Estate Jewelry and The Country

 Antique Cameos, J.E. Heaton Jewelers. Joyce always seems to have a good selection.

Outside the limits of New York city exists a world called the Hudson Valley, rolling farms, horses, artists, and the ever enduring river. About an hour and half from NYC, is Millbrook a sleepy little town with the cutest historic village and a relaxed way of life. It boasts "Horse country" estates, locals, and New Yorkers trying to escape into that slower pace.  This is where we find J. E. Heaton jewelers.

1940s Fur Clip, Earrings, and ring/ 14K and Citrine, rubies.

This woman owned business in the heart of the village, brings a refreshing mix of older, custom, as well as new fine quality pieces.  Joyce is descended from store owners in a way, ( she has an interesting historic image hanging up of the Heaton Shoes store circa 1900.  Her store has a boutique feel with a clean aesthetic and a quite well curated estate section. This section's focus seems to be that of the art deco period and the Victorian.

Victorian Gold examples from the shop, last image shows cuff links transformed into earrings.

She can often be caught wearing stunning Victorian gold pieces from her own collection.  She both finds and well as consigns these unique estate pieces from local families and other sources.

Group of three late Victorian bouquet diamond pins.

Her eye for quality pieces is obvious when looking at her vintage Taxco items, Victorian gold, Edwardian and art deco diamonds. She was even lucky enough to have sold many diamond pieces from the estate of a real Ziegfeld gal.

Bracelet, art deco 20s example from the private collection of a Ziegfeld Follies  girl's descendant.

It was her personal array of Victorian pieces she often modeled, that led me to ask where her love of estate and Victorian fine pieces came from? She wanted to answer that question in the form of a letter to her mother which paints a lovely and personal view concerning how her eye for the pieces was molded.

Dear Momma,

I am so thankful for everything you gave me, including your love of jewelry.

One of my earliest memories is of you getting dressed to go to a party. I climbed on top of the big bed and watched, fascinated by all the doings of adults. With your hair done up, and your makeup on, you carefully lifted an evening gown over your head, letting it fall gracefully. On went the heels. A final primping, and then a quick spritz of hair spray followed by perfume. Then it happened: THE drawer was opened. Out came a series of the most magnificent, shiny adornments I’d ever seen. One by one you put them in place and checked your reflection in the mirror, smiling softly as you looked at me watching you.

When I was eight, you gave me a real gold ring with a garnet. I loved the way it looked. I loved that it made me feel grown up. I took that ring off when I was carving my Halloween pumpkin that year and lost it among the orange innards, never to be found again. We looked for days and days.

When I was fifteen years old, you gave me an unusual ring from the safe. It had belonged to a long ago family member. It was a gold band with sections cut out of it, like a pie crust. Barely visible inside was woven hair. I’d never seen anything like it... I was intrigued by the use of hair as a remembrance of a loved one. Why did they do this? How did they do this?

When I was seventeen, you came home from the Pleasant Valley Auction Hall with a beautiful gold bracelet. It was made up of links that became a Chinese dragon, with a ruby in the eye. I was dazzled by the beauty and artistry of the piece. It was a moment when I knew we shared the same taste.

Christmas one year you gave me a Victorian love knot ring with a tiny turquoise stone in the center. I loved the intricate way the loops of gold fell over each other. Later that year, for my eighteenth birthday, you gave me a Victorian engagement ring. It had an unusually cut stone (which I now know was an old mine cut), held in place by regal looking prongs. Inside were the initials of my great-grandmother, Lavinia Ida Pray and her husband-to-be, Charles Duncan. I feel as though they are with me when I wear that ring.

Dearest Momma, is it any wonder I love what you loved? When I look at fine estate jewelry it takes me back to the joyful moments we shared. I only wish you were here now to see what your love has lead to...

Thank you.

Joyce from J.E. Heaton Jewelers, Inc.

Art Deco Diamond engagement ring, J.E. Heaton Jewelers. 

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One King's Lane and Sarara Vintage Jewelry!

We are pleased to announce our new space on One King's Lane, which went live today.  Their vintage market place is a fun spot to see treasures from various artists and shops.  Sarara Vintage Couture will be adding exclusive finds on One King's Lane often, as well as putting some of our shop picks on sale there.   Here are some fun photos taken for our bio page, which we may rotate now and then. It was a burst of colorful babbles in the office that day! Stop by and visit our marketplace for more.

