800 Jefferson St.       Burlington, IA 52601-5432      

Happy Spring! Hope everyone got lots of chocolate from the Easter Bunny. He visited our house a week early and brought me my favorite…..two bags of Cadbury mini eggs. Good thing Easter only comes once a year, and good thing Cadbury mini eggs are only available for a short time, if you know what I mean.

There are lots of new things to see at the Old Stone Mill. We have recently brought in railroad lanterns, lots of nice costume jewelry, old automobile advertising booklets, tins, crocks, and MUCH more. If you haven’t been here for awhile, come and see us!

~ Linda

• Eunice Carner and her husband have joined our mall as new dealers this month. Look for their items in a showcase in the Annex. Their dealer number is 7. They have some very nice EAPG glass, musical instruments, games, Depression glass, and more. We are thrilled to have them join our business!
• Currently Running Discounts and Specials
  
  • Dealer #17 - 10% off all Occupied Japan items
  • Dealer #21 - 50% off all items with a purple slash on the tag
  • Dealer #27 - 10% off all merchandise, 20% off all books
  • Dealer #52 - 20% off all quilts
  • Dealer #60 - 20% off all items

Costume jewelry refers to jewelry made of inexpensive non-precious metals and stones. It was first introduced by clothing designers and made to complement pieces in their collections. It was never meant to last long, and would be discarded when the clothing wore out or the fashions changed. Costume jewelry gained popularity during the 1920s when expensive materials were hard to come by immediately after the war. Because the materials used in its manufacture were low cost, designers were free to produce elaborate designs that would be too costly if made from precious stones and metals.

Some costume jewelry also served a practical purpose. Pins or clips called chatelaines held useful items such as keys, glasses, perfume, or lipstick, and was attached at the wrist or waist. Lockets worn around the neck could hold coins. Clip pins worn at the neck of a dress or blouse had a large safety pin that hung inside the bodice and held money. The real evolution of costume jewelry came because it was a fashion accessory.

Although many pieces of costume jewelry are unmarked, making it difficult to identify or date, many pieces bear a maker’s mark. Some popular makers with collectors are Trifari, Coro, Weiss, Eisenberg, Lisner, Sarah Coventry, and Miriam Haskell. There are many more. If you wish to begin a collection, a good book on the subject is the place to start. Some excellent reference books on the subject are available through our website.

Here are some more examples of the fantastic costume jewelry pieces offered by dealers at the Old Stone Mill.

Our featured item this month is an old tin from the Crescent Macaroni and Cracker Company in Davenport, Iowa. The lid is hinged on the back side. This nice piece of eastern Iowa history is offered by dealer #17 at a price of $45.00.

If you have a question regarding antiques and collectibles, please ask.  Previous questions and answers can be found here.