Carolyn's Goodbye Party (June 2019)

In June, Carolyn had one last costume party at the beautiful Capitol Hill house they had been renting for the last few years. We were very sorry to see Carolyn go, it was so nice having her in DC!

I was going to be a little late to the party, so I wanted something quick and easy to change into and that I could drive in. The theme was “any costume.” I remembered I had a vintage 20s gown that I had bought and not had a chance to wear yet, and it turned out very very well. I was really happy with the fit of the dress (I had taken it in a bit) and it was so floaty and comfortable (nor did I feel like I was damaging it by wearing it). I accessorized it with Miss L Fire shoes, a hat from Etsy, and antique necklaces. Even better, the slip came with the gown, so I didn’t have to figure out making one.

The food was lovely too:







There was an ivy wall outside that was great for photos:







More below the cut!

Georgian Silver Brooch

I got this on Etsy - it wasn't super super expensive and I put it on a short layaway.

Georgian Silver Brooch Depicting Cherub And Dove, Set With Marcasite

Described as follows:

Lovely sterling silver brooch designed as a filigree pattern of scrolls and bow motif, and finely set with marcasite. A central oval panel is set with crystal and has a rose gold bevel patterned with a zig-zag design.
The panel is painted with a watercolour of a cherub holding a dove. At his feet in gold is a Roman Temple or a Roman Urn.
The back houses a brooch clip typical of the period, and a safety chain.

Marcasite stones are actually made from iron pyrite, a natural mineral which is a hard stable material with a bright metallic lustre that can't be scratched easily. Confusingly there is a mineral called marcasite, but this has a softer structure that cracks and crumbles easily when worked. Perhaps it is this because of this confusion marcasite jewellery is a bit of a mystery to some and finds itself sandwiched uncomfortably between costume jewellery and precious
jewellery.

Marcasites have been used for jewellery since the time of the ancient Greeks but gained a more common use in the Georgian period of the 18th century when cut steel and marcasite were used as a diamond substitutes. Marcasite was a much better alternative as it had a brighter lustre and didn't rust like cut steel and like diamonds twinkled beautifully in the soft glow of candlelight. 

The clasp looks original or near original - the safety chain I suspect is a later addition, maybe Victorian? Adding one doesn't really alter anything, and makes it safer to wear, so hey! 




And the seller's pics:

Georgian Ring

This little Georgian eternity band I bought right before my cat had a lot of $$$ vet bills. :-/  So my last splurge for a while!  Fortunately it actually wasn't super expensive - I think it was a good buy. I got it from nalfie/CJ Antiques LTD. It's 9K gold, silver-foil-backed paste, circa 1800. 

Pics credit: nalfie/CJ Antiques LTD.

I love the Georgian settings, they're so pretty!

Georgian Ring

I got this last year from nalfie/CJ Antiques Ltd - it's an early English 15k gold right with silver-foil backed paste stones, circa 1770/80. This was my Christmas present to myself last year!

Pics credited nalfie/CJ Antiques Lt:

Two vintage buckles

A couple pieces I got ages ago - two very different looking vintage buckles. I believe both were ebay purchases, neither expensive.

 

Mid-Victorian Jet Comb

I got this tiara a couple years ago on Ruby Lane - another one Kat found, so I credit her with this! It's a mid-Victorian french jet tiara.  Photos are credit "The Spanish Comb."

Cameos from over the years...

Here are a bunch of cameos I've picked up on ebay over the years.  Some cameo, some painted. None particularly expensive.

Georgian Cameo

One more piece I bought a while ago, again from nalfie/CJAntiquesLTD. The photos are theirs.

An antique solid 9 carat gold Georgian period brooch; set with a natural shell cameo, very finely hand carved to depict a goddess (Flora?), surrounded by lustrous split pearls and set with a glass locket compartment to the back holding an old hair memento.  All original and very, very good. Slightest signs of wear commensurate with age and use. Pendant fittings old additions. Around 1820. Not marked.

Star Brooch

I bought this from Nalfie/CJAntiquesLTD on ebay - so pretty! The pictures are theirs!

ANTIQUE ENGLISH LATE VICTORIAN SILVER FOILED PASTE STAR BROOCH or PENDANT c1880 An antique English, solid sterling silver star brooch or pendant, set with bright foiled clear pastes. All original and very good. Slight signs of wear commensurate with age and use. Pendant bail an old addition. A few pastes a little discoloured/some foil deterioration - see pictures. Around 1870/80.

Citrine earrings

These were a lucky find from <a href="http://www.cjantiquesltd.com/">http://www.cjantiquesltd.com/</a> (formerly nalfie.com)

"An antique English, pinchbeck-type gilt yellow metal pair of drop earrings; set with faceted golden natural citrine drops." They are dated "Early /mid 19th Century"

 

Here are their photos:

 

Georgian ring

While I'm updating on jewelry acquisitions from the last 6 months - here is my birthday present, bought from nalfie.  It's English, 15k gold, tiny rose-cut diamonds, a faceted blue paste, and enamel, circa 1780.  One tiny diamond is missing, but I almost can't tell which,  and I love the little silver star settings. They thought the paste might be an early addition/replacement. And they dated it around 1780/1800. The pics are nalfie's.

Edwardian pendants

I snapped up these two little 9 ct Edwardian pendants from nalfie on ebay - got really lucky on the prices! They're really pretty!

1910s Enamel locket

I've seen lots of these pretty blue enamel lockets on Etsy and Ebay with various things on the front of them like bows and grape clusters. I found this pretty little one with a bird on it on Etsy - it was pretty deeply discounted because the enamel is damaged, but I think it's pretty anyway! The photos are by Vintage Paris on Etsy.

Regency Tiara

I bought a real antique regency era tiara on Ruby Lane from Faded French Grandeur on layaway.  I always wanted one and think I got this for a fair price! The pics are hers.  The item is described as "dating from the Charles X 1820 - 1830 period. The diadem has been adapted with the addition of the articulated comb, this is not unusual and I presume that it would have made it easier to use with the different hair styles of the period. It probably originally had a rigid metal comb. The piece is in very good condition save for some discolored coral beads and one missing larger coral bead at the top left hand side of the diadem at the extremity, please see last photo."

I wore it at the Jane Austen Ball at Gadsby's Tavern: