Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Vintage Emmons Jewelry


As a collector and seller of vintage costume jewelry, I'm always on the lookout for great looking pieces that aren't ridiculously expensive.  Some of the high-end jewelry designers/manufacturers are Alice Caviness, Vendome, Givenchy, Juliana, Eisenberg, Kramer, Miriam Haskell, Bogoff and Weiss (there are more, of course) and individual pieces are getting more and more expensive.  Well, sellers are ASKING higher prices, which doesn't actually mean they're getting them.  Sometimes you can stumble upon a piece of Juliana or Kramer when buying a large lot of costume jewelry, but then you're stuck with a bunch of stuff you don't need and can't sell.  So, unless you're willing (and able) to fork over several hundred dollars for what is called a "high-end lot", which will reduce your price-per-item costs, you're pretty well stuck in the mid-ranges.

Many of you older-ISH gals (and guys) may remember your mothers/grandmothers/aunties hosting or attending Sarah Coventry home jewelry parties, and I'm sure many vintage costume jewelry collectors have several pieces.  Much of it is pedestrian, but it was fairly inexpensive and you got the added dividend of squealing over jewelry while eating tea sandwiches and little pastries with your female family and friends.  

What a lot of collectors don't know is that Charles H. Stuart, the founder of the Sarah Coventry line, also had another company selling jewelry at home parties known as the Emmons Jewelry Company.  He named the Sarah Coventry line after his daughter, and named the Emmons line after his wife, Caroline (Emmons) Stuart.
The Emmons Jewelry Company, located in New York City, started in 1949 and did business until 1981.  Early representatives were all men, but by the 1950's women were mainly showing the lines with the home party plan.  

There are some fantastic Sarah Coventry pieces, of course, but the Emmons line was very well made and good looking (meaning, to me, more rhinestones!).  In general, the Emmons line was more expensive than the Coventry line, but certainly still affordable back in the day.  Since Emmons pieces are harder to find than Coventry, occasionally they command higher prices in today's market, but they are generally still within range for me.  Since I'm pretty good at replacing stones (you get a lot of practice when you collect vintage jewelry), I'm now starting to buy pieces that I know are missing stones since once the seller admits it, the price adjusts accordingly.  It may take me awhile to find the right stones, of course, so I have several "works in progress". Finding sets, like the ones above and below, at a good price is my goal, and I think I'm doing fairly well.  Emmons was very good about marking their jewelry--the early mark in 1949 was EmJ, and the later mark was simply Emmons.  Emmons was big on using pearls (both faux and real) in their designs and the line was also known for the interesting texturing on the jewelry.  For me, though, it's all about the bling--and the set below just really takes my breath away!

  All of the sets shown here are from my collection--I'm going to enjoy them for a little while longer and then they will go to my NEW DISPLAY CASES at Art & Antiques On 4th in Slidell, Louisiana!  Of course I'll continue with my booth at the Barze' Place Antique Mall in my town--that's where I sell my glass and pottery, but I felt some of the costume jewelry would show (and sell) better at a smaller venue.  I'll also be showcasing my lovelies at the Slidell Historical Antiques Association Olde Town Street Fair October 29th & 30th.

Cuz the more I sell, the more new stuff I can buy!!!!!  

16 comments:

  1. Wow, that cross set is gorgeous! I never knew about the Emmons company - the things I learn from you!!!

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  2. ooooh I do love a bit of vintage jewellery (UK spelling!)

    I also love my sparkles the most. I've always been one who goes for what I like, but am surprised to have several Weiss pieces in my collection, I have noticed prices going up, so I'm glad I started when I did!

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  3. Mom bought the biggest, gaudiest pair of glitter sparkling big stone earrings, then wore them around the house because it made her feel special. Bless your heart, Mom!

    I wish Mom had more jewelry, but for some reason, she didn't have much. The big mystery of her estate is a heavy, 1940's-50's sterling link bracelet she used to have. What the hell happened to it? WHERE DID IT GO??!! maybe Dad sold it in the 70's when he broke her heart and sold her sterling tea service set when silver prices were high and we were poor. Poor never changed, but I swear I saw that bracelet after the 70's. Hmm.

    Your posts always make me thing of something to ramble on about! Your jewelery is, of course, just wonderful. I love the sparkly blingy stuff too. :)

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  4. Oh my! I have some of the bling my Mom use to wear to parties and such. Some of the pieces are amazing...not sure they are worth anything but sentimental value. I love that pink set...oh my!

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  5. I know what I'll call you......Jewelry Guru! Thanks for sharing your 'trade secrets' Chris. You always get me 'hepped up' and wanting to start collecting this as well.
    I have looked to look at the jewelry in a different light, thanks to you!

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  6. I freaking love costume jewelery and all it's blingggyyy goodness. I still have high hopes one day I will come across a little old lady having a garage sale and she will have a whole table of jewelry for $1 a piece. *LOL*
    My fave stuff has got to be the green rhinestones *so pretty*

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  7. Great informative post, thanks. Taking another shop, how exciting!!

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  8. lovely..lovely !!!!
    i collect the bling pieces too!!!

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  9. I see a couple of pins in your blog header that I wouldn't mind owning. lol

    That third set looks almost like an paint palette.

    Interesting stuff. :-)

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  10. These. are. GORGEOUS! I can't stop buying matched pin and earring sets like these. Great finds.

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  11. I love finding matching sets like that!...Or at least I would, if I found one. They're a bit hard to find in Sweden - where I live. The Internet is probably the best place to search for them nowadays :)

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  12. I've never heard of Emmons Jewelry Company. The world of vintage jewelry is so fascinating and I l-o-v-e when I learn new stuff. Thanks! I'm a big fan of rhinestones too and ofcourse love vintage high-end brands. Especially Haskell for it really inspired me on my own jewelry making. I even see it in my dreams :) and can't help to use same techniques.

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  13. As a former corporate officer of Caroline Emmons I want to correct some of your information. Sarah Coventry was named in honor of Mr. Stuart's granddaughter. Sarah Coventry Beale.
    The C H Stuart companies (Sarah Coventry, Caroline Emmons & others)were located in Newark, NY.

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    1. I always appreciate it when people correct my booboos and I feel honored that a former corporate officer of Caroline Emmons was kind enough to clear that up. Whoever you are, thanks for reading my blog. At least you didn't call me stupid like another Anonymous did on a post of mine--and he/she corrected something that wasn't even wrong!

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    2. I too was an Officer of Caroline Emmons, and as such confirm what the previous post states. CE made a superior product, with, at that time, innovative, and vreative designs. I am also in possession of the original dedication plaque for the Caroline Emmons Headquarters in Newark, NY, and am interested in seeing it go to an avid collector. A post here, indicating any interest, will recieve a response.

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    3. I just haven't been coming to my blog like I used to, for various inexcusable reasons, but I did want to thank Anonymous Blogger #2 for adding more info re Emmons. It's pretty incredible that I had TWO former officers of this company read my post! If you're still out there, Anonymous Blogger #2, I'd be interested to hear about the plaque. Thanks for visiting!
      Chris

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