding bail and jump ring)
  • Weight: 8.2 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Period : Pre 1960 item #1481484
Kensington House Antiques
$2,350.00
A large Etruscan style 18K gold fob/charm/pendant set with large dark blue topaz. We’ve never seen one of these charms set with deep blue gemstones before. The gold surfaces are covered in ornate bead and twisted wire decoration. The pendant opens in the middle to reveal a secret compartment. The bail is stamped for 18K gold and also has French import marks.
  • Origin: Italy, ca. 1955
  • Condition: excellent
  • Dimensions: 1-1/8” diameter, 1-1/2” height (excluding jump ring)
  • Approximate Total Topaz Weight: 32.8 carats
  • Weight: 24.3 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1950 item #1481483
Kensington House Antiques
$3,250.00
A very good Retro tank ring worked in 14K yellow gold and platinum set with diamonds and natural sapphires (natural sapphires in a Retro ring are rather unusual). The larger diamonds (.40 ct, .25 ct, and .25 ct) are all old European cuts. The smaller stones are single cuts. The ring is broad across the finger and is laid out in a very geometric style typical of tank jewelry. The diamonds I color and VS2 clarity. The sapphires show no indication of heat treatment. It is very uncommon to have natural colored stones in a piece or Retro jewelry. The back of the shank is stamped with French import marks for 14K gold and platinum.
  • Origin: America, ca. 1940
  • Condition: excellent, all original
  • Dimensions: crown, 7/8” x 5/8”; shank tapers to 7/32” at the back
  • Weight: 11.3 grams
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, 1.5 carats; sapphire, .44 carat.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Edwardian : Pre 1920 item #1481480
Kensington House Antiques
$1,325.00
A lovely small locked in the form of a four-leaf clover worked in 18K yellow gold. One petal is set with a round ruby. Each of the leaves is shaped in an exaggerated heart form, perhaps to suggest the beloved contents of the interior. The interior retains the original frames and glass covers, as well as photos of the original owner’s young husband and little girl in period clothing. The locket and jump ring are both stamped with French gold marks. Interestingly, the back of the jump ring is engraved “2016,” perhaps as a reference to when the locket was passed along to another generation.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1910
  • Condition: excellent, all original
  • Dimensions: 13/16” x 13/16” (excluding bail and jump ring)
  • Weight: 7.1 grams
  • Approximate Gemstone Weight: .14 carat.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Edwardian : Pre 1920 item #1481479
Kensington House Antiques
$1,975.00
A beautifully detailed 18K gold tombstone-shaped pendant dedicated to St. George. The front shows George on horseback killing the dragon with his spear. The sun is depicted in the background with a glowing red ruby cabochon. The reverse depicts a fishing boat carrying Jesus and several disciples across the stormy Sea of Galilee, with the Latin motto “In Tempestate Securitas” (“safety in the storm”). St. George medallions do not always include the ship imagery, but when it’s there, the piece was intended to protect against the perils at sea. Generally, St. George is the patron saint of knights, soldiers, scouts, fencers, and archers, but he apparently also had a knack with the plague, leprosy, and venomous snakes.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1900
  • Condition: excellent, sharp detail
  • Dimensions: 15/16” x 1-1/16” (excluding jump ring)
  • Weight: 14.4 grams
  • Approximate Gemstone Weight: .05 carat.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Period : Pre 1970 item #1481478
Kensington House Antiques
Sale Pending
A lovely 18K yellow gold, diamond, and ruby love pendant (“medaille d’amour”) with a rebus spelling out “Plus qu’hier, moins que demain” (“More than yesterday, less than tomorrow”), a line from the love poem written by Rosemonde Gérard to her husband Edmond Rostand (author of “Cyrano de Bergerac”) in 1889. In 1907, the Lyonnais jewelry Alphonse Augis created a love token based on the poem. His designs changed over time and this piece is a classic example from the 1960s. The heart-shaped medallion is surrounded by a border of smaller hearts alternating with prong-set synthetic rubies. The front is signed A.A. and the pendant is stamped with French 18K marks.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1965
  • Condition: very good
  • Dimensions: 7/8” x 7/8” (excluding bail and jump ring)
  • Weight: 4.7 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Period : Pre 1930 item #1481477
Kensington House Antiques
Sale Pending
A lovely 18K yellow gold, diamond, and ruby love pendant (“medaille d’amour”) with a rebus spelling out “Plus qu’hier, moins que demain” (“More than yesterday, less than tomorrow”), a line from the love poem written by Rosemonde Gérard to her husband Edmond Rostand (author of “Cyrano de Bergerac”) in 1889. In 1907, the Lyonnais jewelry Alphonse Augis created a love token based on the poem. The word “plus” is represented by a plus sign set with a diamond and the word “moins” with a minus sign set with rectangular synthetic rubies. This example is in the original style with a “crêpe de chine” textured background and laurel wreath border. The back is monogrammed “MG.” The front is signed A.A. and the bail is stamped with French 18K marks.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1930
  • Condition: excellent, sharp detail
  • Dimensions: 11/16” diameter (excluding bail and jump ring)
  • Weight: 3.5 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Period : Pre 1960 item #1481476
Kensington House Antiques
$575.00
A lovely 18K yellow gold, diamond and ruby love pendant (“medaille d’amour”) with a rebus spelling out “Plus qu’hier, moins que demain,” (“More than yesterday, less than tomorrow”) a line from the love poem written by Rosemond Gérard to her husband Edmond Rostand (author of “Cyrano de Bergerac”) in 1889. In 1907, the Lyonnais jewelry Alphonse Augis created a love token based on the poem, and his designs became iconic. In this example, the word “moins” is represented by a minus sign set with a synthetic ruby. This is the first time we’ve seen a medaille d’amour incorporated into a larger pendant design that also features a rose and a heart. The pendant is stamped with French 18K marks and Augis’ maker’s mark. The pendant is sold with its chain which is not gold.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1950s or early 60s
  • Condition: excellent
  • Dimensions: 3/4” x 5/8”
  • Weight: 2.2 grams.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Pre 1960 item #1481474
Kensington House Antiques
$395.00
A pretty 14K yellow gold brooch designed as a cluster of leaves, each accented with a collet-set round ruby. The leaf surfaces have stippled and Florentine finishes for nice contrast. The back is marked “14K” and also has an illegible maker’s mark.
