Etsy Shop for TheHandOfFatima

Ahead of Your Time Deco

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:57:33 -0500

$82.00
She would dress up in a man's three piece suit with a red rose in the breast pocket, with lipstick to match. She kept a flask of homemade whiskey, and a pocketknife in her purse. She collected medicine man masks from Indonesia to Peru, and quite frankly, she did what she wanted...she was ahead of her time.

A named this piece as I did, because I wonder if the Swiss maker of this c.1940s watch would know that keeping the gears visible would be one of the biggest fashion trends of today! Total steampunk loveliness. This necklace is reversible, the watch is encased in Bakelite, and one side bares the clock, the other the movements.
The watch hangs from a silver tone bar chain with jet black, faceted glass connectors.

Momma's Luck

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:51:12 -0500

$112.00
When Daddy died we moved out town to be near Momma's parents. We left behind nearly every damn thing, packed up the beat up station wagon we had at the time and drove just about 500 miles. Many a night, on that long drive, we stayed in the worst of places, stale, too loud, too quiet...blood-in-the-sink places. Sometimes my Momma looked like she felt not good enough while she would puff on a Virginia Slim and hold her head in her hand. But then she'd hold that old necklace of hers with my Pop's ring on it,and kiss it..."you trust your Momma's luck now, don't ya?" And we did, it was all we had.

This necklace is a talisman of sorts in ode to that fiery, independent go-getter you may know. I've constructed this piece from the fragments of another lifetime, an antique sterling silver men's ring, size 9, hangs and is removable for wear. The ring has beautiful etching and a hematite cameo with a Trojan soldier etched into it. (Hematite is said to have healing power.)

At the center of the piece is a vintage locket with jet black enameling laid on top and etched in the Deco style is "Mom". I believe the locket is a revival piece from the 60's or 70's...but the photo inside is an antique sepia of a young woman, and what I will assume is her mother arms around one another.

Next to the locket is an antique skeleton key with a small number "7" marked on it. The treasures hang from twisted faux pearls from a vintage necklace made in Japan and connected by two faceted topaz colored chandelier crystals to silver tone chain.

28" around the neck.

SALE-----Evoking the Diety II

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:12:40 -0500

$83.00
reduced $20
Divinity, no matter what you believe in, is a truly special feeling. You may believe in god, a higher power, yourself, or ancestors, but I am keen to say that I think most people believe in something...
This antique medal is from a fraternal order which disbanded in the early 1960's called, The Knights of the Maccabbees. They took their name from the revolt of Jews (Jewish liberation movement) in the 167 BC.
Their major purpose was providing insurance and affordable cemetery plots to members. Formed in Canada, but cultivated in Michigan, there isn't too much information floating around about them.

This medal show a beautiful celluloid center depicting a Maccabee temple, and then reads, "Asrta Castra Numen Lumen" or "the stars are my camp, the deity my light". Quite beautiful...I'd like to live in the stars.

Below I drilled and added a chandelier crystal. The chain is a patinated, vintage brass bar link.

**This piece differs from the photo, only in that instead of a ring hanging the crystal, it's wired as well.

Dirty Secrets- Room 227

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:12:22 -0500

$31.00
Well, this addition to Dirty Secrets, is going to be a dedication of nostalgia. When I was a little girl, I adored watching the syndicated re-runs of the show 227! By far, my favorite character was Sandra, followed by Mary. That show really cracked me up, and when I pulled this tag from the bunch, I knew what thought of first!

The tag is a green with white numbers, and is a vintage hotel key tag. I Hung the piece from two chains, a raw brass, vintage Avon link, and a vintage white bead link.

Avery fun, lightweight necklace, 22" around the neck.

The Steampunk Ball

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:38:39 -0500

$117.00
Each costume was more intricate than the one at its side, the piano was played hard and the rich played harder. She had stolen her employers wig and borrowed a gown the daughter of the same employer...borrowing in the sense that this article she would return. Her hands, usually wrinkled from days of soaping and washing, cooking and cutting...shined. Could this masquerade masque transform everything. There were clocks everywhere, thirty, maybe forty, there were little cakes on trays served by people like her, people who didn't have a costume to steal. Tonight she would eat cake and dive into the world of the clocks and live forever.

