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Paste Jewelry

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Paste Jewelry

According to


Antique Paste Jewellery
by Malcolm David Samuel Lewis, paste is "glass which
has been cut into gem-like forms". Pastes were used
extensively from the 1700s to the early 1900s and were a desired
material in themselves, not a replacement for diamonds and gem stones. Invented by
Georges Frederic Strass (1701-1773) in 1730, they could be set in
silver, sterling or gold and could have been foiled or unfoiled
(although 18th century paste was always foiled). Foiled pastes were
usually seen in closed-backed
settings where the foil provided added reflection and brilliance. Pastes
could be much more readily cut and shaped than diamonds, making a
close-fitting pave look achievable, and a variety of shaped and sized
stones makes a paste piece more desirable.

Perfectly round stones will
not be found in the early and best paste jewelry, nor will claw settings
and knife-edge work. Cut down settings gave way to the coronet setting
only in the 19th century. Paste could be fashioned in different colors,
including an opaline cabochon similar to opals. Most paste came from
France, England, Germany, Spain or Portugal. Some later pieces were hallmarked.
The introduction of paste in 1730 made the term "Age of Paste"
applicable to the 18th century and their shimmer is as appealing today
as it was when they were made. According to


Antique Paste Jewellery
, paste was only made from circa 1700-1865 but
the term has been more generalized to include pieces up to the 1930-40s,
and for some it is used to describe jewelry even later than that.




PASTE early clear rhinestones
monkey on a bar pin with coral ends, silver hallmark on the back, 7/8" by 1-1/3" circa
1900. View #Q32444


CLEAR
"SCP England" sterling silver and clear pastes flower pin,
articulated in three sections so it has nice movement when worn. Look at how
beautifully the back is made, with unfoiled stones and open backs. It is
almost as lovely on the back as it is on the front. It has a safety closure
mechanism and is in excellent condition.

View


View
#Y28704

STERLING silver and clear paste (rhinestones) fish brooch. In
addition to the dazzling clear rhinestones it has a green rhinestone eye and
an elongated
c-catch. It looks like it is European and it is 3-1/3" long. He’s
a great catch for sure and in excellent condition!

View
#Y24352




CLEAR rhinestone paste dangle
earrings with screw backs, circa 1920, 3". #Y32764
STERLING and paste floral
brooch with Georgian-style cut down setting on the larger stones, marked
"sterling silver" on the back, circa 1920, 2-1/3".
View #Y32779
SILVER girandole
clear rhinestone paste screw back earrings, 2-1/2".
View #Y26224




PASTE
star brooch with maker’s mark "SCP" and "England", 1-1/2".
I have heard that the Ciro Company made jewelry with this mark for the
English market, but haven’t found documentation that proves this yet..
View
View #V35928

STERLING and clear paste
rhinestones brooch in a
Cartier-looking style with green ribbed glass beads, poured glass
gripoix red and blue commas and clear rhinestones, 2-1/4". View
#Q35358

RF STERLING Halley’s comet pin
with clear paste rhinestones, 2-1/2", signed on the back.
View
#Q35349




PASTE 1920s red paste and
marcasite silver bow pin in maroon box, brooch 1-7/8", box 2-3/4" by
1-1/2". View
View
View #Q36530


KNOLL & Pregizer

German sterling silver and clear paste Deco style bow pin in
box with the marks "935 KP" on the back, 2" by 1/2".

View


View


View


View
#Q37938

PASTE bird pendant with pearl
drop, 16-1/3" with 1-1/4" wide bird, marked 925 on the back and the clasp,
boxed. View
View
View #Q34518




PASTE pendant with pastel blue
oval center stone and clear pastes surround, chain clasp mark illegible
(830?), chain 14" and pendant 2",. There are tiny chips on the blue stone,
visible only under 10k magnification .
View #Q35303


VICTORIAN
HUGE silver gilt and paste starburst brooch in box, brooch 5" by
2-5/8". The pastes are set in silver tone and the entire back of the brooch is
gold washed. The pin back has tube and c-catch closure, and the pin portion
extends 1/3" past the catch View
View
View #V35370

PASTE
pendant on sterling chain with clear pastes and artificial pearl circa 1910,
18" chain and 1-3/4" pendant.
View
#Q35325


