Unique Vintage Finds at Bumbershoot Supplies: A Brief History of Banana Bob

Years ago, Bumbershoot Supplies purchased a large amount of vintage rhinestone and metal components originally made for the Banana Bob company. We are now making these very limited components available as Unique Vintage Finds on our website and in the unique finds section in our Etsy store. There are different items in both places, so be sure to check both out. 

 It's always fun  to see how vintage jewelry components were originally used. With that in mind, we thought we'd share a few Banana Bob pieces from our collection, plus a bit about Banana Bob in general. You will find some of the components in these pieces available on our websites, if they have not already sold. 

Made in the 1980s and 1990s, designed by former figure skater Annie Venditti, Banana Bob jewelry is famous for the intricate components and detailed layered designs. All of the jewelry was handmade, including gluing and setting rhinestones, hand enamelling and soldering metal layers, and as you can imagine it was very time intensive. The company no longer is in operation, due partly to the enormous amount of time to create the pieces which cut steeply into profits. But the jewelry remains and is still very popular among collectors and fans. If you click on the photos, you will get a larger version in which you will be able to see the components in more detail.

  

 With Banana Bob, jewelry designs are often themed and elaborate. Designs are often asymmetrical as well. Banana Bob jewelry was made from very fine elements such as Swarovski crystal rhinestones and US made brass findings. Banana Bob jewelry is definitely for people who wish to stand out in a crowd! 

Many of the components were created specifically for use in the Banana Bob designs. You can often find layers of filigrees bent and soldered into unique components or set rhinestones soldered onto connectors. We have quite a few Banana Bob components in stock at Bumbershoot Supplies. You can find them in special sections in our Etsy shop as well as on our website. These special items are limited, so get them while you can!

Featured Artist: Karen Troeh of CourtlyCharm on Etsy

Bumbershoot Supplies' latest featured artist is Karen Troeh of CourtlyCharm! Karen creates unique designs inspired by actual pieces from the medieval period through the Elizabethan era. Her years of experience creating pieces for renaissance festivals and plays is readily seen in these designs. 

Karen uses many different materials to create her designs, including set rhinestones, beads, filigrees, and wire-work.

Karen is very skilled at mixing metal work such as layered filigrees with pearls and rhinestones to create an opulent look. Many of her pieces are designed from historical pictures of crowns and jewelry worn by royalty.

Karen has shared a huge collection of her previous designs on her Pinterest board. We highly recommend perusing them for some regal inspiration. 

Be sure to check out Karen's shop! Whether you are really royal, or just wanting to look like it, you're sure to find a piece that will show the world how majestic you truly are.

Spanish Pearls: The History of Majorica Pearls

At Bumbershoot Supplies, we were very excited because we recently acquired a limited number of unfinished vintage bracelet strands made from Majorica pearls. But what are Majorica pearls and why are they special?

 

Off the coast of Spain, on the island of Majorca are made some the world's finest imitation pearls. The company, Marjorica, has been making beautiful faux pearls for over 100 years.

 

Established in 1890 and moved to the island in the early 1900s, founder Eduard Heusch set out to create pearls as good as the real ones but more attainable. It would not be until the 1920s and 1930s when cultured pearls would become more generally available on the market, and so there was room for Heusch's excellent alternative.

 

Throughout the twentieth century technological advances made it possible to produce more "Spanish pearls", as they were called, and at a higher quality.

source

Upon Heusch's death in 1937, his son took over the company and changed the name to "Majorica Pearls" in 1950, after the island where the pearls were produced. Majorica was the only company to produce faux pearls throughout World War II, due to Spain's neutrality, and the company exported over one million pearl strand necklaces to the United States during that time.

Majorica pearls have been long associated with beauty and refinement, and internationalization and glamour would continue to be the path for the company into the later half of the twentieth century. Majorica sponsored the Venice Film Festival in the 1960s where they associated their pearls with stars such as Sophia Loren.  Even today the brand continues to be associated with celebrities, as well as high end fashion and jewelry design.

 

If you visit the Majorica website, you can view a fascinating video showing how these pearls are made, from hand forming the crystal nucleus, to hand dipping in the secret "pearl essence" to checking, polishing and hand knotting.

 

If you would like to read more about the history of Majorica check out their timeline. To learn more about the process of making the pearls check out their website and this article Gemological Institute of America about Majorica pearls.

If you, like us, love vintage glass pearls you might also enjoy this post about glass pearls and Leonardo da Vinci's pearl recipe.

November's Birthstone: Topaz

Topaz Vintage Swarovski Crystal Rhinestone Navette.

November's birthstone is topaz.

 

The gemstone topaz comes in a couple of general color hues: "imperial" or "precious" topaz in shades of yellow, orange, and pink, and the blue topaz.  When it comes to vintage glass, generally the term "topaz" refers to the color of the glass, specifically the golden yellow shades and their variants.  We have a large collection of faux topaz glass at Bumbershoot Supplies and Bumbershoot Designs.

Dark Topaz Vintage Teardrop Rhinestone Earrings.

Light Topaz Vintage Swarovski Crystal Rose Montees.

Topaz Vintage Swarovski Crystal Diamond Shaped Rhinestones.

