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…
How the time flies – is it really months since I last posted any new 1930s “mystery jewelry maker” discoveries?? Apparantly so…. and an omission that will be remedied forthwith! Back in an April 2015 post I showed an unusual chocolate-brown bracelet and theorized that there must have been a necklace to match.…
Some operculum jewelry pieces simply don’t fit neatly into any of the more popular design categories such as filigree, tortoise shell, etc. This isn’t too surprising, considering that opercula are rather unusual themselves! So here are a few that defied description and/or approximate dating, although in some cases I’ve included my personal “guesstimate” of age.…
The first major 1930s Mystery Jewelry Maker (known here as the MJM) “update” for 2016 begins with some newfound examples of their bow-motif necklaces and bracelets; recent posts examined their small bow brooch and large bow brooch. Because their chevron is actually a half-bow (or vice versa!) I am including these first two pieces…
“Pools of light” – isn’t that a marvelous description of a piece of jewelry? The first time I heard the term I had absolutely no idea what in the world it could be, but it sounded absolutely magical. Having a weakness for gems that interact in special ways with light (hence my blog series about…
Santa’s elves are apparantly working overtime this year; they’ve magically uncovered these half-dozen new designs by my elusive Art Deco era Mystery Jewelry Maker! My first holiday surprise was the discovery of a third “finish” on their chains. The basic (naked) chains are brass, and the alternate finish was a silvertone. However, it turns out…
Never let it be said that my mysterious 1930s jewelry maker allows me to get bored! Here are four more of their patterned-mesh designs using the unique front clasp – including a newfound style. This is a black-on-silvertone colorway of what appears to be the same pattern as the multicolor-on-goldtone necklace shown as the…
In a turn of events that can only be described as serendipitous, I can now add a newfound ornate hidden-clasp bracelet to the list of 1930s Mystery Maker designs – and a new necklace as well. This is a newly discovered pattern from the Mystery Maker, in trim geometric lines of black over the…
The Chatsworth Lady 