Your inherited set of silver commemorative (coffee) spoons would appeal to both English silver and royal commemorative collectors.

I need a little more information in order to give you an approximate replacement value. the hallmarks will tell us if the spoons are sterling (the lion passant). There will also be a town mark (the leopard's head represents London, and anchor means pieces were assayed in Birmingham, etc.) There should be a date letter and "TKB" is probably the silversmith.

How big are the spoons? Are they demitasse or closer to t-spoons? Are they presented in their original box? Are the "pictures" of Queen Victorian on the fronts or backs of the handles? Are they engraved into the metal or in relief (like a medallion or coin)?

Answers to these questions will help determine a value probably ranging between $100.00 and $500.00. Of course, a picture would be helpful.

Thanks,

Reni

Vintage toiletries are popular to collect. Sterling handled items will usually hold values higher than silver plate.

More than one company incorporated the daisy motif in their patterns. I have a Daniel Low & Co. (Salem, MA) catalog from 1914. A clothes brush with a sterling handle, in their "Daisy" pattern, retailed for $2.75. In today's market, this same clothes brush (in good condition) would be worth around $75.00 to collectors.

The more pieces you have to the original set, the more each piece is worth. This is a great excuse to expand your collection!

Reni

Your flowered costume bangle was made by Vargas Manufacturing Company based in Providence, Rhode Island. This company has been listed through the Jewelers' Circular-Keyston since 1950. They specialize in sterling and costume jewelry.

Don't worry about the safety chain. You still have the metal findings on each side of the clasp, so another can be attached.

The retail value on this bangle bracelet would probably range between $25.00 and $45.00 in my area.

Your costume brooch does appear to be missing the center stone. I am not familiar with origins of the "Celebrity NY" line.

The few pieces I've had with that mark have also been of a more recent vintage (post-1950's). These examples do not command the higher values in costume.

Thanks for the pictures.

Reni

Reference: Rainwater, Dorothy American Jewelry Manufacturers, Schiffer, 1988

Hearts were popular motifs through the sentimental Victorian era. Silver became a metal of choice (other than surrounding diamonds) after the discovery of the Comstock Lode in the U.S.A. around 1860. Hugh amounts of silver were made available to jewelers working in Japanaiserie, the Aesthetic movement, and the evolving Arts and Crafts movement.

Silver jewelry was so popular in high fashion circles, that by the late 1880's it fell out of favor and was then considered cheap and if worn, in poor taste.

By the 1890's silver manufacturers in Birmingham, England and the U.S. took advantage of Victorian sentimentality and produced the small brooches, charms etc. that are so collectible today. These silver trinkets were affordable to the masses. Although they were machine made, there was care to detail and hand finishing. Puffy hearts fall into this category. The designs, names and phrases chased/or engraved onto them were symbolic and given for love, friendship, loyalty or to commemorate particular occasions.

Twenty years ago, these cute little silver gems would sell for $5.00 to $10.00. Now, they may retail in the $50.00 range. There are many reproductions being made, but they don't have the "charm" of the originals.

Reni

*For more info. on the Victorian jewelry: Antique and 20th Century Jewellery, 2nd Ed. by Vivienne Becker. N.A.G. Press, 1987