An amazing Victorian, gold fill mesh watch fob sits asymmetrically, hanging a contemporary masquerade mask and an antique watch gear. A series of vintage chains hang by a crystal chandelier connector and opposite the ornate fob dangles a vintage clock hand.
An absolutely gorgeous storytelling piece for you noir or steampunk collection.

Scepters and Sinners

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:59:53 -0500

$72.00
Who didn't want a to live in this exciting section of Montmarte...old and gritty and luminous? I would go back to this tiny apartment overlooking Pigal in all my reincarnations if I can. The paint chips, the rain leaks in, the smell of cigars and Vermouth permeate through the air and the fog is thick, but I can only see clear here. This place of sinners and the rich men that visit on Friday evenings, it's where I have come to call "home".

This piece incorporates the turn of the century grit, with a glamorous accent. The secrets and stories of the disheveled and decadent, the antique Knights of Pythias badge is suspended from a contemporary strand of glass pearls, and below dangles a faceted, brilliant,imperfect Swarovski crystal prism.
The badge reads, PLEF: Purity, Love, Equality, and Fidelity. This is from the auxiliary or Pythian Sisters. This one is for us ladies...the crown for our queendom, the scepter for our rule and the sword for our wrath.

Vladimir the Sailor III

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:46:36 -0400

$29.00
The adventure had started on the Sea of Azov. Dr. Blume tried to remain as invisible as possible, but not a single man on the deck dared appear as he. Yuri chewed tobacco and spat wherever he could aim, Ivan who paid for his "love" from the woman at port, and then Vladimir, a sophisticated more seasoned captain with muttonchops and a desire for only stiff vodka and folk songs from his village.

A badge that once belonged to a sailor in one of the U.S.S.R. territories/states, depicts a sailor man on a badge. There is an anchor at the bottom and then green enamel with probably what is his name in Russian.
Badge- 1.25" long
Brass Ball Chain- 24"

The Righteous Crusade of Night

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:14:23 -0400

$76.00
Defy the notion that they are born of free will to the world...reach for the sword and insist that they see the light of your sun, your stars and your moon. Only the righteous are fit to dictate.

An amazing modular piece, I've designed it so it can be worn as a necklace or a brooch. This fantastic, old top pin piece is from an antique fraternal Knights of Templar badge and was marked 1883! I believe that the celluloid insert that reads, "St. Boniface CT. 1741" has a connection to the Connecticut chapter? What I found interesting about St. Boniface, was in the legend of his demise; "Frisians killed the saint because they believed the chests he carried with him contained gold and other riches, but were dismayed when they discovered that there were only the bishop's books contained within."

Below the pin piece is an antique (c.late 1920's) multi colored rhinestone brooch from the masonic order of the Shriners. The brooch is an eastern symbol of a sword piercing through a moon. I have sanded off the pin back from this piece.

Simply unhook the spring rings from the faceted, red rosary chain, and the brooch separates to be worn alone.

18" around the neck, add 4.25" for the assemblage brooch.

Wings

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:57:38 -0400

$42.00
She entered through the side of the bar, a halo of smoke around her head. I watched every move she made, she didn't talk, she sang, she didn't walk, she flew...she never looked at you, she looked through you. She set up at the back and pulled out the cards, L'Impératrice, the Empress was first. "Ladies first tonight..." she exclaimed. I approached her table with courage, she nodded and suddenly I knew my future would be told, I would have wings that would fly me out of this place.

A lovely, genuine WWII technical observer's decoration is at the center of this bracelet. I have tooled the metal to form a cuff. I have used vintage raw brass chains and a lobster clasp.

Four Sided Stories

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:44:53 -0400

$42.00
We were a tight knit family, strong with tradition, until the eldest of these boys went off to fight, he returned, but the boy that left. I wonder if that boy stays lingering in the foreign land, looking for someone to toss a ball with or talk to. Who knows why he signed up, every story has two sides, and in this family three or four.

An awesome vintage military ribbon anchors a mid century four page book locket. The locket hangs below a blue rhinestone encased in filigree. This brooch can also be made into a necklace, just slide a chain through the ribbon. The 1950's picture is genuine and comes with the brooch, yes she's either putting on or taking off her bra!

