Perfume Bottles : The Collection of Erin Buffaline

Many thanks to Erin Buffaline for allowing us to feature her gorgeous perfume bottle collection. A brief history of her collection follows.

"When I was in my early 20's, I was going to garage sales, yard sales, church sales etc. every weekend looking for things that would make my tiny apartment sparkle. That's when I bought some of my first perfume bottles. 

My family is under the impression that if THEY think you have TOO MUCH of something, no matter how much you like it, they WILL NOT give you that item as a gift going forward. At that point, they thought I had TOO MUCH JEWELRY (as if that could EVER happen). As we all know, there is no such thing!! So, when Christmas rolled around and mom asked me "what I wanted for Christmas", I replied "why don't you get me a perfume bottle?". I thought I would get ONE bottle. Well, everyone in my family bought me a perfume bottle that year, which is why I have so many today (and my guess is you'll be able to tell which ones were gifts the same year!!!). I still continue to receive perfume bottles as gifts and I am always looking to buy bottles wherever I go! If I see something that is unique and has lots of color and/or facets in it, I MUST have it for my collection! 

As most of you know, I don't get out very often so it's important for me to surround myself with beautiful items. I just love looking at them all. Whether then are on the mantle, in a china cabinet, on a display stand or in my bedroom, there are perfume bottles EVERYWHERE in my house! I have many different collections and I sincerely hope I'll get a chance to show you some of my other collections like glass eggs, vintage/antique colored glass items and many more! I hope you enjoy my choice of perfume bottles to share with you! 

One last thing: I may not know exactly what year these bottles came from or exactly what they are made of. I just know they are BEAUTIFUL and I love beautiful things! You don't have to be a historian to be a collector. As long as you love what you collect, you're doing something right!!!"

 Swarovski Crystal Rainbow Perfume Bottle from the Collection of Erin Buffaline

Blue AB Bottle With Clear Bird Stopper - Erin Buffaline Collection

Alexandrite Color Changing Glass Ornate Etched Perfume Bottle, Erin Buffaline Collection

Beautiful LALIQUE Pink AB Heart Shaped Bottle appears to have a floating iridescent heart 
clear stopper, Erin Buffaline Collection

Teal Milk Glass Perfume Bottle,Erin Buffaline Collection 

Erin Buffaline Collection

The Beauty and Art of Perfume Bottles

Few accessories can evoke the vivid memories aroused by the vision and scent of a classic perfume bottle.  This month, Jewelry Ring Fashion will explore this very decorative and functional object.

Perfume has been with us since ancient times, and its containing vessels are many and varied.  Due to the nature of perfume (its strong scent, oils and addition of alcohol), glass is the material most often used to contain it.  The designs are endless and endlessly fascinating.  Notable designers, such as Lalique and the artisans of Baccarat, have produced miniature works of collectable art in this genre. 

Perfume bottles have some wonderful connections to the world of vintage costume jewelry.  For example, in addition to her highly-coveted fashion jewelry, Coco Chanel’s No. 5 is one of the most famous scents ever produced.  Many designers and manufacturers known for their costume jewelry, such as Dan Kasoff of Florenza, also made perfume bottles, both as boutique items and for specific perfumes.

Be prepared for a visual delight as JR Fashion celebrates the marvelous perfume bottle!

Introduction contributed by Mary Ann Docktor-Smith of Mary Ann, Mary Ann Designs and Anna's Vintage Jewelry 

Hats Off to our Pinterest Board!

Dior 1960's Video & History of Hats

Some amazing hats from Dior, circa 1960's:

   


If you want to brush up on or learn more about the history of women's hats, the Vintage Fashion Guild is an excellent resource.
http://vintagefashionguild.org/fashion-history/the-history-of-womens-hats/

The Collection of Susan Corwin

"It all began with buttons. As a college student I began to frequent vintage/antique shops and became fascinated by buttons. The variety of styles and materials was impressive. They were also small and affordable, so I began to collect them.

