Jewels Collecting Dust

Description: Antique Austro-Hungarian Silver Enamel Necklace Set With Sapphires Mabe Pearls & Rubies.Beautifully enameled eagle. Semi Fitted Box. This is a stunner

Marks: Not marked Tests As Silver

Size: Pendant measures 2 1/2 inches long and chain is 15 3/4 inches long

Age: Late 19th Century

Weight: 34.3 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition. The enamel is in remarkably good condition with just a small loss to the front where one wing meets the body

Status: Not For Sale.

Price: £3250.00

Description: Victorian Austro Hungarian Silver Gilt Garnet Blackamoor Necklace. This is amazing, I have done the pics extra big in order to make out the detail better.

Very simple hook closure. Original fitted box with retailer A Marx & Comp who also had a branch in Hamberg Germany. Research into the The Marx company reveals the following inforamtion about how the business was affected by the outbreak of WW1:-

"the National Archives in London hold documents from 1915 regarding British subject Ernest Marx, the owner of Messrs A. Marx and Co., jewellers of Regent Street, London. The documents hold details on payment of taxes to Germany, a claim against the company in respect of rent due on their property in Germany, and the detention of Ernest Marx at Ruhleben. There is also an enquiry from his wife, Mrs. M. Marx of Maida Vale, regarding the German authorities' insistence that on his release from Ruhleben he should be forced to reopen his business in Hamburg, Germany, in order that they might take half the takings"

This particular type of blackamoor jewellery is also often known as "Moretto" and much of it comes from the Rijeka area, - its form is always a black head with a white turban - and appears on earrings, decorative pins and rings, pendants etc. The creation of the Moretto was greatly influenced by Venice which was obsessed by the Orient in the 17th and 18th centuries and black pages and servants in oriental dress were working in the salons of the rich Venetian aristocracy. This prompted many Venetian goldsmiths into making decorative pins in the form of a black man called "Moretto" with a turban and a golden bust, richly decorated with gems. At the same time, the Moretto of Rijeka appeared, as a modest version of the Venetian Moretto. Due to it's specific appearance, fine workmanship and reasonable price, the Moretto soon became a traditional piece of women's jewelry mostly in Rijeka.  For more inforamtion on morretto jewellery see here

http://www.istrianet.org/istria/crafts-trades/jewelry/moretto-eng.htm

Marks: Touchmarks on the clasp are typical austro-hungarian - Number 1 Ladies Head facing right and Letter A. This indicates that this piece is 950 finesness silver and made in Vienna between 1872 - 1922.

Size: Measures 16 inches long

Age: Circa 1880

Weight: Weighs 38.2 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition. One of the blackamoors heads on the fringing is a made up replacement as it was missing when I bought this so rather than have a noticable gap I had my jeweller make up a little peg in the right shape - Ofcourse I could not match the enamelling of the head and turban etc so just darkened it down with a little enamel paint. It fits in great and looks better than a gap. It can be clearly seen on the photos. Everything else in original condition and original box. Outer box is a bit worn.

Code: DS

Status: Not For Sale

Price: £1800.00

Description: Vintage Austro Hungarian Pelican Brooch - Depicts the Pelican feeding her young with a blood sacrfice.

Marks: Marked

Size: Measures 3 x 2 inches

Age: Late 19th Century

Weight: Weighs 32.0 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: S

Price: £795.00

Description: Antique Austro-Hungarian Silver Sapphire & Pearl Lavaliere Pendant.

Marks: Not marked Tests As Silver

Size: Pendant measures 2 1/4 x 1 1/2. Chain measures 18 inches long

Age: Late 19th / Early 20th Century

Weight: 7.9 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition.

Status: For Sale.

Price: £495.00

Description: Antique Large Silver Gemset Austro-Hungarian Buckle Converted To Brooch. 

Marks: Marked TB - presumably the maker and also stamped with the number 3. No other markings

Size: Measures 3 1/2 x 2 inches

Age: Late 19th Century

Weight: 67.1 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition.

