A major figure in the British Arts & Crafts Movement, Joseph Hodel partnered with the Swiss metalworker Louis Weingartner in London. He was also joined the Bromsgrove Guild. Both men supplied the Guild with smaller scale metalwork. In 1908, Hodel left for Liverpool, teaching there until the 1920s. This piece, c. 1906, resides in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
This brooch comes with a fitted tortoiseshell comb and a brooch pin, so the wearer can choose which kind of jewelry she wants to wear. Signed C & AG. C. 1895. The ornament consists of diamonds, enamel, a moonstone, and a pearl.
In 1874, the father Carlo opened a retail shop, Carlo and Arthur Giuliano. By this time, Egyptian Revival jewelry had gone out of fashion. Renaissance was in. As the Giuilianos were a master artists, they didn’t copy designs. Instead, they interpreted French 17th Century enamelwork to suit late-19th century tastes.
This piece is selling at Sotheby’s for an estimated value of $15,000 to $20,000.
I just wanted it: a real Victorian 1840s, ivory, Peigne Josephine comb, in perfect condition. There was a reserve. I’m not sure what it was, but the bid below me was $589, and I won it for $650. That’s a big difference in the price between bids on ebay. I have a feeling the seller’s reserve was $650, and I met it. Here is my treasure.
Its maker, Frederick James Partridge (1877-1942) belonged to the arts and crafts organization, Guild of Handicraft, which operated in Birmingham. Its motto was “By Hammer and Hand.”
This hair pin depicts a serpent made of silver plique-à-jour enamel and opal. c. 1900. The silver ornament at its base unscrews, so it can be fitted properly in the hair. This piece has provenance in three books of the jewelry-history literature. The picture shows the front, the back, and the pin at actual size. It is priced in the $10,000+ range at the Tadema Gallery in London.
This beautiful 18K-gold, pearl, and lapis Victorian crown-shaped tiara on a tortoiseshell comb is a magnificent example of period artwork, c.1850. However, it is selling on Ruby Lane for $4850. There is the slightest of damage to the last tine on the right, but I don’t think it devalues the piece. But $4850? I guess it’s a Sotheby’s price. The enamel comb I showed a few posts down sold at Sotheby’s for 9375 GBP. Good luck to the dealer. It is beautiful.
A revival tiara with three enamel portraits of 15th-century women, hinged to a faux tortoiseshell comb sold for $496 on July 1. The portraits were framed in silver in the middle of a highly ornamented silver tiara with paste red and blue stones. It was a beautiful Victorian Renaissance Revival piece, c. 1870.
There is also a 14K gold eagle, signed P Brandt, hinged to a three-pronged tortoiseshell hair pin in its original box.
On July 16, Sotheby’s is auctioning this jaw-dropping Victorian hair comb, c.1895. The top is hinged onto a tortoiseshell comb. In the center is an opal, surrounded by stylized roses and leaves in plique-à-jour polychrome enamel. It’s estimated value is 3,000 – 5,000 UKP. It sold for 9375 GBP.
Henry Wilson (1864-1934) made this crystal & chalcedony tiara with wings of gold on either side, and Cupid in the centre. The tiara is c.1908 and resides in the Victoria and Albert Museum. He was a leading figure in the British Arts and Crafts movement and was described as the “arch individualist.” His authored ‘Silver work & Jewellery,’ which was published in 1903.
Couldn’t resist. I had to sell a Dominick and Haff silver comb way back when, and I have always wanted another one. It has the marking D&H, I believe 61 is the model number, and then sterling. Condition: perfect. Price: $66.99! There is one selling on a retail site for $200. Yay. A bargain. :-)
In this set, there was also a knockout Edo comb, which went for only $55 because it was damaged. I wanted it, but I felt I had to be disciplined and only get things that were marked and in perfect condition because my funds are *cough* not endless. ;-) But this early 18th Century Japanese comb, with this level of art on it would have gone high. With the matching kogai stick, a signature, and everything in perfect condition, forget it.
This beautiful shell comb with two flowers was part of a set of two, which sold for $227.
French Empire diadem on the traditional brass comb. There are some teeth missing, but 3 galleries of cut brass decorations surrounding two rows of coral beads make this a magnificent piece. It sold for $529.50 on March 3. Myrnatoo bought it. It is attached to two sets of metal combs bent inwards, so it can be truly worn as a tiara. Gorgeous.
This Japanese early Meiji ivory set with gold makie birds flying in the trees has its matching kogai stick. It’s everything a collector wants: signed, perfect condition, rare material, exceptional artistry, age. The dealer wants $1600 for it. My offer of $1000 was turned down. It’s too expensive in my view, but this would be a first-class addition to any collection.
This beautiful Spanish mantilla-style comb is made of blonde tortoiseshell, and came from the Norma Hague collection. It sold for only $99. Great bargain! Beautiful, original decorative design.
And last is this c. 1910 art nouveau horn comb with two 14K gold birds meeting on top, for which the dealer wants $800, but has not accepted the one offer that was made.
