Groups of diamonds adorn these brooches from Tillman’s Antiques.
Style
Vintage Jewels
Made to last for generations, antique jewelry is the choicest of collectables
BY
Laura Keech Allen
PHOTOGRAPHY
Nancy Nolan
STYLED BY
Mandy Keener


From Sissy’s Log Cabin, this Georgian brooch features a technique called plique-a-jour, in which translucent enamels are held in an open framework. Handmade in about 1785, it’s covered in light brown diamonds and pink tourmaline.


Carved from hardened lava, this cameo from Tillman’s Antiques is a beautiful miniature portrait.


Even more recent pieces, like these vintage brooches, are extremely collectible. The bejeweled frog and coral rose were both made in the 20th centry, while the purple sapphire and diamond piece is a French art deco piece; Tillman’s Antiques.


A trio of Victorian lockets from Sissy’s Log Cabin are made from 19-karat yellow gold with hand-engraved English designs and old-mine-cut diamonds.


Custom made by hand in 1840, this pendant and matching earrings are adorned with hand-cut Persian turquoise; Sissy’s Log cabin.

 

The popularity of some antiques seems to ebb and flow with the changing of tastes and trends. Vintage jewelry, however, especially that with fine metals and gemstones, never wanes. Not only do these pieces seem to only increase in value, they’re also stylish fashion statements, ensuring that no one in the neighborhood will be sporting the same look. Whether you’re interested in starting a collection or finding a single, special piece, antique jewelry is a fantastic way to explore history.

Sissy Jones of Sissy’s Log Cabin in Pine Bluff has dedicated part of her store to estate jewelry, particularly handmade Victorian and Georgian period pieces adorned with diamonds and other stones. During this era, jewelry exploded in availability and popularity, thanks to the increasing wealth of the middle class and their desire for tangible expressions of their success. Many of the designs made during this time are nature-inspired, and the pieces shown here are all handmade and one of a kind. Colored gemstones were very popular for evening pieces, and Sissy’s pieces include stones as diverse as cushion-cut diamonds, also known as old-mine-cut diamonds, hand-cut Persian turquoise, brown diamonds and pink tourmaline.

For Davis Tillman of Tillman’s Antiques in Hot Springs, antique brooches and their rich history are endlessly intriguing. In fact, brooches may be the oldest type of jewelry, evolving with the functional purpose of holding a cloak or robe closed. Worn by the ancient Greeks and Romans, brooches were elevated in style by the Victorians, but the pieces from the Art Deco Movement of the early 20th century comprise most of Tillman’s collection. Not only do many of these pieces feature gold, precious gems and diamonds, they’re also particularly sought after as inheritance pieces because of their one-size-fits-all nature and versatility.

When shopping for estate jewelry, working with a reputable dealer is of utmost importance. Classic, well-chosen pieces made of top-quality gold and gems can become essential parts of your wardrobe, as well as treasured family heirlooms for generations to come.