Status: For Sale

Price: £1250.00

Description: Highly Unusual Silver Enamel Pearl Nanny Brooch Etui. This is Silver and is in the form of a Sceptre set with pearls. The end unscrews to reveal a compartment where cottons and needlecase would have originally been held. Sadly any internal needle case is now missing

Marks: Marked with unusual marks I have been unable to identify. This piece looks austro hungarian but the marks do not fit. If you can identify them please email. It is marked on the pin and on the clasp but the clasp marks are not readable

Size: Measures 2 1/4 inches long

Age: Late 19th Century

Weight: Weighs 9.8 grams

Condition: Fair to Good Condition but this does have issues. The enamel on the back is missing, a couple of pearls are missing and the internal needle case is missing - but this is such a really unusual little item that condition can perhaps be forgiven a little as it would be hard to find another one like it

Status: For Sale

Code: AH-etui

Price: £395.00

Description: Antique Austro-Hungarian Silver Enamel Jester Pendant.

Marks: Not marked Tests As Silver

Size: Pendant measures 2 inches long including bale

Age: Late 19th Century

Weight: 8.0 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition. Small enamel losses

Status: For Sale.

Price: £1200.00

Description: Antique Silver Gilt Turquoise Garnet Austro Hungarian Hunting Horn & Riding Hat Chatelaine. This opend to reveal an inner hinged compartment. I am not sure what it was intended to hold. Because of the hinge I think its unlikely that it was a watch but could possibly have been rouge or coins

Marks: Marked with the Lions Head Austro-Hungarian mark for 750 Silver

Size: Measures 4 1/2 inches long and diameter of base is 1 3/4 inches

Age: Late 19th Century

Weight: Weighs 55.3 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition. There is a few scratches to the back of the clip and oe of the little rossettes of the decoration is missing a flower petal

Status: For Sale

Code: S

Price: £1250.00

Description: Vintage Austro Hungarian Gemset & Enamel Necklace

Marks: Small Touchmarks on edges of upper pendant - One touchmark says N/V and the other is unreadable

Size: Measures 67mm total drop and chain length is 16 inches

Age: Late 19th / Early 20th Century.

Weight: Weighs 13.5 grams

Condition: Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: AHdropneck

Price: £295.00

Description: Large Silver Austro-Hungarian Silver Citrine and Pearl Cross. The origins of this are uncertain and I have been unable to identify the markings.

It is an interesting piece with elaborate fretwork back that incorporates crowns into the design. The Citrine stones appear to be foiled and the rounds/ovals

are flat-cut. The barrel shape stones have two horizontal facets across the front. Appears to be early cutting techniques used here. Beautiful piece. Tests

as Silver with gold wash.

Marks: Touchmarks on this are unusual. They are on the top loop area of the cross. First at 9 ocklock is an animal / gargoyle head above which is a letter A.

The other mark is seen at 5 ocklock and appears to be either a letter S or a number 8 - I am not sure which.

Size: Measures 4  x 2 1/2. inches

Age: Late 19th Century

Weight: 37.5 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition.

Status: For Sale

Price: £1250.00

Description: Antique Silver Gilt Buckle by Austrian Maker Turriet Und Bardach. This company exhibited at the 1902 Turin International Exhibition.

Marks: Marked T.B.

Size: Measures  4 x 2 1/4 inches

Age: Late 19th / Early 20th Century 

Weight: Weighs 98.2 grams 

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: DS

Price: £1450.00

Description: Antique Silver Gilt Austro Hungarian Enamel Garnet Emerald Brooch

Marks: Not Marked

Size: Measures 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches

Age:  Late 19th / Early 20th Century

Weight: Weighs 23.1 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition. One of the emeralds is a replacement

Status: For Sale

Code: DS

Price: £295.00

Description: Antique Heavy Silver Gilt Buckle Set With Art Glass Onyx & Mabe Pearls. Maker is Austrian company Turriet und Bardach. This company exhibited at the 1902 Turin International Exhibition

Marks: Marked. TB & Number 5 On Each Side Of Buckle. Tests Silver

Size: Measures 2 7/8 inches x 2 1/2 inches

Age: Estimate late 19th century

Weight: Weighs 77.3 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition.

