Hair receiver Archive

Joe’s Special Box – Volume 158

January 17, 2025 by Joden Girl

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

Pick of the Week – Volume 31

January 21, 2021January 18, 2021 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles and Bling with Unbelievable Pricing

A tiny miniature painting… what could be more endearing? Or perhaps more scandalous! In the late 18th century, these small depictions also known as lover’s eyes began popping up in Britain. Sometimes these gems featured the eye of a child or family member… however, sometimes the eye belonged to a forbidden lover!

Lover’s eyes centered on a small painting of an eye, and perhaps an eyebrow… but nothing more. This was to keep the identity of the person secret. Many of these pieces were surrounded by a halo of natural pearls or sparkling gemstones. This incredibly intimate jewel brought to life the intense gaze of adoration. Often, a look can convey so much more than words could ever say.

These treasures are rare – it is believed that fewer than 1000 of them remain. Many of these unusual pieces are brooches… allowing them to be pinned and worn close to the heart. This particular one is a pin and a pendant; it showcases a blue iris with a strong arched brow. Twenty-six faceted black onyx stones surround the eye.

A hair receiver on the back of the piece is filled with an entwined lock of brown hair. These two details – the black stones and the hair receiver – make me wonder if perhaps this lover’s eye is an early piece of mourning jewelry. The pendant is accompanied by a yellow gold y-chain. Once it is clasped around the neck, the piece itself rests lower on the neck, allowing it to be concealed underneath clothing should you so desire.

This unique gem has been a part of our inventory for more than a year. Originally, it was on our site for $5,000.00. We are now offering it as a Pick of the Week – which means it will be available with new and unbelievable pricing. Now – this rare bit of history can be yours for just $2,500.00!

If you’re a collector of distinct finds, this lover’s eye is the piece for you. Click the link to make it yours today.

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe and Shelly Isacco

Joe’s Special Box – Volume 103

February 26, 2020 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and A Collector’s Things

For hundreds of years, we have sought solace after the loss of a loved one in a myriad of ways. Often, a piece of jewelry was kept as a token to be worn and treasured… mourning jewelry. In the Georgian era (the early 1800’s), the pieces were more macabre, focusing on the “Memento Mori” sentiment. This phrase was a reminder that we are mortals and will all die. Skulls, coffins, and shovels were popular and used frequently.

Later on, in Victorian times, mourning jewelry was much more personal, often memorializing a particular individual. Tombs, angels, and urns were prominent motifs, like this one. Made of 14 karat rosy gold and silver, this pendant is truly extraordinary. Joe described it as very fine, one of the best he’s ever seen. Depicting an urn, the surface is covered with a layer of black enamel, symbolic of the loss of light and life. Hand wired handles are on each side, with additional wire detailing on the bail and body of the vase.

Seventy-four natural seed pearls add a dimension of beauty and are thought to represent the tears shed by those left behind. A singular rose cut diamond is set in the center, nearly fading into the background. Another common element of mourning jewelry was a locket, or hair receiver. Frequently these compartments featured a glass lid and provided a place to store a lock of hair.

In near perfect condition, this pendant is tragically beautiful. Perhaps even now, nearly 150 years after it’s creation, it can bring comfort to someone today. Priced at $3,800.00 – this is one memento worth saving.

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Baubles, Bling, and A Collector’s Things

Baubles and Bling with Unbelievable Pricing

Baubles, Bling, and A Collector’s Things

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