The Bone Flowers

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:47:19 -0400

$61.00
They pledged on that day, sisters in a room...to modesty, loyalty, honor, good practice to thy earth and fellow living thing...and finally eternal secrecy.

A gorgeous vintage enamel fraternal order medal anchors a beautiful combination of glass and bone. The medal is enameled with beautiful white flowers and the letters IOOF, representing, Independent Order of the Odd Fellows, however the womnens' sect, Daughters of Rebekkah.
A faceted light green glass bead beholds a carved ox bone flower, gorgeous. Finished with a strand of glass pearls.

Fun fact about fraternal orders:

"Legend has it that the origins of fraternal societies date back to the exile of the Israelites from Babylon in 587BC when many of those exiled banded together into a brotherhood for mutual support and defense.Legend goes on to say "an Order of Odd Fellows was established in 1452 by knights who were said to have met at the Boulogne-sur-Mere in London and formed a fraternity."

and if you are ever in SanFrancisco on Polk, please check out a great little shop called Boneflowers:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/boneflowers-san-francisco

Harmony

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:52:54 -0400

$89.00
Ghandi said, "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony"...and she agreed, however her mother said, "well, while you're doing all your good deeds and thinking your good thoughts, you better look fierce". And with Ghandi's book of quotes in her purse, she boarded the train bound for the city.

I can't even express how much I adore this pendant. It is certainly of fraternal origin and I am told from c.1900. It depicts a lyre harp and says "Harmony" across the bottom.
I hung this from a 1940's rhinestone choker and added vintage sterling silver tragedy/comedy faces at the sides of the pendant. This piece is absolutely,spectacularly, symbolic. Everyone could use a talisman about harmony...

Miss Nettie Martin's Hands

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:22:18 -0400

$39.00
She was like a local queen. She bought the night club on the corner of St, Nicholas Avenue and 139th Street, she named it Nettie's Jazz Joint. I would sneak onto the fire escape of our apartment and watch all the folks come streaming in on Friday nights, dressed sharp as a dagger. I wanted to be like her, I knew I could, she came from nothing too, like she just rose up from dust or something. God gave her hand a special touch because everything Nettie Martin touched turned to gold.

This brooch is composed of three elements, a vintage award ribbon pin in red, white and blue like the French flag, a contemporary silver Victorian hand (molded from old tooling) and an antique skeleton key. The piece comes attached to a Victorian calling card which reads, "Nettie Martin".

Masquerade

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:52:41 -0400

$28.00
Waltzing and turning, spinning and grinning. The pompous garbage of a high society lifestyle, all she wanted to was to wake up in a man's bed. Why wear such a mask if you couldn't be secretive enough to a social deviant from time to time.

A contemporary masquerade charm in antiqued gold (cut from vintage tooling) sits daintily at the center of a vintage brass chain that has been further patinated by hand.
Toggle closure.

The One Pinch Saloon

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:08:38 -0400

$94.00
He'd heard about what they did in there from sitting around the card table with Danny and his right hand Vasquez. They'd name what girls were best, who would let you get away with what and for how much. These were lawless times, and everyone knew that Miss Lillie always had a special something to sprinkle around and let boys dream again.

Hey, every country's history has a lil' smut in it...paying homage to the oldest profession in the history of man. This necklace has a BOLD brothel token that advertises it's services on both sides. One side reads "Lillie's Saloon, One Pinch Gold Dust For One Screw, Hangtown, CAL".
The other side has two hearts and reads "GOOD FOR ALL NIGHT".

This piece hangs from an antique buckle, c.19th century. The buckle is AMAZING! A vintage tassel and chandelier crystal hang as well. The chain is a hand antiqued, vintage copper/brass link.

All Seeing

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:12:02 -0400

$59.00
And so she would marry him unwillingly, at the request of her poor, drunken father. Percy Willis, the richest of all men in the Bowling Green section of the city would have her hand. Little did she know at night when Willis would set down his monocle and pipe, that she, his bride would sneak into the office quarters to be with his otherwise devout apprentice, Maurice Grateraux, who arrived on this land just four short months ago. She referred to this affair as "teaching the great language of English".

