Featured Sharing some of the jewelry I was given

I did not take pictures of all the pieces that were given as some were pretty recent and not particularly interesting. The first picture is the group. Second is the (faux) cameos. Two look like old settings repurposed, the third is a locket which appears to have been glued closed. That one also looks like someone attempted to make it look like an antique.

In the next picture, the snake (a scarf holder I think) is marked Depose. The round Chinese (?) has had the pin mechanism removed and a modern bale put one. The Jerusalem Cross is marked Silver and I think the center is a Eliat stone. The pink/orange flower one is possibly carved coral and definitely old judging from the setting. Then a purple glass pendant and brass earrings.

And last but certainly not least is a pretty unmarked rhinestone and possibly moonstone parure. Thanks for looking.

 

The coral may also be glass. I like the snake, looks like half a buckle. Can you get a close up of the one with the added bale?

 

Ditto.

 

I will test the coral for glass. Thanks Owned. The snake being 1/2 of buckle makes more sense than a scarf clip. Here are the closeups of the round one:

 

u can see where the pin was cut off..

 

Can you tell if the round one is celluloid, ivory or even shell? If it's celluloid, I'm inclined to French.

Nice blingy set, too.

 

I don't think it's ivory. It seems more like shell, possibly MOP.

 

Hm. That might be from Palestine as was then, or at least the carved part might be. It was a bit of a thing to carve MOP in Jerusalem.

 

Nothing has been cleaned or researched so I will check for marks and do some research (actually one of my favorite things to do) and see if I can find something comparable.

 

I agree, the round one is MOP and Palestinian made. Most of these were made in Bethlehem, hence the star. I always love these.
It was actually monks or friars who started a MOP carving centre to provide local Palestinians with an income. Franciscans, if I remember correctly.

 

I agree the Jerusalem cross does look set with an Eilat stone.
The ear pendants also look Middle Eastern, but could have been made anywhere.

 

Thanks Owned and Any. Your input is so valuable.

 

The Bethlehem star is probably mother of pearl or a synthetic (if more recent) The Jerusalem cross could be eilat and could be malachite. Can't see it dead on, but odds are on eilat if it's an old one. Eilat is mined out now so it's not used much. I'm an eilat hoarder, among other hoards. The red one ... molded Japanese plastic would be my first guess, followed by glass. As for that parure...nice!

 

The amethyst glass pendant is Czech/Bohemian by the way.

 

The piece that looks like carved coral could be glass, could also be Celluloid or similar. I have seen extremely convincing pieces in both materials. Both artificial materials will be very slick against the teeth; coral has a slight graininess by comparison.

 

That's interesting I have a design similar to your bethlehem star but more of a flower design. I wonder if my pics will help any. It has the original pin with bethlehem written on it

 

I've a flower type star brooch somewhere like that. No silver mount. It came from someone who I know bought it in Bethlehem.

 

I am a bit late getting back to everyone.

@Harlequincat, your setting certainly is very close to the one I have. I cleaned the back, which polishes up beautifully but unfortunately absolutely no marks. I do think it was probably from Palestine as Owned and Any said.

@Bronwen and @evelyb30, The orange pin tests beyond glass in the garnet tourmaline range

@Any Jewelry, the Jerusalem cross stone tests as glass.

@Ownedbybear, thank you for the id on the pendant.

Thank you to everyone.

 

Then I would have concerns about the tester. Coral is far softer than any of those things. But may be a good indication of glass rather than some kind of polymer.

 

The tester sounds off to me too, because while some Jerusalem crosses are set with glass, it's generally a substiture for blue zircon or amethyst.