Jewellery book for Charles Horner by Tom J Lawson

The jewellery book that I use often is the Charles Horner of Halifax by Tom J Lawson. A celebration of his life and work. Not only does it have information on Charles Horner jewellery but also the hat pins, thimbles, silver jewellery and other items produced by the factory once found in the UK.

Charles Horner started his first family business as a watchmaker in about 1857 and the factory in Halifax closed its doors in 1984. This book was produced in 2002 and now rare is well worth its value for the information it contains. It is well written and contains original designs and letters from the Horner family as well as the designers that worked for the company over the years. It uses a wide range of sources to authenticate the items. Using trade magazines and cards and a huge collection of different silver and costume jewellery, hat pins, thimbles, boxes, photographs, ornaments, wicker ware, brass, Riplak ware (coloured metal) and silver trinkets to illustrate.

Many of the vintage jewellery items were so familiar and a delight for me to have the original source verified. Especially as very few items were signed. Silver is the exception and is fully hall marked or marked CH if under the required weight for marking.
This company actually produced beads, brooches, brush handles, buckles, buttons, cameos, candlesticks, chess sets, cigarette boxes and lighters, combs, crochet hooks, dress ornaments, dressing table ware, fruit boxes, hair slides, handles for knives and button hooks, manicure sets, needle cases, novelties, parasol handles, pens, shoe horns, small boxes in mock tortoiseshell and thimbles to name just a small section of their products.

   
Very few books have been produced that looks specifically at a UK manufacturer of vintage jewellery. So when I hear of one I buy it straight away. In 2002 I missed this and it took 3 attempts for me to buy this. the first two times I purchased my money was returned as not in stock. The third time I managed to source and eventually brought this one from Belgium.   

Summer bead necklaces that do not date.

I am blogging today about summer bead necklaces that do not date. The one style that seems to be always fashionable is the long necklace of a single strand. These are so versatile and easy to throw on in the mornings when you are half asleep. Most do not have a clasp - an advantage if you are finding the small clasps manufactured today a bit fiddly and they do not move around and expose the clasp which is so annoying.

What sort of material is available in beads that are ideal for summer? Light weight plastic jewellery is so great if you do not want a long necklace that feels heavy in the heat of summer (that is if we in the UK ever get any heat!) Then bead necklaces of gemstones are also ideal. A bit heavier to wear. Cool to the touch and on the skin. These have added value with their supposed benefits.

But whether you choose plastic jewellery, glass, wood or shell. Bead necklaces either vintage, antique, pre owned or new will uplift any outfit each day. 

 You can of course layer bead necklaces wearing an assortment in different lengths or with a long necklace that is even versatile. You can knot the beads towards the end or wear one wrapped several times around your wrist.

Want an even more summer look then choose a shell or mother of pearl bead necklace. So many colours to choose from with white to abalone blue and green. Dyed shell has many colours and shapes now for matching with many outfits. So what bead necklace are you wearing today?

So English bone china brooches for an English summer

I love the beautiful English bone china brooches that were produced in the 1930s to the 1980s. Mainly in the potteries of Stoke On Trent in the UK where bone china English jewellery had the same hand crafted care as the fine bone china plates and cups. Some are signed and some are not.  Here are just a small selection that we have at the moment.

This Aynsley vintage viola brooch is edged in a gold paint and has the delicate flower captured just perfectly. Aynesley produced plenty of different designs in this oval shape. Some are from popular designs and some capture the English countryside of days gone by. 

Pretty pink rose lapel pin of bone china. The bone china was hand crafted and just captures the beauty of roses and other popular flowers.

Pale lavender coloured frilled vintage carnation brooch. A superb corsage to wear this summer. The bone china was first fashioned by hand and then hand painted, which makes them all unique.

Lapel pins are just so easy to wear and with the addition of vintage bone china are very unique. For Get Me Not flowers has the sentimental message ideal to give as a gift.

A few nibbles to this one by Dorothy Ann. Made in England around the 1950s.

Another small vintage lapel pin with flowers of a pink rose, white daffodil and blue yellow viola. they are just so English and still wearable today and great fun to collect. 

