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Hidden Heirlooms

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Hidden Heirlooms

Rescuing, Preserving & Re-homing Vintage and Antique Jewellery Contact us for more details

Due to the current pandemic and social distancing restrictions, we have had to limit certain services within our business. We can however still offer our identification, valuation, sales and insurance packages, reduced versions of our curation package and a 'Collect & Care' service for smaller items. During this time we are also offering our collections and conservation training through online platforms.

06/09/2026

⚜️ Hidden Heirloom of the Week! ⚜️

This week’s hidden treasure is a stunning Vintage 1950s–1960s Amethyst-Coloured Paste Rhinestone Demi-Parure. 💜✨

A wonderfully glamorous example of mid-century costume jewellery, this matching set captures the elegance and exuberance of the 1950s and early 1960s, when statement jewellery was very much part of dressing for a special occasion.

At the heart of each piece are beautiful deep purple, amethyst-coloured paste rhinestones, surrounded by sparkling clear stones and intricate gold-tone foliage in the baroque revival style. The scrolling, textured design gives the set a wonderfully rich, almost jewelled-bouquet appearance.

The necklace is made up of a series of individual floral and foliate panels, each centred with a rich purple stone and finished with clusters of sparkling paste rhinestones. Matching earrings complete the set beautifully.

Although these pieces imitate the appearance of precious gemstones and fine jewellery, paste jewellery allowed women to enjoy all the glamour and sparkle of a magnificent jewel without the extraordinary cost. High-quality examples could be every bit as elaborate and beautifully made as their more expensive counterparts.

The combination of the vivid purple stones, brilliant clear rhinestones and warm gold-tone setting is particularly striking, and wonderfully evocative of the glamour of the mid-century era.

A fabulous demi-parure and a real statement set for any vintage jewellery lover. 💜

Would you wear this spectacular purple and gold set?

✨ Take a look here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4565011278/vintage-1950s-1960s-amethyst-purple?sr_prefetch=1&pf_from=shop_home&ref=shop_home_active_2&sts=1&logging_key=e4d61558ae7bee68c1f5680b7ca6c3c2ecce0dd4%3A4565011278

30/08/2026

⚜️ Hidden Heirloom of the Week! ⚜️

This week's hidden treasure is a breathtaking Vintage 1930s French Hand-Painted Limoges Porcelain Portrait Brooch.

At first glance, you could easily mistake it for a grand 18th-century royal miniature. With its romantic depiction of an elegant neoclassical lady, complete with a delicate pearl necklace, soft draped clothing, and an elaborate gold-accented updo, it perfectly captures the aristocratic charm of the courtly Neoclassical revival.

But this is actually a wonderful, rare survivor from the late Art Deco era of the 1930s, crafted in France's world-famous porcelain capital.
During the interwar period, alongside the rise of geometric and streamlined modernism, there was a parallel, high-society craving for classical romance and exquisite miniature artwork.

French artisans at Limoges revived traditional enamel painting techniques, firing layers of porcelain to create wearable, miniature masterpieces.

These brooches are particularly fitting, they were designed as conversation pieces, allowing the wearer to carry a little pocket of fine art and romantic sentiment wherever they went.

This exceptional oval example, framed beautifully by a striking, tightly twisted gold-tone rope border, demonstrates that precise interwar artistry. The glaze is exceptionally smooth, ensuring the hand-painted brushstrokes remain as vivid today as they were nearly a century ago.

Would you have guessed this fine porcelain portrait was painted back in the 1930s?

Take a look here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4542640145/vintage-1930s-french-hand-painted?sr_prefetch=1&pf_from=shop_home&ref=shop_home_active_5&pro=1&sts=1&logging_key=fbbf90d06902f10c1cfad505f3c2808a65c075c2%3A4542640145

23/08/2026

⚜️ Hidden Heirloom of the Week! ⚜️

This week's hidden treasure is a beautiful Vintage Victorian Revival Sterling Silver Locket, dating from the 1960s–1970s.

At first glance, you could easily mistake it for something much older. With its ornate floral motifs, stylised ferns, geometric details and starbursts, it perfectly captures the romantic spirit of the Victorian era.

But this is actually a wonderful example of the Victorian Revival that became so popular during the 1960s and 1970s.

After the clean lines of Art Deco and mid-century modernism, there was a renewed fascination with the romance, ornament and sentimentality of the nineteenth century. Victorian-inspired lockets, cameos, engraved jewellery and book chains all found a new generation of admirers.

These lockets are particularly fitting, it was jewellery designed to carry a little piece of someone's story close to the heart.

