Blog News

The first Industrial Revolution (c.1760-c.1840) ushered in a new way to create items and changed societies forever. No longer relying on everything made from hand, factories began to produce mass quantities of goods at rapid rates. New social and economic conditions emerged, including increased middle-class families in Europe and America. The California Gold Rush (1848-1855) and the success of the railroad system created new opportunities that permanently impacted various industries, including expansion in the jewelry market.  (Claude Monet's 'Gare Saint-Lazare' Landscape Portrait  Inspired By The Industrial Revolution, 1877) The Industrial Age paved the way for various accessory trends to become more accessible to...

 The interior of the Crystal Palace in London during the Great Exhibition of 1851. McNeven, J., The Foreign Department, viewed towards the transept, colored lithograph, 1851, Ackermann (printer), V&A. The interior of the Crystal Palace in London during the Great Exhibition of 1851. Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum Collection. https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O85649/print-the-foreign-department-viewed-towards/the-foreign-department-viewed-towards-print-mcneven-j/ During the Victorian era, there were many innovative changes in the industry and the arts. Under Queen Victoria's reign (1837-1901), Britain staged the first International Exposition of Arts and Industry in 1851. The exposition provided a spacious arena for different nations to showcase their newest creative arts and industrial inventions. Prizes were...

  The art of creating beaded jewelry can be traced to prehistoric times. 'Paleolithic Age' or 'Old Stone Age' beaded jewelry crafted with great detail and skill was commonly created by many cultures with organic materials. The natural and locally sourced materials used to make artisan beaded jewelry often took time and considerable detail by hand. These fantastic pieces of prehistoric history can tell us a lot about the tribes and cultures who created them. How the beaded jewelry was crafted can contain key clues that are important when analyzing the abilities and talents of prehistoric tribes.   (Bradshaw Rock...

  Although the tradition of wearing 'mourning' jewelry dates to least the memento mori accessories of the Middle Ages, the period most associated with the aesthetic is the Grand Era (c.1861-c.1881) of Queen Victoria's reign (c.1837-1901). The Grand Era began when Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, died of typhoid fever. She went into deep mourning and wore long black crepe dresses and mostly black mourning jewelry for the remainder of her life. Queen Victoria was an admired iconic figure, and her style choices influenced a fashionable jewelry trend. Mourning jewelry emphasized sentimental mementos that memorialized departed loved ones. Natural minerals such as...

Antique jewelry courtesy of the Zanathia Jewelry Collection The historical significance and events connected with antique jewelry are critical to its preservation value. While analyzing the intriguing jewelry trends of the 19th century, the craftsmanship and intricate details are unparalleled and of high quality. The era was also a time of fascinating events and innovative ideas. Historically, preserving these collectibles is essential and pertinent because the jewelry is at least a century old, and many original pieces are becoming increasingly rare. Many authentic antique jewelry collectibles were not correctly preserved, destroyed with time, or damaged. These jewelry collectibles tell diverse stories and are...