Catalog (2433)

A nice 18K gold Venetian Etruscan fob charm set with oval brilliant cut citrines. The stones have intense orangey-yellow color and the gold surfaces are heavily decorated with applied wire-work and rosettes. Marked “750” for 18K gold.

• Origin: Italy, ca. 1955.
• Dimensions: 13/16” x 1-1/4” (excluding bail).
• Weight: 10.9 grams.
• Approximate Gemstone Weight: 9.76 carats.
• Condition: excellent; no dings; all original.

A nice Victorian 18K gold locket, the front cover featuring a lioness shown in profile. She is enhanced with a bright emerald eye and grasps an old mine cut diamond in her mouth. The back is engraved with a period three-letter monogram. Tested and guaranteed 18K.

• Origin: America, ca 1900
• Dimensions: 1" diameter
• Condition: excellent; sharp detail on the lion; two pinpoint dings on the back cover
• Weight: 8.7 grams
• Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .05 carat

A very nice Imperial Austrian 18K yellow gold brooch set with a reverse-carved Essex crystal depicting a pansy. Essex crystals with flower themes are very rare. In Victorian floriography, the pansy represented "think of me." The flower is beautifully colored. The crystal is set in a simple twisted rope frame. The back retains the original pinstem and clasp. These could easily be removed and replaced with a pendant bail. The clasp is stamped with Austrian hallmarks used toward the end of the Imperial era.

• Origin: Austria, ca 1900
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 7/8" diameter
• Weight: 4.5 grams

A classic 14K yellow gold dress set comprising a pair of cufflinks and four shirt studs in a slightly squared knot design. The set is well-made and has substantial weight. Each piece is marked "14K".

Origin: America, ca. 1990. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: cufflink faces, 9/16" diameter; studs, 7/16" diameter. Weight: 19.2 grams.

A very good pair of late Victorian 14K yellow gold bean-back cufflinks, the oval faces decorated with profiles of Greek or Roman gods. The faces are beautifully detailed against a stippled background and are finished with deliberately eroded edges to suggest antiquity. The designs are in the style of George Shiebler's "Curio Medallion" or "Homeric" patterns and are easily the equal of Shiebler's craftsmanship. The faces are finished in high-karat gold that lends them a brighter, yellower appearance than the backs. The connectors are stamped "14K" and have a hallmark that appears to be that of L. E. Garrigus & Co.

Origin: America, ca. 1890. Weight: 7.2 grams. Condition: excellent; strong detail; a testing scratch on one connector. Dimensions: faces, 3/4 x 1/2 inch.

A lovely Art Nouveau depiction of the Greek goddess Iris worked in 14K yellow gold. The goddess wears an elaborate floral headdress punctuated with an old mine cut diamond. Her wings, in folded position, can just be seen behind her shoulders. The brooch is finished with a garland of iris blossoms and foliage. Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and, as such, connected the earthly and heavenly worlds. The back of the brooch retains the original c-clasp and watch hook. It can easily be converted to a pendant with the addition of a bail at the top. Tested and guaranteed 14K.

• Origin: America, ca. 1900.
• Condition: excellent, sharp detail; the pinstem appears to be original, but is not gold.
• Dimensions: 1" diameter.
• Weight: 10.3 grams.
• Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .02 carat.

A fine bronze animalier sculpture by Ferdinand Pautrot (1832-74). The figure represents a pair of songbirds, one of which has caught a fly in its mouth. The other bird appears to be contemplating the possibility of wresting the insect from his companion. Both birds are perched on the rocky ground typical of Pautrot's work. An upright flowering plant appears at one end of the composition. Along with Mène and Moigniez, Pautrot was considered the be France's finest sculptor of animal figures. He first successfully participated in the Paris Salon of 1861 (three entries) and continued to exhibit until 1870. The details of the feathers are stunning and absolutely realistic in appearance. The rocky ground is signed "F. Pautrot". The figure retains its original medium brown patina with light gilt touches.

Origin: France, ca. 1865. Condition: excellent, original patina, built-up dust that could be cleaned if desired. Size: 6-1/4" x 3-1/4 x 6-1/2" tall.

Artist References: Benezit, "Dictionnaire des Peintres et Sculpteurs"; Lami, "Dictionnaire de Sculpteurs de l'ecole Francaise"; Kjellberg, "Bronzes of the 19th Century"; Savage, "A Concise History of Bronzes"; Payne, "Animals in Bronze"; Horswell, "Les Animaliers"; and Mackay, "Les Animaliers".

A rare pair of 18K yellow gold earclips in the Sputnik style by H Stern. The domes are bezel-set with round amethysts, citrines, aquamarines, green and pink tourmalines, and garnets. This design was created in the 1950s to highlight the range of colored gemstones available from the mines of Stern's native Brazil. It later came to be called "Sputnik" for its resemblance to the spiky Soviet satellite launched in 1957. Each piece has a unique appearance that relies on the particularly selection and placement of the gemstones for its overall look. This pair has strong, saturated mid-tone colors throughout. Each earring is marked for 18K and also has the early maker's mark for H Stern. Origin: Brazil, ca. 1955. Condition: no dings or chips to stones. Dimensions: 5/8" diameter. Weight: 4.9 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 3.38 cts.

