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It can be hand painted on ivory, porcelain, paper or mother-of-pearl.... it can be set in gold with precious gems, mounted on jet or simply costume jewelry... it can be a lovely lady, a dignified gentleman or a charming child...

Portrait jewelry is a sentimental favorite, a personality captured in time and a classic fashion accessory.

In the days before photography, a hand-painted portrait miniature was a desirable keepsake or love token. While some of these miniature art works were done of actual people including both royalty and everyday folks, others were painted of mythological characters and idealized lovely ladies. Mother-of-pearl, ivory and vellum were often used as paint surfaces. Settings range from the simplest rolled gold twist frame brooch to gem encrusted wonders. Artists who did portrait miniatures were called "limners" and they did not only pieces for jewelry, but also work meant to be framed for display, often in lacquered wood or ivory embellished frames.  Some traveled from city to city taking commissions as they went. Portraits could be worn on velvet ribbons around the neck, as brooches, rings and bracelets, and in lockets. Even men occasionally worn portraits suspended around the neck under their shirts.

Artist-signed pieces, lovely ladies and children, dated pieces and identifiable individuals often command the highest prices. Portraits that combine enclosures for hair or include an engraved notation are also sought after

REFERENCE INFORMATION
For more information about PORTRAIT JEWELRY click HERE.

PORTRAIT JEWELRY for sale can be seen by clicking HERE .
 

FILIGREE JEWELRY

Light and airy, delicate and softly toned, filigree jewelry has had a place in the world of jewelry for decades. Some of my favorite was made between 1880 and the 1930s. The ST&W Illustrated Catalogue of 1930 had some really wonderful examples.

To see more FILIGREE JEWELRY click HERE.

REFERENCE: ST&W Illustrated Catalogue, 1930

FILIGREE jewelry that is for SALE can be seen here.

Like any antique or collectible, the value of costume jewelry is determined by several factors: condition, rarity, artistic merit, selling venue, geographic area, and current trends. Costume jewelry has little inherent value because it is not usually made of precious metals or gems. Its value is not measured in a standardized way by stone size or karats, but rather by comparison to other sales in the market. 

It is possible to comparison shop at antique malls, shows and on the internet. Using the search engines, eBay or links pages to find jewelry web sites and browse the on-line auctions can add to your understanding of what is selling well and at what price. It is not definitive because there can be a wide variance between asking and selling prices, but can give you general ideas about value. In addition, these Jewel Chat articles about QUALITY and DECADES will help you assess your jewelry and its age. In the world of costume jewelry, remember that condition counts heavily. Damaged finish, missing or dull stones and broken parts drastically affect value. We rarely purchase pieces needing major restoration as we want to give out customers the very best most original pieces possible. Jewelry that is damaged or repaired has much less value than jewelry in original condition.

There are many jewelry books with price guides, and they are fun to read and learn from. Be wary of using book values only, though, as books can be misleading. Some book values are set by the owner/collector of the jewelry rather than by an actual sales and therefore can be inaccurate. Also, note the year in which the book was published, as desirability can change rapidly with the fluctuations of supply and demand.... and with whats hot and whats not at any given time.

As a dealer, I am often asked how I get so many wonderful pieces of jewelry. The answer is that I pay a fair price for worthwhile pieces, and deal honestly with sellers. Jewelry comes and goes, but a good reputation is irreplaceable.

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