Vintage Costume Jewellery from Czechoslovakia,

This morning my latest additions arrived and I thought I would share with you all this wonderful brooch.

This brooch is typical of the brooches to come out of Czechoslovakia in the 20's and 30's.

It has a diameter of 6 cms and is set in a golden filigree metal.

There is a central rose pink rhinestone (1cm diameter) and 36 further small rose pink stones.

It has a simple pin and c closure.

The photo does not show the the brilliance and sparkle to it's true level.

Other arrivals include an addition to my butterfly flock and more button covers(another collection of mine) but more of them later.

Assorted Vide Grenier (Car Boot) Finds in France

I spent this morning at a very large Vide Grenier where I found one or two interesting pieces which will find their way to my E-shop when I have done a little research.

At first I thought the Asian (possibly Vietnamese)head with hat was brass but on examination it appears gold plated.

The pin on the reverse tells us that the brooch dates from between 1910 and 1930. I would think towards the latter date.

It is in very good condition although there is a slight bending of the pin the closure still works.

The sea-bird in fight is plated in both yellow and rose gold defining well the layers of wing feathers. There are many collectors of all jewellery depicting birds.

This brooch dates probably from the 1940's.

This next brooch is completely different. It is a figural and depicts a banjo player. There are signs of wear to the enamel but all the coloured rhinestones are present. I love his jaunty look. He probably dates from the 1960's.

These brooches will become stock in my E-shop and will hopefully allow me to increase my Vintage Bling Collection.

Vintage Collections

Collecting Vintage Costume Jewellery

Vintage Costume jewellery was first made for several reasons.
For those who wanted to look well bedecked but had not sufficient funds for the real thing.
For the film making industry so the characters looked to be wearing the real thing but which were actually rhinestones.
And, finally for those with the real thing who were scared of losing them so had copies made.
For myself I do not see the point in paying out “thousands” for items you are too scared to wear.

Among “Vintage Costume Jewellery Collections” you will find many themed collections.

Collecting is a very personal thing.
Some prefer sparkles and collect only rhinestone pieces.
Others prefer animals, insects (as seen above), people(figurals), flowers, baskets or Christmas, regardless of the kind of metal or stones used.
There are those with a national theme, semi precious stone theme, or collected purely for the metal used gold, gold plate(gold filled or washed), brass, silver, rhodium with or without embellishment.
I have a small collection of butterflies and also vintage mechanicals (of these more later) as well as my ‘vintage bling’.
I also have a collection of carnelian and other semi precious stone necklaces.
The other collections I have seen are devoted completely to one designer or manufacturer e.g. Lea Stein, Sarah Coventry, Weiss, Harry Iskin, Trifari etc.

This is a gold filled brooch dating from the 1940's signed by Harry Iskin.

Vintage 'Bling' Collecting

Vintage Costume Jewellery Brooches

Why pay a lot for modern plastic and glass when there are beautiful pieces of vintage jewellery being thrown out everyday.
I thought this one day at a Vide Grenier (Car Boot or Garage Sale).
I have since accumulated several vintage sparkles, mainly brooches. I buy from sales and from selected sellers on the internet. I also sell some of the pieces when I have worn and loved them, although the selling happens less often.
I find myself wondering – where was it made - who was the first owner - where was it worn - what tales could it tell? What is the metal, is it gold plated, are the stones glass, are they semi precious?

The brooch above was one of the first in my collection. It was made in Czechoslovakia probably in the 1920's. The frog is also Czech but has less age possibly 1940's

The different pins and closures on brooches and necklaces can help with the dating. As do the cut of the stones and the style of the setting.
The main questions I ask myself are – do I like it and will I wear it?
I fund this collection by also buying pieces that although lovely are not ‘my thing’ so these I sell on to the appropriate collectors.
Yes I have made mistakes both in buying and selling but none too great and I love the challenge to find that ‘magic’ piece.

From a longing of all things feminine and no longer in use I also started a collection of Powder Compacts, but, thereby hangs another blog for later.