The Silver Antiques Insider

The Scarab: A Beautiful Motif In Antique Jewelry

At Nelson and Nelson, we always offer a beautiful selection of antique and signed jewelry. One of the more interesting and historical design elements in our collection is the scarab.

 This exquisite 18 karat gold Roman Revival style brooch (circa 1880) is based on the designs of the renowned Castellani firm and features a gold pendant-style drop that secures a carved scarab stone. The box-formed base with circular forms on each end are embellished with frogs and the center of the pin is surmounted with a three-dimensional owl with spread wings and has the motto “SALVE” spelled out in wirework. For more information, click here. 

The scarab motif has been a popular component of jewelry and other human adornment for thousands of years. It originated in ancient Egypt, where representations of the Scarabaeus sacer, or dung beetle, represented the celestial cycle of transformation and rebirth. Scarabs carved of ivory, semi-precious and precious stones and gold were used not only as grave goods, but also as powerful amulets that were believed to ward off evil and bring the bearer good luck. As such, they were--and still are--important gifts for those close to us. If you are looking for a unique and meaningful piece of antique jewelry, consider one of the beautiful scarab adornments we have on offer. 

 

This unique antique American pendant in English Etruscan Revival design (circa 1870) has a figural carved garnet scarab with 15K gold legs, diamond eyes and an encrusted rose-cut diamond set on an oval, faceted rock crystal pedestal. For more information, click here. 

 

This beautiful antique faience scarab (circa 1860) features cushion-shaped emerald and ruby wings and old European-cut diamond accents on a silver-topped gold mount. For more information, click here. 

 

This fantastic Victorian brooch in the form of a winged scarab carved from a turquoise and grey-colored stone is set in 14K gold. The scarab is centered in a detailed and elegant gold setting forming feathered wings and flanked on each side with two cobras in profile. For more information, click here. 

Let The Silver Bells Ring!

When a group of elementary school teachers in Ottawa, Ontario decided to change the lyrics to “Silver Bells” for a sing-a-long concert some parents grew downright furious. According to a report from CBC News they were planning to replace the phrase “Christmas day” with “a festive day” until the parents voiced concern.

I really don’t see what all the fuss is about and frankly I don’t think Ray Evans, who wrote the lyrics, would have cared for this either. Though Ray Evans joined his writing partner Jay Livingston in the great beyond earlier this year we still have access to this telling feature, produced by NPR back in 2005, all about Evans and his role in the origin of "Silver Bells."

The song debuted in 1951 in this scene from a Bob Hope holiday film entitled The Lemon Drop Kid.

Bing Crosby recorded a version for radio-play shortly thereafter and a long list of entertainers followed suit. The song has since been recorded and performed countless times. It has sold over 500 million copies and it has undergone almost as many re-arrangements and re-interpretations.

So I find it hard to imagine why anyone would take offense if the school kids had performed their modified version. Alas, in the end, they decided to drop the song from their program altogether.

In lieu of their performance I plundered my own collection of Christmas albums for different versions of the song and then spent yesterday afternoon browsing the Salvation Army record bins before enlisting the aid of Conor, young nephew to my neighbor Alice. He managed to find digital copies of some of my old favorites plus a few additions of his own and many more that neither of us had ever heard before.

This morning we pared our collection down and arranged for you this rather eclectic playlist.

Merry Christmas from Nelson & Nelson Antiques!

Silver Bells by The Ventures:

Silver Bells by The Heritage Hall Jazz Band:

Silver Bells by Twisted Sister:

Silver Bells by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band:

Silver Bells by Jacob Miller:

Silver Fit For A Ship

Every gracious home should have a fine collection of heirloom silver--but a battleship?

Surprisingly, yes. The New York Times reports on the tradition of "ship's silver" in the U.S Navy, and features some fine photographs of Tiffany silver serving pieces commissioned in 1911 for the U.S.S. New York. Ship's silver is used for ceremonial or diplomatic occasions on board, and Tiffany and Co. has been the go-to silversmiths for the U.S. Navy for more than a century.

More than a dozen of the Tiffany heirlooms will become part of the silver collection of the soon-to-be-commissioned U.S.S. New York, which was built from steel salvaged from the World Trade Center. The Navy has set up a gift registry at Tiffany's, which will allow the public to round out the assortment of ship's silver with some more, ahem, modern pieces. 

Since we tend to favor Tiffany silver with a certain history here, perhaps the Navy would consider the following?

These Tiffany and Co. covered entrée dishes are of shaped oval lobed bombe form, with rollover rim and two shaped square handles, and the whole raised on four chrysanthemum decorated bracket feet. The rollover rim features an applied chrysanthemum border, with applied chrysanthemums on the domed lobed lid, and an applied chrysanthemum decorated oval shaped handle on the lid. This fine pair of Tiffany & Co. two handled covered entrée dishes was part of an extensive collection of hollowware made in the Chrysanthemum pattern to coordinate with Tiffany’s Chrysanthemum flatware. It was common in upper class American Society to have had Tiffany manufacture extensive suites of silver to grace not only the dining room, but the entire house as well. One can only imagine the extensive collection these covered entrée dishes were a part of. Today they would be a welcomed addition to any home- or battleship!

This is a beautiful sterling silver serving tray made by Tiffany & Co. circa 1913 in a classic design. This large, rectangular tray with chamfered corners has a plain field with low sides and a discreet rim trimmed with a floral guilloche border. The delicate shaped curves at each corner add elegance to this design. This tray is in excellent condition, and is the finest quality and heaviest gauge silver. This expertly crafted antique silver serving tray is a timeless design that is exceptionally versatile and will stand the test of time.

See more of our antique Tiffany silver here.

Commemorating A Three-Legged Victor

These final days of summer have got me mixing up my last batches of hot weather cocktails, including my favorite, the Mint Julep. It's not just for quaffing at horse races, but always appropriate to drink out of a sterling silver cup. Even better when that cup has some wonderful history behind it!

This American Sterling Silver Mint Julep Cup commemorates the victory of 3-year-old colt Vicar Hanover in the 1964 Little Brown Jug harness race in Delaware County, Ohio. Vicar Hanover was quite a horse, as Sports illustrated noted at the time (From "Vicar Won On Three Legs," October 5, 1964):

Vicar has more heart than horse sense to race as well as he does. "Some mornings," Trainer Haughton admits, "he walks out looking like he has a broken leg." And Vicar's broken legs are not confined to morning walks. Bothered by a calcium deposit in an ankle joint, the tough son of the 1957 Jug winner Torpid (and grandson of two other Jug winners) has been hurting for a year. He often returns from a prerace warmup lame, and track veterinarians run to see if he is fit to perform. Their worry usually is unjustified. Vicar Hanover gives the public its money's worth and frequently a dividend as well.

The cup is made by the Trees Silver Co. of Lexington, Kentucky. Mr. Trees was a jeweler who began making these English style beakers in the 1950s and they became a favorite of the horse racing set to commemorate the winners. This mint julep cup is adorned with an applied figural horse head and is engraved with the title “VICAR HANOVER” and “LITTLE BROWN JUG 1964”. It is hallmarked with a stamp of a tree, TREES and STERLING. Excellent Patina. Perfect Condition. The beaker measures 3 ¾ in. tall and 2 7/8 in. in diameter at its mouth. 4.5 Troy ounces. Very good condition. For more information on this wonderful piece, click here.