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Cin - Marcasites - the real ones are iron pyrate but most newer ones are imitation - made of glass. There is no way to tell if something is plated or "real" gold unless the plating is coming off and you can see the base metal under it. You can either "test" it - with a test kit or take...

Just wanted to show a couple of non-vintage handbags with vintage pieces "pinned" on. The first is a Coro fur clip and the second is a Fischel-Nessler pin I showed earlier: (This is an old scan so the quality is terrible!) Here's another shot of the brooch: The pieces do...

Fascinating! Please give us a full report once you have seen the exhibit. Linn

Karin - You are correct that the dress clip you showed is Retro. Great earrings. I "think" they are '50's- from the design and the colors. The Pat. Pend. is for the clips. I just did a quick look and there was a patent in 1954 for an adjustable spring clip that was put on this finding...

Lovely, Karin - The larger one with the red stones is late '30's - very early '40's - Pre-WWII. It's Retro style rather than "Deco." (See Part IV.) The other two are earlier - probably early '30's - could be late '20's. Some of the fancy cuts like the triangular shape of the center...

Carrie - Please share photos from your "bag of tricks!" I'm off to an appointment but will post a bag or two with pins and fur clips attached when I return! Linn

Sorry not to comment on this piece, earlier, but I don't know much about this type of jewelry. I think 1960 is correct in terms of dating it but it could be Your pendant has classical elements as motifs - the shells and volutes and the urn or vase. The black material could be onyx - you...

Great bracelet! Some chrome pieces were not plated. Can you take a photo of it from the top showing the links? Linn

In Part II and Part III we discussed Art Deco which began in about 1910 and lasted until 1939. Fashions and jewelry styles change gradually over time. From the mid-1930’s, the flat two-dimensional and geometric (Deco) characteristics gradually moved toward three-dimensional and curved forms -...

Yippee - I just found a link to the exhibit in SF - next Spring! http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/chronstyle/detail?entry_id=61474 Linn

Brenda - Trifari marked "almost" all their jewelry but there are some pieces from the late '30's - early '40's that are not marked but are clearly Trifari. Your earrings are definitely Trifari. They are the only company that used those earring clips. Some Trifari, Eisenberg, Mazer and...

Terrific news! I hope to see it at the De Young. New York is just a little too far! Linn

Brenda - The earrings are from 1940 or possibly 1939. Is there a Trifari mark on them? I think I see a faint one but I could be imagining it! The design looked familiar so I looked up a fur clip I have and found the patent D. 122092 - granted in August 1940. Sometimes pieces were made...

Thanks, Mary Jane - I love that German set, too. I'm not 100% sure that it's Pre-WWII but I think it is. This is the back - really interesting construction! This is another piece that is German. This one is from the 1930's and is just marked 935: Julie - I'm not sure...

Hi Julie - No - the shoe buttons are not reall "shoe" buttons but a nickname for that design. Julie your dress clips all look "period" - C. 1930's. The one on the left looks like pot metal - it probably was a "pair" at one time. The one in the middle has brass findings that are stamped...

Happy to take a look, Brenda. Linn

The beginning of the 1930's was a time when most people were feeling the effects of the Great Depression. One of the most important pieces of jewelry in a woman's wardrobe in the 1930's was the Dress Clip. Worn singularly but more often in pairs, dress clips served to change the look of a...

Louise - It looke like it might be either plastic or bone. I'm not sure if it's from the '30's or possibly the '50's. You could try a hot water test to see if there is any odor which you will get if it's celluloid. Check this link to see if it's bone...

I agree with Nicole on the dating. It might be real "Persian Lamb" as we call it here - try to get an "inside" view." Very cute coat! Linn

Great job, Karin! It's always a treat to see and read about your dolls. Linn

Thank you so much! The set is in several books. It had a matching necklace and bracelet. I only found the bracelet - and I sold it several years ago. (I recognized it when I found it.) Many of the examples I am using in the Workshop are in my personal collection but some have gone to...

Glad you are enjoying the Workshop. It will run everyday this week. If you look at Today's Posts on the Forum, Part II was posted earlier today. Linn

Brenda - I see what you mean. Does the buckle pull away from the hinge by pulling the lever out from the hinge at one end? I think I see a little "thingy" to pull. Does it come out completely? It may be older. Carrie - hope someone knows the answer on your cameo. I will be out...

Carrie - The second pin is 2 5/8" x about 1/2". I am assuming that I have it dated correctly. I think it's a bar pin and would have been worn at the collar of a blouse or shirtwaist. A friend of mine gave it to me ages ago - when I still lived in Boston and had not started collecting...