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| I imagine if you are reading this, you too, remember your first introduction to vintage jewelry. |
| In 2008, when I attended The Antique Jewelry and Art Conference, better known as "Jewelry Camp" in New York, I began to ask my colleagues how and when they discovered their love of jewelry. Each one inevitably had an interesting story of a pivotal moment that sparked their interest, usually involving older relative or friend gifting a beautiful piece of jewelry to them. Here is mine: |
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| The treasure hunt is on.. |
| When I was a child growing up in New Jersey, the town held an annual "garbage week" sometime in the spring. This was the perfect excuse for families to clean and dispose of any large, unwanted stuff on the curb. My sister and I would troll the streets digging for interesting objects. I will never forget my first (of many) important finds. We came upon a bunch of discarded vintage purses. Too bad I knew nothing of purses then, but I was savvy enough to dig through them for change. That is when I found it; a sterling and glass ring! I have kept it all of these years because it is a reminder of that special day when I was convinced I had found the Hope Diamond in the trash! |
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| It runs in the family.. |
| Since about 1920, my paternal grandfather, Frank Pinto, followed by my father, Richard Pinto, ran a furrier in Manhattan. Kahn & Pinto purchased many of their rhinestone belts and buckles in the 1960's from none other than DeLizza & Elster! As I child, my sisters and I would play dress-up with them. I still have a few precious belt and buckles, which I treasure! Sadly, my father tells me, they threw boxed of these wonderful pieces out in the 70s after they had gone out of style! |
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| Grandma's gift of glam.. |
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In addition, my paternal grandmother, Julia Pinto (or Nanny Judy to us kids), regularly opened her jewelry box and offered me treasures from her vast collection of ornate costume and fine jewelry.
Here is a DeLizza & Elster "Juliana" demi-parure she gave me as a child. I wore it at my sweet 16 party.
Since "Juliana" jewelry is never signed, I wouldn't know what it was for another 20 years! |
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| You never know where treasure may turn up.. |
| By the 80s, the fur business had hit a rough patch and my father transitioned into the real estate business in New York.
I once went with him to check out an abandoned apartment he owned. It was a filthy place -- the resident had not paid rent in months, had been living in squalor and was eventually hauled off to a mental institution. The apartment was literally covered in stacks of newspapers interspersed with dog and cat excrement. However, as I was always on a treasure hunt,
I spied these two pieces on a bookshelf: |
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I never knew this woman, but felt compelled appreciate these pieces, since she would never again have the opportunity.
My introduction to classic Trifari pieces began with two of the finest costume pieces I own to this very day! These are a large "fruit salad" fur clip and bracelet designed by Alfred Philippe. Alfred Philippe had been lured away from Cartier and brought his incredible sense of beauty and design to Trifari in the 1930s.
Since then, I began buying, collecting and selling this amazing stuff. The more I learn about it, the more interested I become. Thanks for visiting my site and please check back often, as the hunt continues! |
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I am always buying!
Please contact me if you are selling individual pieces or an entire collection!
lynn@empirecityantiques.com |
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