Every now and then.....

Side view chain maille and cobalt brooch
Originally uploaded by hd.rose images

Every now and then I come across something that I know is vintage but is obviously handmade. Back in the late 1960s and 1970s a wave of interest in making ones own jewelry or jewelry for gifts occurred. There were kits that were sold, or sometimes just individual components with the buyer putting together their own kits.

Author and costume jewelry collector Julia Carrol refers to this phenomenon in her latest book and even provides pictures of actual pages from these popular catalogs.

I think that this brooch is one of those 'kits'. The blue stone is acrylic and the brooch setting is chain maille in brass-tone metal. The back of it is a glued on pin back. It is luminous and lovely and a perfect 'antique look.' Brooch measures 1" across x 1.75" top to bottom.

The unique metalwork is has a woven look much like the popular chain maille that is seen in the jewelry at Renaissance Fairs, cosplay and even some beautifully exotic costume jewelry.

~HDRose