  • Origin: America, ca. 1960
  • Condition: excellent, all original
  • Dimensions: 1-7/8” x –1-1/8”
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: .15 carat
  • Weight: 6.0 grams
All Items : Antiques : Decorative Art : Metals : Bronze : Pre 1900 item #1481473
Kensington House Antiques
$265.00
Cold-painted Viennese bronze sculpture of a devil by Franz Bergman. This half-goat half-man figure is very well detailed, even showing the individual vertebrae along his back and the curls of his hair.
  • Origin: Austria, ca 1900
  • Condition: near mint; tiny surface rubs at sharp points such as the fingertips
  • Dimensions: 2-1/4" tall
All Items : Vintage Arts : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Sterling : Pre 1940 item #1476916
Kensington House Antiques
$495.00
An elegant boxed set of gilt sterling silver demitasse spoons with fox head finials. Each spoon is stamped with the hallmark for William Suckling. Each is also stamped “Swaine & Adeney,” one of London’s most exclusive luxury goods shops for more than 270 years. The spoons are presented in their original velvet- and silk-lined fitted case. An extra spoon, apparently from a second box, is included.
  • Origin: Birmingham, England, 1938
  • Condition: excellent, gilding intact; box shows typical wear
  • Dimensions: spoons, 3-13/16” long
  • Weight: 84.3 grams.
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Edwardian : Pre 1920 item #1476913
Kensington House Antiques
Sold, Please Visit us Again!
An elegant 18K gold and platinum marquise ring set with a central row of oval sapphires surrounded by rose cut diamonds. The sapphires have nicely saturated coloring, and the diamonds have good brilliance. The design is finished with a pierced gallery along the edges. Marquise rings were very fashionable in the Edwardian period and have a very elegant appearance on the hand. Today, they are among the most desirable shapes for engagement rings. Tested and guaranteed 18K and platinum.
  • Origin: America, ca. 1910
  • Condition: excellent
  • Finger Size: 7
  • Crown Dimensions: 15/16” x 5/16”
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: sapphire, .70 carat; diamond, .20 carat
  • Weight: 3.5 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1476912
Kensington House Antiques
$875.00
A superb American silver locket and chain necklace from the Victorian era. The book chain is enhanced with three rows of lapidary-cut silver balls. The locket’s cover is decorated with an engraved scene of an egret, bamboo, reeds and a fan in the Japonaise style popular during the Aesthetic period. The interior retains the original frames on either side. The chain can be worn without the locket as a 17” necklace or, with the drop chain in place at the back, as a 19-1/4” necklace. American chains of this style are far more uncommon than English chains. Tested and guaranteed silver.
  • Origin: America, ca. 1885
  • Condition: chain is excellent; locket has one pinpoint ding to the front and several to the back
  • Dimensions: necklace, 17” to 19-1/4”; locket, 1-3/8” x 1-3/4” (excluding bail)
  • Weight: 95.3 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1476911
Kensington House Antiques
$65.00
A French silver watch chain with a button hook on one end and a locking swivel on the other. The beauty of this chain is its absolute simplicity. It would look great paired with additional silver chains of various styles to create a longer necklace. Paired correctly, the button hook would make a superb hook for a locket or charms. The chain is stamped with a boar’s head hallmark for 800/1000 silver purity.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1880
  • Condition: excellent, all original
  • Dimensions: 11-5/8” long
  • Weight: 16.9 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Pre Victorian : Pre 1800 item #1476881
Kensington House Antiques
$3,750.00
Possibly the finest Georgian fob seal we’ve seen, this example is worked in multicolored 18K gold. The large swivel features a carnelian plaque on one side that reverses to an amazing crystal-enclosed compartment. Inside the compartment is a three-dimensional fruit basket worked in yellow, white, rose, green and blue gold. The rock crystal cover is slightly domed to magnify the fruit basket decoration. The edges of the swivel are engraved “S Kip” on one edge and “S Kip Poe” on the other, suggesting it was perhaps a gift from a grandfather to a grandson of maternal descent. Women began wearing pocket watches in the 1780s, so it's also possible this fob was a gift from mother to married daughter. Tested and guaranteed 18K gold.
