Posted 9 years ago
Emme
(41 items)
Bees, bees, bees (and more bees). I found one pair of bees on Sunday and another today. What are the chances? In researching these, I have read some listings as stating that these pins have marcasites I thought that it was the design of metal base made to look like marcasites, upon closer inspection, there does seem to be something that looks like a marcasite, but my spidey senses tell me probably not real marcasite. Of course if I could figure out the maker, I could figure out the materials.
One site said that these pins were made by Gerry's for Hallmark, but there is no "Gerry's" mark. The center of the small be on both sets appears to have a bee-shaped mark.
The large bee measures 2 1/16" and the small one measures 1 1/16".
The eyes are pink rhinestone the green part of the body next to the head are "marcasites" painted green, other than the eyes, there are no other rhinestones on these brooches, all of the sparkles are "marcasite." Now watch, they actually are. Thanks for looking.
These brooches are GREAT~! Wait until our resident insect jewelry person, kyratango, sees these beauties!
Yeah! What are the odds?? Amazing! It must have Bee(n) your lucky weekend!
Touché Celiene! Thanks Efesgirl. Perhaps Kyratango can identify these.
Marcasites are always cut in the same 6 sided pattern, no matter what the style of jewelry. These stones look like Marcasite to me.
Whoops.
Woooh! A whole beehive you got there, Emme! Wonderful group :-)
In front of your doubts, I searched for faux marcasites (didn't know they existed, the real ones beeing inexpensive!) and found this little piece:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/254771209/avon-faux-marcasite-vintage-cherub-pin?ref=market
They effectively look as marcasite simulant, the cut isn't sharp...
For identifying the maker, I have no knowledge in costume jewelry :-/
Thanks, Kyratango. Looking at these, I think there are 5 marcasites on each wing, and the rest are simulated.
http://www.cabootle.com/products/jewelry/brooches-pins/bumble-bee-brooch-with-rhinestones-marcasite-enamel/
Buzz Buzz Buzz
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/236543029/bumble-bee-pinblue-wings-with-marcasite?ref=market
MayBEE one of these vendors knows more about the maker?
Hmm. It would be nice if these brooches were each worth that, does Caboodle know their stuff? They never stated the maker.
Nothing to lose by asking. Even a simple coffee mug is only worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it.
So, I just finished writing to the vendor of a bumble bee brooch on Etsy. She may get back to me, or not - but I at least asked the question, whether she knew the maker or not.
BTW things have spread out a bit now, but earlier there were so many asian mugs, plates, all kinds of things asian, all in the space of two or three pages. It seems just one person has to post an item, and then everyone else brings their piece out, as if they've now had permission to do so.
Gillian, thank you! You are right, value has those unquantifiable tendencies, doesn't it? And yes, sometimes a whole bunch of similar items comes up at once, either by someone going along liking one type of thing and another person reading it saying, "a ha! I have one of those, I'll post it."
They could be german, 1920's or 30's perhaps Alice Caviness.
Another:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/160876723/rhinestone-marcasite-enamel-bumble-bee
Oh, these are SO CUTE AND SWEET !!!!
Thank you, Gillian, Kyratango, ENAMEL, Efesgirl, Celiene for all of your help. Sometimes you just have to accept your mystery pieces as mysterious. One day, I will come across the answer.
Right Emme, it happened too that vintage/antique advertisings in old magazines lead to the identification of maker/firm :-)
Hope it will be solved soon !