View our Previous Newsletters

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

We have a change for this newsletter. This time we are looking for information! We have been fortunate enough to have some wonderfully crafted bakelite by a person named "Adrian", and we have no clue who that is. His work is amazing, as you can see in the photographs on the right. The carousel brooch has a laminated top in slices of red and butterscotch, the little animals inside are absolutely charming, and the whole thing stands only 1-1/2" high, a true miniature. His (or her) designs are creative, and some we have never seen in vintage bakelite.

We think these were made in the late 1980s to late 1990s. They werent usually signed, though there are a few exceptions where gum tags with the name were glued on the back. It is thought that there were only a few pieces every made, perhaps less than 20 in all.

If any of you know who this person is, please do let us know!

If you would enjoy adding some Adrian to your own collection, pieces for sale can been seen at Morning Glory Jewelry where we have bracelets, brooches and rings.

According to the rock hounds, marcasite is "iron sulphide in orthorhombic crystalline form", or crystallized iron pyrite. It can be cut, faceted and polished to be used in jewelry. My favorites are set in sterling, and sometimes include enamel work and/or other materials such as ivory or glass. Marcasite is often confused with cut steel, and both were used in Georgian jewelry. (To see examples of cut steel jewelry, CLICK HERE.)

Victorians loved marcasite jewelry and used it pieces both small and large. The best piece I think I ever owner was a 4" pheasant brooch set in sterling, an English piece.

Alice Caviness, designer and jewelry maker starting in about 1945, imported German marcasite and enameled jewelry set in sterling in the 60s. You can see some examples in her circa 1965 catalogue by CLICKING HERE. It is diminutive and colorful, and has a strong following of collectors.
 
If you would enjoy adding some marcasites to your own collection, pieces for sale can been seen at Morning Glory Jewelry where we have bracelets, brooches and rings.

And we also share pieces we have had in the past in our gallery HERE.

MEET THE DEALERS & CHAT ABOUT YOUR
ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES or THEIRS!
Do you have something you always wanted to know about? We will be on hand to discuss a wide range of topics, including these for instance:

FRIDAY

10:00-12:00

Jane & Sam, Morning Glory– antique & costume jewelry

Jim Young– hunting & fishing collectibles

 

2:00 to 6:00

Vicki Kneemeyer– Native American items

Alexa & Chaba– porcelains & American antiques

 

SATURDAY

10:00-12:00

Tom Goodwin– furniture, porcelain, etc

Ed Drobik– general antiques & collectibles

Anita– dolls, antiques

2:00 to 6:00

Janice Klaus– antiques & collectibles

Soni Rhame– vintage linens