  • Origin: England, ca. 1790
  • Condition: very good, evidence of 19th century repairs that do not detract from the beauty
  • Dimensions: 1-1/2” x 2-1/16” (excluding jump ring)
  • Weight: 29.6 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Modernism : Pre 1970 item #1476876
Kensington House Antiques
Sale Pending
A nice silver pendant depicting the solar system and the attributes of the sign Scorpio—a scorpion a depiction of the god Mars representing the planet that rules those born into Scorpio. The pendant is signed “AC” and is stamped with French silver hallmarks.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1970
  • Condition: excellent
  • Dimensions: 15/16” x 1-3/8”
  • Weight: 8.6 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Modernism : Pre 1970 item #1476875
Kensington House Antiques
Sale Pending
An interesting silver pendant depicting the solar system and the attributes of the sign Leo—a lion and a depiction of the sun representing the heavenly body that rules those born into Leo. The pendant is signed “AC” and is stamped with French silver hallmarks.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1970
  • Condition: excellent
  • Dimensions: 3/4” x 1-1/4”
  • Weight: 5.2 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Pre 1980 item #1476872
Kensington House Antiques
$775.00
A classy pair of dangle earrings featuring oval cabochon aquamarines and round cabochon sapphires in a simple collet setting. These would look equally good with jeans or a cocktail dress. Tested and guaranteed 18K gold.
  • Dimensions: 1-7/16” long
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: aquamarine, 8.52 carats; sapphire, 1.06 carats
  • Weight: 5.0 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1476871
Kensington House Antiques
$265.00
A pretty 18K yellow gold pendant in a shape that suggests a pair of wings, each set with rose cut diamonds. The design is completed with an additional diamond at the top in a buttercup setting. The pendant was likely fashioned from a larger piece of jewelry that was no longer fashionable. The reverse is stamped with a goldsmith’s mark and also with the Birmingham date mark for 1849. The jump ring is 14K.
  • Origin: Birmingham, England, 1849
  • Condition: excellent
  • Dimensions: 13/16” x 11/16” (excluding bail)
  • Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .15 carat
  • Weight: 1.9 gram
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Pre 1980 item #1476848
Kensington House Antiques
$2,250.00
An elegant 23” necklace of alternating natural amber oval beads and ribbed melon-shaped 14K gold beads. The gold beads have a slightly matte finish that contrasts nicely with the resinous surfaces of the amber. The amber beads are beautifully matched for color and clarity. The overall effect is understated chic. Marked “14K”.
  • Origin: America, ca 1980
  • Condition: excellent
  • Dimensions: length, 23"; gold beads, 10.9 mm diameter
  • Gold Weight: 28.0 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Pre Victorian : Pre 1800 item #1476644
Kensington House Antiques
$2,450.00
A very fine and rare Georgian locket in the “giardinetti” style featuring an oval rock crystal compartment bordered in gold completely surrounded by silver leaves and flowers set with 117 rose cut diamonds in closed-back settings typical of the period. The matching bail is in the form of a countess’ coronet. This piece is a very rare survival from the Georgian period. Tested and guaranteed silver and 18K. The bail is stamped with illegible hallmarks.
  • Origin: probably France, ca 1780
  • Condition: excellent, a few minor scratches on the back crystal and a small nick to an interior edge of the front crystal
  • Dimensions: 1-3/8” x 2-7/16” (including bail)
  • Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .59 carat
  • Weight: 14.2 grams
All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Pre Victorian : Pre 1800 item #1476643
Kensington House Antiques
$3,750.00
A stunning Georgian floral pendant worked in silver-topped 18K gold. The radiating petals are studded with diamonds in the newly fashionable “a jour” or open settings that came into vogue around 1800. The selection of diamonds is a virtual history of early diamond cutting and includes rose cuts, Mazarin cuts, table cuts, and Peruzzi cuts. The flower is centered with an unheated cornflower blue sapphire, likely of Ceylon origin. The back of the setting is ornately engraved in a sort of starburst pattern. There’s a small hole in the back of the setting that would have held a long pin attachment so the piece could be worn as a hair ornament. The flower has been converted for wear as pendant with the discreet additional of a hidden bail. Tested and guaranteed 18K gold.
  • Origin: France or England, ca. 1795
  • Condition: excellent
  • Dimensions: 1-1/2” diameter
  • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, 5.6 carats; sapphire, 1.65 carats
  • Weight: 18.3 grams
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All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1476642
Kensington House Antiques
$6,500.00
A very fine Victorian Albert chain fashioned from a set of nineteen sizable natural gold nuggets (approximately 20-24K). The nuggets are connected by short sections of handmade chain worked in 14K. The chain has a t-bar enhanced with small nuggets and a short length of chain to suspend a fob. Nugget jewelry became popular during the California Gold Rush in 1849 and again during the Alaska Gold Rush in 1896. Nuggets were difficult to find and a collection this large was a significant indicator of wealth. Tested and guaranteed for gold content.
