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Paste, according to
Antique Paste Jewellery by Malcolm David Samuel Lewis, is "glass which
has been cut into gem-like forms". They were used
extensively from the 1700s to the early 1900s and were a desired
material in themselves, not a replacement for diamonds and gem stones. Invented by
Georges Frederic Strass (1701-1773) in 1730, they could be set in
silver, sterling or gold and could have been foiled or unfoiled
(although 18th century paste was always foiled). Foiled pastes were
usually seen in closed-backed
settings where the foil provided added reflection and brilliance. Pastes
could be much more readily cut and shaped than diamonds, making a
close-fitting pave look achievable, and a variety of shaped and sized
stones makes a paste piece more desirable. Perfectly round stones will
not be found in the early and best paste jewelry, nor will claw settings
and knife-edge work. Cut down settings gave way to the coronet setting
only in the 19th century. Paste could be fashioned in different colors,
including an opaline cabochon similar to opals. Most paste came from
France, England, Spain or Portugal. Some later pieces were hallmarked.
The introduction of paste in 1730 made the term "Age of Paste"
applicable to the 18th century and their shimmer is as appealing today
as it was when they were made. According to
Antique Paste Jewellery, paste was only made from circa 1700-1865 but
the term has been more generalized to include pieces up to the 1930-40s,
and for some it is used to describe jewelry even later than that.
But beware... paste has been reproduced for many years and it can be
extremely difficult to distinguish old from new. Findings may also
be replacements so it is good, as always, to do your research
(references below) and buy from a reputable dealer.
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PASTE early clear rhinestones
monkey on a bar pin with coral ends, silver hallmark on the back, 7/8" by 1-1/3" circa
1900. View #Q32444 |
CLEAR "SGP
England" sterling silver and paste flower pin, articulated in three sections so
it has nice movement when worn. It has a safety
closure mechanism and is in excellent condition.
View
View #Y28704 |
STERLING
silver and paste brooch, a fish with a green eye, elongated c-catch,
probably European, 3-1/3".
View
#Y24352 |
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CLEAR rhinestone paste dangle
earrings with screw backs, circa 1920, 3". #Y32764 |
STERLING and paste floral
brooch with Georgian-style cut down setting on the larger stones, marked
"sterling silver" on the back, circa 1920, 2-1/3".
View #Y32779 |
SILVER girandole
clear rhinestone paste screw back earrings, 2-1/2".
View #Y26224
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PASTE pendant with jade center in teardrop silver setting with bow top, marked "800" on the
back, circa 1920, 1-5/8" total length.
View #Q33017 |
PASTE bracelet, hinged at one
side with "patent 17119" on safety catch, original box "Poile & Smith from
Pickett's Court Jewellers, 620 Oxford St. W.", bracelet 7" by 1/4".
View
View
View
View
View #Q33007 |
DECO clear paste earrings circa
1925 with new wires, earrings 1-1/3" total length 2".
View #Q32988 |
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PASTE
and sterling ring set in it's original original box with 5 paste
unfoiled stones that slip into the setting interchangeably, creating 5
different rings in red, aqua, purple, green and yellow, complete with
instructions. The ring is a size 8 and runs 1/2" along the finger, the
box is 4" by 1-3/4" wide and 1-1/4" deep. The slip with instructions and
the box it is all in are both original
View
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View #Q35501 |
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PASTE and sterling silver swallow brooch
set in heavy silver setting, marked "925" on the back, 2-1/2".
View #V33727 |
PASTE and artificial pearl
hinged bangle with lovely fleur-de-lis design on both sides, safety chain,
6-2/3" by 1/4".
View #V33683 |
PASTE earrings with green and
clear stones, earrings 1-1/4" by 5/8".
View #Q34050 |
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PASTE
green and clear bow pin set in sterling and marked "935", 2-1/8".
View
View #Q63854 |
VICTORIAN gilt photo pendant set with clear pastes, with photo compartment,
circa 1900, locket 1" and
loop 1/3". View #V35749 |
PASTE French paste dog pin with
green collar set in sterling, marked on the back "Bank France" and an
illegible hallmark, 1-5/8".
View
View #Q63836 |
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PASTE 1920s red paste and
marcasite silver bow pin in maroon box, brooch 1-7/8", box 2-3/4" by
1-1/2". View
View
View #Q36530 |
DECO
1920s half pearls and marcasite ring set in gold and silver, size 6 and 3/4"
along the finger. View
View #V36556 |
DECO Sydney Latimer boxed paste
purplish-red glass stones bar pin and ring in 9ct over sterling, the set in it's
original box, pin 2-1/4", ring size 7-1/4, stone 3/16" .