RING 9ct and silver clear paste ring size 7-1/2"
and 5/8" long at the front as it lays on the finger. Marked inside "9ct &
sil", early 1900s.
View
View
View #G33515


VICTORIAN
six-pointed star, an amazing 4" wide paste star brooch in
sterling silver. It is heavy has an unusual blunt-ended pin (see the photo of the
back), so must have been worn either as a buckle or on a loosely woven
fabric. I have worn it on a chain and through a button hole, as well as on
my woven shawls. It is interesting also in the way it was made. There is a
base plate, but the top portion that holds the stones was a thick piece of
sterling, and the collet settings for the stones were carved out of that
rather than soldered on. The paste stones are all original but they are a
combination of European and mine cuts. On the back is a tube hinge and
c-catch, typically Victorian. What a beautiful celestial piece of antique
jewelry circa 1860.

View


View
#V39839

RING 9 ct yellow gold band ring
with green and clear pastes set in sterling top, size
9+ marked "9ct & sil", early 1900s, lays on the finger 3/4" long.
View
View #G33516




PASTE
lavaliere pendant necklace with clear pastes and green
center cabochon in a bow top teardrop-shaped silver setting. The three
layers with which it is made allow for movement when it is worn. It is
marked with the European silver "800"mark on the back and the sterling chain
is 18" long. Made in 1920-30, the pendant portion is 1-5/8" total length.

View
#Q33017
PASTE bracelet, hinged at one
side with "patent 17119" on safety catch, original box "Poile & Smith from
Pickett’s Court Jewellers, 620 Oxford St. W.", bracelet 7" by 1/4".
View
View
View
View
View #Q33007

DECO clear paste earrings circa
1925 with new wires, earrings 1-1/3" total length 2".
View #Q32988





VICTORIAN
crescent moon brooch with clear cushion cut pastes set in silver,
1-5/8" . The crescent is reminiscent of the mysteries of the moon, often
symbolizing rebirth.

View


View
#V38430

PASTE
necklace with rhinestones in blue, pink, green, gold and yellow. The
necklace is 17" wearable length and the stones portion at the front is about
4-1/4" wide by 7/8". This is in excellent condition with no flaws.

View


View
#Q38803


GERMAN
sterling tiny basket pin with chartreuse, deep green, topaz and
purple pastes, marked on the back "Germany sterling", 1-1/2" by 1-1/4".
These are sometimes called "giardinetti", or little gardens.

View
#Q38572




BASKET Germany
sterling and paste rhinestone basket brooch, marked on the back "Germany
Sterling", 1-1/2". Sometimes called "giardinetti", or little gardens.
View #V26747

BASKET pins showing
size comparison. View
View

BASKET silver
and paste rhinestone basket brooch, marked on the back "900", 1-1/3". Sometimes called "giardinetti", or little gardens.
View #V26748




BASKET
brooch with multi-colored paste stones set in sterling, marked on the back "900", 1-1/4". Sometimes
called "giardinetti", or little gardens.
View
#V20918

BASKET brooch with red, green
and blue paste rhinestones set in sterling, 1-5/8".
View
#V20917

BASKET
brooch with multi-colored paste stones set in sterling, mark on the back
is illegible, 2-1/3". Sometimes
called "giardinetti", or little gardens.
View
#V20919




BASKET
brooch with multi-colored rhinestones set in sterling, 1-1/2". Sometimes
called "giardinetti", or little gardens.
View #V20920

EDWARDIAN clear, green and
purple paste rhinestones set in
silver basket pendant with artificial pearl drop, 2" pendant on 15" sterling chain.
View
View #V31324

PASTE basket brooch with pink, orange, purple, blue and
green stones set in silver tone, 1-5/8". These pins are sometimes
called "giardinetti", or little gardens.
View
#Q33519




PASTE clear stones basket pendant necklace
with leaves atop, 1-3/4" pendant on a 17" chain,
hallmarked but illegible. View #Q33562
CLEAR rhinestones
set in silver tone basket brooch with European trombone catch, 2-5/8" by 1-1/4".
View
View #Y29741
BASKET pin with pink, aqua,
blue and purple pastes and marcasites, European 800 silver circa 1900, 1-1/2".
Sometimes called "giardinetti" or little
gardens. View
#Q33105