When I learned about the semi-annual Vintage Clothing Show in my area, I went in search of buttons. But there was so much more to see! Vintage jewelry, fabric, clothing, hats. So, little by little, I began to add other things to my collection. Hats were just fun! And it was, and still is, a buyer's market because not many people wear hats these days. (A tip of the hat to Pharrell Williams for recently bringing attention to hats once again.)

I fell in love with the flamboyant styles incorporating feathers, fabric flowers, ribbons, beads, and other embellishments.

I do wear my hats to special events, and I wear a different hat for luck once a week when I play team trivia at a local pub."

Many thanks to Susan Corwin for sharing the history and some great examples from her collection.

You can see more examples of her collection at our Pinterest Vintage Hats Group Board

Bonbon Hat - Unknown Maker

Dior Hat

Jack McConell Hat

Hat by Mr. John

Purple Hat by Mr. John

Schiaparelli Floral Cap

Seaweed Hat

Floral Meadow Hat

Basketry Hat

Blue Wide Brim Summer Hat

We tip our HATS!

What do Queen Elizabeth II, Indiana Jones, and the late Jackie Kennedy have in common?  Appearances in their ever-present and iconic hats, of course!

Hats are “topping” the Jewelry Ring Fashion list this month, as members share images and learn more about this ubiquitous and versatile accessory.  Designed for all ages, fashionable women and men adore wearing hats.   The list of materials used, and the variety of hat styles is almost endless, as is the range of hat colors.  Whether making a statement, accenting an outfit, or simply worn for protection from the sun, the perfect hat presents a chic, fashionable look. 

Whether called a chapeau, a cappello, a hut, or a sombrero, decorative and functional hats are worn around the globe, and appear as an adornment in nearly every culture.  Let’s go to the “head” of the class, with Jewelry Ring Fashion’s exploration of the wonderful world of hats!

Introduction contributed by Mary Ann Docktor-Smith of Mary Ann, Mary Ann Designs and Anna's Vintage Jewelry

The incredible workmanship in the making of a man's custom hat.

Optimo Hat Company from Optimo Hats on Vimeo.

Pin Away from Antique & Vintage Purse Pinterest Board

Holland's Purse Museum

Did you know there is a Purse Museum in Holland? When in Europe make sure to visit the "Tassenmuseum Hendrikje" for a visual treat and tea in their lovely tea room. Or just make yourself a cup of tea and browse their site.

Besides all the eye candy, their website has excellent information to help you date and identify antique, vintage and contemporary designer purses. The Timeline is an excellent source of information. Once you click on the first image, it unfolds to show many more examples. If you like purses you will love their site.

 

Purses from books

Wonderful idea for all those beautiful old books beyond repair. I have a list to add to my library!


 

Exquisite Beaded Purses : The Collection of Barbara Jones

    I have been collecting these beauties for many years now. Some I won on Ebay, (including Germany and France Ebay), and others I found in antique shops. Most of them needed some type of repair and I was lucky enough to have a best friend who was an antique purse restorer. I fell in love with purses during the many times I would be visiting in her home as she was opening large boxes received from Big League purse collectors, that had been sent to her for restoration. She was a great teacher and helped me understand all the fine nuances of each individual purse, the repairs needed, the resale value, as well as how important the frames are when it came to complementing the purse as well as adding value to it.


    I will never forget this phenomenal purse I was so fortunate to see. It had been sent to her from The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC for repair (she was THAT good!), and displayed the major players signing The Declaration of Independence, all done in beads the size of grains of sand!! That purse was insured for (at that time), $5,000.00 I can assure you it would be worth much more today. Some items never decrease in value! Unfortunately, my friend developed arthritis in her thumbs and within several years was out of the restoration business. Consequently, my collecting has been limited somewhat,  to those that need only minor repair. I possess many more purses which have not been shown, some in various need of repair, and yes, I do have referral names and info. if anyone should need them.


