Tuesday, June 30, 2009

St Bernard to the Rescue!

I always love jewelry with surprises or unusual features. This cute St Bernard puppy from Napier claims to arrive with an emergency dollar to rescue you from any unpleasant situation. (ed: I wonder if it really did come with a dollar inside?) From a department store newspaper ad in December 1942. (click pic to enlarge)





Saturday, June 27, 2009

Rings or Earring? Can you tell?

Napier's clipless earrings seen in a newspaper ad from 1965. If you found these in a jewelry lot, would you think that they were earrings? Not me, I'd probably assume they were rings!

(click pic to enlarge)

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Ivory from West Germany - 1968

A combination I hadn't seen before, Ivory jewelry from West Germany. Newspaper ad from 1968
(click pic to enlarge)

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Jewelry Deception in Washingon D.C.?

Seen in a gossip column from an April 1890 newspaper, discussing Washington DC society...

"I have heard of women hiring jewelry, but I do not believe this prevails to any great extent here. There is an immense deal of shoddy worn, and half the brilliants you see at a White House reception are rhinestones. The stones worn by Senator's wives and millionaires' daughters are supposed to be pure, but who can tell? The fact that they wear them would, if they were paste, make them pass current, and the better class of imitation stones are so fine that it is now impossible for any but a dealer to detect the false from the true"

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Joe Namath Punts a Poisonous Pin!

More on the saga of the poisonous pins! One newspaper story reported that television actress Kay Stevens had two of the poisonous pins in her possession along with a gold identification bracelet inscribed to "Broadway Joe", intended as a gift for Joe Namath. While staying in a hotel, those items along with an estimated $40,000 worth of jewelry was stolen from Miss Stevens room. The article describes that Miss Stevens was aware that the pins had been recalled, so I wonder why was she keeping them? Did she have plans for those poisonous pins? LOL!

I had to smile at another article which reported that an 10 year old girl had bought one of the pins for her mother. The mother's comment.. "I don't know what she will get me for Christmas now?" Soooo.. your young daughter has been walking around with poisonous jewelry and your concern is what you are going to get from her for Christmas? LOL!

By 5 days after the recall notice from Sears, the FDA reported that all but 252 of about 19,000 pins had been recovered or accounted for throughout the nation. Most of the pins, about 15,000 were initially in the possession of Sears, but 4,500 were in the hands of 33 other distributors around the country.

Here's a bit more specific info about the pins. The beans are shiny and egg shaped and are red or orange with black tips. The pins were from 1" to 2" across. They were imported from Japan by Alster Importing Company in New York. Apparently not all of the pins made had the poisonous beand. Each box of pins had 48 pins, with 12 in each box having the poisonous beans.

Shown below is a sample of the recall notice that was placed in
newsapers and another pic included in one of the news stories. (click to enlarge)

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Poisonous Pins - the case of the deadly decorations

In 1968 Sears inadvertently sold pins that were decorated with deadly beans. The pins, imported from Japan, were discovered to be decorated with highly poisonous jequirity beans. The fact that the beans were poisonous was brought to Sear's attention when a man who worked for the Agriculture Department in Maryland, was shopping at Sears and noticed the beans.

Sears immediately issued an urgent recall for an estimated 300 to 400 pins sold nationwide in their stores.

There were two designs to the pins, one with a face, with the beans used as eyes, and one with a flower with the beans used in the center.

(click pic to enlarge)

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Coro Jewelry for Teens - 1965 - "47 West"

In 1965, the Broadway department stores in Los Angeles unveiled a jewelry line created by Coro at the request of the store chain, designed to appeal to teens. The line was part of the "Hi-Deb" department at the stores and the jewelry line was named "47 West". In a press release announcing the new line of jewelry, the Broadway noted that the designs were two years in the making.

The article describes some of the lines included as:

  • Greco-Roman design rings, 3 inch key pins and chain pendants
  • An outsized wine keeper's key and chain that can be worn as a necklace or belt
  • A-line animal pins with satin-toned pewter and brass finishes with a futuristic look (ed: what the heck is an "A-line" pin?)
  • Kilt pins with enameled emblems
  • Stamps with authentic old hand cancelled stamps that have been shellacked
  • Makeup mirrors made to be worn like monacles
  • Key chains with cigarette lighters that work
  • Zodiac designs

I was able to find one ad with some of the designs included. (click pic to enlarge)



Thursday, June 11, 2009

Everyday Manners for American Boys and Girls - 1922

Advice on the wearing of jewelry found in a guide to everyday manners, written by teachers for high school students in 1922......I wonder what those teachers would think of what kids wear in school today? LOL!

"Jewelry as a rule should not be worn by young people; the excessive use of it is in very bad taste. A school ring and at the most one other ring are sufficient adornment for a girl. Necklaces are apt to be a nuisance. Earrings and fancy combs are in bad taste and tend to make the wearer look tawdry"

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Trifari Perfume Charm Bracelet - 1958

Thanks to our favorite intrepid reporter for finding this cool ad from 1958 for Trifari's perfume called TriƩge that can be clipped onto a charm bracelet! (click pic to view full size)

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Lisner Black Beauty

From a 1948 ad - Lisner's Black Beauty- sparkling jet black beads. (click pic to enlarge)


Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Trifari Enamel Flowers - 1939

As seen in a newspaper ad in 1939. Trifari enamel flowers. The ad notes that designs are available in colored coral, cyclamen, baby blue or butter-cup enamel with hand-set stones (click pic to enlarge)