STERLING necklace
with clear rhinestone florets and dangles, sterling mark and illegible
maker’s mark on the back of one drop, 18" by 2" front drop .
View
View #Y29276


COLORFUL
paste parure with pink, purple, green, clear and topaz
colored pastes set in fold-over settings in silver metal. The bracelet has a
safety chain and it is 7-3/4" by 7/8"; the 4-piece articulated brooch is 3"
by 1-1/4" and has dangling sets on each level; the earrings are screw-back
earrings are jointed in 2 places for lovely movement and they are 2-1/2"
long and 7/8" wide; and the ring is a size and is 1" by 3/4" across the
face. The settings are in the Georgian style, rubbed-over style, but the
screw backs on the earring date this to the early 20th century. What an
amazing set this is, and the back is as beautifully made as the front, all in
excellent condition in every way.

View


View


View


View


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View
#Q39064




DECO
green and clear paste bracelet set in 12 links and mounted in sterling,
6-1/4" by 1/2".

View


View


View
#Q38484


GREEN
and clear marvelous paste necklace or brooch set in sterling silver.
It can also be
worn as a brooch without the chain. The clear stones are brilliant, not grayed like the photos
make them look. The pendant is marked "925" on the back,
partially obscured by the loop, and the chain is 17" and has a spring loaded
catch, rarely seen before by me. The brooch/pendant itself is 2-1/2" by 2".
There is something bewitching about this lovely necklace and it is in
excellent vintage condition.

View


View


View


View
#Q37939


STERLING
bracelet set with many tiny colored rhinestones that are red,
blue, green, purple or topaz in a flowers and leaves design, marked
"320PD TPI" hand engraved on the clasp back and "920" on the back of the
center element, with it’s safety chain. It is 7" long and with 11 segments that
are from 3/4" to 1/4" wide.

View


View
#N38485





GREEN
and clear paste lavaliere necklace set in 800 silver, pendant
including loop is 2" by 7/8", marked "800" on the back.

View


View
#V38316

FRENCH
clear paste hallmarked sterling silver bird earrings with
red eyes and wire clip backs, 1-1/3". The hallmarks are the French eagle
mark and a maker’s mark, but they are so tiny it is hard to read them.

View
#V38304

PASTE
pink and clear pastes heart-shaped lavaliere set in silver. A tiny
fleur-de-lis ornaments the top of the heart. #Q37974



PASTE
and sterling ring set in it’s original original box with 5 paste
unfoiled stones that slip into the setting interchangeably, creating 5
different rings in red, aqua, purple, green and yellow, complete with
instructions. The ring is a size 8 and runs 1/2" along the finger, the
box is 4" by 1-3/4" wide and 1-1/4" deep. The slip with instructions and
the box it is all in are both original
View
View
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View #Q35501



PASTE and sterling silver swallow brooch
set in heavy silver setting, marked "925" on the back, 2-1/2".
View #V33727

PASTE and artificial pearl
hinged bangle with lovely fleur-de-lis design on both sides, safety chain,
6-2/3" by 1/4".
View #V33683

PASTE earrings with green and
clear stones, earrings 1-1/4" by 5/8".
View #Q34050




PASTE
green and clear bow pin set in sterling and marked "935", 2-1/8".
View
View #Q63854


VICTORIAN
gilt photo pendant set with clear pastes, with photo compartment,
circa 1900, locket 1" and
loop 1/3". View #V35749

PASTE French paste dog pin with
green collar set in sterling, marked on the back "Bank France" and an
illegible hallmark, 1-5/8".
View
View #Q63836





PASTE
clear paste earrings with patent numbers, total length 1-1/8",
paste alone 5/8". There is a patent number on the back "patn 48340" or
something close to that. It is hard to read.

View


View


View
#V38284
PASTE
round locket pendant with clear pastes and a bow top, 1-1/4" by 1". The
photo shows a young man with chin whiskers wearing a high collar and on the
back is a hinged locket compartment.

View
#V38220


PASTE
clear paste flower earrings set in silver tone metal, total length 5/8 and
flowers only are 1/3".