  • Origin: America, 1850-1900
  • Condition: excellent
  • Dimensions: 15-1/2” long (could be extended by adding additional plain links at the clasp)
  • Weight: 55.3 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Art Nouveau : Pre 1900 item #1476641
    Kensington House Antiques
    SOLD
    A very good French Art Nouveau 18K gold watch pin in the form of a mythological creature that appears to be a dragon with outspread feathered wings. The details are beautifully worked. The reverse is engraved to match the front. The creature grasps an antique cushion cut diamond in its jaws. The pin retains its original watch hook on the back. This piece could easily and inexpensively be transformed into a pendant with the additional of two pendant hooks at the wingtips. The back is marked with French 18K gold hallmarks, an illegible master goldsmith’s mark, and a design number indicating that the piece was made by a renowned maker of the period.
    • Origin: France, ca. 1890
    • Condition: excellent, sharp detail
    • Dimensions: 1-1/4” x 1-1/8”
    • Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .10 carat
    • Weight: 12.7 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Art Nouveau : Pre 1900 item #1476640
    Kensington House Antiques
    SOLD, PLEASE VISIT US AGAIN!
    An elegant Art Nouveau bracelet worked in 18K gold, each link is the form of a pansy enclosed in a scrolling border. The Victorian floriography (the “language of flowers”), the pansy represented the sentiment “think of me.” Jewels with pansies were often given as a romantic gesture or by the parents of a young woman upon her marriage. The bracelet is stamped with 18K fineness marks and an unidentified goldsmith’s mark.
    • Origin: France, ca. 1900
    • Condition: excellent
    • Dimensions: 7-7/8” long; 1/2" wide
    • Weight: 16.4 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Pre 1980 item #1476639
    Kensington House Antiques
    $1,995.00
    A wonderful and very rare vintage 14K gold charm depicting a golf course under a glass cover. The clubhouse is at the top and the 18th hole is at the bottom. In between, there’s a sand trap and water hazard. There’s also a small ball bearing and just like the old-fashioned kids’ game, the idea is to gently manipulate the charm to get the ball to drop into the 18th hole cup while avoiding the sand trap and water hazard. The details are highlighted with colored enamels. But most charming of all is the engraved inscription on the reverse: “April 15, 1950 to April 15, 1975 25 years of playing a ‘round’ with you. Love Joe” The rim is marked with Dankner’s hallmark.
    • Origin: America, 1975
    • Condition: excellent, no enamel loss or dings
    • Dimensions: 1-3/8” diameter (excluding bail).
    • Weight: 18.4 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Cufflinks and Accessories : Gold : Pre 1900 item #1476637
    Kensington House Antiques
    $1,250.00
    A fine pair of French Art Nouveau 18K gold cufflinks, the faces depicting a mythological dragon with a scaly body and feathered wings. The cufflinks are very finely detailed. The back are stamped with French 18K gold marks.
    • Origin: France, ca. 1890
    • Condition: excellent
    • Dimensions: faces, 9/19” diameter
    • Weight: 9.8 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1476635
    Kensington House Antiques
    $1,895.00
    A lovely mid-19th century locket worked in 18K yellow gold set with rubies and natural seed pearls. The setting is enhanced with geometric appliques, engine-turned engraving, rope twists, and a beautifully fashioned bow concealing the bail. The rubies have very good color and are unheated. The locket retains its original reeded jump ring, as well. The back is decorated with engine-turned engraving. The interior retains the original gold frame and glass cover. Faintly marked with French 18K gold marks and a maker’s mark.
    • Origin: France, ca. 1860
    • Condition: excellent, all original
    • Dimensions: 1” x 2-1/16” (including jump ring)
    • Approximate Total Ruby Weight: .21 carat
    • Weight: 14.6 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1476632
    Kensington House Antiques
    $1,850.00
    A beautiful enameled oval locket in 18K gold, the cover decorated with a wreath of blue enameled forget-me-nots, each centered with a small rose cut diamond, against a black background. The design is encircled with additional black taille d’epargne enameling. The back is also decorated with blue forget-me-nots surrounded with taille d’epargne enameling and has a shield-shaped reserve that was never monogrammed. In Victorian floriography (the "language of flowers") forget-me-nots represented faithfulness, true love, and remembrance. The exposed gold surfaces on both the front and back are enhanced with engraved and stippled decoration. The interior retains the original glass covers and photos of two 19th century gentlemen. The bail is stamped with French 18K gold marks.Origin: France, ca. 1855
  • Condition: excellent, less than 5% loss to taille d’epargne enamel, mostly on the back
  • Dimensions: 15/16” x 1-3/8” (excluding bail and jump ring)
  • Weight: 13.2 grams
  • Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .08 carat
  • All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Edwardian : Pre 1910 item #1476630
    Kensington House Antiques
    $1,095.00
    An elegant round bangle bracelet in 14K gold, the front set with three sapphires separated by natural baroque pearls. The gold is delicately pierced in a lattice pattern at the back and sides and in a floral pattern at the front. The sapphires have a very attractive violetish-blue color. Stamped with Alling’s hallmark.
    • Origin: America, ca 1905
    • Condition: very good, a small ding on the back side
    • Dimensions: width 1/4" tapering to 6/32” at the back; circumference, 7.87”
    • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: sapphire, .51 carat
    • Weight: 8.0 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1950 item #1476627
    Kensington House Antiques
    $2,195.00
    A 14K gold and natural ruby Retro figural brooch worked in fashioned as a stem of cherries. The fruit are fully three-dimensional and set with round unheated natural rubies. The design is finished with a gnarly branch and a pair of gold leaves. The rubies have fine clarity and intense color, without the pinkish cast frequently seen in rubies in Retro pieces. The back retains the original pinstem and clasp marked “14K”.
