Early 1900s Vanity Items

Antique French Silver Art Nouveau Compact C.1900. Beautifully designed mistletoe on both cover and reverse leaves in high relief against a plain ground. The design exemplifies the f...

Vermeil Victorian French sterling lorgnette with original glasses decorated with mother of pearl shell. The lorgnette measures 5 7/8" by 1 3/16" wid...

Edwardian Belle Époque hairs-comb designed by Cartier. This is one of the most magnificent, jeweled hairs combs we have ever seen. This is a museum ...

This beautiful round piece of gold coloured pâte de verre depicting a winged scarab was created around 1900, probably in Nancy, France. It is mounted in a square belt buckle...

This charming bow has been made out platinum and 14 karat gold at the beginning of the 20th century.

Fox Essex glass scent bottle designed by Tiffany & Co. An exceptional very rare piece, created during the Edwardian period at the Tiffany Studios, back in he 1905. This fabulous scent bottle has been carved from translucent rock quartz and mount with an oversized Essex glass reverse carved piece depicting the enameled three dimensional head of a fox. Both parts are mounted with hinged round frames crafted in solid yellow gold of 18 karats with high polished finish. Fitted with a push opening button, an invisible hinges and an interior gold screw lid. The head of the fox is magnificent, very well carved with realistic details and exceptionally painted. Weight: 137.50 Grams, (88.14 Dwt). Measurements: 34 mm by 40 mm by 80 mm (1.34 x 1.57 x 3.15 Inches). Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark, the mark for the assay of the gold and signed, "TIFFANY & CO.". The gold parts has been independently tested using state of the art technology (Niton XL2 Analyzer) and verified as over 18k gold .770/.999 assay. Essex Glass Essex crystal pieces are formed from a rock crystal cabochon (polished domes of rock crystal with a flat base), an image or motif is then reverse carved into the flat base, and then painted, to give them impression of a three dimensional object or image encapsulated in the cabochon when viewed from above. Production of a reverse crystal intaglio begins with the mining and cutting of fine rock crystal from Brazil or Madagascar. A well-formed cabochon is the key to a beautifully made reverse intaglio and the tedious process of hand polishing it to perfection had to be completed before the design work could begin. A watercolor rendering of the image was painted on the underside of the cabochon and an oil and diamond dust mixture was used along with up to 250 scribing tools to carve the design into the interior of the crystal “…the deeper the carving the more pronounced trompe l’oeil effect.” Once the carving was established the painting process began with extremely fine brushes and paint working in reverse to create incredibly detailed images. This process of carving into the back of the cabochon is sometimes referred to as reverse intaglio, not be to mistaken with intaglio, which is designed to be viewed from the same side on which it is carved, unlike Essex crystal. Particularly when the image is of something which is itself small in reality, such as an insect, they can be very convincing when created by skilled craftsman. Thomas Cook was believed to be responsible for introducing them to Britain from the continent in the 1860s, and there were initially sold by Hancock’s in London. During the same period the artist William Essex, was a great favourite of Queen Victoria, and known for his enamel painting and miniatures. It would seem that the public put two and two together and came up with five, in that they believed these exquisite miniature painted jewels could only have been created by such a celebrated talent as Essex, and the name stuck despite him having nothing to do with their creation. Interestingly, William Bishop...

Original Masonic Set Buttons Signet Pins Cufflinks A set of 6 pcs in total. With two bigger buttons with a Star of David can be used as cufflinks. 1900. T...

Everything old is new again! Hair accessories are the new way to make any look more fashionable. This antique hair pin is handcrafted with a spray of ...

A beautiful Victorian gold and silver pill box and locket pendant, with the floral metal work. The piece consists of a silver frame and two yellow gold disks attached to the frame b...

This sterling silver mounted purse or evening bag is by English silversmith Samuel Jacob, circa 1900. The beautiful black velvet bag is suspended from...

Very Rare set of six English Silver hallmarked Buttons, Birmingham 1903 by A.E.Jones. Each of circular shape, silver bezel set with a blue green Ruskin plaque, diameter approximately 25mm. All fully hallmarked on reverse. Total Item Weight: 41.25 gm. Fitted Box. Ignore reflections from photographs, ruskins are in very good condition. A.E Jones Ltd. established Birmingham in 1902 is the most important of the individual Birmingham metal working firms in the Arts and Crafts style particularly for its association with the Ruskin Pottery. Jones registered a mark with the Birmingham Assay Office on 1st December 1902. Silver pieces with the small pottery roundels which Ruskin had started to produce appear in 1903. These include a set of silver buttons, a vase and a preserve jar and spoon. The firm of A. Edward Jones did continue to mount Ruskin ware...

Antique large Silver and leather wallet purse holder, London 1907. The holder with soft black grain leather, silver cornices each fully hallmarked, London 1907. The interior compartmentalized with soft kid tan leather. Very clean interior. Extreme minor wear to exterior mentioned purely for accuracy purposes. The large wallet...