{"product_id":"new-england-glass-works-vintage-silver-metal-crystal-rhinestone-enamel-orchid-brooch-vbr219","title":"Recently Sold (VBR219)","description":"\u003cp\u003eNew England Glassworks - Vintage Signed 'NE' Pot Metal Crystal Rhinestone Floral Enamel Brooch. This gorgeous brooch is crafted from pot metal, signed NE in a chalice cartouche. This brooch features round cut rhinestones, enamel work, vintage styling, and quality craftsmanship. The brooch is made in the form of orchid flowers. The flowers are enameled in a beautiful lavender color, and adorned by bright sparkling crystals. The leaves are decorated in green enamel, which looks lovely against the lavender colored flowers. The entire piece showcases exquisite detail throughout. The back of the brooch has a matt finish and it's original safety pin type-hinge, and an early rotary catch closure. The vintage brooch is unique and looks stunning when worn. Truly a highly collectible piece to be enjoyed for many years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComments: This is a beautiful example of the jewelry that was made by New England Glassworks Company. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistory: \u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe maker's mark of initials NE inside what is variously described as a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003egoblet or chalice\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e (I think wine glass, which would be appropriate if they made many pieces using the pearls for grapes) is for the New England Glass Works Co.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003eThis is a beautiful vintage \u003cem\u003ebrooch marked\u003c\/em\u003e with \u003cem\u003eNE\u003c\/em\u003e inside of a chalice. This \u003cem\u003esignature\u003c\/em\u003ewas used by the New England \u003cem\u003eGlass\u003c\/em\u003e Works Company between 1911 and 1958.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003eNew England Glass Works \u003cb\u003eoperated in Providence, RI from about 1911 to 1958\u003c\/b\u003e. It became Rice Weiner in 1938, yet continued stamping it's jewelry with the original \"NE\" Chalice logo. Distinctive cast metal pieces are often in filigree floral and foliage designs set with colorful glass stones and \/ or rhinestones.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e \u003cb\u003eEnamel jewelry has been around since the 13th century B.C.E.\u003c\/b\u003e Since then, it has evolved and branched out, going in and out of fashion as jewelry trends changed. Enamel jewelry bridges the gap between fine art and jewelry design, blending elements of painting, chemistry, and metallurgy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003eJoseph Strasser could be credited with the precursor to our present-day Rhinestone, but it was really when \u003cb\u003eGeorg Freidrich Strass in 1760 invented the first ever rhinestone (artificial gemstone) from a special type of crystal found in the Rhine River that the stones we know today were born\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen used to produce jewelry, pot metal is an alloy often made from tin and lead. It is also known as white metal in the jewelry industry, although the color is dull silver when it is not plated. Pot metal is also referenced as base metal since it can be plated with other metals to give it a more polished look. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe name pot metal comes from the use of a smelting pot to make molten material from scraps of different types of metals. The resulting alloy was suitable for casting many objects, including toys, hardware, and jewelry settings. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the 1930s, pot metal was widely used to make a variety of jewelry types in the United States. Most of these pieces were not plated as a cost-saving measure for both manufacturers and consumers during those lean times. Pot metal pieces range from inexpensive dime store items to large brooches marketed by companies like Eisenberg. The designs can be elaborately decorated with rhinestones, cold-painted to add color, or rather plain with few embellishments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the main types of jewelry made using pot metal during the 1930s was the dress clip. While the dress clip qualifies as a type of brooch, these pieces of jewelry feature a single, hinged clip on the back rather than a pin back and clasp. They sometimes come in pairs and can be highly decorative. Dress clips were often worn in “V” necklines or at the corners of square necklines. In addition to dress clips, other items like earrings and necklaces were also made using pot metal. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the Depression era, it was less common to find pot metal jewelry offered for sale. Most pieces made in the early 1940s or later were made of sterling silver or base metal plated with gold, silver, or rhodium. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.worthpoint.com\/worthopedia\/vintage-eisenberg-original-pot-metal-2096065991\"\u003ePot metal\u003c\/a\u003e jewelry is identified by the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.worthpoint.com\/worthopedia\/lidz-bros-dress-clip-siam-oriental-2072351011\"\u003edull silver\u003c\/a\u003e look of the metal, almost like pewter, when viewed from the back. While the metal may appear to be tarnished silver at first glance, the surface will not gleam brightly when polished like sterling silver or silver-plated jewelry. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArt Deco influences were frequently interpreted in pot metal, including many \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.worthpoint.com\/worthopedia\/vintage-red-clear-rhinestone-art-deco-1849313699\"\u003edress clip\u003c\/a\u003e designs. Coro was known for making convertible \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.worthpoint.com\/worthopedia\/vintage-art-deco-coro-duette-signed-3848104918\"\u003eDuette brooches\u003c\/a\u003e that could be worn together using a pin back or separated into two dress clips. Trifari produced similar styles called Clip-Mates, although they were made using plated base metal. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany different costume jewelry companies marketed pot metal jewelry in the 1930s. Some of the costliest pieces in the collectors’ marketplace are huge brooches marked \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.worthpoint.com\/worthopedia\/vintage-eisenberg-original-pot-metal-2095534508\"\u003eEisenberg Original\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.worthpoint.com\/worthopedia\/staret-rhinestone-enamel-glass-belly-512873793\"\u003eStaret\u003c\/a\u003e. Coro made some clever figural pieces during this period as well, some of which are \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.worthpoint.com\/worthopedia\/mint-vtg-adolph-katz-pot-metal-1948200072\"\u003epainted\u003c\/a\u003e. They are usually described as enameled, though the process is different.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany other American costume jewelry firms also produced pot metal designs, including \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.worthpoint.com\/worthopedia\/antique-art-deco-white-pot-metal-497351449\"\u003ebracelets\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.worthpoint.com\/worthopedia\/scarce-1930s-little-nemo-aquamarine-1657453874\"\u003enecklaces\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.worthpoint.com\/worthopedia\/art-deco-long-rhinestone-earrings-3853934751\"\u003eearrings\u003c\/a\u003e. One of the lesser-known firms is \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.worthpoint.com\/worthopedia\/antique-signed-n-little-nemo-pink-2105990545\"\u003eLittle Nemo\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasurements: Brooch 85.00 mm x 39.00 mm \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStone Size: Crystal Rhinestones 3.00 mm each \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeight: 29.70 grams \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition: Excellent \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOrigin: America, Rhode Island     Company: New England Glass Works Co. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDate: Circa 1920 \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarities Antique Jewelry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40039413579834,"sku":"VBR219","price":195.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0811\/5305\/files\/DSC_4673.jpg?v=1694130179","url":"https:\/\/raritiesantiquejewelry.com\/products\/new-england-glass-works-vintage-silver-metal-crystal-rhinestone-enamel-orchid-brooch-vbr219","provider":"Rarities Antique Jewelry","version":"1.0","type":"link"}