A gorgeous old monocle takes center stage beneath a beautiful rhinestone choker. The necklace's rhinestones are exquisite, intact with hardly any darkened stones. The green navettes are brilliant and the monocle hangs at the center of the piece.

Danger in the Playground

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:33:19 -0400

$73.00
She wore costumes to school, vests and pants in those days on a girl. I remember when they sent the news of what she'd done...that she wouldn't return. I ran to her house, snuck through her balcony window, her dolls rotting away all lined up, the smell of lemons and cigarette smoke, from the butts she had hid under the bed in a tin cookie jar. Why couldn't we all just let her live as her? I grabbed one of her frozen Charlotte dolls that belonged to her mom when she was a girl. I kept it along with one of those cigarette butts from the tin that I knew had touched her lips.

A 1920's bisque jointed doll from Japan takes center stage in this piece. The doll is eerie as can be, aged and faded, gorgeously decayed with a ruffled dress. From one side hangs brass chains and an antique cabinet key, a glass pearl and a vintage deco heart locket.

The chain around the neck is antiqued brass. Lobster clasp.

The Calcareous Eye Seeing Clear

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:09:58 -0400

$67.00
"O tower of light, sad beauty
that magnified necklaces and statues in the sea,
calcareous eye, insignia of the vast waters, cry
of the mourning petrel, tooth
of the sea, wife of the Oceanian wind..."
Pablo Neruda

I don't know why I thought of him, but Pablo just came into my mind when I came to write the description of this piece. It wa the "that magnified necklaces" part at first...anyway, this piece is a burst of rhinestone followed by an antique monocle.
The links of brass are vintage, and the silver tone ones are contemporary "Bali" silver. The chain is an antiqued brass rolo style. There is a very Deco element to this piece, almost as if it were a design in the lobby of a commissioned Rockefeller building. I think it's the symmetry that contributes to this as well.

O for the Optimist

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:03:28 -0400

$53.00
"The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious of the rose."
Khalil Gibran

This is a vintage wax seal from Italy, is hands down my favorite, absolutely gorgeous, exquisite handcrafting.
This piece was designed long, the wax seal dangles below a chandelier crystal connector.

Blue Knight

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:33:26 -0400

$57.00
He came wounded on horseback with little, but stories of heraldry, faith and loyalty. He left with her heart and the trust of a new people.

An enormous, vintage coat of arms pendant plays star role in this show. At the center of this might pendant is a perfectly enameled, royal blue colored shield, with a griffin at the center, beautiful filigree scrolls and a crown atop the blue shield. The pendant is also a brooch, and can be unhooked from the vintage hook closure and worn.

An antique chandelier connector and antiqued contemporary brass chain.

Glitz

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:16:48 -0400

$36.00
"Never gaudy, gaudy...a little glitz a lil' glam and BAM!" she would always tell me, she sounded like a car salesman. I would sit on the edge of a stool and watch her get ready for a show. She would have a Virginia Slim hanging from her lips in front of the vanity, taking her rollers out. Before finally being done, she'd turn to me and say, "baby, it is what it is, work it."

Very cute and feminine piece with 50's flare. An adorable bow appliqué crafted in India, sits in the center of glass pearls.

The Georgia O'Keefe Hotel

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:03:15 -0400

$64.00
"I know now that most people are so closely concerned with themselves that they are not aware of their own individuality, I can see myself, and it has helped me to say what I want to say in paint."
Georgia O'Keeffe

I love her, do you? I love her art, her personality, the time from which she came. Skull, flowers and feminism, my mother had a print of Music Pink and Blue in our house for so many years, it was so soothing. When I grew old enough as a lady to understand...I understood. I love the rawness of her skull paintings, the elevation and flowers...it's something I never knew growing up in New York, but that she introduced me too.
This piece is from an imaginary Georgia O'Keefe hotel. A mink skull which I cut on both sides and sanded down. Below the skull hangs an antique industrial brass tag with the numbers 603 punched into it.
Antiqued brass rope chain.

Nouveau Riche

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:39:15 -0400

$66.00
She was able to pull the wool over their eyes of who she really was and where she actually had come from. It wasn't shame, no, this was survival. She dined with the brightest and fine wined with the finest...but there was always a little something gritty, darkened and ambiguous to her existence. She maintained her mysterious persona as if they would not know she was Parvenu, the joke was on her, they knew, but her beauty was just more fun to have around, making for what they viewed as acceptable society mixing.

