We wander the globe to source the beautiful and the unique. From vintage elements which we find in dusty basements to modern elements made by artisans from time honoured traditions. All our jewellery is lovingly made in our Sydney studio.
Create notably unique handmade jewellery from our vintage and retro beads, including chunky 1960s Lucite plastics, original 1970s wooden beads for macrame and 1980s clay beads, brass charms, sew on stones, cameos etc most of which are sourced globally from the former manufacturing hubs of Germany and former Czechoslovakia.We have delightful tales of purchasing sample ranges from retired Czech men who formally worked in the bead and jewellery trade. These men often speak little English, have vast knowledge, skill and expertise and like most from their generation store all their forgotten treasures in the house cellar. Other stock has been purchased at auctions and other random contacts.
Stock changes regularly and you will discover new treasures in the collection every time you visit us. They may be here today, and gone tomorrow! First in best dressed!
Our vintage stock is:
- Usually a combination of sample ranges & over productions which have never been sold or used;
- Circa 1920s to 1980s;
- A collection of one-of-a-kind pieces;
- Products include beads, settings, cabochons, buttons & jewellery;
- Materials include Czech glass & enamel, Swarovski© crystal, Lucite plastic,
- Are of a high quality & craftsmanship;
- Will make your designs unlike any others;
- and supplies are, of course, limited.
We Love Sustainable Style
Generally as a society we are becoming more mindful about our choices i.e.- conscious of choosing products which are made using artisan traditions and not mass produced,
- seeking quality over quantity
- things of beauty which have cultural or personal significance.
Glass and Plastic Cabochons (circa 1950s-1960s)
Most of our stocks originate from the Czech Republic, West Germany and Japan. A cabochon is a stone that is cut with a highly polished rounded or convex top with no faceting and a flat or slightly domed base. A cabochon may be cut in any shape, though oval is by far the most common. The term comes from the French caboche, meaning knob or small dome. Cabochons are usually a highly polished, convex shaped, un-faceted gem with a flat back for mounting.
HOW TO USE CABOCHONS:
- in a setting mount to create a brooch, ring or centerpiece;
- with a seed bead stitched bezel,
- wrap with wire or set them into PMC designs.
Cabochons are not beads, and do not have holes!
Lamp Glass Cabochons are made by hand over a glass worker’s burner which are hand moulded. They have been produced in the Czech Republic since the 18th C in colour combinations imitating natural precious and semi precious stones.
Other cabochons are copies of Limoges images, some are hand painted whilst others are decals on the domed surface. Cameos are avail in glass, porcelain and acrylic plastic.
Limoges
From detailed images of courtship scenes to signs of the zodiac our range of limoges are made in the former Western Germany, old Czecholslovakia and Austria. They are made of a plastic or glass base, with a decal image. There may be minor imperfections due to their age. Decal placement may vary.
These adorable cabochons are super sweet vintage finds!
SHOP VINTAGE: https://etelage.com/product-category/beads/vintage/