Featured Ivory Bangle

Hi everyone,

My mom has this ivory bangle that was my grandmothers and was wanting to know more about it. She’s been told different things by different jewellers. One said the gems were paste but it had gold inlay. Another said the gems were created and it was gold foil. We can’t find anything similar online. Can anyone please help us with maybe an id and an approximate value for insurance purposes?

Thank you very much.

Bangle 1 by Bsan1001 posted Apr 4, 2019 at 6:38 PM

Bangle 2 by Bsan1001 posted Apr 4, 2019 at 6:38 PM

Bangle 3 by Bsan1001 posted Apr 4, 2019 at 6:38 PM

B

 

Lovely bangle, Bsan. I suspect it is early 1920s ivorine, which is not proper ivory but celluloid made to look like ivory. It was very fashionable at the time.
Ivorine means it is safe to sell, should you ever want to. Ivory is not.
The inlay is likely to be glass, gemstones would be set in a different way. And gemstones would not be set in celluloid. The decoration is gold paint, which could have some gold in it.
I have two early 1920s ivorine bangles with glass inlay and gold paint, I'll see if I can post a picture.

 

Here are my early 1920s ivorine bangles.
The one on the left was my grandmother's, she wore it as a young girl before she got married in 1922, which helps date it. It is an upper arm bangle, decorated with a red lacquer-like finish. The round patches look like aventurine and tortoiseshell inlay, but are also lacquer-like.
The snake bangle has green glass inlaid eyes. It is waiting for some tlc which it will get soonish. Both are also decorated with gold lacquer/paint.

 

These are all very pretty. Thanks for sharing!
We don't do values here in general, although someone could give an opinion. You would need to get an opinion from somebody who could see it in person.

Where are you located, @Bsan1001 ? Or even more to the point, where is the bangle located? That also affects value.

 

As far as I know, 1920s ivorine bangles currently fetch prices roughly between US$20 and US$60 on international venues like Etsy. I don't know how that would translate to an insurance value where you are, Bsan. I guess you are in North America?

 

Thanks guys. I’m a Little disappointed it’s not ivory but I also didn’t know you can’t sell old ivory so I guess it’s a good thing. I’m located in Australia.

 

Cute one sold on Ruby Lane $84

 

Photo link doesn't work, here's a link TO Ruby Lane...

 

Pleasure, but sorry for the disappointment. Most 'ivory' people as questions about on this site is not ivory, and most is not nearly as nice as your bangle.
Art Deco jewellery is hot right now, so it would be a good time to sell.
This one is a bit like yours, I hope the photo will show:

https://www.rubylane.com/item/414808-5926k/Celluloid-Bangle-Bracelet-Rhinestones-ca-1920s?search=1

 

Guess it won't.

 

That's why I included a Ruby Lane link ^^^
@Any Jewelry

Wonder what's up with their image links?

 

Yes, I learned from you and put the link directly in the post.

I guess they don't want their items all over the www. Maybe they don't want to sell....

 

Think RL photos are copy protected.

The bangle AJ found is similar in the 'stones'; this one strikes me as being similar in the painting:

https://www.rubylane.com/item/617360-RL001316/Art-Deco-Carved-Painted-Celluloid-Bangle?search=1

There is a collector's market for vintage Celluloid jewellery. Snake bracelets in good condition always do well, but so will anything out of the ordinary, which I think OP's is.

 

This is the one I mentioned:



This is the one AJ is pointing out:


And scout's:

 

I would add that OP's bangle has been colored to look like hennaed ivory, adding to the idea that it is from India & genuine ivory.

 

There is certainly an Orientalist vibe there, which is one of the inspirations of Art Deco. That is also why I picked that particular one from RL.

 

Hi all! Thank you so much for the responses. I spoke to my mom and she said that jewellers have told her it’s ivory. Is there a chance they’re wrong or does this chance the analysis?

Thank you so much.
B

 

Ivory is unlikely with these bangles, especially with (glass) stones set in the material without a silver or gold bezel. But could you take pictures of the inside, so we can see if there are ivory lines or other ivory-like properties? And of the back, if undecorated? And while you are at it, detailed pics of the carved decorations?

 

There is every chance they're wrong. Most seem competent with common gemstones. Once they're into less common stones, lab grown stones or natural materials such as ivory, shell & coral, seems they rarely know what they're talking about, although they will render a verdict with great conviction.

As AJ said, for us to have an equal degree of conviction in our judgement, we need to see details of the bracelet in close up, particularly if there is anything with the appearance of a grain in the material.

 

This is a plain ivory bangle. The edges show a grain pattern called 'Schreger lines'. This is the sort of thing we would like to look for on your bangle. The hinged cuff bracelet is hennaed ivory.