Researching Vintage Jewelry

When dealing in antiques and collectibles, there is nothing more important than study and research if a dealer wants to maintain a reputation for quality. It is amazing the sheer quantity of pseudo facts and erroneous information that can be found online. There are too many people in this business who seem to spend more time inventing stories, be they quaint or authoritative sounding, than they spend researching. Perhaps these folks would be better suited in a career as an author of fiction since that is what most of their descriptions are. The reputable seller will not list something about which they are uncertain before doing their own research. Actually, the "AH-HA" moment when a piece is positively identified is absolutely wonderful!

Recently, a sterling brooch was presented to a jewelry collector's group with a request for info about the SB in an oval maker's mark. There were several possibility mentioned and one of the members put forth that it was a mark by Silverman Bros. Because I had a brooch with this mark, I decided to find out for myself. Curiosity in high gear, I checked American Jewelry Manufacturers by Dorothy Rainwater and there it was, on page 218. I also checked Collectible Silver Jewelry by Rezazadah and found confirmation of the maker. Now, this is interesting but this is also where fortune smiled on my research efforts. I had just acquired a catalog dated 1942 published by the Silverman Bros for the Kresge company. There, in the upper left corner was my little horse brooch - the "AH-HA" moment. And people ask me why I love doing my job!