Assorted Jewelry
Cufflinks first appeared in the 1600’s, but did not become common until the end of the 18th century. Cufflinks replaced the ribbons or ties that were first used to hold men’s shirt cuffs together. Based on some photos I’ve found online, as well as a pair of flat buttons that I found nearby, I believe this pair date to the mid- to late-1700’s. I think it’s safe to assume that these silver ones were worn by an affluent person. Despite continued searching, I was unable to find the matching pair.
I found this Mickey and Minnie Mouse pin set a couple of years ago. They were within a couple feet of each other. After a little bit of cleaning, I went online and researched the history and found a few interesting facts. These were made in the early 1930’s and there was a short chain that connected them. They would have originally been enameled, with red and black outfits, and traces still remain of these colors. But the most interesting fact I found about Mickey and Minnie Mouse history is that they primarily had tails during the earliest years, with very few modern versions sporting them.
For those who are Disney fans, Mickey and Minnie debuted in 1928, in the cartoon Steamboat Willie by Walt Disney, so these pins were made not many years after.
I found this Navajo Silver Turquoise Eagle necklace about three years ago, but only recently found a match online. The online listing had no information, making this very hard to date or describe. It could be ten years old, or a hundred years old. I have found a few other necklaces, but this one is my favorite.
One of my very first jewelry finds was this Trifari Dogwood Brooch. This brooch dates to the mid-1950’s. Trifari was founded in 1925 and began by creating jewelry for actors in Hollywood, which raised the profile of the brand. Trifari was known for its high quality and fashion forward costume jewelry designs. Highly respected, Trifari had a loyal client base from celebrities to the every day woman. Acquired by Liz Claiborne in 1975, and while LC does still put out Trifari jewelry today, it’s no longer a stand-alone brand, which makes the vintage jewelry all the more valuable.