How to identify Arts and Crafts Antiques

The Arts and Crafts movement was an international movement that started in England around 1860 and continued having an influence on style, decoration and ideals until the 1930s.

Led by artist and writer William Morris in turn inspired by writer John Ruskin, the movement began as a reaction against industrialisation and the inequalities of the Victorian Age. This philosophy as well as design movement embraced ideals of equality alongside the celebration of good quality craftsmanship.

The Arts and crafts movement was inspired by images from the medieval age and folklore and nature. It became fashionable and influenced architecture, art, household objects, decoration and jewellery.

Because the Arts and Crafts movement was all about individual craftsmanship, no two pieces are exactly the same although you may find similar designs. This makes it very interesting to collectors and can cause prices to vary.














In jewellery, natural themes such as animals, plants, insects and birds were very popular. Arts and Crafts jewellery tends to favour metals such as a copper, brass and silver over more expensive materials such as the gold and diamonds that were popular in the Victorian age.

Arts and crafts jewellery often contains semi precious gemstones chosen for their appearance rather than their value, and pearls, turquoise, jet and moonstones were popular.

You will often find that gemstones have been cut en cabouchon - which means that the stone is finished with a polished rounded surface rather than the multiple cuts and facets that you see in valuable gems such as diamonds and sapphires.

Enamelling is also very popular in arts and crafts jewellery. This process was pioneered by Edith and Nelson Dawson who used a small kiln and employed production techniques that dated back to the renaissance.

Otherwise CR Ashbee is one example of a jewellery maker to look out for. In 1888, he set up the Guild and School of Handicraft in London’s East End, which he modelled on the medieval guilds and ran as a craft co-operative before relocating the whole operation to Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire.

This guild produced some very fine pieces that can be characterised by intricate wire work, hammered silver and colourful gemstones.

Although well known designer pieces of jewellery fetch high prices, you can often pick up Arts and Crafts jewellery at very reasonable prices. Look out for good quality craftsmanship, the design and the condition of the piece and don’t forget to check for the hall mark.

The Style of Antique Jewellery

The Style of Antique Jewellery

Antique jewellery is popular with collectors and people looking to wear something unique and stylish.

You can find a great selection of antique jewellery at most antique fairs and there is always a chance to pick up a valuable piece that has been missed by the experts.

Generally, an item is classed as an antique if it is over 100 years old. You can date silver and gold pieces manufactured in Britain by checking out the hallmark.

The style of antique jewellery varies a great deal depending on its age and is characterised by the fashions and trends of the day.

Georgian period 1714-1837
This period produced high quality and individual jewellery with a high level of craftsmanship. Style often draws on natural elements such as birds, leaves, flowers and feathers and often features added embellishments of bows and pear shaped drops. Georgian jewellery tends to be expensive owning to its age and the quality of materials used. Gemstones are popular in this period.

Victorian period 1837-1901
Romanticised natural shapes, personally engraved silver pieces and grisly memorial jewellery such as lockets with the hair of a loved one, typify the Victorian age. The influences of the far-flung empire also gave some jewellery an oriental flavour. This style called Japonaiserie was very popular and was produced in Britain.













Edwardian period 1901-1915
An affluent period for many, platinum was used for the first time in jewellery. Diamonds and pearls had become more readily available in the early 1900s and became popular. In general, Edwardian style jewellery is light and delicate and sometimes draws on Art Nouveau and Japanese inspired designs. Tiffany and Faberge produced high value pieces much sought after today.

Art Nouveau style 1890-1915
Art Nouveau style runs alongside much of the Edwardian period but can be classified as a style of its own.
Both natural and mythical subjects are popular in Art Nouveau jewellery. Butterflies, dragons, dragonflies, insects and sea creatures, stylised women with long flowing hair are typical subjects. The art Nouveau style looked to nature for inspiration and semi precious stones such as pearls were very popular.

Art deco style 1920-1935
Strong angular cubist shapes and bold contrasting colours epitomise the jazz age. High quality jewellery pieces made of platinum and palladium could be decorated with diamonds and contrasted with the new plastic material Bakelite or onyx jet for dramatic effect. Cartier were the leaders in art deco jewellery design




gold and silver hallmarks main site

Fortune in hidden jewellery found in Paris sewer.

£16 million pounds of jewellery found in Paris sewer.

An amazing 18 million dollars or 15 and half million pounds worth of jewellery have been dug up from a house drain in the working class Parisian suburb of Seine - Saint - Denis French police have said.

The jewels were placed in a plastic container sealed in a cement mould in the drain. So far the information on the find to be released has revealed nineteen rings and three sets of earrings have been found.

One set of earrings is reported to be valued at 15.5 million pounds!

The jewels have been identified as being part of the "Harry Winston" robbery that took place on December 5th 2008 at the Harry Winston boutique just of the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris.

Police set the missing jewellery figure at 85 million dollars and the robbery was called the most audacious crime in France.

Some stolen rings, necklaces and watches were recovered when police rounded up 25 people in a June 2009 sweep and eventually charged nine of them.