Heart Jewelry a Valentine Would Love

Happy Valentine’s Day! Celebrate with an antique or vintage gift of a heart. Ancient Greeks believed the heart was the center of human emotion. It represented devotion, love and loyalty. Later, during the Renaissance, hearts were used in religious art, tapestries and paintings, and even on playing cards. In the 1700s, it represented other kinds of love – charity, romantic love and love of family. And by the end of the 1800s, it was a design on Valentine’s Day cards and postcards.

In the 1600s to 1700s, heart jewelry became popular. Designs and materials have changed, but the heart has remained a classic jewelry theme. Here are 10 pieces of antique and vintage heart jewelry any Valentine would love.

 

 

 

 

1.  The most famous piece of Bakelite jewelry is the red Bakelite “Key to My Heart” pin, also known as the “MacArthur Heart.” It was worn by a model on the cover of the April 28, 1941, Life magazine, and became a popular piece of “sweetheart” jewelry during World War II. Women donated their metal to the war effort and wore plastic jewelry to remember their soldiers. This one sold for $546, but some have sold for more.

2.  This sterling silver and black onyx bracelet, marked “925, Taxco, Mexico,” sold at auction in Florida for the bargain price of only $30.

3.  A pin this shape is called a “witch’s heart.” Witches hearts were an early Victorian token given to a loved one, as a symbol of a “bewitching.” This one is made of granite tablets in a silver frame with a citrine accent stone. It brought $275 in a Boston auction.

4.  Lalique made this heart glass pendant. It hangs from an 18-inch 14K gold chain and sold for $185 at a Michigan auction.

5.  This sterling silver pin is marked “Denmark, Georg Jensen.” The simple 1-inch heart is accented by two leafy branches. It was made in the late 1940s to early 1950s and sold for $366 in Detroit.

6.  Judith Leiber is known for her crystal beaded purses, but her company also designed this bracelet. The heart-shaped pendant with her signature crystals in red hangs from a chunky 8 1/4-inch sterling silver link chain. It sold at auction for just over $300.

7.  These whimsical vintage gold tone metal heart earrings are decorated with faux amber and rubies and have dangling charms. The earrings are marked Isabel Canovas (France). They were bought for $521 in New York.

8.  This 1 1/2-inch Art Nouveau pin is 18K gold with a moonstone heart, seed pearls and tiny ruby accents. It brought $368 at a Boston sale.

9.  This double heart pin has red and black pate-de-verre (glass paste) hearts surrounded by pate-de-verre stones. It’s Gripoix by Yves St. Laurent, made in 1965, 3 1/4 by 2 1/4 inches, and brought $915 at a sale in New York.

10. A buyer with a higher budget took home this gold Cartier pin designed as a target with a coral bull’s eye pierced by an arrow with diamond feathers. It measures 1 1/4 inch and sold for just over $5,000 in Boston.

 


 

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