A gorgeous antique rhinestone buckle, composed of pot metal sits at the center of this beautiful piece. What I love about this piece is that this, brilliant buckle sits between two links of tarnished gold, and raw brass chain, it's like a mix between high society and the real deal. I love juxtaposition, especially with these old pieces.

How Many Knights

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:00:34 -0400

$69.00
What is forever? "Forever is a long bargain."-Rumi

This is the smaller version medal of Esto Perpetua...which means "Let it be perpetual" in Latin...this is another amazing Knights of Pythias medal.
*Knights of Pythias are a fraternal organization and secret society, which insists that a member must believe "in a personal Supreme Being". The brotherhood/sisterhood was founded on the legend of Damon and Pythias, which is all about friendship, honor and loyalty.

This medal is stamped on the back 1874 Copyright S.S. Davis.
(If you know my work a bit, I always hesitate to let go of this, and other fantastic medals in my collection due to the chills that run through me when I hold them.)
I always wonder, who wore this proudly? What was their name?
The medal hangs from contemporary glass pearls.

The center has the society's logo of a knight and crossed swords.

Smokey Diamond Cufflinks

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:19:16 -0400

$26.00
Dr. Blume was invited to dine with an Italian diplomat while they were both simultaneously in Casablanca. About a hour before the meeting, the diplomat's assistant Gian Carlo knocked at Dr. Blume's door and delivered a handmade suit and extravagant cufflinks with a new top hat. Although he was traveling and looking rather rough, he was puzzled. Why ever would he eat with his hands (in the traditional Moroccan way) wearing all this dazzle?

I designed these cufflinks out of vintage never before assembled components. The link itself is a silver-golden tone base metal with vintage crystals set around as a border. I emphasize silver tone, because the photos capture more of a golden hue, although they are a pale, gorgeous golden color, they do look like a combination of the two. By no means are they a bright or gaudy gold.
For the center, I chose a vintage lucite cab in "black diamond", which is a smokey gray that really reflects light and creates a glow. The picture does not capture the crackly swirls of the cab. Each cab is different and swirls differently.
The quality of these links are fabulous, and I would not limit cufflinks to gentleman in this day and age, they are certainly unisex, especially in the professional world.
These will arrive in an organza pouch.

Independent Member

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:52:23 -0400

$78.00
She was a real femme fatale, never cared what people said, she smoked, drank and used "grown words" as she called them...all the time. She was not polished by any means, she'd cut 'ya, but she was a gem. She was independent and always prepared, a member to her own club.

A pin top of a fraternal order badge reads "Member" in celluloid. Beautiful brass scrolling. Below hangs a Victorian gold fill pocket knife that is monogrammed.
The necklace hangs from contemporary white glass pearls. Lovely three tiers of uniqueness!

J'adore Eleanor

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:46:20 -0400

$38.00
Eleanor was a secretary by day and a telephone operator by night...and not the kind of operator that patches through calls...the kind that would be in an Amsterdam window in the red light district.

A vintage ID bracelet findings plays as a centerpiece of this choker. Vintage faux pearls, several vintage and contemporary chains cascade down, and at one side is a vintage carved lucite coral colored flower and a brass ball locket. About 16" around the neck.

sale---Nipple of Venus

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:37:40 -0400

$36.00
Have you eve watched Amadeus? Remember when Mozart's wife pleads to Salieri to take some of her hubbies music and he offers her sugar coated chestnuts, soaked in Brandy, "nipples of Venus"?
Well weather you have or not, I thought of her, and those treats as soon as I completed this necklace. This filigree, was once a massive antique earring, whose multi crystal ball fell off of. I took the crystal encrusted bead and mounted to the center of the filigree, and result is amazingly gorgeous.
All the chain I used is a raw brass vintage link. The filigree itself measures about 2.25" in diameter, and the chains dangle 2.5" from the piece. The main chain measures 20.

