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Expert in vintage costume jewelry from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s & 1950s

Colorful wood bead purse by Schonanek
Close-up view of bag front
Back of wood-beaded bag
Close-up view of bag back and handle

Colorful Wood Bead Purse by Schonanek

$150.00

MAKER: Schonanek

SIZE: 6" x 8 3/4" (not including handle)

CONDITION: Excellent

DATE: 1930s?

MARKS: "Original Schonanek, the World's Best Product" & "Made in Czechoslovakia"

REFERENCE:

This wood bead purse was made by Schonanek in the former Czechoslovakia. It features beads in various shapes and sizes, with single-color bands set within each other to form the oval shape. In the center is a pattern of three flowers. The same pattern is repeated on the back. A triple row of flat-bottomed round black beads forms top handle. The bag has a zipper closure and a lining of black faille with a pocket on one side. The maker’s label is intact. Just a fun piece!

FREE SHIPPING to the United States and Canada

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Colorful Wood Bead Purse by Schonanek

$150.00 USD
Why Buy Vintage Costume Jewelry?

One reason is that it’s environmentally friendly. Resale fashion and vintage jewelry has become a preferred sustainable and affordable shopping choice by today’s discerning fashion and eco-conscious consumer.

Another major reason is the quality. Although vintage costume jewelry was made for all levels of the marketplace – from dime stores to high-end fashion boutiques and jewelry stores – you will find only the best pieces here. They were well-designed and carefully made to last. The manufacturers represented here used only the finest materials – glass stones and beads from Bohemia, Austria, and France, and faux pearls from France and Japan. Settings were primarily sterling silver, gold-filled, or base metals heavily plated with gold, silver, or rhodium. Stones were hand-set, and pieces were hand-finished.

The northeastern part of the U.S. was the center of the industry, with the largest companies located in Providence, Rhode Island by the end of World War II. During the Depression, the quality of costume pieces climbed to new levels when many jewelers and craftsmen had to switch to this segment of the industry. In addition, it attracted many skilled workers who fled the political situation in Europe for the U.S. For these reasons, designs and manufacturing techniques rivaled those employed in the making of fine jewelry.

A third reason to buy costume jewelry is its uniqueness. Having survived for so many decades in such wonderful condition and having been selected for their aesthetic quality, the pieces you’ll find here are unlikely to be found elsewhere.

True vs Fake - how to shop vintage costume jewelry with confidence

Barbara Schwartz, a noted costume jewelry historian, is the author of "True vs Fake" , an in-depth blog series providing examples of how vintage costume jewelry can be accurately attributed. She also shares tips on how to avoid being duped into buying misidentified vintage costume jewelry.