Joe’s Special Box – Volume 158

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and A Collector’s Things

Here in Pennsylvania, it’s very cold.  Over the next few days, the weatherman is calling for the temperature to dip below zero.  And since I haven’t hit the lottery (probably because I don’t play the lottery), I still have to go to work.  Heading out in subzero temperatures can only mean one thing… it’s sweater weather!  One of my favorite things about bundling up in a thick, cozy sweater is accessorizing.  A turtleneck is the perfect place to showcase a pretty little pin… and this dainty charmer is SO good!

Measuring just over an inch from side to side, this turn-of-the-century brooch is ideally sized.  Shown from behind, the rich hue of the gold framework features a lovely patina that darkens the color.  Taking the shape of a sideways navette, the center segment also boasts a glass-covered hair receiver.  Beneath the glass, the woven ivory fabric is still pristine – with nary a hair in sight.  This tiny compartment has never been used.  Note the beautiful scallops that envelop the outer edge.  Six carefully sculpted contours have been intricately set with five seed pearls in each one.  

My favorite detail of this pin is the lovely enameling that decorates the front.  A deep garnet-colored enamel done in guilloche fashion coats the center.  Small, regular hashmarks were etched into the surface of the gold before the enamel was applied.  Because the enamel is translucent, this subtle patterning can be appreciated through the enamel.  A slightly raised border fully surrounds the center; it has been coated with an opaque white enamel.  Evenly spaced on top of the white enamel are sixteen minute black dots… a small detail that makes all the difference.

Splayed across the top of the red enamel is a singular flower.  Made from various sizes of creamy seed pearls, this five-petaled blossom is like the icing on a cake – finishing the brooch to perfection.  Beautifully made and utterly feminine, this piece can be enjoyed all year long.  Pin it to your sweaters in the winter, jackets in the spring and fall, and on a collar or cuff in the summer.  Moderately priced at $1500, this pin brings a welcome pop of color on a cold January day.

“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”

Written by Carrie Martin

Photography by Dana Jerpe

Hot or Not – Volume 20

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and Curious Things

Snakes have been a recurring theme in jewelry for thousands of years.  The many symbolic references are nearly as plentiful as the jewelry itself… in ancient Greece, snake bracelets represented immortality.  Egyptians utilized an image of a snake eating its own tail; it was called an ouroboros and symbolized rebirth and eternity.  Queen Victoria’s engagement ring from Albert was a bypass-style snake with an emerald set in the head – a talisman that represented his eternal love and commitment.  The popularity of this creature continues today – it is thought to symbolize transformation, fertility and healing. 

We recently acquired this unusual bracelet.  It’s unlike any snake bracelet I have ever seen.  Made from a combination of 18-karat rosy gold and silver, this sinewy snake wraps just once around the wrist. 

Both the head and tail feature bright green enamel.  Executed in classic guilloché style, the metal was carved to look like scales before the translucent enamel was applied.  Two small dots of red enamel form the eyes with a narrow band of silver rimming each one.  A textured piece of silver starts at the mouth, continues between the eyes then splits back to each side.  

A forked tongue protrudes from the tip of the head, adding another classic snake feature.  The body of the bracelet consists of a unique band of coiled gold.  Resembling a large spring, the bracelet is flexible and easy to wear.  

Most snake jewelry is quite realistic.  While there is no doubt that this bracelet is a snake, it is less realistic and more whimsical.  Antique snake jewelry that is well done and in good condition is easy to sell.  Customers seek it out, some even ask to be notified when we get something.  But this bracelet is completely different.  Likely made in the 1940’s, it’s priced at $2,200.00.  Curiosity is getting the best of me, and I just have to ask… is it hot?  Or not? 

“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Two Hearts That Beat As One

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and Revolutionary Things

Most brides get engaged with a diamond ring…  84% of U.S. brides, to be exact.  Of the remaining 16%, many choose an alternate stone, like a sapphire.  A very select few will get something other than a ring.  Some of the more unique choices include tattoos, a house, a necklace or even a puppy.  Surrogates are chosen based on personal taste and style, budgets, and lifestyles.  This is not the only time that something other than a ring has been used as an outward symbol of commitment.

Since the Georgian era, a pair of hearts placed side by side have come to represent two souls bound together.  Interlocked, this romantic symbol has been appearing in jewelry since the early 1800’s.  Symbolizing the bond formed between two people, this sentimental design was often utilized in small bethrothal pins.  This enchanting pin/pendant combo is made from 18 karat yellow gold.  About the size of a quarter, the heart-shaped beauty features a complementary medley of blue guilloché enamel with a crisp white border.  The double heart emblem, made from silver, sits center stage.  The silver has a lovely tarnished patina that speaks to the age of the piece.  Small pearls fill each heart and dot the perimeter of the pendant.  

No detail has been neglected…  the bail of the piece functions twofold.  Able to be either tucked away when not in use or removed completely, I love the versatility.  Pins were one of the most popular and widely used types of jewelry in the Victorian era.  Now, due to vast changes in lifestyle and wardrobes, brooches have taken a back seat.  This little gem, however, is an ideal size and can be readily incorporated into any style of living.  Pin it to the lapel of your favorite denim jacket for a day of shopping or to a length of velvet ribbon tied around your neck – the perfect accessory for date night!  And if you’re just not a pin person, no worries…  simply slip it onto a chain to enjoy it as a pendant.

Made in the late 1880’s, this Victorian jewel is just as relevant today as it was over a hundred years ago.  Perhaps you’ve been considering an alternative to the modern engagement ring – something to wear on the days when a ring is simply not practical.  In superb condition, this beguiling beauty is available now for just $2,850.00.  Seal your commitment with this authentic Victorian betrothal brooch available exclusively at Joden.

“You can go to a museum and look or come to us and touch.”

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

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