Brass Cats
Picture two
small brass tripods, one placed upside down on the other. What you have is a
mid-18th century object called a “cat.” The purpose of the piece was to
stack and warm plates by the hearth, although they could also be used to
hold a lady’s sewing basket.
Occasionally,
they have been found made of mahogany, also - which doesn’t seem a very
practical material for something that was to be placed on the hearth.
If you read in
old books the phrase, “The cat is on the hearth,” it’s not referring to the
family pet, but rather this simple plate warmer.
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Christmas Tree Pins A Holiday Treat
When they’re decorating for Christmas, many women like to decorate
themselves, as well as their homes. One way to do so is to add a Christmas
pin to whatever is being worn, and this is the subject of the book by Nancy
Y. Trowbridge, Christmas Tree Pins.
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Here’s a Christmas tree pin made into a Santa. The
hat is red and white enamel with a jingle bell that dangles from the
top of the hat. |
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Over 1,100 different pins, all representing Christmas trees and made from
the mid-20th century to the present, were photographed for this 2002
publication of Schiffer Publishing.
The pins shown have been made in many different countries and of a variety
of materials. Many are decorated with colored rhinestones, which lend
themselves well as the ornaments of a Christmas tree. You’ll see pieces made
by some of the best known names in costume jewelry, such as Coro and
Eisenberg. Other Christmas tree pins were made for a wide range of
non-jewelry companies who commissioned specific pins, including Nordstrom,
Spode China, American Greeting Cards and Longaberger Baskets.
One section of the books is devoted to a different kind of Christmas tree -
the pear tree with the partridge in it. You’ll find several dozen versions
of this tree pictured.
A final section of the book is the special category of Christmas tree pins
made by flat stamped metal and enameled designs. These are fun to find and
wear, and many of them are available for under $10.
Christmas Tree Pins, by Nancy Trowbridge sells for $29.95. Check with your
local bookseller, contact Schiffer Publishing at 4880 Lower Valley Rd.,
Atglen, PA 19310, or order from the online catalog at
www.schifferbooks.com.
Donna Miller
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Costume Jewelry Beauties Colorful & Collectible
BOOK REVIEW
Signed Beauties of Costume Jewelry, Volume II, by Marcia “Sparkles” Brown,
has recently been released by Collector Books. In
Marcia’s first book, Unsigned Beauties of Costume Jewelry, she shared the
basics of collecting rhinestone and costume jewelry. The second book, Signed
Beauties of Costume Jewelry, told the company histories of some of the most
well-known members of the costume jewelry industry, along with examples of
the work of each.
 This Dogwood enamel brooch was
made by Sarah Ann Coventry. It has matching earrings. The set is
valued at $75. |
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This third book in the “Beauties” series brings to the collector the
histories and major characteristics, along with examples, of 24 lesser known
makers of costume jewelry. Some of these companies utilized less traditional
selling plans, including door-to-door sales and home-party plans. The
jewelry was easily affordable and I venture to guess that most women will
say, as I did, “I had one of those.” (And also, looking at current retail
values, will also say, “I wish I still had it.”) In
additional to traditional pieces, such as necklaces and brooches set with
rhinestones, there were also many figural pieces. For example, Mode-Art made
a yellow enamel turtle speckled with red dots. Avon made Christmas earrings
which were clumps of red holly beads dangling from green plastic leaves. BSK
made a series of figural pins from the musical My Fair Lady, including the
Professor’s gramophone; his top hat, cane and gloves; Eliza’s flower cart;
and her parasol. Capri made a pair of japanned poodles, one with red
rhinestones and one with black. This jewelry is a lot of fun! The
book includes excellent photographs by Kenneth Brown, with values included
in the captions, and a handy glossary of terms at the end of the book.
Any collector or dealer of costume jewelry will definitely want to add this
book to their library. And with Christmas coming, it would make a great gift
for any woman who just enjoys colorful costume jewelry.
Signed Beauties of Costume Jewelry, Volume II, by Marcia Brown, sells for
$24.95. Check with your local bookstore, write Collector Books at P.O. Box
3009, Paducah, KY 42002 or order on the web at
www.collectorbooks.com. Donna
Miller Return to Index |
