Featured Carved angel skin coral

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by cfh, Jun 7, 2025.

  1. cfh

    cfh Well-Known Member

    IMG_6830-compressed.jpeg IMG_6832-compressed.jpeg I bought this bunch of coral today at an estate sale. On the box it came in was written “1985 Hawaii trip carved coral”. I was wondering if this might be natural angel skin coral.
    The necklace has a 14k clasp.
    The brooch is not testing as gold. And strangely has a hole in one side.
    The earrings have had clip ons added and look like they have glue where the hooks enter the coral.
    I would think that if these were quality coral all the hardware would be 14k. Also, all the carved angel skin necklaces I see online have knots or gold beads in between the carved coral beads.
    Is there anyway to tell if these beads are real without using a gem tester? Am I right in calling it Angel skin coral?
    I took photos inside and outside. The true color seems to be somewhere between the two.
    Thanks as always! IMG_6841-compressed.jpeg IMG_6839-compressed.jpeg IMG_6837-compressed.jpeg
     
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  2. cfh

    cfh Well-Known Member

    Sorry about the pictures being all over the place. :(
     
  3. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

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  4. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    It's real coral, but too pink to be angelskin. I'd have nabbed this and run too. The clips on the earrings are replacements for whatever was there originally. If this from 1985 it probably had sterling posts or similar. If they weren't too accurate with a date, or it was old when they purchased it, they had screwbacks.
     
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  5. cfh

    cfh Well-Known Member

    Other items at the sale had dates on them that I am sure were off by 20 years. The lady who passed may have been confused when labeling.
     
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  6. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    Sounds like. The 1960s sounds much more likely.
     
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  7. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Lovely set.:) And I'm with the others, pink coral.
    Very good information on corals from the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. Thank you for posting it.:)
    So often the focus is on Mediterranean coral, because of its value in most antique jewellery, but these corals are just as precious and beautiful.
     
  8. cfh

    cfh Well-Known Member

    Thanks that was helpful! The only other coral I have is red coral in my Native American pieces. When I saw this set in the sale photos I had to get them. I drove a bit out of town but only paid $20 for all of the coral. Plus I got a Zuni pendant, and some other sterling red coral and turquoise pieces.
     
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  9. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    You must show us! I love the NA jewelry.
     
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  10. bosko69

    bosko69 Well-Known Member

    CFH-Just curious,did you find these on FB,Craigslist or some other venue ?
     
  11. cfh

    cfh Well-Known Member

    I have already sold the coral and turquoise earrings I bought at the same sale. They were clip-ons and I would never wear them.
    The Zuni sun face pendant is marked Deanne Qualo. There are lots of different spellings for her name online, so idk.
    Here are a few other of this weeks and last weeks purchases.
    The hooks in the spiny oysters earrings were replaced. One was missing and I couldn't find a match, so I replaced both.
    The turquoise earrings are screw backs marked Mexico Silver. Even though I won’t wear them often, I will keep them because they are beautiful.
    The coral ring is a simple NA unmarked ring that fits. So definitely a keeper.

    Most of what I buy is Native American and Mexico silver. I can usually find it here in Texas at a very low cost. I spent less than $20 for all these pieces.
    IMG_6857-compressed.jpeg
     
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  12. bosko69

    bosko69 Well-Known Member

    Texas sounds like a pretty good pickin' ground-for a guy in his 90's,Willie still sounds damn good on that old martin.
     
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2025
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  13. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    Nice pieces!
    The triangular dangle earrings look like Santo Domingo (Kewa) work. Do they have mother-of- pearl backing?
    I might even know who the artist is.
     
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  14. cfh

    cfh Well-Known Member

    Yes they do have mother of pearl backing.
     
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  15. cfh

    cfh Well-Known Member

    Ha! I love Willie. I played his Christmas vinyl this year for Christmas lunch. Of course everyone here in Lubbock also loves Buddy Holly.
     
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  16. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    That's a nice handful of silver and stone........ & shell..:happy:;)
     
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  17. cfh

    cfh Well-Known Member

    I found these at an estate sale in a very small town with a population less than 2000. I find most of my stuff at small estate or garage sales. And I am willing to drive up to and hour out of town.
     
  18. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    They are gorgeous earrings!
    I have this pair, made by Rodney Coriz.

    He or his brother Daniel Coriz might have made them, as they work in a similar style.
    IMG_20250608_122237691.jpg

    IMG_20250608_122413517.jpg
     
  19. cfh

    cfh Well-Known Member

    I love your pair as well!! Thanks. I will definitely have to look them up. I got lucky with this pair of earrings. Lots of people do not recognize shell as Native American. Especially if it doesn’t have turquoise in it.
     
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  20. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    They might even have been made by their mother Nestoria Coriz.
    All of them are well known NA jewelers.
     
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