Clearing the house, part 2... more jewellery :)

I appreciated everyone's input on my last jewellery thread, so I hope you don't mind me sharing some more that I've found.

1.
This brooch measures about 7cm across and feels quite delicate. No markings. The leaves are fairly realistic, but it's the 'clasp' that intrigues me... it's more like a 'prong'... hopefully you can see what I mean in the photos. Does anyone have more information about the design, or how old it might be?

2.
Ornate, has a gold tone, measures 4cm. No markings I can see. The 'stone' might be glass?

3.
Looks like this had enamel at one time... again no markings.

4.
Unfortunately one of the stones has come out. I can't tell if it needs a good clean or if the surface metal is completely rubbed - there are hints of gold colour here and there. The stones like they are glued in somehow... would that be right for a vintage piece?

 

5.
Pretty little brooch, measures 2.5cm. Silver tone but no marks.

6.
Larger than the others, at 6cm across. The central decoration has 2 layers and are fairly detailed when you look closely. Unfortunately there's one tiny break. What might this be made of? My first impression was plastic, to be honest! But the whole piece looks like it has some age and it has some weight too.

Thanks again. I wish I could take closer shots, to see the detail better .

 

Regarding #2. I don't know whether imitation or real, but Larimar stone might be a good key word to investigate.

 

Yes, it's very similar isn't it? The colour is lovely. There are clear patches in the stone of the brooch, which is why I thought glass, but it could be a gemstone...

 

The first is a hat or shoe decoration. The stone looks like art glass in that blue one to me. The ones with rollover clasps are probably between the wars, the others look early 20th C. I suspect the ivory one is celluloid. Nice little things. Not high value but pretty. A drop of jewellers cement would fix that stone.

 

Now I look again, the first is more probably half a buckle.

 

#2 is lovely, I'm pretty sure it is art glass. I don't think Larimar has those transparent yellow swirls.

 

Thanks for your replies... I found them all together and given your rough date, I think they must have belonged to my grandmother. I can see how the first one might be part of a buckle. It didn't make sense as a brooch! It feels flimsy though. Number 5 is my favourite, and I'd wear it as a pendant if I could.

 

Maybe the clear parts have yellowed with age? Looking very closely, the blue areas have very similar swirls and patterns to larimar, so assuming it's art glass then it's cleverly done

 

It's a pretty pin, but I'm 99% certain that the stones aren't Larimar. The blue/white boundary in Larimar has a 'wispy' soft appearance ... not hard and well defined as in your pin. Plus, I believe that Larimar was not normally found in jewelry pre-1980.

 

If you want to wear a brooch as a pendant, have a look on Ebay for brooch adaptors or converters. I can't recall the exact term. You slide them over the pin and they've a ring so you can wear the brooch as a necklace.

 

I agree that number 2 is glass.

Number 3 looks like it should be cloisonne enamel, but the colors are lost?

 

I didn't know such a thing existed - thank you! I found them quite easily

Yes, somehow the colours have gone, it must have looked wonderful when it was in better condition.

 

You're welcome - I've a lot of brooches and the converters are a brilliant way of wearing them.

 

I'm not sure the brass one had enamel. I'd suggest investing in a couple of Sunshine Cloths. There's an excllent Ebay seller called something like verasjewellery . They'll bring up those brooches beautifully and very gently, too.

 

Thanks again! I meant to ask about the best way to clean them, you read my mind. I'll go and have a look for sunshine cloths...

 

Can you tell I'm a bit of a bling addict?