Featured Finds Thread

Awesome, thank you for that nugget of information! I don’t know a ton about Southwestern design, so I wouldn’t have know where to start on getting any type of time frame for the year aside from the markings on the back. I’ll likely never know but it’s nice to have a general time frame idea

 

There's also the pierced vs. clip-on thing. Pierced earrings weren't popular until the 1970s so they're unlikely to be earlier. Your pair aren't of the highest quality and look as if they might have been targeted to the tourist trade. Besides "STERLING" and "925", they will have a maker's mark if you can decipher it. There are lists of Taxco marks on line. Here's one:

https://www.925-1000.com/mexican_marks.html#google_vignette

Debora

 

That site is the one I found to get my “post 1979” date. They’re not by a famous Taxco artist by any means, but they do have a TZ-08 stamp after “Mexico 925”. To which I read on that site means it’s an artist in Taxco with the letter Z as either a family name or first name, and (s)he’s the 08th artist to register at the assay’s office with those letters. I’m not worried about quality, I’m not looking to re-sell any time soon, I just liked the design and they’re a fun piece to wear ^_^ Definitely good getting to know about them though.

 

I never used to like diamonds, until I saw the Great Star of Africa, a huge pendeloque (teardrop) cut from the Cullinan. So also cut by Asscher.
It is set in the UK Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross, and it looks like it sends out all the world's rainbows, and heavenly lights. I was totally in awe when I saw it, and walked past it several times (impossible nowadays, you get ushered out of the vault once you've run past it). That stone converted me and installed in me a love of diamonds.

 

Might work on me, but it might not. I like big diamonds even less than the usual ones.

 

Saw the Hope diamond in the Smithsonian one time and was awe struck, but very crowded room with heavy security! It was hard to even get close enough to really soak it in.

 

That one's in the right place. It has one body to many on it.

 

Burchased today, with delivery tomorrow. A handsome French Charles X or early Louis Philippe secrétaire, featuring its original marble top, richly figured mahogany veneer, and brass drawer knobs. The fall-front opens to reveal a leather-lined writing surface and a beautifully fitted interior with small drawers, compartments, and turned columns. The lower section is enclosed by two doors, which cleverly conceal an additional full-width drawer. ($325).

 

I like big rocks, and I cannot lie

 

Gorgeous

 

I have seen it several times. The last time I had seen it they had put it in a new setting voted on by the public. If you go near closing time, the gem hall is pretty empty, but I live about three hours from DC.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smit...ng-unveiled-today-at-natural-history-2603861/

 

Indeed. The French refer to the lower section, enclosed by two doors that cleverly conceal an additional full-width drawer, as an “English drawer” (tiroir à l’anglaise). It was designed as a secure compartment for storing money, important documents, and other valuables.

 

Bird , is the word !!!
A Papa oww mao mao....

 

My niece is a GIA graduate and works just outside Washington. For a few years she volunteered at the Smithsonian identifying gems that were either new acquisitions or in storage. She got a closer look at the Hope diamond but was never high enough on the food chain to handle it

 

That is NICE! Love the drawer that isn't really hidden, but not on full public display either. BTW - did y'all ever go in for hidden drawers? I think British and some American furniture makers put them in just to prove they were clever enough to put them in.

 

That is gorgeous & looks to be in fantastic condition!!

I have seen similar pieces referred to as a "butler's chest".

 

There are secret drawers!

 

WOOT! They were never really good for hiding anything, because everyone knew they were there somewhere. That said, it's fun to go drawer hunting.

 

Wowzer! I always thought an excellent fundraiser would be to have women photographed wearing it....ir even auction a session like that off. The gem hall is the first place I head to