Pennino Sterling and Rhinestone Sunburst Brooch|Amazing Adornments Jewel of the Month

Fabulous Signed Pennino Sterling and Rhinestone Sunburst Brooch

Finding costume jewelry from the 1940s that is still in good condition is always a treat. I was thrilled to find this piece a few months ago.  I left it in the box it arrived in until last week when I took the images.

Click
on the image for a larger view and description

When I went to do research on it, I
started with my usual books and then decided to look in Carla and Roberto Brunialti's American Costume Jewelry Art & Industry book. Well, there is was with a vermeil wash on page 8 of the N- Z volume!

I think of the Brunialti books as the
bible of costume jewelry, so I love when I find a piece that is included in
them.  Sometimes, I purposely seek them out after looking through the book. This time, I picked the piece first and then found it in the above mentioned book. 

This gorgeous and weighty brooch can also be worn as a pendant. The metal is rhodium plated and the rhinestones are very high quality as is the case with most of their pieces.  Rivet construction is used on the reverse.

According to the Brunialti book I mentioned, this brooch/pendant combo was named "Sunburst" and that the flower section design was used at least twice more. Once
as a pin/watch and the other a brooch without the spiral tendrils at the bottom.  

Although the company was named Pennino Brothers, Oreste is said to be the only of the three brothers that designed the pieces.   Many jewelers during this time, as they still do today, had their pieces designed and or produced by others.  It is believed that the Pennino's did not.  I mention this because often when pieces are jobbed out, you can get jewelry of differing quality.  Jewelry with the Pennino hallmark, that I have handled, is consistently well- made with above average materials.  

Click to Visit the Pennino Gallery

Happy Valentine's Day!

 © All Rights Reserved

Juliana Jewelry Reference Book by Ann Pitman|Amazing Adornments Find of the Week

Juliana Jewelry Reference Book by Ann Pitman

I usually do not write reviews on
jewelry books however there was now ay I could not pass on this fabulous new book by Ann Pitman author of the Inside the Jewelry Box series. It is one to add to your collection of reference books without a doubt.

When about a year ago Ann Pitman put out the call via the Discovering Juliana Jewelry group and Jewel Collect, I for one was more than happy to contribute images of some of our unsold, (at the time), D&E for the
book. I was not alone!

Available at Ann's Website:

http://www.insidethejewelrybox.com/

or
http://tinyurl.com/yapmkmz

Needless to say, I awaited Ann's updates regarding the book and she was really great about sending them often.

The end result is a 320 page wonderfully presented treat for the eye. Oh, and it filled with information and antidotes, not just spectacular jewels! LOL!!

It includes an exhaustive selection of
jewels, featuring many sets. Ann also shows the variety of colors some of
the jewels were available in.

Ann shows a variety of views, including the reverse of the many pieces, some with special identification tips. Several of the stone names according to Frank DeLizza are given. Collectors and
dealers, prior to knowing who produced this beautiful jewelry, made up names for the stones and constuction that stuck. These names were hardly ever what The DeLizza's called them!

You will find jewels you know are D&E and some you would have never guessed! You have to see all the belts! There is a section on jewels the company made for others and page after page of sparkling figurals.

Ann has organized the book by central
stone or finding type which makes it really easy to find what you are looking for.

This book along with Juliana Jewelry by Nancy Zell, The Art of Juliana Jewelry by Katerina Musetti along with Frank's own memoirs, you should be able to at least rule out many of the other unsigned pieces that are similar, however not made by DeLizza and
Elster or are incorrectly attributed to the company.

All in all, I think this is a fabulous
book for dealers and collectors alike. Happy hunting!

Below are a few D&E pieces that either
are for sale or will be at Amazing Adornments. Enjoy!

A pretty floral made with the polka dotted beads also known as petite fleur brooch. Watch for this one soon!

Emerald and Topaz Navette 5 Link Bracelet - sold

This gorgeous set is currently for sale.
It includes the large metal leaf findings and crystal clear navettes. Click on
the image to read a description.

Our thoughts and prayers are with
the Haitian people.

© All Rights Reserved