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Inside the Jewelry Box,
A collector’s Guide to
Costume Jewelry, Identification and Values
by Ann Mitchell Pitman Ann has explored the work by several designers and jewelry manufacturers. She introduces you to a diversity of designer and manufacturer in the first few chapters, and as you look through each collection, you begin to see the designer’s style and choices of subject. Highlighted are Les Bernard, Mazer Brothers, Calvaire, Claudette, House of de Lillo, Hattie Carnegie, Nettie Rosenstein, Juliana, Bogoff, Hobe,’ Volupte and Florenciz. Each grouping of jewelry is unique from the others. A discussion follows with examples as to what defines the quality of costume jewelry and the pricing. The jewelry types are divided up into subjects; fruit & vegetables; Bakelite, Lucite & other plastics; parures & demi-parures; necklaces; bracelets; brooches & pins; earrings, pebble jewelry and contemporary jewelry. I did not have a clue what parure meant, so I checked the dictionary…not! Next I “googled” it and found “parure” means an ornament, and more specifically, an incidental adornment, if you please. Demi-parures means a matching set, usually a necklace, earrings and a pin. These are fancy words for some types of vintage jewelry. Each category of jewelry has several examples, and I can remember owning some of them or my mother having them at one time. Who knows where they went. I felt like I was going down memory lane looking at all the costume jewelry. Some of my grade school teachers work jewelry that looks like some of the very collectible in within these pages. The flamingo brooches are my favorites, two pages delightful brooch designs with flamingos in various settings. Living in Florida has brought flamingos to the forefront of my imagination. Ann includes information about fakes & reproductions, care & repair, and selling your jewelry for those interested. You will find a whole collection of vintage ads from the past to look through and feel the waves of nostalgia approaching. There is a listing of internet websites where you can purchase, search for more information and look at additional vintage costume jewelry for identification. I f you are a costume jewelry collector or just enjoy costume jewelry, you will find Inside the Jewelry Box of value. Review by Lydia F Borin |