    Looking back I really believe it was the jeweled purse frames, that created my fascination with “jewels” and catapulted me into the world of VCJ, and I must admit I never looked back.  I went through a period of high drama and glitz (think D&E), and some years later began drifting towards those truly creative masterpieces which came from Czechoslovakia (more of that to come)!!


    In the meantime, I wish to thank Judi and her helpers for all the work they do and for asking me to be featured for this particular JR Fashion category… Now, let’s bring on the hats!!!!!!

    Barbara Jones
    http://www.rubylane.com/shop/myfinestthings
    & Private Collector

Many thanks to Barbara for sharing her collection and it's history with us. Here a few more examples:

Flowers, Bees and Beehive antique beaded purse. Barbara Jones Collection

A gift from a friend in Germany - Reticule purse. Barbara Jones Collection

Antique Asian theme micro-beaded purse with jeweled, raised clasp. 

Barbara Jones Collection.

Micro beaded bird w/grapes motif. Notice the ends of the frame are also of similar theme.
Barbara Jones Collection

Lovely micro bead, bird purse. Barbara Jones Collection.

Micro bead scenic reticule, altered to fit the frame.
Barbara Jones Collection

Antique micro bead floral. My largest purse at 14 1/2 inches!
Barbara Jones Collection

A Collector's History - Pat Seal

The first purse, rich in family history, Whiting & Davis

It all began many years ago in the 1960's when I received my Mother's Whiting and Davis enamel bag. I thought that it was so lovely and it meant a great deal to me because it was my Mother's purse and one that she carried and used about 1927. It now belongs to my only daughter, Dianne.

 I then began to notice others while I was out searching for vintage jewelry which I buy and sell and they just sort of clung to me and whispered to me until I adopted them and took them home. What else could I do?

I have about 100 purses in my collection including several that I bought new from the 1960's into the 1980's but I do not have pictures of them at this time.  

I consider them to be "works of art" deserving of preservation for coming generations of collectors.

Fabulous Enameled
Mesh with Exotic Bird Design, Whiting & Davis

Art Nouveau Silver
Plated Frame on a
Cut Steel Suede Leather
Purse, ca.1895

Enameled Mesh Mandalian Purse - note the detail on the fringe.

Unmarked Mandalian Mesh purse.

Rare Beadlite Purse by Whiting & Davis

Very Fine Beaded
Bag Marked "CALVAIRE"
Made In France---Also
Contains Original Owner's
Calling Cards---

Lovely Beaded Bag
W/Butterflies and Flowers
Marked CAROLEE

Cathedral Top
Mesh Bag Marked
Sterling, R.Blackington

Many thanks to Pat Seal, Collector of Antique & Vintage Purses for sharing her history and beautiful collection. She is also a Collector and Dealer of Antique & Vintage Jewelry. Visit Pat's Collection of Vintage Jewelry.

See more of Pat's and our members purse collections at our Vintage Purses Pinterest Board

Have Purse, Will Travel (by Jet)

Vintage 1950's purses, video by Vidcat

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It's In The Bag!

Mandalian Purse

The Jewelry Ring Fashion Blog is thrilled to announce its inaugural subject:

Vintage Purses

Call it a purse, a handbag or a pocketbook (or maybe even your man-purse), most of us consider this item to be an indispensable part of everyday life.  Whether you’ve had the same old standby since the beginning of time, or a wardrobe of bags to match every outfit, chances are, there’s at least one vintage purse hanging out in your closet.

Making a first appearance during the mid-1800s, this essential fashion accessory is definitely here to stay. Whether in leather or pleather or plastic, made with fabric, sequins, straw or beads, we LOVE our bags.  And now, the Jewelry Ring fashionistas are excited to share their vintage purses!

Contributed by Mary Ann Docktor-Smith of Mary Ann, Mary Ann Designs and Anna's Vintage Jewelry