View our Previous Newsletters

We add articles, reference pages and recent acquisitions continually, so browse, enjoy, and feel free to email us with your comments or suggestions.

FEATURE: DRESS CLIPS

There are two major types of clips, dress clips and fur clips. Fur clips have a two-pronged sharp pin-like finding on the back and dress clips have a single flat piece of metal with no sharp points. You can see examples at the links below. Both are fun to wear and both were most popular during the 1930-50s.

They can be worn in so many ways, and were sometimes made in a special way to be worn at the V of a neckline, or in pairs, or as 3-piece Duettes that Coro made.
 

Dripping with beads like some of the Miriam Haskell clips; painted with translucent enamels like some of the Ralph DeRosa pieces, large and brilliant like Eisenberg Originals and in figural sets like some Coro Duettes, many makers sold them and all of them are a fun vintage addition to your collection.

You can wear clips in so many ways, and for clip ideas, you can click HERE.

MIRIAM HASKELL clips for sale can be seen by clicking HERE.

DEROSA clips, my favorites, please click HERE.

FEATURE: BAKELITE REVERSE CARVED & PAINTED JEWELRY

One of my favorite things to wear is BAKELITE, especially reverse carved and in glorious colors. I have collected the reverse carved and painted pieces for years, and have enjoyed wearing and sharing them. I even got to see a wonderful collection of them at the Doyles 2001 bakelite auction, too, and what a mouth-watering assembly that was.

While the Lucite designs tend to be different than bakelite, the carving technique is similar. Done as a home craft, in high school shop classes, and in professional settings, you will see some designs repeated in many different colors and styles while others that are more unusual. Because they are hand carved, no two are entirely identical.

These were most popular in the 1940s-1950s, but there are some carvers who still do this kind of work, such as Ron & Ester Shultz.

One tip for caring for these pieces... do NOT get the paint inside the carvings wet. Not all of them were sealed and the paint can wash right off!

If you would like one of these colorful BAKELITE beauties, pieces can be purchased HERE.

We do have Lucite pieces for sale are HERE.

To BUY BAKELITE for your own collection, please CLICK HERE.