View
#Y37984




PASTE
sterling gilt
pendant with clear and blue pastes set in sterling and gilt sterling, 1-1/8" by
1-1/8". It has a flip-up loop for a chain so it can be worn as a
pendant. This looks like substantial piece of fine jewelry and I was
surprised when it didn’t test as karat gold. It is marked "sterling" on the lower back.

View
#V37750
VICTORIAN paste
and gray pearl butterfly brooch set in gold in original box, 2".
View
View
View #V34679
GREEN and clear paste
teardrop pendant set in sterling, 1-1/3" pendant on a sterling 16" chain.
View #V34731





RING
with green and clear pastes set in 9 carat yellow gold band and
silver setting, marked inside the band, " 9ct & sil", size 5/16" by 1/3"
top, weight .06 ozs. #Q37980
DECO
1920s half pearls and marcasite ring set in gold and silver, size 6 and 3/4"
along the finger. View
View #V36556

DECO Sydney Latimer boxed paste
purplish-red glass stones bar pin and ring in 9ct over sterling, the set in it’s
original box, pin 2-1/4", ring size 7-1/4, stone 3/16" .
View
View
View
View
View
View #Q36219



PASTE locket with clear oval
sides and bow top, hinged on the back to open easily, marked "935" on back,
circa 1900,
1-5/8" by 1" on original 16" chain marked "silver" on the catch, circa
1920. View
View #Q33008

PASTE locket pendant with bow top,
clear rhinestones and silver chain, bowed glass front, locket total length 3" by
1-5/8" wide, chain 17". This is larger than the usual paste locket and
will hold a nice sized photograph or two.
View
View #V34075

EDWARDIAN sterling
silver and paste photo locket with bow top, marked on back 925 and
an illegible hallmark, circa 1900, two-sided, 1-5/8" total length by 1-1/8" wide.
Lockets like this can be seen in Benjamin’s "Antique Jewellery" on page 70.
View
View #V32192






STERLING paste set in sterling silver necklace with knife-edge links,
marked "925" with an illegible maker’s mark, circa 1910, 2-1/8" drop on a 14"
chain. View
View #Y32923

DECO lavaliere with clear
pastes and green cabochons, sterling 1-2/3" pendant on silver 16" chain, circa 1910.
#Q28134
The photo is a lady with BOBBED
hairdo wearing a
paste bow
pendant. View

PASTE pendant with white
sapphire center stone surrounded by red pastes, bow top, set in at least 800
silver, circa 1910, 1-1/2" pendant on original 17" chain, illegible
hallmark on the loop. View
#Q33009





PASTE
pendant with bow, leaves and flowers motif. It is made with marcasites
and clear rhinestones set in silver tone and the wearable length 21" with a
1-5/8" by 1" pendant. The bottom teardrop-shaped element is separate so it
swings as you move. Even the reverse side is beautifully made on this necklace.

View
#Q37702


PASTE
pansy or violet pin set with purple unfoiled rhinestones
petals in sterling with clear paste accents and a real pearl center ,
1". It is marked on the back with just the word "sterling".

View
#Q37704


PASTE
pendant with clear rhinestones set in silver tone with an applied gold
tone arrow, wearable length 19" with a 1-1/2" pendant.

View
#Q37703




BOW topped clear paste
pendant necklace with purple paste center and bow top, set in silver tone,
pendant 1-3/4" long, chain 16". View
View
View #Q37395

MARCASITE and blue
paste bracelet set in sterling silver, marked "935" for 935/1000
sterling, 7-1/4" by 5/8" at the widest.
View
View #Q37396

VICTORIAN 9ct gold and clear
paste dangle earrings, 1" without the hooks, 1-1/3" total length, tests 10k.
These are marked "patent" with numbers on the back
View
View #V37475




PASTE
dangle pierced earrings, silver and pastes with gold kidney wires,
circa 1900 European, 1-5/8". The larger center stones have the black
dot in the bottom of each and each earrings is marked with a lightly struck
"sil" on the back. A similar set can be seen in Deanna Cera’s book, "Jewels of Fantasy" on page 45, where she dates it to 1910.
Note the similar shepherd’s hook findings.
View
View #V29908

SILVER and
paste dangle pierced earrings, marked "800" in tiny letters on the
back, 2-1/4".
View
View #Q29844


FRENCH
paste blue earrings marked "sterling" on the back, made in 3
segments so they move beautifully, 1-1/2" total length.

