Lilolladystuff

People collect all types of vintage jewelry and figural jewelry is a favorite. There are probably as many reasons as variety of people out there, but they all are attracted to it for one reason or another.

Figural jewelry is exactly as its name implies jewelry made in the shape of a recognizable figure. Most often these are flowers, animals, birds, people, and everyday objects.

People collect figurals since they reflect their interest. Sometimes it coincides with their careers or jobs. A flower lover may enjoy collecting pins of flower shapes. This is one of the most popular shapes and almost any flower you can think of has been the inspiration for a brooch or pin. Bird lovers also will have a variety to choose from as will lovers of dogs, baskets, boats and butterflies. There are tons to choose form in varying degrees of value from the cheapest costume jewelry to fine jewelry set in gold and real gems.

A nutritionist might decide to collect fruit or vegetable pins. Believe it or not there are many. Apples and grapes are popular vintage patterns for pins and earrings. A veterinarian could find dog and cat pins to wear a different one each day of the year. Nowadays, if you wish to add newer more current jewelry, this area has expanded greatly.

Whatever you like or whatever statement you wish to make, there is jewelry to express it. Abstract shapes are pretty, but figurals are really much more fun so grab an umbrella or fan pin or possibly a car pin and let the world see what excites you.

The Art Deco period was said to occur between 1920 and 1930. It was the Roaring Twenties. It was the time of flappers and jazz. It was the time of the machine age when new technologies were possible.

The look started to become much more modern. The fussiness of Victoriana was over and so was the more natural, organic style of art Nouveau. There still was some filigree and some feminine motifs, but the whole look was much bolder.

The focus was on striking contrasts and bold colors. The colors if not bold were light but used with dark contrasting stones or materials. There was a chromatic contrast. The machine allowed technology that could make stones into very new shapes such as triangles, marquises, trapezoids, and the ever popular emerald cut.

Materials used exploded into many more besides the usual gold and silver, with platinum being one of the favorites.  They even started to use plastic.

Stones included opaque ones now such as coral, jade, onyx, and lapis lazuli.

The angles were often severe, but the compositions were far from simple and often quite elaborate,

Although motifs went from the sublime to the ridiculous, there were definitely influences from Tribal Africa, and the Pharaohs of Egypt. Even Cubist art influenced the new style in this period.

It is a fascinating period to collect since Art Deco was a turning point in art and affected everything from clothing to jewelry to art to furniture to buildings.