All images rights reserved Sarara Vintage. Accessocraft, Vrba, Hobe, Art Deco pieces, Napier etc.

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Vintage Jewelry Update: Animal Magnetism, Bug jewelry,wolves, puma earrings and more

1920s-30s glass bugs, coming soon to both shops.

With Sarara Vintage etsy and now the new vintage jewelry site, our inventory is constantly being updated. The focus of the new website is to create the best selection of authentic vintage fashion jewelry online! The vintage jewelry collection includes estate pieces, antiques, couture, art deco, designer runway jewelry.  For me I wear jewelry to add a touch of personality, so the jewelry has to command attention and be fashion savvy for the modern gal.  I like to think about the customer, who is she, a collector or wearer or both? 

The Sarara dame owns vintage because she likes to think a bit about her style. She is a trend setter. Vintage reminds her who she is and what she loves. She enjoys fashion history and making an entrance, she's no wall flower. It’s important for her to add individuality to her wardrobe and fuel her passion for life.

I hope that the store's inventory makes you smile and think about how you can enjoy your own style and wardrobe using vintage!  While we carry clothing on both etsy and the sararacouture site, it has to be special or relevant. After all, "clothing is just an accessory".  Jewelry rocks, it is fun, and should be a way let your creativity flow. You can take a piece off or add it at any moment. So enjoy our whimsical counterparts featured below. They're a selection with of a bit of animal/insect magnitism:

          1970s Large Enamel Egyptian Revival Necklace.

                                                

Donald Stannard, Wolf Torque Necklace.

Ciner puma earrings, circa 1970s.

Vendome glass scarab pin.

60s-70s Cadoro birds. 

Razza Lion Necklace.

Victorian carved horn bracelet.

20s Sterling Scarab ring.

Vintage Malcolm Starr, designed by Youssef Rizkallah Circus skirt. 

  

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Art Deco Flapper, Pierre Bex and a Pin

1919/1920 Fashion Photograph, unknown. 

1920's style Art Deco Pin, Sarara Vintage.

This is one of those strange coincidences, some would say synchronicity.  I recently ran across an amazing Art Deco pin with a wonderful era trumpet closure and enamel work. The tiny stone details are also stunning.  I was captivated by the blue and deco floral designs, so indicative of the era.

Admiring what you dig up is wonderful, in a sense you have saved a piece of fashion history. Letting it live on to go to another party, to be pinned on another hat or just see the light of day again. The truth is such historical pieces continue to live the most interesting lives. I just see them off on their way to Paris, Australia or New York City.....  However; this particular artifact of the deco era became even more alluring when I found the above 1919 fashion photograph.  I could not find the photographer or model's name, but I did notice that PIN!  If this is not the same maker/pin than it is very close and an interesting archive for this piece. If you count the dips in the rectangular bars hers also has 3 on each smaller side and 5 in the center.

Trumpet closure back view.

1920's style enamel deco pin straight front view. Sarara Vintage.

The flapper model wore this pin perfectly, dancing across her cloche, illustrating how chic it can be in use.  I was intrigued concerning the maker since its clear enamel covering seemed different. 

The clear enamel covering on these is a little thick so that is the first key to start thinking reproduction, Pierre Bex used this type of enamel, rhinestones, but this pin I believe has a kind of foil inside to give it a rhinestone look.

Pierre Bex, a french design company reproduced these pins in the 60s-80s and one or two other makers also did that from the 80s-90s.  With this in mind I contacted Pierre Bex for more information.  They have stated it is not one of theirs.  So, it is probably an 80s remake by? This illustrates the importance of research and knowing that Pierre Bex used original mold to reproduce these pins. If someone who has less experience see a Bex pin they may think it is circa 1920s!  His pins are collectible due to their quality and the fact they used the originals.  

This is their description via their website-Pierre Bex

All PIERRE BEX items were made in France from 1969 until the end of the 80'.  Each piece is handmade in France from original stampings, the jewellery is then silverplated with an antic finish, nickel free warranty, and is then enamelled and set with crystal rhinestones.

Now the silver lining is that his pins are very collectible and you may contact or look over their website if you have a similar model!

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