GI reat colors, shows very well, unmarked. again. Again I cannot imagine someone not wanting to take credit, seems so odd to me. Regards V76 and thank you for looking!
That is indeed a lovely set.
As for "taking credit," a great deal of costume jewelry was manufactured as "open lines," meaning it was wholesaled to department stores to be retailed under the store's house label. The "credit" would have been on a card or paper hangtag, or even on a store-branded gift box.
Additionally, even some design houses used cards or hangtags rather than signing the piece itself. I've had Weiss earrings on cards but otherwise unsigned, and D&E used only a paper hangtag to mark their Juliana line. So nothing the least bit odd about an unsigned beauty of this quality.
As for "taking credit," a great deal of costume jewelry was manufactured as "open lines," meaning it was wholesaled to department stores to be retailed under the store's house label. The "credit" would have been on a card or paper hangtag, or even on a store-branded gift box.
Additionally, even some design houses used cards or hangtags rather than signing the piece itself. I've had Weiss earrings on cards but otherwise unsigned, and D&E used only a paper hangtag to mark their Juliana line. So nothing the least bit odd about an unsigned beauty of this quality.
Blue is right. This set could have been made by any number of manufactures. I personally have not seen or been able to find any signed Karu Arke earrings that use the type of prongs seen on the large oval stones of this set. If it is a listing here on eBay you can post the number if it is somewhere else, just go to the page and then copy the http:/ address line and past it here.
So what are you seeing that is simular between your earrings and the ones in the listing you posted?
What construction elements are you seeing that are similar? I see that the colors are similar, but these color combinations are quit common. You stated that the prongs are similar. I pulled your second picture and isolated the picture of your earring. Take a look at the prongs that I have pointed out....
Now look at the prongs on the example you referenced. Also take a look at the type of clip used on the earrings, they are not the same at all.
When looking at construction details to be used to try and identify a specific unsigned item, all of these construction elements are important. You also mention the shape of the stones, but they don't match either. Which is why I asked what you were seeing that made you compare what you have to what you posted thinking they were similar.
Yes, I belive you are using the term "glass" correctly in both your piece and the Karu Arke set.
It all depends on what the person is looking for. Just like in clothing, there will always be the people that will ONLY wear name brand clothes. In the collecting jewelry world there are those that ONLY want identified pieces, whether identified by a signature, books or attributes. I think Blue explained very well how some of those pieces end up with signatures. I have found three exact same pieces, two carried totally different signatures and the third one wasn't signed at all. Personally, if a piece appeals to me, I don't care if it is signed or not. Have I hunted down a particular signed piece, yes I have, but I wanted the piece, not the signature.
V76, you might want to think about starting to build a set of reference books on costume jewelry. Good places to start are Collecting Costume Jewelry 101 by Julia Carroll, How to Be a Jewelry Detective by C. Jeanenne Bell, and Unsigned Beauties of Costume Jewelry by Marcia "Sparkles" Brown - there are also 2 companion volumes of Signed Beauties.
Yes, probably a good idea, I didn't really realize how many beautiful pieces are unmarked, this round of jewelry was an eye opener, easy to do the "easy" stuff, I wonder how much irreplaceable vintage jewelry has been discarded as old junk? Out of date, so useless? Makes me sad really, however THAT is exactly how I pick up entire jewelry boxes full of old, GREAT, stuff. I'm not just talking monetary, I really am enjoying looking at, and learning about so many pieces. Little works of art most, and while I do sell, I think I have saved many boxes from the bin, I have been at hundreds of tag sales where people go right to the new, discount store stuff, and walk right past an entire table of jewels, and anything I didn't bring enough $ to but it out completely, find those same items in the free pile the next day! I am having a great time with you folks, and appreciate all of the information, are you telling me it's time to jump out of the nest and fly? :smileywink: Best, V76
Well, the nest will still be here to return to, but sooner or later you'll want to perch on the edge and flap your wings. (I'd add a smiley but my phone won't do them.)
