Featured More Auction finds!

Some more pretties from my auction box!
Lovely glass beads

Kensington Art wear oval brooch- I see these described as Ruskin?. Sadly cracked :-(.
White metal panel type necklace- Looks old but ??.

Beautiful sterling shell brooch

Unusual square earrings. Square crystal clear bead necklace.

Rather flamboyant costume brooches!

scrap 18ct/plat ring with nice sapphires and blue sapphire odd earring.

odd stamp on silver bangle- any ideas

Thanks for looking

 

Yup, Ruskin cabochon. Those glass beads with the metal links are all 1930s Czech by the look of them. Bangle stamp is Arabic I think. Engraved necklace is Victorian, gorget style, probably silver.

 

Both the fern and the abalone brooch are New Zealand.Which means the abalone is paua.
Mealtime now, will take a look at the others later.

 

Just googled Paua, I've not heard of it before. I normally find the Abalone type jewellery a bit meh,but this one is beautifully done.

 

Being really thick here. Is Ruskin a description of the type of enamel or a trade/business name?. I see lots if items described as Ruskin but no definition of what it means.......

 

Ah, try Ruskin Pottery. Arts and Crafts era potters who did wonderful glazes. Their output included little cabochons, used on jewellery and things like pewter and copper items.

 

That is because paua has very vibrant colours, and this is cut and polished in such a way that you get that layered and peacock feathery effect. I have a little NZ fern brooch like that, it is mesmerizing.

 

The engraved sterling earrings(?) with the small onyx cabochons are likely to be from the US Southwest. I think the sterling earrings with the sun/star symbol inlay are as well.
The multi-colour glass and faux pearl inlay flamboyant costume brooches look Czech to me. Inspired by Austro-Hungarian Revival jewellery, but of a later period.