Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Collect Beautiful Vintage Antique Jewelry

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By Mattie Knight


United States Government standards define antique as any valuable collectible that is at least one hundred years old. Therefore, the term antique has a clear meaning. In recent years the term vintage has become popularized. Not all resources agree on the exact definition of vintage, but in terms of jewelry it usually means a piece that is at least fifty years old, but less than one hundred years old. From a purely correct point of view, the terms are mutually exclusive. Many aficionados just love the beauty of vintage antique jewelry.

The two most recently produced classifications are Art Deco and Retro. Art Deco, circa 1915 to 1935 used a silver backdrop for setting stones. The geometric designs featured less colorful stones such as diamonds. The next category, Retro was made from 1945 to 1960. The designs are bolder and less delicate. You may notice the ten year gap between the two categories. Perhaps production slowed as the world focused on the events of World War II.

A vintage piece produced in 1920 will become an antique with the passing of a few years. There are collectors who buy vintage because of an appreciation of the design. Other collectors are making a smart investment. They know the investment will appreciate with time, and continue to appreciate in the future.

Antiques span a much broader period of time and include seven categories. The oldest category, the Georgian, includes jewelry made from 1717 to 1837, and used precious metals and stones. During this time jewelry was still made by hand. This feature makes the works even more valuable, as no two are exactly the same.

The Victorian era has three categories. The first, Early Victorian Romantic was produced from 1837 to 1855. These works display gold etching and used precious stones. Historically the era began with the reign of Queen Victoria, who died in 1901. Middle Victorian Grand showed bolder designs and used large stones. Produced from 1856 to 1880, these works are not as colorful as their predecessors. The Late Victorian Aesthetic works, 1885 to 1900, were created in hat pins, pendants and brooches.

The next chronological category is called Arts and Crafts and was produced from 1894 to 1923, As the name would suggest, these works were made by hand. The simpler designs often used uncut, colorful stones. Some historians see this handmade category as a sociological commentary on the industrial revolution. The Edwardian pieces were produced from 1901 to 1915. This continued the overlap of time periods in the design categories. Diamonds, emeralds and rubies made these designs colorful and lavish.

The next category, Art Nouveau, produced from 1895 to 1915 had simpler designs much less ornate then its predecessors. European and American designs merged which perhaps reflects the history of this era. Art Nouveau paved the way for Art Deco. The untrained eye may confuse the two categories.

To see these pieces for yourself it the best way to really appreciate their beauty. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but seeing the works in person is even better. Often pieces can be found at Estate sales and museums.




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