Showcasing Celtic jewellery this Bank Holiday weekend!

Well a promise of a sunny Bank Holiday may not be on the horizon. So we have decided to showcase Celtic jewellery today. We have both vintage Celtic jewellery and previously owned pieces. Shrouded in mystery and with a mythical history, the ancient and alluring designs used in Celtic designs have a haunting past as well as being beautiful to wear.

The swirling triskelion and loops on this pretty pair of Celtic earrings have a meaning that has been lost in time. As with most of the patterns used in Celtic ornaments and decoration.
The Celts were in Europe and the UK around the Iron Age and Medieval period.They had a pre Christian culture and spread across Europe trading weaponry and jewellery.

The Celts wore long cloaks and so pins were used to fasten them. This Celtic brooch in a penannular shape was popular. Of course the most popular piece of jewellery favored by them was the torc necklace which were often made in gold.

Above is a huge Celtic brooch from St Justin of Cornwall. The swirls are so typical of Celtic art work and have the haunting beauty as so does many and of course they are instantly recognized. St Justin's in Cornwall have just taken over the Miracle company in Birmingham on the retirement of the owner. So we wait to see what happens to the Miracle designs, who are also famous for their Celtic and other reproduction jewellery.

Another multi coloured Celtic brooch by Mizpah. Miracle have the designs in their ownership and I wonder if they were part of the Miracle companies package to St Justin.
 

Beautiful Honora Pearl necklace

Recently added is this beautiful Honora pearl necklace in rainbow coloured freshwater pearls. It is quality second hand jewellery that is still boxed and unused. Maybe it was given as a present and not a colour or length that the person receiving the gift liked or wore. Who knows! But Honora pearls are very collectible as well as very wearable. So this is one not to miss. They are usually sold via the television and online, as well as in the store situated in America.

This has pretty rainbow colours of pink, purple, light and dark green, blue, cream and orange. It is one that will brighten up an outfit even on a dark day.

This freshwater pearl necklace is signed with a removable plastic tag and comes complete with its original box and embroidered pocket bag. It is just one of the many freshwater and simulated pearl necklaces we have available.

Honora has been producing good quality jewelry in the US for around sixty years. In the last twenty years it has been producing beautiful cultured freshwater pearl jewellery in a wide range of colours. My mother (a mad QVC fan) has brought me two of their pearl necklaces in the past and they are ones that I wear often.

This cream pearl necklace is by Honora and will go with most outfits. I think this one is about 18 inches in length.

Then the most recent Christmas present from my mom was this very long peach and pink freshwater pearl necklace by Honora.

It is so versatile and all long necklaces are. I wrap it twice around my neck and leave it long. I haven't wrapped it around my wrist but there is no reason why not.

Sara heart tag on a gemstone necklace

Below is a very pretty Sara signed gemstone necklace a gemstone jewellery piece that we have at the moment. Sometimes we come across a piece of vintage jewellery or in this case previously owned that is signed and modern but we do not know who produced it. There is a clue on that it is signed with a small tag at the fastening.

This quality turquoise and silver coloured bead necklace has a distinctive metal tag. Its heart shaped with the name "Sara" on one side in small case lettering. This has real semi precious turquoise coloured gemstones and silver coloured beads with a central ornate heart charm. See below.

On the reverse of this heart tag it has three dashes that form a happy smiley face.

Would love to know a bit more about the company and designer jewellery. We do know that its not Sarah Coventry and have an inclination its from a clothing store in the UK that sells Sara jewellery and accessories. If you know, just leave a message on this page's comments please.

Collectible trinket boxes for you

Recently we have added vintage trinket boxes to our accessories collection. They are small ceramic trinket boxes that are ideal to hold small earrings and rings on your dressing table.

Like this one its small but has pretty decorations of blue tits and flowers.

It is signed and tried a quick research but there was so many marks on china and ceramics from so many different potteries that we gave up after a bit.

Another small box. can use this one as a pill box also. It has a pink rose motif on the lid. Have some more of these to add including soapstone ones.

If you have any information on the ceramic mark, would love to know and details.