Hattie Carnegie Egyptian Revival Snake Necklace

I just love over-the-top jewelry. Early Trifari Alfred Philippe designs, Miriam Haskell jewelry, Eisenberg statement brooches, even Lea Stein's celluloid acetate pins. These are some of the best. BUT it is hard to surpass the Egyptian Revival Collection introduced by Hattie Carnegie in the early 1960s. These are hard to find and highly collectible. Bracelets and brooches with scarabs, earrings and rings with bright coral, lapis and turquoise colored enamels, and necklaces with that and a lot more. We have this outlandish snake necklace. What more can be said?

Hattie Carnegie Egyptian Revival Snake Necklace ($695)

Game Boards

Years ago one of the most popular card games was Tripoli (aka Michigan Rummy). While you could buy a game box with everything in it from the likes of Milton Bradley, the lucky ones among us had Dads that made the boards themselves. Susan's Dad, Mike, made a Tripoli game board from a plywood panel reclaimed from a used crate. It really is cool! And we still have it. Take a look.

Mike's hand made Tripoli game circa 1950s

Here at Vintages we have a small selection of game boards. Some are new, some handmade, others are reproductions. But all of them are great and they are our featured product for August. Note: These are not listed online, but if you contact us, we will send further information.

Handmade Folk Art Checker Board by Peg St. Pierre 1994 ($98)

Handmade Folk Art Parchessi Board by Peg St. Pierre 1994 ($98)

Reproduction Tic-Tac-Toe Board ($59.95)

Reproduction Parchessi Board ($59.95)

Reproduction Ring Toss Board ($59.95)

Handmade Chinese Checkers Game Board ($89)

Artist created Spinning Game Wheel ($295)

Carnelian & Peridot: August's Birthstones

Carnelian, the traditional and ancient birthstone for August, is a versatile stone, comfortable in antique settings and yet popular in modernist jewelry as well. It is a form of chalcedony, which is basically quartz. Colors range from orange to blood red, the latter being the most prized color.

In jewelry, carnelian is used as beads and cabochons, or carved into wonderful shapes, like scarabs, cameos and the like. I have seen larger pieces carved into small statues, trinket boxes and handles for elaborate tools. It has been prized and used since antiquity when it was sourced off the surfaces of the Egyptian and Arabian deserts.

Carnelian intaglio with a Ptolemaic queen holding a sceptre, decorated with gemstones in a gold frame (1st century BC)

Peridot is an under-rated gemstone. It can be a beautiful bright green gem when faceted or a luscious pale green when displayed as a cabochon. In the 1830's and 1840's peridot was a favored stone, but its popularity truly rose at the end of the 19th century during the aesthetic period of the Victorian era (1890-1901) and the reign of Edward VII of England (1901-1910). The stone is still popular today, as it is a fine "substitute" for emeralds in less costly jewelry, adds an excellent sparkle to jade pieces when such glitz is desired, and is just plain pretty on its own.

Peridot, seed pearl & amethyst pendant in Suffragette colors c1910

We have a nice selection of carnelian and peridot jewelry at Vintages, both online and in the shop. Here is a sampling of our available selection.

Modernist sterling and carnelian earrings ($75)

Modernist sterling, carnelian and lapis pendant ($65)

Victorian mourning watch fob locket onyx & carnelian in 10K gold ($195)

Three carnelian rings in different settings ($49 to $69 each)

Three peridot bracelets: Top to Bottom: Sterling ($135); Sterling ($85); 14K white gold ($585)

14K gold drop earrings with peridot and jade ($245)

Three peridot rings in various settings ($69 to $99 each)