    • Origin: America, ca. 1940
    • Condition: excellent
    • Dimensions: 3-3/16” x 1-7/8”
    • Approximate Total Ruby Weight: 4.2 carats
    • Weight: 28.0 grams
    All Items : Vintage Arts : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Sterling : Pre 1960 item #1476625
    Kensington House Antiques
    Sale Pending
    A vintage sterling silver figural jigger by Gorham, the sides marked off with enameled stoplights in green, yellow, and red, meant to signify “go,” “caution,” and “stop.” Each light corresponds to the 1, 2=1/2, and 3-1/2 ounce markings on the jigger’s bottom. The bottom is hallmarked by Gorham
    • Origin: America, ca. 1950
    • Condition: excellent, two pinpoint dings on the bottom
    • Dimensions: 2-7/16”
    • Weight: 53.5 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Cufflinks and Accessories : Gold : Pre 1940 item #1472514
    Kensington House Antiques
    $3,250.00
    A very fine pair of 14K gold cufflinks set with rubies by Carrington for Tiffany & Co. The square faces feature rounded gold ridges typical of “tank” jewelry from around 1935, flanked by rows of square cut rubies. The rubies are unheated and have inclusions typical of stones from the Mogok region of Burma. The rubies are beautifully matched and have strong red coloring with slight purplish overtones. The faces are joined by bar connectors. Each face is stamped with Carrington’s 14K gold mark, and each of the connectors is stamped Tiffany & Co. Much of Tiffany’s better-quality jewelry was manufactured by the great Newark jewelers such as Carrington. Sometimes, pieces are marked only by Tiffany, and other times they are marked by Tiffany and the manufacturer.
    • Origin: America, ca 1935
    • Condition: excellent, all original
    • Dimensions: faces, 1/2” x 1/2"
    • Weight: 17.2 grams
    • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 2.32 carats
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Cufflinks and Accessories : Gold : Pre 1910 item #1472513
    Kensington House Antiques
    SOLD, PLEASE VISIT US AGAIN!
    A superb pair of 14K yellow gold bean-back cufflinks by Carter, Gough & Co., the faces decorated with a representation of Sandro Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus.” The jeweler took a few liberties with Botticelli’s design by having the goddess walking atop roiling waves rather than standing in a scallop shell, and fully baring her breasts instead of modestly covering them with her own flowing hair. The bean backs are designed with a swirling pattern that mimics the waves of the front faces. The connectors are stamped with Carter, Gough’s 14K hallmark.
    • Origin: America, ca 1900
    • Dimensions: faces, 13/16” x 1/2"
    • Weight: 6.7 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1472512
    Kensington House Antiques
    $1,650.00
    A classic Victorian 14K yellow gold fob seal, the surfaces ornately decorated in a repousse pattern of flowers and foliage. Fobs in this design are more typically English than American. It is very generously sized to make an impression when being worn. The citrine plaque is engraved with the monogram “WKV”, so we’ll just assume that was for William K Vanderbilt (LOL!) The ring is marked “14K.”
    • Origin: America, ca. 1840
    • Dimensions: 1” x 7/8” x 1-1/2” (excluding ring)
    • Weight: 19.5 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Art Nouveau : Pre 1910 item #1472511
    Kensington House Antiques
    $795.00
    A nice Art Nouveau 14K yellow gold signet ring that appears never to have been engraved. The shoulders are enhanced with scrolling foliage leading up to the oval face. It’s very unusual to find a signet ring that was never engraved. Tested and guaranteed 14K.
    • Origin: America, ca. 1900
    • Condition: excellent, very light wear to decorative elements at the shoulders
    • Dimensions: face, 5/8” x 1/2"
    • Finger Size: 8-1/2
    • Weight: 9.3 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1472510
    Kensington House Antiques
    $2,895.00
    A very fine 19th century French 18K gold locket, the cover in a very three-dimensional design of overlapping geometric shaped enhanced with calibre-cut Persian turquoise, seed pearls and rose cut diamonds. The turquoise are all original, and a few are have taken on the darker greenish cast often found in Victorian-era turquoise. Additional scrollwork, beading and engraving completes the design. The original bail is set with pearls. The back cover opens to reveal a glass-enclosed compartment. The locket is stamped with French 18K marks and an unidentified goldsmith’s mark.
    • Origin: France, ca. 1850
    • Condition: excellent, a few small dings to the back cover
    • Dimensions: 1-1/4” x 1-15/16” (2-5/16” including bail)
    • Weight: 20.6 grams
    • Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .05 carat
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1472508
    Kensington House Antiques
    $1,895.00
    A lovely late Victorian 18K gold locket enhanced with ornate pierced arabesques and pearl-studded laurel wreaths. The pearls have particularly nice color and luster. The cover opens to reveal a glass-enclosed compartment for a portrait or other keepsake. A small piece of cloth soaked in perfume could have been added behind the pierced cover to provide a bit of relief from the smelly Parisian streets of the 1800s. The original bail is also set with seed pearls. Stamped with French 18K gold marks.
