From a Tomb and Sweet Things

It’s not often antiquities pass through my hands, but recently a friend gave me this little box of old (really old) enchanting Egyptian bits and bobs that belonged to her grandmother. (Thank you dear friend.)

It was her grandmother’s handwritten note that intrigued me the most: “From an Egyptian tomb 6000 years old – 1884.”

Now I have no idea if anything in this box is actually 6000 years old and from an Egyptian tomb, but it’s fun pondering it. The 1800s were certainly a period of time when Egyptian artifacts were, shall we say, liberated from Egypt and made their way to foreign shores.

There was a collection of crude metal rings with bits of stone (possibly turquoise) but were they 6000 years old?? Seemed unlikely, but they do have some age and look rather cool when worn together.

And there were all-stone, slightly damaged things…a small scarab, a ankh? ring, a pendant and a crude bead.

Could these be the really, really old bits?? These seemed a possibility. But to be honest, how does one prove age and provenance from a note scrap? It’s an interesting problem that I’ve not encountered before. Not sure what I’m going to do with these yet. 🙂

But I have been busy listing some sweet things, some bought over a year ago(!)…like this tiny 1950s sorority/fraternity pin is 10K gold with little pearls and rubies (or garnets). If I’m reading the Greek correctly, this pin is for Sigma Alpha Sigma.

And I bought this unique piece of art from a nun’s estate and have been enjoying it this past year. Isn’t she lovely? It’s a 1969 rendition of “The Beautiful Madonna from Kruzlowa” from Warsaw, Poland, and appears to have been painted on an old terracotta roofing tile.

While pawing through my baskets of inventory I pulled out this antique crocheted bodice top. Originally this would have been attached to an Edwardian cotton or linen camisole or nightgown. I was enchanted by this piece while out antiquing in Pennsylvania last February with my friend Lauri. It was wonderful to find one in such beautiful condition.

And not so long ago I bought this small Italian micro-mosaic pin at a local boutique thrift store. I knew it was priced too high for me to make much profit and I still bought it! Well it was an older pin (with a C clasp) and the glass tiles were so small. Newer pieces often look crude in comparison.

Now if this pin had been one of doves, buildings, bees or people it would have been worth every penny, but the theme of flowers and flourishes is a common one. During the era of the Grand Tour of Europe these were sold by the scores.  Still I’m hoping someone might be charmed by it. If not I’ll wear it as a pendant.

Wishing you all happy hunting,

Karen