View
#Q38240



PASTE
hinged bangle with clear pastes set in silver tone, bangle 6-5/8"
wearable size and with it’s safety chain. The stones are brilliant and cut
with a smaller than usual top surface in the older style and although some
wear is visible on some of the stones, it is only visible under 5x
magnification and not with the naked eye.

View
#V37279

PASTE ring set in sterling
silver with a 9 karat yellow gold shank and including it’s box, size 7-3/4
and 1/2" along the finger. View
View #Q36233

PASTE bracelet with clear and
dark blue rhinestones, marked "935", really nice quality, one tiny blue stone
missing where it is almost impossible to see, 7" by 1/3". This is one of the
nicest paste bracelets I have ever seen, a real quality piece.
View
View
View
View #V36311





GERMAN
sterling silver and clear paste bracelet, hallmarked "935" and a
maker’s mark so tiny that I cannot quite read it, but it could be "AK". It
still has it’s safety chain and it’s 7-1/2" by about 1/2" at the widest.
This is just lovely with sparkling clear stones, in excellent vintage
condition.

View


View


View


View


View
#X38239


PASTE
clear rhinestones set in silver heart pendant, 1" heart and loop on a
16" hallmarked chain.

View
#V38238


VICTORIAN
clear paste puffy heart pendant on a silver chain. It is
engraved on the back "LBH 1902". The heart itself is 5/8", and with
the loop the total
length is 1-1/16". The sterling chain is 16" long and marked "925"
next to the catch .

View
#V37734




PASTE sterling star paste
pendant, French sterling hallmark and "925" on the back, 1-1/8" pendant and
a 1/2" loop.
View
View #Q33323
PASTE French miniature
brooch, portrait in black and white on ivory set with clear pastes in silver
with safety chain, 1-1/3" by 1". She wears a powdered wig with flowers in
her hair and on her bodice, great detail.
View #Q33328
PASTE Deco silver pendant
with clear and blue pastes set in silver with a gilt back, 1-1/3" with a
1/2" loop.
View #Q33324




VICTORIAN hair brooch, ornate
silver setting with pastes, palette work hair curls and seed pearls, 1-1/2".
This is an unusual setting for a hair piece.
View
#V27578

STERLING
and rhinestone moth brooch with cabochon body.
View #Y20812

CLEAR rhinestone flower earrings with artificial pearl centers, all set in
silver tone, probably European, circa 1930, 1".
View #Y32289



PASTE
silver and paste swallow pin circa 1900, professionally replaced
pin back, 2".

View
#V33785

PASTE Deco brooch with
blue and clear stones set in sterling, marked "935" on the back along
with illegible hallmarks, 1-3/4" wide. It is boxed "F.W. Gibson Son Co. Ltd,
Newbury, goldsmiths, jewellers, opticians" but I do not know that this
was it’s original box.
View
View
View
View #V34325

PASTE dangle earrings with red,
blue and green glass cabochons, 2-3/4".
View #Q35252




EDWARDIAN silver brooch
with pink and green pastes and marcasites, 1-1/4".
View #Q32999
VICTORIAN cabinet card of
a lady wearing a lovely paste parure, 4-1/4" by 6-1/2". Photographer
was W. Forshaw, 57 St. Giles, Oxford, England.
View #Vnph2

STERLING and paste lavaliere with
red cabochon and clear rhinestones, marked "sterling" on the back, 1-1/2"
pendant on an 18" sterling chain.
View #Q29659




https://www.morninggloryantiques.com/imagesDG/Edwardian/rh27632.jpg

EDWARDIAN
sterling and clear rhinestones bar pin with a pierced design,
2-1/2". The pierced design is lovely and this is circa 1920.

View


View
#Q26216


EDWARDIAN
sterling silver and clear rhinestones pierced bar pin,
marked "sterling" on the back, 2-1/2". Bar pins like this are fun to
wear in groups or alone, and it is from 1920.