    • Origin: France, ca. 1880
    • Condition: excellent; a small ding on the back cover (more visible from the inside of the locket than the outside
    • Dimensions: 1-1/16” x 2” (2-3/8” including the bail)
    • Weight: 15.2 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1472507
    Kensington House Antiques
    SOLD, PLEASE VISIT US AGAIN
    A very fine and moving 18K gold and enamel locket in loving memory of Francis Mary, Viscountess Forbes who died on Christmas Day, 1877. She married the Viscount Forbes, 26 years her senior when she was just 21 years old. She was predeceased by her husband, and though she never became a Countess, their son inherited the title Earl of Granard. The locket was likely made for her granddaughter-in-law, Beatrice Mills Forbes, an American heiress who was Viscountess Forbes at the time of Francis Mary’s death. Lady Forbes led a rather fascinating life, as Queen Victoria’s confidante and one of her longest-serving Women of the Bedchamber (1837-1874). Even in her later years, she remained an Extra Woman and was called to Court for special occasions.

    The front of the locket is beautifully worked with a black enameled cypher surmounted by an Earl’s coronet against a bloomed gold finish. The back is similarly decorated with an engraved cypher and coronet. The interior features an area for a portrait on one side, and a glass compartment enclosing a twisted lock of Francis Mary’s hair on the other. The frame surrounding the hair is engraved “Francis Mary Viscountess Forbes/Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth/b. 21st Oct. 1811/d. Christmas day 1877.”
    • Origin: England, 1877
    • Condition: excellent, no enamel damage, dings, etc.
    • Dimensions: 1-3/8” x 1-5/8” (2-1/4” with bail)
    • Weight: 26.2 grams.
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Cufflinks and Accessories : Gold : Pre 1960 item #1472460
    Kensington House Antiques
    $1,095.00
    A nice pair of vintage 18K yellow gold cufflinks in the flip-up stirrup style popularized by Cartier in the late 1940s. The circular ends are enhanced with engraved decoration. One end of each cufflink folds for ease in putting them through a cuffhole. The ends of the connectors are set with cabochon rubies. Tested and guaranteed 18K gold.
    • Origin: probably American, ca. 1950
    • Condition: excellent
    • Dimensions: faces, 5/8" diameter
    • Weight: 13.2 grams
    • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: .6 carat.
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Retro : Pre 1960 item #1472137
    Kensington House Antiques
    $1,675.00
    A wonderful vintage 14K yellow gold charm featuring a gem-set heart and key. The symbols are an acrostic puzzle for "Key to my heart." The heart is bordered with rubies and centered with seed pearls. The head of the key is set with a ruby, a sapphire, and an emerald. The background is enhanced with a satin finish and the disc's edges have a rope border. The back is marked for 14K gold.
    • IrugubL America, ca 1955
    • Condition: excellent
    • Dimensions: 1-5/8" diameter
    • Weight: 16.8 grams
    • Total Gemstone Weight: ruby, .75 ct; sapphire, .05 ct; emerald, .05 ct.
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Designer Signed : Pre 1950 item #1472136
    Kensington House Antiques
    $3,995.00
    An outstanding 18K gold pendant set with an amazing enameled alpine scene by Carlo Poluzzi (1899-1978), the greatest Swiss enamellist of the the 20th century. Poluzzi sometimes used the very difficult technique of applying translucent enamel over an engraved gold plate to produce brilliant sunrise or set effects as seen in the left side of the sky in this example. This required multiple coats of different colored enamels which increased the likelihood of unwanted cracks during the multiple firings. Poluzzi was perhaps the only enamellist capable of this technique in the 20th century, and indeed, the scene is signed at the lower left. Of course, this example is also signed at the lower left. In the 1920s, Poluzzi (still in his low 20s) became the master of Emaux de Genève, the provider of the highest quality enameled dials and cases for luxury horlogers such as Vacheron & Constantin, Patek Philippe, Rolex and Gubelin. This plaque is set as a pendant by the Gubelin. The Holbein-style setting features square cut rubies and emeralds amid swirling gold foliage. The gemstones are of very fine quality with intense, saturated coloring and excellent clarity. The reverse is stamped with Gubelin’s hallmark and the Swiss gold mark for 18K.
    • Origin: Switzerland, ca. 1945
    • Condition: excellent, no enamel damage
    • Dimensions: 1-5/8” x 1-7/16”
    • Weight: 26.6 grams
    • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: ruby, .8 carat; emerald, .47 carat
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1472135
    Kensington House Antiques
    $225.00
    Swiss Silver Niello & Gilt Silver Watch Chain An excellent late Victorian silver watch chain with striped niello decoration on the double bar links, alternating with silver gilt curb links. The chain is finished at one end with a dog clip and at the other with a large niello bolt. The chain is stamped with the Swiss mark for 800 silver used 1882-1934.
    • Origin: Switzerland, ca 1900
    • Condition: excellent, niello intact
    • Length: 16-1/4”
    • Weight: 15.2 grams
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1472134
    Kensington House Antiques
    $225.00
    A nice late Victorian silver watch chain with striped niello decoration on alternating links. The chain is finished at one end with a dog clip and at the other with a bamboo-shaped t-bar. The chain is stamped with the Swiss mark for 875 silver used 1882-1934.