An intriguing pair of 18K yellow gold cufflinks, the faces set with triangular cabochons of labradorite. In bright lighting conditions, the stones exhibit the unusual play of bluish-greenish color desired in labradorite. The color seems to emanate from within the stones and float on the surface over the gray and cream body color. Each of the cufflinks is stamped with French 18K marks and an unidentified goldsmith's mark (S.Cie. with an anvil).

Origin: France, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: faces, 5/8" x 5/8". Weight: 17.4 gr.

An elegant pair of 19K yellow gold "Contas de Viana" earclips. The domes are covered with concentric circles of ropetwist appliques in the ancient Etruscan style. The clips are stamped with older Portuguese hallmarks for 19K.

Viana beads were modeled on ancient Etruscan jewels found in archaeological sites in Portugal. The circular patterns of filigree and granulation were thought to resemble the eyes of a partridge, bringing luck and protection. A Portuguese girl received her first bead from her godmother at birth. Whenever the family could afford it, another bead was added to the collection with the goal being to create a complete necklace—a circle of protection and good luck—in time for her marriage.

Origin: Portugal, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent, no dings. Dimensions: 7/8" diameter. Weight: 9.9 grams.

An elegant Art Deco ring in platinum set with diamonds, sapphires and a 7-mm pearl. The octagonal face is bordered with sixteen single-cut diamonds (H/SI2) enclosing a border of calibre-cut sapphires around the center pearl. The pearl has excellent luster and overtones. The inside of the shank is marked "10% Irid Platinum".

Origin: America, ca 1920

Condition: excellent, the pearl likely replaced a center diamond

Dimensions: crown 1/2" x 1/2"

Finger Size: 4-1/2

Weight: 6.0 grams

Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, .50 carat; sapphire, .25 carat

Beautiful purplish rhodolite garnets sparkle from the engraved tops of these earrings with foxtail tassels. Each tassel terminates in a small golden ball. These tassels have substantial weight and are unusual for having gemstones set at the top. Stamped with French 18K gold hallmarks.

• Origin: France, ca. 1880.
• Excellent condition.
• Dimensions: 1-5/8" from top of wire.
• Weight: 7.1 grams.
• Approximate Total Garnet Weight: 1.72 carats.

An elegant pair of Victorian 18K yellow gold tassel earrings, the tops enhanced with applied green and rose gold flowers surrounding collet-set rubies. The foxtail chains terminate in small balls. The earrings have a lot of movement when being worn, and the small rubies add a subtle shot of color. Each is stamped with French 18K gold marks.

• France, ca. 1860.
• Condition: excellent; converted to earrings with the addition of 18K wires.
• Dimensions: 1-3/8" long from tops of wires.
• Weight: 7.2 grams.
• Approximate Total Ruby Weight: .10 carat.

A very nice vintage French 18K gold curb link chain. The weight is sufficient to support a rather heavy locket or pendant. Stamped with French 18K gold hallmarks and an illegible master goldsmith's mark.

• Origin: France.
• Length: 22 3/4"; width 2.5mm.
• Weight: 10.6 grams.

An elegant pair of Art Nouveau cufflinks worked in 14K yellow gold and set with round blue sapphires. The oval faces are pierced, decorated with a modified acanthus leaf motif and finished with a soft bloomed texture. The sapphires have nice coloring. The cufflinks are stamped with the 14K mark for Whiteside & Blank.

• Origin: America, ca 1900
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: faces, 7/8” x 1/2"
• Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: .26 carat
• Weight: 8.4 grams

A very pretty pair of Victorian earrings fashioned as lapis lazuli orbs suspended from 14K gold caps decorated with Etruscan beading and rope-twist motifs. The lapis has a beautiful deep violet-blue color of near-Afghan quality with just a small amount of white calcite. The ear wires appear to be original. Tested and guaranteed 14K.

• Origin: America, ca. 1860
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: spheres, 1/2" diameter; 1-1/4” long from top of earwires
• Weight: 9.8 grams

A handsome, classic pair of Edwardian cufflinks by Larter. Worked in 14K yellow gold, the double-sided cufflinks feature faces of carved mother of pearl centered with cabochon sapphires. The mother of pearl shows nice play of color with rose and green overtones that nicely accent the blue sapphires. The connectors are stamped with Larter’s 14K hallmark.

• Origin: America, ca 1915
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: faces, 17/32” diameter
• Weight: 5.7 grams
• Approximate Total Sapphire Weight: 1.32 carat

A handsome and heavy pair of 18K yellow gold cufflinks in the classic baton style. The surfaces are decorated with a fine stippled pattern lending a dark patina similar to higher-karat gold. The backs are plain beveled rectangles. The connectors are marked "18K S.&F.".

Origin: America, ca. 1980. Condition: excellent. Size: batons, 1-1/16" long. Weight: 10.0 grams.