Primitive Pretend

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:37:19 -0400

$62.00
There was an old legend my father would tell us involving a young girl, a secret gate, a key and an evil hobbit that dwells under a bridge in this unique universe. He would always pull out a book, yellowed n torn, pop his monocle in the right eye and flip through the pages in between acting out the story...and at the end when the young girl finally made it through the parallel universe and found the key, he would pull from his pocket and old, rusted, primitive key from a century in which he, nor his own father had ever even lived. I was always amazed by this key, years after his death, I found it in a Papoose cigar box next to the book....and the book had not a single word inside.

This key is beyond old, the dealer from whom I acquired it, swears it old as at least 17th century. It is clearly handmade, rusted and solid as a rock, designed to last longer days...and it has. The other end of the lariat ends with an antique monocle, the pendants hang from contemporary antiqued brass chain. Length is adjustable to your desire around the neck.

Mockba Winter

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:12:42 -0400

$28.00
He could smell the scent of salt and snow, he felt the cold brush him, the tips of his hair growing hard with frost. He had come to study and bring the theory back to his land.
But could he survive this winter? Like an evergreen, he'd have to stand strong and tall.

*unisex*

The Soviet badge is lightweight metal, it has Russian text and is enameled in forest green and white. It seems to be depicting two bears and a volcano erupting (maybe oil?)A textured brass/steel contemporary chain.

*The Curious Cabinet of Dr. Blume* a new collection geared towards men, but truly unisex. This collection was in my head for sometime, but the light went off after seeing a band called Outernational perform here on the Lower East Side. There is a fantastic musician called Dr. Blume, he wears a top hat, a bolo, a three piece suit and plays an array of instruments including the accordion!! This collection keeps him, a curious cabinet and a time traveler in its pocket. Thanks Dr. Blume!

Double Agent

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:22:22 -0400

$48.00
He entered the room at exactly 12:12am, the gala was dwindling down and he remembered that his instructions were specific...enter, go straight to the bedroom on the third floor, open the chiffonier on the left side, get it and go.
He bit his lip to ease the dryness from that cold Moscow air, and she smiled across the room as if he were doing this action to gain her attention. Though the orders were direct, he may need to take a little detour before returning to the hotel in St. Petersburg.

What adventure! I am loving this WWII technical observer's decoration and its steamunky nature. The winged ornament is a brilliant brass, and is not a reproduction, but original stock. Below this gem of history, hangs a vintage U.S.S.R. communist territory badge with a delightful and colorful enamel. The badge is from a soldier's lot and I believe a coat of arms.
The chain is an vintage solid brass.

Dr. Blume's Jar

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:50:08 -0400

$37.00
Dr. Blume lead Jones, his faithful apprentice to the "Pièce de Jarres" or "room of jars", as he so much enjoyed naming things in French, among other languages...Jones became especially fixated on a jar filled with some kind of vertebrae suspended in amber colored liquid. How strange.

On a vintage copper chain, which I further patinated by hand into a verdigris tone, I have hung the genuine vertebrae of a mink. Very simple, very curious, and very unisex. 30" long.

Luck Be A Lady

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:37:06 -0400

$78.00
He entered the cabaret to the scent of smoke and spilled whiskey. Gentlemen with top hats and wives at home and ladies with the fines costumes, layers of dresses, huge boas and headpieces, feathers everywhere. He took a seat and pulled a cigar from the breast of his suit, "I'll light that", a voice uttered in a brogue. He looked up to see a shiny buckle at his eye level, a woman long curled locks winked and he noticed a rosary hanging from her corset.

Totally inspired by the cabaret, the brothel and the costumes of either during the late 1800's. An antique brass buckle, hand crafted, sits center with a delightful vintage (mid century? 40's-50's) genuine four leaf clover charm which I believe is encased in celluloid. The chain is vintage rosary faux pearl.

Nouveau Remembrance

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:18:10 -0400

$67.00
We had the time of our lives. We went first class cabin to London by ship, and then Paris by steam train and chartered coach. I was so sure we'd stay in love forever. He sent me to have a pair of boots commissioned, when I returned I found a dress and buckle on the bed laid out with a note;
"time of my life. let's leave it this way in time without any chance of destruction. i love you. goodbye."

