Bergere: Vintage Jewelry Ad Pics

As I mentioned below in my article on Bergere jewelry, Bergere ran some beautiful full page ads in magazines such as Vogue and Harpers Bazaar. Some of them were so beautiful, I wanted to share.








My vintage multicolored Bergere necklace can be purchased at pavintage.etsy.com

Anonymous Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. The rains fall soft upon your fields and, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Is the Celtic Knot really Irish?

The Celtic or interlacing knot pattern is found as early 300 BCE, in Roman floor mosaics. There is no evidence however of this motif in pre CE Ireland. Are we to then assume that the Celtic knot is not of Irish origin? Maybe. Or maybe not.

It is important to keep in mind that many cultures of that time worked with wood. Because wood does not stand the test of time, it is not impossible that the Celtic knot was used in countries, such as Ireland, earlier on making it difficult to say with certainty that the knot originated in Rome. It is known that many cultures used an interlacing knot patterns. Examples can be found in Islamic, Coptic, Russian, Byzantine, Ethiopian, and European architecture, art, and, in medieval times, book illumination.

Spiral patterns, as well as key and step patterns, were strong design elements in Celtic art preceding the Christian influence on Ireland which began in the 4th century BCE. From there these patterns found their way in the early Christian illuminated manuscripts where they were combined with delicate lettering, flowers, plants and animals to create some of the most beautiful books ever produced.

It is difficult to say exactly what the knot represented in antiquity but because of its prominent placement on Irish and other western European headstones and monuments we can assume that it had a symbolic as well as decorative significance in those cultures. Looking at the Celtic knot through modern eyes we cannot help but to see the similarity with the figure eight eternity sign current used in mathematics and elsewhere.

Did the early Celts have a concept of eternity? I'm sure that some scholars can answer that question but in my opinion the Celts had their own concept of the eternal. Not in a mathematical sense perhaps but in a way that was practical but no less profound. Their culture and others of that time had a keen appreciation of cycles and seasons and the endlessness of nature. Something we as modern people, insulated in houses and offices, no longer appreciate fully. In my opinion, it is our loss.

On this St. Patrick's day I hope that it anyone reading this will do more than drink and wear green beads and funny hats. Listen to Irish music. Go outside and look at the stars or the grass turning green underneath your feet. Think about the cycle of days and weeks and life. Really appreciate what it is and what it meant to be not only Irish but Celt.

Spring Green Celtic Knot Bracelet

I just posted a new item on etsy (bijoulerie.etsy.com). It is handcrafted from emerald green and clear Swarovski crystals, copper, Czech glass and vintage beads. The Celtic knot charm is handmade from 100% copper. A nice combo of faux pearls and green and clear beads are placed on copper plated memory wire in a 4 strand design. I think it's a great spring piece!

new sale item: bergere necklace

I found a really lovely estate sale necklace this weekend. Although I didn't know this when I snapped it up, it is made by Bergere (accent mark over the 2nd e) a company doing business from the 1940s to 70s and is well worth collecting.

My newly acquired Bergere necklace is made of hand knotted ceramic beads in a full palette of delicate summer colors. Each bead is unique with soft splashes of color in a spatter or ink flow type pattern. The the necklace has weight and good quality hand knotted cord. It is in excellent shape by anyone's standards. I love it, really want to keep it, but am going to put it on Etsy anyway - hopefully this week.

I found out a lot about the company unable to date the necklace exactly. My gut feeling is that this piece is 50s to 60s but I can't back that up. I'm going to do my best of course. When I buy jewelry - or anything vintage - I want to know everything I can about the item and this is as much a matter of interest as it is of resale importance.

About Bergere: Bergere was known to produce high quality costume jewelry from 1946 to 1979. Vogue and Hapers Bazaar ads from the period are lovely full page magazine placements featuring a wide variety of necklace and bracelet designs. It was sold at high quality department stores such as Nordstroms, Lord & Taylor and Marshall Fields. The company name was most likely inspired by the Bergere Folies a French opera house of its fame and popularity from the 1890s through the 1920s. Considered scandalous in its day it is still operational as of 2009.

Ceramic pieces in the Bergere line are relatively rare. I have not been able to find my piece anywhere online. It is an absolutely perfect summer piece with unique multicolored beads that will coordinate with any outfit and can be worn for both casual and dressy occasions. I will be offering it for sale in my etsy vintage store, pavintage.etsy.com, within the next few days.

red hat society necklace

I've been busy. Mostly ordering supplies and designing. I have a few things planned. Am ready to move on to spring and summer pieces but have a commission for a necklace and bracelet to finish first. The necklace is similar to the heart necklace, which has been well received but not sold, and a matching bracelet. The new necklace will have purple and red Swarovski's, fresh water pearls, and gold fill as opposed to the vintage chain used in the heart necklace. The bracelet will be similar but with a 3 strand memory wire. I chose memory wire for the bracelet because it will be an attention getter.

The necklace and bracelet colors are important because my customer belongs to the Red Hat Society. I am obviously hoping that other red hats will like her necklace and bracelet and place orders. Or I think I'm hoping they will place orders. Recreating the same necklace or bracelet isn't really my thing and I would have to make significant changes in deference to customer #1 also which can be a little sticky when people want 'one of those.'

Still commissions are great and I'm happy to have one. I am hoping to make a similar necklace for my etsy store. I have learned a little about the Red Hat Society too and I wanted to share some of that.

The Red Hat Society is quite simply a social group for ladies over 50. As I understand it, volunteer work is not the purpose of the group. Instead it focuses on fostering friendship between women in the 50+ demographic, though younger women may join as pink hats. The ladies dress in red hats and purple dresses to all of their functions. Functions include luncheons, dinners and tea parties. The purple dress, red hat combo is an idea taken from a poem by an English poet, Jenny Joseph.

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat that doesn't go and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.

This isn't the whole poem, but as much of it as a quick online search yields. It's a great poem and I think it captures what the group is about very well. I would love to join!

the valentine necklace that wasn't

The new necklace was supposed to be done for Valentines. Instead it was finished last night. Still better late than never. And I like it. And there is always next year too, of course. Also I can still list it in my etsy shop as well as my website.

The necklace has deep garnet red Swarovski crystals, fresh water pearls, vintage chain and gold fill wire. It's a little unusual design wise because it alternates diamond shapes and oval. I think it hangs well, also.

I'm hoping to get the pictures taken this week. I feel that I'm not getting anywhere near enough done. But while there are a couple of different reasons for that, the main one is that I will take things apart and redo them if I have to. Sometimes more than once.

I had an art instructor once who told us about chasing a bad drawing. And he was right. Sometimes its better to just start over. And that's how I feel about jewelry. If it's not quite right in a design sense, change it. Because, for me at least, design is much more important than technique or materials.

So the valentine necklace that wasn't wasn't because I finished it and then took it apart. Also because I wanted a vintage clasp and that sometimes involves a search. Though now having found the clasp and put it on, I'm not sure if it's quite right. It's a nice piece overall however, and I'm happy with it even if I don't sell it till next year!