View


View
#Q26217


EDWARDIAN
sterling silver and paste (clear rhinestone) bar
brooch, 2-5/8" and made in about 1920.

View


View
#Q27632




EDWARDIAN yellow gold
filled and paste necklace, pink and green pastes (rhinestones) and seed pearls,
maker’s mark "T+H", 16" wearable length with a 2" front drop, circa 1900.
View
View #Q33341

PASTE pendant in suffragette colors with white enamel,
purple and green stones and a pearl drop, 15-1/2" with 1-1/2" pendant.
The chain is marked "800" for European silver.
View #Q33716

VICTORIAN necklace with a
purple paste center, aqua glass and seed pearls, lovely fashioned chain
portion, 18" length with a 1-1/2" front drop.
View
View
View #V33256




VICTORIAN paste brooch with
clear, rose and green pastes, hook on back, silver tone setting with
light gold wash, 1-1/2" by
1-1/4". Each stone has a flat bottom cutlet.
View
View
View
View
#V34587

STERLING and clear
rhinestones 17″ necklace and 1″ earrings circa 1920.
View
View #Y24881

VICTORIAN black dot clear paste
stones pendant, wear and chips on stones can be seen under 10x magnification, 2"
total length by 1" wide. Each stone is cut in a slightly different way because
they were all done by hand. View
View #V34579




VICTORIAN (clear
rhinestones) bow brooch, 2" by 1-1/2", bowed in the middle for a
scarf to slip through.
View
View #V34764
PASTE earrings with clear
pastes and green Peking glass Asian figures set in silver tone, total length 2-3/4".
View #V34730

VICTORIAN
paste pendant on sterling chain with clear pastes and
artificial pearls circa 1900, 18" chain and 1-3/4" pendant.
View #V35325





LAVALIERE
with pink and clear rhinestones set in silver tone all ready
for your own chain, pendant 3-1/3" top to bottom and with the last 4 stones
at the bottom dangling to catch the light.

View
#Q33717

CLEAR
paste rectangular brooch with a lovely pierced design of clear
rhinestones in a silver setting with detailed reverse, 2-1/4" by 1-1/3"

View
#Y37985



PASTE
pendant necklace with clear pastes jointed in 2 places for great
movement and hung on a silver
chain. The motifs are small flowers and leaves. The pendant is 3" from top of loop to bottom of pendant,
and the chain is 18". The back side is almost as pretty as the front.

View


View
#V38429




DECO
white paste earrings, no marks, total length is 2", segmented in
two pieces with lovely movement. The clear stones are NOT gray, even though
they want to photograph that way.

View
#Q38241



VICTORIAN
or late Georgian clear paste brooch, possibly converted early in
it’s life from a buckle to a brooch. It has some of the most brilliant paste
stones I have ever seen. It is 2-1/4" by 1-1/2" and has a heavy well made piece
set in gilt silver.

View


View
#V38464


MONKEYS
Art Deco monkeys figural brooch with clear pastes on the bodies
and red paste eyes, all set in silver. Both monkeys have a peach colored
enamel on faces and hands, and they are 2-1/2" by 1-3/8" and circa 1920’s.
The owner said that her mother purchased this at Neiman Marcus
Beverly Hills Estate Jewelry Department in 1994, but it was already an old
piece back then.

View


View
#Y39011/39111


https://www.morninggloryantiques.com/imagesLZ/unsigned2/paste37928.jpg

FRENCH paste 14-1/2″ necklace in
silver washed brass, 14-1/2″ with slight finish wear
View
View #Y24880

PASTE salamander
brooch with green and clear rhinestones set in silver marked "800",
2-3/4", slight dent on the back. A similar piece can be seen in
Deanna Cera’s book, "Jewels of Fantasy" on page 145, where she dates it to
1900-1910 and attributes it to Germany.

View


View


View
#Q37928


REFERENCES:


Antique Paste Jewellery
by Malcolm David Samuel Lewis (Great Britain
1970)

Georgian Jewellery,
1714-1830
by Dawes & Collings

Victorian Jewelry by Davidov & Dawes

Warman’s Jewelry, 3rd Edition
by Christie Romero
Starting to Collect Antique Jewellery by John Benjamin