Description: Vintage Austro Hungarian Silver Gilt Polychrome Enamel Emerald Pearl Bracelet. I am assuming that this is an Austro Hungarian item given its highly elaborate style.  It is marked but the marks are not those you normally see on AH. The lady I purchased this from did think it might be Bulgarian but in the absence of knowing much about the jewellery of Bulgaria I can't confirm or deny this. Its a gorgous and interesting piece. It was purchased with the Pendant shown below.

Marks: Marked 835 P.V

Size: Measures 6 - 6 1/4 inches long

Age: Late 19th / Early 20th Century

Weight: Weighs 40.9 grams 

Condition: Very Good Condition. The polychrome enamel is not all intact but is in reasonably good shape although when viewed with a loupe does show some crackleure.

Status: For Sale

Price: £1500.00

Description: Vintage Austro Hungarian Silver Gilt Necklace. I am assuming that this is an Austro Hungarian item given its highly elaborate style.  It is marked but the marks are not those you normally see on AH. The lady I purchased this from did think it might be Bulgarian but in the absence of knowing much about the jewellery of Bulgaria I can't confirm or deny this. Its a gorgous and interesting piece. It was purchased with the bracelet shown above.

Marks: Marked 835. P.V

Size: Pendant Measures 2 1/2 x 1 inch including little flower cluster it is suspended from. The chain measures 18 inches long 

Age: Late 19th / Early 20th Century

Weight: Weighs 30.2 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition. The enamel on this has mostly dissappeared. It would have originally been like the enamel on the bracelet shown above. With a loupe small traces of the enamel can still be seen.

Status: For Sale

Price: £1500.00

Description: Vintage Silver Turquoise Ring. I am not certain of then origins of this ring - It may well be continental or austro-hungarian.

Code: AHturq

Marks: Not Marked

Size: Measures english ring size L

Date: Early 20th Century - Edwardian

Weight: Weighs 6.0 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £135.00

Description: Austro-Hungarian Silver Enamel Harelquin Pendant. This character is known as Areleccino (italian) or harlequin (french) and was a major figure in early Comic Theatre which was popular in europe throughout the 18th century. He is depicted here with his slapstick.

Dating of this is tricky and I wonder if it is an austro-hungarian item of the later 19th century or it is possible that this is earlier than this ?. If you have any information I would be pleased to hearn from you

Marks: Not Marked. Tests As Silver

Size: Harlequin on his original pearl chain measures 2 inches long and chain measures 18 inches

Age: Circa 1900

Weight: 7.3 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition. Tiny Enamel Losses when viewed with Loupe.

Status: Not For Sale.

Description: Antique Silver amethyst & Pearl Brooch

Marks: Not Marked Tests as Silver

Size: Measures 1 3/4 inches Diamater

Age: Late 19th Century

Weight: 17.5 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition. Amethyst stones are not well matched. They do vary in colour. 

Status: For Sale.

Price: £295.00

Description: Vintage Silver Blue Zircon Emerald & Pearl Ring. I am not certain of then origins of this ring - It may well be continental or austro-hungarian.

Code: DS

Marks: Not Marked

Size: Measures english ring size L

Date: Early 20th Century - Edwardian

Weight: Weighs 3.8 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £295.00

Description: Antique 830 Silver Amethystr Baroque pearls & Amethyst Fibula or Sceptre Pin. This is not Austro Hungarian but the style is very similar - possibly Norway manufacture ??

Marks: Marked 830 and Makers Mark Unknown

Size: Measures 4 inches long

Age: Late 19th / Early 20th Century

Weight: 15.2 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition.

Status: For Sale.

Price: £350.00

 If you wish to make a purchase please email jewelscollectingdust@gmail.com

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