Maisonette de Madness

02/15/2026

After a day of antiquing across Delaware, we stopped at a wonderful Indian restaurant for dinner, highly recommend

02/15/2026

Origin: Italian or German, late 16th century. Via

02/15/2026

May everybody be filled with love and feel the love today.

02/08/2026

Did you know Abraham Lincoln purchased a pearl suite like this design in NYC in 1862 for his beloved wife Mary Todd Lincoln. This seed-pearl brooch can now be dated after watching an intriguing movie the other night,~ Crazy About Tiffany’s.

Georgian Victorian (Mid 19th Century Era) Genuine Seed Pearl 5 Tier Fine Gold, Magical Secret Locket Compartment Within Brooch Pin, 1800’s / 19th Century Antique Fine Pearl Jewelry, Natural Pearl Jewelry, only just now did I realized the little piece comes out to reveal a secret compartment, like a locket, this piece just keeps getting more magical. The metal tests for gold (14k or so). Completely handcrafted long long ago. Such a rare and beautiful sentimental piece.

1 3/8 IN x 1 IN
35.5 MM x 19.5 MM
1860’s Era
Genuine or natural pearls are pearls found naturally in nature, not cultured or encouraged by man.
Condition is overall good, the clasp has been replaced over time, originally it would have had a simplistic C catch.
12.6 grams (over $500 in gold alone, Earlier 2024)
Approx 125 pearls
Since the gold does not test for a solid or higher karat I am assuming it is a alloy gold composite to look like high karat gold, such as pinchbeck.

Dating back to Roman times seeds pearls were used in jewelry creation.
Antique seed pearls are completely natural. Seed pearls can be formed in either a saltwater oyster or freshwater mussel. Their petite size (usually under 2-4 MM) makes them so irresistible and the craftmanship required to make jewelry from them is considerable.

LINK: https://www.loc.gov/item/scsm001298/

Most often this style seed pearls (during this time and still today) were imported from India, Middle East and Asia.

02/08/2026

Always on the hunt for interesting estate, vintage, antique fine and wonderful costume Jewels.

02/04/2026

Likely from the same maker that Abraham Lincoln bought Mary Todd Lincoln’s gift from in New York.

01/31/2026

I wonder why sometimes a beautiful sterling art piece of has no artisan signature? Do you know?

01/01/2026

01/01/2026

Jacqueline de Ribes

12/28/2025

10/20/2025

18 Karat Gold, , and Necklace, René Boivin, After a Design by Suzanne , France