    • Origin: Switzerland, ca 1900
    • Condition: excellent, niello intact
    • Length: 17-1/2”
    • Weight: 21.0 grams
    All Items : Vintage Arts : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Sterling : Pre 1970 item #1470968
    Kensington House Antiques
    Sale Pending
    A vintage sterling silver vermouth dispenser in the form of a syringe by Gorham. These were called “Martini Spikes” when sold by Gorham in the 1960s. The functioning plunger allows vermouth to be drawn up into the syringe and then dispensed in precisely-calibrated medical dosages into your favorite cocktail. The syringe originally cost $10. The syringe is accompanied by an illustrated instruction card and the original fitted box.
    • Origin: America, 1967-70
    • Condition: excellent, no monograms or dings,two wear spots to the top outer surface of the box.
    • Dimensions: 6-1/4” long
    All Items : Vintage Arts : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Sterling : Pre 1960 item #1470857
    Kensington House Antiques
    Sale Pending
    A vintage sterling silver figural jigger by Gorham, the sides marked off with enameled stoplights in green, yellow and red, meant to signify “go,” “caution,” and “stop.” Each light corresponds to the 1, 2-1/2 and 3-1/2 ounce markings on the jigger’s bottom. The bottom is hallmarked by Gorham.
    • Origin: America, ca. 1950
    • Condition: excellent, except the ounce markings on the bottom ar worn and faint
    • Dimensions: 2-7/16” tall
    • Weight: 55.5 grams
    All Items : Vintage Arts : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Sterling : Pre 1970 item #1470850
    Kensington House Antiques
    SOLD, PLEASE VISIT US AGAIN!
    A vintage sterling silver vermouth dispenser in the form of a syringe by Gorham. These were called “Martini Spikes” when sold by Gorham in the 1960s. The functioning plunger allows vermouth to be drawn up into the syringe and then dispensed in precisely-calibrated medical dosages into your favorite cocktail. The syringe originally cost $10. The syringe is accompanied by an illustrated instruction card and the original fitted box.
    • Origin: America, 1967-70
    • Condition: excellent, no monograms or dings, slight wear to outer surface of the box.
    • Dimensions: 6-1/4” long
    All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Period : Pre 1960 item #1469858
    Kensington House Antiques
    $2,995.00
    A large pair of 18K yellow gold Sputnik earrings by H Stern. The domes are bezel-set with round amethysts, citrines, aquamarines, peridots, green tourmalines, pink tourmalines and garnets. The Sputnik design was created in the 1950’s to highlight the range of colored gemstones available from Stern’s Brazilian mines. It later came to be called “Sputnik” for its resemblance to the spiky Soviet satellite launched in 1957. Each piece has a unique appearance depending on the specific colors of the stones and their arrangement.These earrings have particularly intense jewel tones, particularly greens and purples. The earrings are marked with Stern's hallmark and also "750" for 18K gold. The clips are original, but posts could be added without affecting the original clips.
    • Origin: Brazil, ca 1955
    • Condition: excellent
    • 15/16" diameter
    • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 11.02 carats
    • Weight: 9.3 grams.
    All Items : Popular Collectibles : Decorations : Holiday : Pre 1950 item #1469857
    Kensington House Antiques
    Sale Pending
    A nice vintage pulp jack o'lantern with the original paper insert. The paint is bright.
    • Origin: America, ca 1940
    • Condition: very good, a dented area over one eye, a crack at the back that appears to be stable, no burn marks
    • Dimensions: 4-1/2" tall excluding wire handle
      All Items : Estate Jewelry : Cufflinks and Accessories : Gold : Pre 1960 item #1469856
      Kensington House Antiques
      $1,795.00
      A handsome pair of double-faced cufflinks, the platinum faces engraved in a basketweave pattern bordered with a ring of white champleve enamel. Each face is centered with a 10-point diamond (J color/SI2 clarity) in a mix of old European and modern brilliant cuts. The faces are joined with arched gold connectors. The connectors are stamped for 18K and the platinum parts are tested and guaranteed platinum.
      • Origin: likely Switzerland, ca 1955
      • Condition: excellent
      • Dimensions: faces, 5/8” diameter
      • Weight: 14.6 grams
      • Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .40 carat
      All Items : Vintage Arts : Decorative Art : Metals : Silver : Pre 1960 item #1469828
      Kensington House Antiques
      $225.00
      Silver mounted agate sculpture in the form of a Kiwi or a similar bird. The silver is well worked and complements the rich brown shadings of the agate. The silver mountings are marked "P. Rata 833".
      • Origin: Portugal, 1950
      • Condition: excellent, some natural pitting in the stone
      • Dimensions: 2-1/4" tall
      All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Period : Pre 1960 item #1469826
      Kensington House Antiques
      $1,695.00
      A high-quality 18K gold Etruscan-style Italian charm/pendant set with turquoise cabochons and concealing a hidden compartment in the bottom. The exposed gold surfaces are decorated with twisted wirework and beading, and the top shoulder has an unusual “horn” decoration that we’ve never seen before. Etruscan charms with compartments are very rare. The jump ring is marked “750” for 18K and the charm is tested and guaranteed 18K.