This substantial sterling silver example, measuring approximately 6cm by 3.8cm, beautifully demonstrates that revival. It's intricate decoration gives it the appearance of a much older piece, while the engraved dedication on the reverse adds another little glimpse into its history.

I love jewellery like this because it sits between two eras, a 1960s interpretation of Victorian sentimentality, that is now becoming a vintage heirloom in its own right. ✨

Would you have guessed this locket was made in the 1960s–70s?

Take a look here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4558139479/vintage-1960s-1970s-sterling-silver?sr_prefetch=1&pf_from=shop_home&ref=shop_home_active_10&sts=1&logging_key=6929fa1938805b807068efc3542216281b696660%3A4558139479

20/08/2026

🗝️ Heirlooms Unlocked 🗝️

Art Deco was all about high shine, bold glamour and sparkle.

Rhinestones and faceted glass were used to create jewellery that caught the light with every movement — dazzling, dramatic and designed to make an entrance. ✨

For the fashionable women of the 1920s and 1930s, this brilliant sparkle perfectly complemented the sleek silhouettes and geometric styles of the Jazz Age.

Nearly a century later, Art Deco rhinestone jewellery still has that same irresistible magic. Maximum sparkle, timeless style. 💎

Take a look at our Art Deco Jewellery Here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HiddenHeirloomsSales?ref=seller-platform-mcnav§ion_id=53141572

16/08/2026

⚜️ Hidden Heirloom of the Week! ⚜️

This week's hidden treasure is a spectacular Vintage Jablonex Aurora Borealis Rhinestone Parure Set, comprising a necklace, bracelet, brooch and ring, complete with its original packaging.
Jablonex is renowned for the production of beautiful Czech glass and rhinestones, and this fabulous parure showcases one of the most magical finishes in vintage jewellery: Aurora Borealis. Developed in the mid-20th century, the AB finish gives clear rhinestones an extraordinary iridescent surface, reflecting flashes of pink, purple, blue and gold as they catch the light.

What makes this set particularly special, however, is not just its dazzling design, it has survived as original, unused stock, complete with its original presentation packaging.

Finding vintage jewellery in genuinely unworn condition is always exciting, but finding a near complete matching parure in this condition is considerably rarer. Original packaging can also provide an important piece of the story. It preserves the way the jewellery was originally presented and sold, giving us a glimpse into its commercial history that would otherwise be lost.

The necklace, bracelet, brooch and ring were designed to be worn together, creating a wonderfully glamorous coordinated look. The delicate gold-toned settings and rows of sparkling AB rhinestones capture the optimism and glamour of mid-century European costume jewellery.

And there is something particularly wonderful about a piece of jewellery that has spent decades waiting to be worn.
Rather than showing the usual signs of a previous life, scratches, wear to the settings or fading from years of use, this parure has remained beautifully preserved, almost as though it has stepped straight out of a vintage jewellery counter.

A complete parure. Aurora Borealis rhinestones. Original packaging. And, most importantly, a little piece of jewellery history that was never given the chance to become someone else's heirloom.
Perhaps after all these years, it is finally ready to become one. ✨

Are you a fan of vintage rhinestone jewellery? Would you be tempted to wear a complete parure, or would you keep a rare set like this as part of a collection?

Take a look here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4551733221/vintage-jablonex-aurora-borealis?sr_prefetch=1&pf_from=shop_home&ref=shop_home_active_10&sts=1&logging_key=f946a15568c01093246356530e1986610dd7f804%3A4551733221

09/08/2026

⚜️ Hidden Heirloom of the Week! ⚜️

This week's hidden treasure is a captivating Mid-19th century Victorian pinchbeck banded agate swivel brooch.

During the mid-to-late Victorian era, jewellery was deeply personal, sentimental, and often designed to hold a secret. This striking piece features a central oval of natural banded agate, highly prized in the 1860s and 1870s for its rich, graphic layers of deep brown, black and crisp white.

What makes this brooch truly magical is its functional, kinetic design: the entire centre stone swivels on side pivots. This dual-sided mechanism allowed the wearer to rotate the piece entirely while it remained pinned to their garment.

While one side showcases the bold elegance of the agate, the reverse side typically held a hidden glass panel containing a portrait photograph or a meticulously woven piece of hairwork from a loved one. Framed by a beautifully ornate, interlocking gold-toned rope border, it is a magnificent testament to the master craftsmanship and romantic mystery of 19th-century jewellery design.

A wonderful reminder that the most beautiful treasures often have more than one side to their story. Whether cherished as a centrepiece of a historic collection or worn to bring antique drama to a modern outfit, it is a breathtaking piece of wearable history.