Real topaz gemstones are often mistaken with similarly colored quartz. Smokey topaz is often mislabeled quartz. In vintage glass, smokey topaz is a unique color that has been made into many spectacular cabochons and rhinestones.

Smoked Topaz Vintage Glass Cabochons.

Light Smoked Topaz Vintage Swarovski Octagon Rhinestones.

Smoked Topaz Vintage Deco Glass Rectangles.

Sometimes we'll come across vintage glass labeled as "Madeira" topaz; so named for it's deep reddish tones, reminiscent of the wine. Madeira topaz is a color unique to vintage glass stones - it is not an official color of topaz gemstones. 

Madeira Topaz Vintage Octagon Rhinestone.

Madeira Topaz Vintage Swarovski Rhinestones.

Madeira Topaz Vintage Swarovski Rhinestones. 

Topaz is Utah's state gemstone and blue topaz is the state gemstone for Texas. Topaz has been said to be a symbol of friendship. 

Topaz Vintage Swarovski Crystal Rhinestone Earrings.

Blue and Topaz Vintage Rhinestone Necklace with Dragonfly.

In 1870 Tiffany & Co. published a birthstone poem in one of their pamphlets. The poem for November goes: 
 

"Who first comes to this world below
In dreary November's fog and snow, 
Should prize the topaz amber hue, 

Emblem of friends and lovers true."

Topaz with Aurora Borealis Coating Vintage Swarovski Octagon Rhinestones.

For friendly inspiration, we invite you to browse our vintage faux topaz collections!

Topaz at Bumbershoot Supplies

Topaz at Bumbershoot Designs

Bumbershoot Designs and Supplies October 2013 Special for Newsletter Subscribers

Autumn leaves OR jack-o-lanterns and Halloween bats, free with purchase!
 

This October we couldn't decide which vintage cabochons to give our newsletter subscribers, so we're giving them their choice! If you can't wait for Halloween, then you might choose the vintage foil backed smilin' jack-o-lanterns and fanged bats. Or perhaps you love how autumn turns the leaves into shades like our vintage ruby and topaz cabochons.

Our newsletter subscribers can choose one of these samplers, free with any purchase at Bumbershoot Supplies or Bumbershoot Designs.  See your October 1 and October 15 newsletters for details and the coupon code.

Also, don't forget your 1-time free shipping offer that you received when you signed up for our newsletter.

And YES, you can combine specials. So you can have the vintage cabochons of your choice, plus the free shipping code you received upon signing up for the newsletter in the same order!

Not yet a newsletter subscriber? You can read past issues and you can sign up right here and get your free shipping and vintage cabochon sampler at your next purchase!

October's Birthstone: Opal

Vintage Fire Opal Harlequin Round Cabochons. 

October's birthstone is the opal.

The gemstone opal comes in many different hues, including warmly colored "fire opals" as well as striking blues. Vintage glass also displays a rich variety of hues made to mimic the various types of gemstone opal. We have a large collection of faux opal glass at Bumbershoot Supplies and Bumbershoot Designs. Typical among this style of glass are those that have a colored base, speckled with different colors of glass and foil, often with a layer of clear glass on top to provide a magnifying effect.

Vintage Ruby Red Fire Opal Pear Cabochons.

Vintage Blue Green Opal Cabochon.

Common gemstone opals, with their distinctive milky opacity also have inspired glass makers, resulting in a type of glass that is translucent with a golden glowing and sometimes fiery presentation. This type of glass is sometimes referred to as opaline, and the degree of fire varies from subtle to flashing.

Vintage Japanese Cherry Brand Opaline Glass Beads.

Vintage Opaline Leaf Cabochons.

You will also sometimes find these two types of glass worked together, a milky glass layer applied over a foil studded and speckled base.

Vintage Opal Glass Teardrop Rhinestones.

Opals have been the source of much folklore and superstition over the years.  Sometimes said to provide good luck and clarity to the wearers, they also have been associated with bad luck and death. 
 

Vintage Fire Opal Gold Filigree Cocktail Ring.

In 1870 Tiffany & Co. published a birthstone poem in one of their pamphlets. The poem for October goes: 

"October's child is born for woe,
And life's vicissitudes must know,
But lay an opal on her breast,

And hope will lull those woes to rest."

For hopeful inspiration, we invite you to browse our vintage faux opal collections!

Opals at Bumbershoot Supplies

Opals at Bumbershoot Designs

New at Bumbershoot Supplies: Cheery Cherry Brand Vintage Japanese Beads

Here at Bumbershoot Supplies, we've been 'oohing and ahhing' over a new shipment of gorgeous vintage Cherry Brand beads. With bright cherry reds, vintage turquoise and creamy pastels the bead colors look like they've been picked while standing in front of a candy counter. (Please don't try to lick them though!) Cherry Brand beads were handcrafted in Osaka during the late 1940s -- you can read more about their history in our blog post here.

In addition to regular round beads we also have 'baroque' beads. Unevenly formed with lots of interesting texture to the surface, these beads will truly enhance any design. 

We're drawing out the last days of summer with these bright beads. Guaranteed to brighten anyone's day! 

Shop our Cherry Brand Collection at Bumbershoot Supplies.