      • Origin: Italy, ca 1955
      • Condition: excellent
      • Dimensions: 1-1/4 wide x 1-1/2 high (excluding jump ring)>/li>
      • Weight: 14.6 grams
      All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Period : Pre 1960 item #1469825
      Kensington House Antiques
      $1,695.00
      An outstanding lantern-shaped Etruscan-style 18K gold charm/pendant featuring coral cabochons. The gold surfaces are worked with intricate beading and twisted wirework. The decorative gold work is among the best we’ve seen on this type of charm. The coral has pure orange-red color and nice polish. The jump ring is stamped “750” for 18K gold, and the charm is tested and guaranteed 18K.
      • Origin: Italy, ca. 1955
      • Condition: excellent
      • Dimensions: 1-1/2” high (excluding jump ring); 1-1/4” wide
      • Weight: 19.9 grams
      All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Period : Pre 1960 item #1469824
      Kensington House Antiques
      $1,450.00
      An unusual 18K gold Etruscan-style Italian charm/pendant featuring four citrines on the sides, a large sugarloaf cabochon carnelian at the bottom, and an fluted chalcedony bead at the top. The gold surfaces have a brushed finish accented with twisted wirework appliques. The color combinations of the gemstones is particularly appealing. Tested and guaranteed 18K.
      • Origin: Italy, ca 1955
      • Condition: excellent
      • Dimensions: 1-1/2” high; 3/4” wide
      • Weight: 15.2 grams
      • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: citrine, 1.5 carats; carnelian, 7.4 carats
      All Items : Estate Jewelry : Silver : Victorian : Pre 1900 item #1469823
      Kensington House Antiques
      $495.00
      A lovely silver and gold necklace with pendant in the shape of two conjoined hearts, one with the word “Mizpah” and the other with the verse “The Lord watch between thee and me when we are absent one from another.” “Mizpah” stems from the Hebrew word for “watchtower,” and was used in jewelry to symbolize protection for loved ones during an extended absence. In an era of months-long travel and extended warfare, the Mizpah became a tangible reminder of being loved and protected from afar. The hears are further adorned with appliqued gold flowers and foliage. “Mizpah” is most frequently seen alone, without any verse or other sentimental decoration. Originally a brooch, the hearts now hang from an old silver chain. The reverse bears hallmarks for Chester, England and an unidentified maker’s mark “SB.”
      • Origin: England, ca 1890 (the date mark is partially obscured, but appears to be 1891
      • Condition: good, converted from a brooch, some dings on the heart engraved with the verse
      • Dimensions: pendant, 7/8” x 1-3/8”; necklace length, 19-3/8”
      • Weight: 9.6 grams
      All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Art Nouveau : Pre 1900 item #1469822
      Kensington House Antiques
      SOLD, PLEASE VISIT US AGAIN!
      An elegant Art Nouveau bracelet comprising foliate shaped links set with round amethysts alternating with fleur-de-lis shaped links. The amethysts have the deep violet coloring typical of the best quality Siberian material. Tested and guaranteed 14K gold.
      • Origin: America, ca 1895
      • Condition: excellent
      • Dimensions: 7-1/2” long
      • Weight: 19.4 grams
      • Approximate Total Amethyst Weight: 5.22 carats
      All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Pre Victorian : Pre 1837 VR item #1469821
      Kensington House Antiques
      $550.00
      A small fob seal featuring an amethyst tablet set in a fluted closed-back setting surmounted with ornate scrollwork. The amethyst tablet bears the monogram “RB” and a heart-shaped lock and a key. The lock and key are rebus images carrying the message “Key to my heart.” This fob is perfectly sized to wear alone as a pendant or on a heavy chain or bracelet as one of multiple charms. Tested and guaranteed 15K.
      • Origin: England, ca 1830
      • Condition: very good
      • Dimensions: 5/8" x 1-1/8"
      • Weight: 7.5 grams
      All Items : Estate Jewelry : Cufflinks and Accessories : Gold : Pre 1910 item #1469820
      Kensington House Antiques
      Sale Pending
      A very handsome and heavy pair of double-sided 18K gold cufflinks, the oval faces decorated with stripes of engine-turned engraving and translucent royal blue guilloche enamel. The faces are joined by chains. Both the faces and the individual chain links are fully marked for Sheffield, 1905 and have an unidentified maker’s mark.
      • Origin: Sheffield, England, 1905
      • Condition: excellent, no enamel damage
      • Dimensions; faces, 3/4” x 9/16”
      • Weight: 11.0 grams
      All Items : Estate Jewelry : Gold : Designer Signed : Pre 1980 item #1469819
      Kensington House Antiques
      SOLD, PLEASE VISIT US AGAIN!
      A colorful 18K gold pendant from H Stern’s “Rainbow Collection,” featuring rectangular garnet, topaz, citrine, peridot, green tourmaline, aquamarine, and amethyst to represent the color spectrum of visible light. The stones are contained within a simple gold border. The reverse is stamped with Stern’s star mark. Tested and guaranteed 18K.
      • Origin: Brazil, ca. 1990
      • Condition: excellent
      • Dimensions: 1” long including bail
      • Weight: 1.6 grams
      • Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 1.0 carat