ABOUT US

Located in the historic Pike Place Market, Isadora’s has specialized in exquisite antique jewelry for 38 years. Our discriminating collection includes pieces from the early 1800’s through the 1950’s, without a reproduction to be found. Our precious pieces are sent to North American Gem Lab for independent appraisals. We invite you to call our toll free number for applicable discounts. On many of our pieces, we are able to offer between 10-25% off of appraisal value.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

“Fleur de Lis” (or the Flower of the Lily)

Isadora’s owner, Laura, and I were speaking the other day of an art exhibit she had seen, featuring Yoko Ono.  She had placed two piles of rocks in a large room, one of small stones and the other of large rocks.  They represented the good and the bad in her life.  And since the large pile (her good pile) far outweighed the small pile (her bad pile) she felt grateful for the beauty of her life.


And it made me think about how something can be so simple and yet so large.  I love art or images or ideas like that.  Something that is deceptively simple.  Something that grows within your mind and soul the longer you know of it.

Some images seem that way to me.  They are not ideas that blossom but there is something profoundly beautiful about a image captured thousands of years ago that still continues to evolve in beauty as different artists interpret it and each of us has our own relationship with its beauty.

It is how I feel about the fleur de lis.  It can be seen in religion, in royal heralds, in the flag of New Orleans and yet I still hold my breath each time I am presented with a new image of the fleur de lis.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Bangles, Bangles, Bangles

On par with the excitement of assembling a fantastic combination of rings is the joy of stacking beautiful, bold, delicate, exotic, simple bangles together.


Vintage Image of a Woman Wearing Beautiful Gold Bangles

I tend to be partial to yellow gold, but you can stack silver, ivory, tortoise, wood.  And in most instances the more bracelets the merrier.

Victorian Claw Brooch

Each of my co-workers has their own fantastic set of bracelets that express who they are.  Isadora's manager, Elizabeth, wears fantastic gold.  She pairs a bold men’s yellow gold watch with a Victorian yellow gold bangle and a yellow gold link bracelet.
Isadora's owner, Laura, is all beautiful aged antique ivory and I know she is entering a room when I hear the particular clink of her bracelets.
And me, I’m evolving.  Some days its tortoise and ivory together and other days it is a bold Etruscan styled mid century yellow gold bracelet juxtaposed with a classic Victorian bangle sparkling with old mine cut diamonds.
Whatever your fancy, there are a million ways to express yourself with the perfect collection of vintage bangles.

Monday, March 19, 2012

The Magic of Cut Steel

When I think steel I tend to think industry but the Georgians and Victorian saw so much more. 


During the 1700’s France went to war and King Louis asked his subjects to donate their jewelry to the cause.  Many donated their jewelry and many hid their jewelry but the result was they needed an alternative to diamonds to take a turn on the town.  And so in 1759 cut steel became widely popular. 

Made of tiny faceted steel beads riveted into steel plates, cut steel jewelry is as beautiful today as it was in the 1700’s.


Vintage Steel Cut Advertisement


Cut steel has a subtle glitter all its own and the French, and later the British, created beautiful earrings, necklaces, bracelets and buttons with their fantastic new art. 




Popular through the 19th century, cut steel was truly lovely and it is rare and wonderful to find original pieces today.



Thursday, March 15, 2012

Mondrian: Beautiful Geometry

This Bakelite Brooch has always reminded me of a Mondrian painting, something about its bold geometry and strong primary colors. 



One of Mondrian's Last Paintings and One of My Personal Favorites

I remember reading a quote about Mondrian once.  It said Mondrian’s art was both kinetic and serene.  


Vintage Bakelite Brooch


I really loved that because I love to love something but I also love to understand why I love what I love. 


A Classic Mondrian Piece


And that writer nailed a quality that I had never been able to codify for myself.  There is something in the simplicity of his colors and lines that brings these inexplicably opposite feelings to meet and I think that is why I have been drawn to Mondrian repeatedly over the years.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Cufflinks not only for the men

Marianne Breslauer was a German photographer from the 1930s who not only had a great eye for composition but had beautiful boyish style. She is my inspiration for women with cufflinks! enjoy.






Click Here to see all of our cufflinks for men and women!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Aquamarine the March Birthstone

Happy birthday to the greats!

 

Ms. Diana Ross. Singer, music producer, actress and fashion icon. Happy Birthday!


And Nat King Cole and his pinky ring.