Antique and Vintage Jewelry - What I look for (post 3)

Antique and Vintage Jewelry - What I look for (post 3)


#7435. fish stick pin.   Demantoid garnets and enamel on gold with ruby eye.

People often ask me what I look for when I buy antique or vintage jewelry.
I'm afraid to say that in many ways I am not a good businesswoman. Like for most people, for me antique and
vintage jewelry is largely an emotional decision.

#6341. Carlo Giuliano earrings and pendant.  


If I don't find an item exciting, I will not buy it. "But you can make money from it," is the retort of those wiser than
myself. No use. If it doesn’t excite me, how can I expect it to excite you, my discerning customer?

I spend a lot of time preparing items for sale, taking photos, researching them, writing descriptions and simply owning
them until they go to their new home. That is a great responsibility and a lot of work. So, why would I want anything
less than fabulous?

#6313 Plique a jour brooch.   


It doesn't matter what it is, what era it comes from, whether it’s large or small or even whether it’s a moderately
priced jewel or one that costs a king’s ransom - a fabulous antique or piece of jewelry excites my mind.
When that happens, I'm off, regardless of logic and common sense.

You might ask: what is exciting to you? Firstly, there is the overall aesthetic appeal of the item. Does it immediately grab
the eye? Is it beautiful? Then, upon closer inspection, what can I see about the workmanship? Thinking about it, is this a
good design? When was it made? How did the craftsman show how much he cared and show off his talents? Is there a historic or
social appeal to this item? Is it something rare? Tick, tick, tick. If most of the above boxes are checked off, it's worthy of
further consideration.

    #6577 Dumont Earrings. 


Recently, I've tried to restrict myself to fewer categories instead of spreading myself too thinly over every area.
But, when my imagination is fired up by something special, logic plays no part in my decisions.
As you can see, I've chosen some of the more moderately priced examples from my collection, including one with some damage. This is to prove that art, beauty and aesthetics don't lie purely with high monetary value.

Maybe I find one item, maybe none, and maybe a whole lot of pieces becomes mine in one day. The one common
denominator is that they are not only handpicked, but they leave me singing all the way home.

#7418 micro mosaic dogs.    

Questions and comments: Please email antiques@brendaginsberg.com
Find jewelry on www.brendaginsberg.com
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