As promised, here’s a selection of newfound designs and colorways added to my 1930s MJM (mystery jewelry maker) database. I’ll start off with a new colorway of the dome-on-box-chain necklace previously seen in green/black (in Part Two) and in blue/black (in Midsummer 2015 Roundup). This version uses black only, making it a match for their…
Eight of these newfound colorways are on necklaces having the unusual decorative front clasp. The first of two new colorways for the Rococo Pyramid clasp features pink, green, and black triangles on their brass 5/8″ wide flat mesh. Like most of the mesh necklaces it is just about 16″ long. Notice that the clasp…
The animals, birds, and flowers aren’t the only ones finally emerging from winter hibernation: Why not a springtime update on new Mystery Jewelry Maker finds as well? The “least new” is probably this large bow paired with their brass watchband-style pointed-ends mesh chain, because its silvertone counterpart was catalogued waaaay back in post #2 of…
Who’d ever think that the same simple chain that has dangled from millions of light fixtures for the past 120 years also inspired a jewelry fad? It’s true; the humble brass ball-chain has a costume jewelry genre all its own. In August 1896, Harvey Hubbell patented a pullchain lightbulb socket in response to a real…
As promised far too long ago within the first section of my Chains of Evidence post, here are the Art Deco era bracelets that match two of the necklaces shown there. The combination of Bakelite, enamel paint accents and (in one example) embossed metal is quite dramatic. All three are bangle bracelets (one being hinged)…
Launching into 2017 with an update on my 1930s mystery jewelry maker, including four newfound designs and several new colorways. All examples are necklaces; there seems to be a dearth of MJM bracelets lately! Although the mesh is their familiar ‘watchband style’, the color – pure white – and the central-station tassel is…
Despite my several years (and still ongoing) research of the 1930s ‘mystery jewelry maker’, I am super-picky about the examples that I actually purchase. A big part of the reason is financial but it’s also a matter of personal style preference: I’ve always had an affinity for their fully enamel-painted pieces and so those have…
When attempting to identify unsigned vintage necklaces, the chain can be a useful tool. Not only can certain chain styles help to date a piece as to era, but subtle differences between them can sometimes differentiate one anonymous manufacturer from another. A great example of this can be seen in necklaces from the Art Deco…