An absolutely fantastic art Nouveau period buckle made in England hangs several contemporary antiqued brass chains. The buckle half is enameled, with chipping and gorgeous history upon it. c.1890

SALE---Sterling- Antique Silver Necklace

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:51:48 -0400

$113.00
She took a pull of her cigarette, leaving the reddest stain of lipstick around the edges. I watched her strut over to the phonograph and blow out the smokey gray clouds. The needle scratched a bit, then Satchmo's horn blared. She swayed on back put her feet up and took a swig of some fella's whiskey left over from the party. "Get your second wind girl, we're goin' out! It's New York City you know."

This necklace is quite the eye catcher, a lovely monocle numbered "500" from an old optometrist tester kit, sits beneath a transformed pair of antique art deco period sterling silver earrings. The earrings are intricate filigree with five diamond edge cut rhinestones, The shape of the earrings is quite breathtaking, almost like paisley.
The chain is a sterling silver (925) rolo chain.
An antique cabinet key hangs at the clasp in the back.
Approximately 18.5" around the neck, add just over 3.25" for pendant.

Prim and Proper- Vintage Comb Necklace

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:05:51 -0400

$79.00
Style and function?? Hell, I sure could use a touch up on my do when I'm out on these New York streets!
The color pallet of this necklace will set off any get up, and the unique shapes are certain to please the eye.
The vintage brass bow brooch, is a Coro (hallmarked as well) and there is a tiny black cameo in the center.
The comb is a Kigu of London vintage enamel comb, marked so and marked Made in England. After researching Kigu of London, I am left to believe that this comb is from the 1950's. The comb has butterflies aflight idling around cherry blossom branches with a gold trim.
Playing with the 1950's theme, I added two vintage polka dotted black and white beads above the bow.
The chain is a vintage brass bar link. 18" around the neck and add 8" for the pendant assemblage. The comb alone measures 4.5".

sale---Not Marie

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:49:00 -0400

$36.00
Reduced $10 5-25-09

Well, it might be a cameo of Marie Antoinette, but damn...there were plenty of women in that time period that looked like that! I'm naming her Juliette. This vintage brooch has had its pin back removed and sits as the asymmetrical anchor for the vintage link of bead and faux pearl chain. The edges of the acrylic cameo have chipped, adding to its rustic appeal.
35" at the longest around the neck, no clasp, fits right over the head.

SALE---Greek Tragedy

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:47:03 -0400

$32.00
He had landed on the island of Crete, he took a steamboat delivering marble from Constantinople. The people were silently marching holding up crosses and shrines, a priest lead spreading mist while he chanted. Weeping and grieving he saw the church behind them and in the distance the palace of Knossos...what irony.

I found this strange centerpiece in a yogurt container that my father dumps all his change in. I know he has visited Greece on holiday before, and I once did as well, but this does not look contemporary at all. It's patinated treasure, depicting a warrior stretching across a slab of stone with a naked body and a head dress. There is writing that I believe says "Axiamye". Aside this piece are a vintage raw brass tragedy face and what I think is the pelvic bone of a mink.

All elements dangle from a brass ball chain, approx. 24".

SALE--Circus

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:46:54 -0400

$73.00
reduced $20

1908 the circus came our way. Pop bought me a lolli the size of my head, the colors made a whirlpool that would somewhat parallel the universe I was about to enter. A man pulled back the big top tarp and we entered to the smell of buttery popcorn, elephant dung and liquor. When my father wasn't looking I slipped away to peek behind a curtain. There he was, in a cloud of cigar smoke, Emmit Kelly, playing gin with a bearded "lady", and a midget drinking a bottle of Jim Beam with a monkey on his lap. I ran away and found myself in a maze, knocking into three cancan girls who pinched my cheeks and gave me kisses...maybe I'd stay lost for a while.

From a vintage faux pearl chain hangs an antique Odd Fellows medal with a Patriarch tent* reminiscent of a circus tent, crossed by two staffs and the I.O.O.F.'s signature icon, three interlocked rings.

Below this medallion hang five more elements;
1. Vintage sterling silver clown charm.
2. An antique bisque doll's leg (made in Japan).
3. An antique skeleton key marked with the number 6.
4. a french cut lilac chandelier piece.
5. A vintage watch face.

19" around the neck add about 5" for the pendants.

*these tents are of biblical iconography. this particular medal came from a 1919 grand encampment session.

New World Order

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:26:14 -0400

$54.00
Friendship, Love and Truth...the three virtues the fraternal order considers necessity to be a part of it...between that and the name "Odd Fellows", I honestly could see myself looking for membership!

This intriguing piece was probably owned by someone high up in the hierarchy of the lodge due to it's size (4.25" x 2") it was probably insignia for rituals. I knew it was a piece from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows because of the three interlocking links and crossed mallets.

Amid the three links is a gorgeous, faceted, round opalite pendant/bead that acts as the world!

The I.O.O.F. traces its roots back to England 1700's "Oddfellows". Officially, in the USA, the lodges were set up in 1819, but in NYC, they always existed "unofficially".
Their is a division for women called Daughters of Rebekkah.

Antiqued brass chain approx. 20", can be altered upon any request. :D

Premonitions in the Labyrinth

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:19:37 -0400

$49.00
The gate moaned as she pushed it open, the rust chipping down onto her like snowflakes. This garden was kept until her mother died and her father ordered it neglected, dead with his wife...but it continued to spill over in greenery. Ivy crept up the side of the mansion where he slept, but he ignored it. She followed the mist every night, and there they always were, waiting in seats made of stone.

A gorgeous old brass medallion of a child with a halo, a very Renaissance feel, sits dangling below a bouquet of a 1940s brooch. The brooch blooms three flowers with deep, royal blue acrylic (?)rhinestone centers. About 22" around the neck, can be adjusted at your request. The chain is a beautiful brass bar link.

Dystopia 1949

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:09:31 -0400

$37.00
Why was such a year so important, well...one can Wiki it, and find some facts, but certainly intriguing would be the book "Nineteen Eighty-Four" being published.

This old piece's origins are unknown, I am not sure of what it came from, but assume a larger piece of jewelery. The 1949 is in Roman Numerals, and there are teal rhinestones. It seams two rhinestones are deliberately left off. The piece is extremely distressed and beautiful. I chose a vintage brass bar link to hang it from. Both components have a gingery-bronze tone.
Approx. 18.5"

This Is A Specimen

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:27:42 -0400

$35.00
She followed the cool air like as though it were pulling her on a leash through the Gulf smog. She reached the door and pressed her ear up onto it, it was silent. She turned the knob with a sturdy grip, and her eyes brightened at the sight of this place. Jars full of liquids, suspending animals, fetuses, bugs, bird beaks, claws and samples of bark. There were stacks of cabinets with beakers, an eyeball, a jaw...where was this place? Another world, or a past one? She reached out to touch what looked like a dried out alligator and then she heard a voice, "Don't do it! It's my only specimen."

Simple, but not exactly sweet...a vintage token that reads "This is a specimen" holds a mink's jawbone with sharp little teeth. The pendant hangs from a lovely rolo brass chain.

Dr. Blume I

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:16:13 -0400

$72.00
Dr. Blume's curiosity without a doubt was the result of an eccentric father, the first Dr. Blume. The man was a genius that designed a lab in his own home, which is the very place Dr. Blume II himself lives and works. Imagination and physics bubbling over with excitement, wins and failures. He believed only in science, and although he respected the mythology of the people he met all over the world on his travels, only proof comforted him. And one day, after months and years building a secret machine, he disappeared. He lives now, through exactly what he left behind, science.

A gorgeous antique brass chain anchors some fantastic curio in this piece.
A piece of mink jawbone, a vintage optical tester lens, with antique photo of an older gentleman and a vintage clock key hang from this gorgeous and sturdy chain. There is adhesive covering the back of the lens where the photo is pleased to keep is resistant as much as possible. Again I have used a contemporary pocket watch clip clasp as the closure. I have pictured it here being worn at the side, but it can be worn any way you prefer.
Approx. 18" around the neck.

*The Curious Cabinet of Dr. Blume* a new collection geared towards men, but truly unisex. This collection was in my head for sometime, but the light went off after seeing a band called Outernational perform here on the Lower East Side. There is a fantastic musician called Dr. Blume, he wears a top hat, a bolo, a three piece suit and plays an array of instruments including the accordion!! This collection keeps him, a curious cabinet and a time traveler in its pocket. Thanks Dr. Blume!