Antiques

Georgia Caraway

Even though we have temporarily closed down Howe Mercantile for customer and dealer safety, some of the dealers are taking advantage of this “down time” to load up their booths with new merchandise. And we are disinfecting surfaces and clearing off the Pavillion behind the shop in anticipation of future bookings for weddings.

There are some jewelry manufacturers that everyone should recognize whether you are a collector or are lucky enough to inherit some of the family jewelry.

Boucher. This jewelry promises to be imaginative, and of high quality, usually with rhinestones and emerald, ruby or sapphire pastes. Designs are insects, flowers, leaves and other 3-dimensional designs. Pieces are marked MB or Boucher.

Chanel. Best known for Maltese-cross brooches set with large faux emeralds and ruby cabochons, and ropes of simulated Baroque pearls and gold-tone chains. Chanel was expensive when it was first introduced and still is. Pieces from the 1970s are signed and sometimes dated.

Ciner. High quality rhinestones, turquoise, pearls and small colored stones combined with superior gold-plating. Beautiful designs. The company is still in business. Marked with Ciner logo.

Coro. Early pieces of figurals with a clear Lucite central stone, known as “jelly bellies” are most collectible. Forties vermeil pieces, such as animal and flower brooches; retro bracelets and cuffs; and double clips called Coro Duettes which can be worn together or separately, are also highly sought. Look for marks: Coro, Coro Craft, Coro Duette, and Vendome.

Eisenberg. Elegantly designed brooches and clips made of Austrian rhinestones of exceptional brilliance. The markings to look for: Eisenberg Original, Eisenberg Ice and the letter “E.” Some Eisenberg is not marked.

Miriam Haskell. Handcrafted pieces featuring clusters of baroque and seed pearls, rose-montee rhinestones in floral or abstract designs, and filigree gold-tone metalwork. Haskell is still produced. Some is marked with her name, but much is unsigned.

Hobe. Made of faux stones and semiprecious stones, such as turquoise, jade and agate. Romantic brooches and pieces in the Victorian and Byzantine style. Usually signed in a triangle or oval.

Schiaparelli. Surrealist art inspired these fanciful designs. Uses a variety of colored stones and pearls, pastes, glass leaves and shells. Early pieces are unsigned; later ones bear the Elsa Schiaparelli signature. Fakes, with the name misspelled, are abundant.

Trifari. Produced a broad range of jewelry at all price levels, including rhinestone pieces, vermeil brooches, jelly-belly animals (using Lucite or faux moonstones for the center) and enamel flower brooches. Trifari used many trademarks, including T, TKF, Trifari, and Jewels by Trifari.

You may find a treasure trove of costume jewelry in Mom’s or Grandma’s or Auntie’s jewelry box and they probably thought of it as “junk jewelry.” Also look for damage, replaced or missing stones, repairs or worn plating. Invest in a jewelry loupe and look for those signatures.

Georgia Caraway and her partners at Howe Mercantile hope you will come by 107-109 East Haning to shop and visit. Three new dealers joined the Mercantile. Come see their new offerings. SHOP LOCAL. WE CAN SHOW YOU HOWE.