Henry Birks and Sons Silver, Jewelry and Design

March 5, 2010 Birks

The jewelry that was produced by Henry Birks and Sons has always been admired for its high quality and lavish luxury. The company’s designers never neglected the classical dazzle of the diamond for any other types of precious stones and made the brand renowned for its outstanding brilliant jewelry. The designs of the platinum, white and yellow gold diamond rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and pendants have always had a classical form with the gemstones being the centerpieces of each item focusing the attention on their perfection and unmistakable sparkle.

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The Victorian Era: Design, Art, Silver and Jewelry Part III

February 23, 2010 Victorian Period

The jewelry masterpieces of Giuliano were sold trough established companies at the time such as Hancocks and Phillips and were popular with aristocrats and even the Royal family. The Castellani jewelry designers produced remarkable works inspired by the ancient world in line with the aspirations of the Victorian Era. Famous artists of the Arts and Crafts Movement such as Charles Robert Ashbee with his fine silver designs and Nelson Dawson also produced fine Victorian jewelry.

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The Victorian Era: Design, Art, Silver and Jewelry Part II

February 22, 2010 Victorian Period

The art forms of the Victorian designs were curvilinear and sweeping with the ornamentation being an essential part of the works. The Rococo S curves and the more stylized Neo-Classical forms were masterly complemented to create a distinct decorative design. The ornamental motifs were stylized in accordance with the traditional Gothic forms, but were still inspired by the natural world and its forms with the plants and flowers being primarily depicted. Colors and their role in the design became significant in Victorian art.

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The Victorian Era: Design, Art, Silver and Jewelry Part I

February 22, 2010 Victorian Period

The Victorian era is given the general time frame of the 63-year reign of Queen Victoria in Britain from her coronation in June 1837 to her death in January 1901. The period is characterized by a remarkable social and political change that was accordingly reflected in the art forms and types as well.

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What is a Hallmark on Silver?

January 31, 2010 Hall Marks and Maker Marks

When buying an antique piece of silver or when discovering one to be stuck in the closet of your own home, you can find or guess more about it by considering the hallmark. It can help you authenticate and identify your item. The hallmark is a mark struck or impressed on silver which indicates the precious metal’s karat and fineness.

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Georg Jensen Silver, Jewelry and Design

September 15, 2009 Danish Silver

The jewelry made by the company was also primarily designed by Jensen himself although the other designers contributed to the creative process. The founder of the company worked mainly with silver in the beginning of his jewelry making career, although he later presented remarkable gold, white gold and platinum pieces as well. The designs of the necklaces, earrings, bracelets, pendants and brooches were also inspired by the natural world. The gentle and exquisite floral and leaf and simplistic beautifully curved organic forms …

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Magnifying Glasses and Jeweler’s Loupes

September 15, 2009 Tools to Help You Identify Antiques

Very often it’s in the very fine details where you discover whether or not your find is an antique treasure or a modern reproduction. Hallmarks and makers marks are often worn or quite small on fine, delicate pieces of silver, pottery or jewelry. This is when a good magnifying glass or, most often even better, a quality jeweler’s loupe …

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Silver Salt Cellars Part I

September 14, 2009 Silver Salt Cellars

To him who loves to quicken the dry bones of collecting into something pulsating with life, the salt cellar provides a delight which is not easily equaled. It was an honoured guest at every feast. It was the social thermometer which marked the exact degree of rank of the sitters. Persons of distinction sat above the salt, and between it and the head of the table.

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Enseignes

September 13, 2009 Enseigne

At that time a sort of small gold medal was fashionable upon which it was customary for noblemen and gentlemen to cause to be engraved certain devices and fancies of their own, and they commonly wore them upon their caps. I made several things of this sort, but found such works very difficult : the celebrated artist Caradosso would not take less than a hundred crowns for one of them, because they contained numerous figures.

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London Silver HallMarks – The Leopard’s Head

September 12, 2009 English Silver

This mark used to be called sometimes the Liberdes Hede, sometimes the Liberd Heed, and sometimes the Catte’s Face. The stamp itself was known as the punson, and it was most zealously guarded.

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