Are you a fan of Victorian sentimental jewellery? Do you love pieces that hide a secret history? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Take a look here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4552097740/antique-1860s-1880s-victorian-pinchbeck?sr_prefetch=1&pf_from=shop_home&ref=shop_home_active_3&sts=1&logging_key=6b2faf063d426185c682055bbc88cbd9844937e9%3A4552097740

06/08/2026

🗝️ Heirlooms Unlocked 🗝️

This striking Art Deco necklace, dating from the late 1920s to early 1930s, captures the glamour of the Jazz Age with its rich ruby-red glass beads and sparkling faceted crystal spacers.

During the Art Deco period, opera-length (approx.. 28–36 inches) and rope length (approx.. 48-60 inches) necklaces became synonymous with the iconic flapper style. Worn long, doubled around the neck or tied in a loose knot, they perfectly complemented the sleek silhouettes and energetic dances of the era.

Glass bead necklaces like this offered fashionable elegance at an affordable price, proving that beautiful design wasn't reserved for precious gemstones alone. Nearly a century later, they remain timeless examples of Art Deco style. ❤️

02/08/2026

⚜️ Hidden Heirloom of the Week! ⚜️

This week's hidden treasure is a striking 1960s–1970s Sterling Silver Victorian Revival panel link bracelet. ✨

During the 1960s and 1970s, jewellery designers looked to the past for inspiration, reviving the ornate elegance of the Victorian era. Engraved silver panels, romantic scrollwork, and bold geometric links became fashionable once again, blending Victorian charm with a distinctly mid-century feel.

This beautiful bracelet captures that revival perfectly, with its engraved openwork panels inspired by 19th-century jewellery, yet crafted for a new generation of vintage fashion lovers. A wonderful reminder that great design never truly goes out of style.

Whether worn as a statement piece or treasured as part of a collection, it's a beautiful example of history inspiring history. 🤍

Are you a fan of Victorian Revival jewellery? Do you love pieces that bring the past back to life? We'd love to hear your thoughts! ✨

Take a look here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4540831726/vintage-1960s-1970s-victorian-revival?sr_prefetch=1&pf_from=shop_home&ref=shop_home_active_23&cns=1&sts=1&logging_key=2d16f15a54e78242445fd5eeaee3b11918b436a1%3A4540831726

30/07/2026

🗝️ Heirlooms Unlocked 🗝️
The Great Victorian Illusion: Pressed Horn 🖤✨

Long before modern plastics flooded the market, 19th-century makers used an ingenious technique to achieve the coveted look of high-end mourning jewellery: dyed and pressed animal horn.

Born out of the era's massive demand for Black Mourning Jewellery, artisans heated natural horn until pliable, dyed it deep charcoal, and hydraulically stamped it into steel moulds to mimic expensive Whitby Jet.

While it can easily be misidentified today as Jet or Vulcanite, this material tells an entirely unique story. Unlike mined Jet (fossilised wood) or Vulcanite (chemical rubber), pressed horn is made of organic keratin—the very same material as hair and nails—which gives it a subtle satin sheen and a beautiful, fibrous "grain" that splits and flakes over time.

This dramatic, moulded craft hit its absolute peak in the mid-to-late 1800s before early synthetics took over, making these beautifully tactile pieces rare snapshots of historic craftsmanship.

Did you know about this clever Victorian duplicate, or have you ever mistaken it for Jet yourself? 👇 Share your thoughts below.

26/07/2026

⚜️ Hidden Heirloom of the Week! ⚜️

This week's hidden gem is a beautiful late 19th to early 20th century carved shell cameo brooch, with an unusual and striking detail, a border of sawtooth hand-cut steel decoration. ✨

Cameos have been treasured for centuries, with each carved shell portrait revealing the skill and artistry of the maker. Popular throughout the Victorian and Edwardian eras and into the 20th century, they were worn as neoclassical symbols of elegance, femininity, and refinement.

What makes this example particularly special is the sparkling cut steel surround. Before the widespread use of modern jewellery settings, cut steel was highly fashionable, admired for its ability to catch the light like gemstones. It was a labour-intensive technique, with individually faceted steel pieces carefully cut and polished to create a shimmering effect.

A wonderful example of the transition between Victorian and Edwardian jewellery styles, combining classical cameo carving with an unusual industrial-age sparkle. A true little piece of history waiting to be worn and appreciated again. 🤍

Are you a fan of antique cameos? Do you own one, or do you remember seeing one worn by a loved one? We’d love to hear your stories! ✨

Take a closer look in our Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4536203208/antique-1890s-1910s-cut-steel-left?sr_prefetch=1&pf_from=shop_home&ref=shop_home_active_27&logging_key=13d32bd7fdc6f7a8359f0406253596454fc567d3%3A4536203208

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