View
View
View
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View
View #Q36219 |
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PASTE locket with clear oval
sides and bow top, hinged on the back to open easily, marked "935" on back,
circa 1900,
1-5/8" by 1" on original 16" chain marked "silver" on the catch, circa
1920. View
View #Q33008 |
BASKET pin with pink, aqua,
blue and purple pastes and marcasites, European 800 silver circa 1900, 1-1/2".
Sometimes called "giardinetti" or little
gardens. View
#Q33105 |
EDWARDIAN sterling
silver and paste photo locket with bow top, marked on back 925 and
an illegible hallmark, circa 1900, two-sided, 1-5/8" total length by 1-1/8" wide.
Lockets like this can be seen in Benjamin's "Antique Jewellery" on page 70.
View
View #V32192 |
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RING 9ct and silver clear paste ring size 7-1/2"
and 5/8" long at the front as it lays on the finger. Marked inside "9ct &
sil", early 1900s.
View
View
View #G33515 |
PASTE locket pendant with bow top,
clear rhinestones and silver chain, bowed glass front, locket total length 3" by
1-5/8" wide, chain 17". This is larger than the usual paste locket and
will hold a nice sized photograph or two.
View
View #V34075 |
RING 9 ct yellow gold band ring
with green and clear pastes set in sterling top, size
9+ marked "9ct & sil", early 1900s, lays on the finger 3/4" long.
View
View #G33516 |
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PASTE
star brooch with maker's mark "SCP" and "England", 1-1/2" .
View
View #V35928 |
STERLING and paste brooch,
Cartier style, with molded glass beads and leaves and clear rhinestones, 2-1/4". View
#Q35358 |
RF STERLING Halley's comet pin
with clear paste rhinestones, 2-1/2", signed on the back.
View #Q35349 |
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STERLING paste set in sterling silver necklace with knife-edge links,
marked "925" with an illegible maker's mark, circa 1910, 2-1/8" drop on a 14"
chain. View
View #Y32923 |
DECO lavaliere with clear
pastes and green cabochons, sterling 1-2/3" pendant on silver 16" chain, circa 1910.
#Q28134
The photo is a lady with BOBBED
hairdo wearing a
paste bow
pendant. View |
PASTE pendant with white
sapphire center stone surrounded by red pastes, bow top, set in at least 800
silver, circa 1910, 1-1/2" pendant on original 17" chain, illegible
hallmark on the loop. View
#Q33009
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VICTORIAN
dangle pierced earrings, silver and pastes with gold kidney wires,
circa 1900 European, 1-5/8". The larger center stones have the black
dot in the bottom of each and each earrings is marked with a lightly struck
"sil" on the back.
View
View #V29908 |
GA
ITALY sterling and paste (clear rhinestone) butterfly pin with red
eyes, beautifully made, 2-1/3".
View
View
View #X7080 |
SILVER and
paste dangle pierced earrings, marked "800" in tiny letters on the
back, 2-1/4".
View
View #Q29844 |
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PASTE ring set in sterling
silver with a 9 karat yellow gold shank and including it's box, size 7-3/4
and 1/2" along the finger. View
View #Q36233 |
PASTE bracelet with clear and
dark blue rhinestones, marked "935", really nice quality, one tiny blue stone
missing where it is almost impossible to see, 7" by 1/3". This is one of the
nicest paste bracelets I have ever seen, a real quality piece.
View
View
View
View #V36311 |
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PASTE sterling star paste
pendant, French sterling hallmark and "925" on the back, 1-1/8" pendant and
a 1/2" loop.
View
View #Q33323 |
PASTE French miniature
brooch, portrait in black and white on ivory set with clear pastes in silver
with safety chain, 1-1/3" by 1". She wears a powdered wig with flowers in
her hair and on her bodice, great detail.
View #Q33328 |
PASTE Deco silver pendant
with clear and blue pastes set in silver with a gilt back, 1-1/3" with a
1/2" loop.
View #Q33324 |
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VICTORIAN hair brooch, ornate
silver setting with pastes, palette work hair curls and seed pearls, 1-1/2".
This is an unusual setting for a hair piece.
View
#V27578 |
STERLING
and rhinestone moth brooch with cabochon body.
View #Y20812 |
CLEAR rhinestone flower earrings with artificial pearl centers, all set in
silver tone, probably European, circa 1930, 1".
View #Y32289 |
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PASTE bird pendant with pearl
drop, 16-1/3" with 1-1/4" wide bird, marked 925 on the back and the clasp,
boxed. View
View
View #Q34518 |
VICTORIAN paste
and gray pearl butterfly brooch set in gold in original box, 2".
View
View
View #V34679 |
GREEN and clear paste
teardrop pendant set in sterling, 1-1/3" pendant on a sterling 16" chain.
View #V34731 |
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PASTE silver and paste swallow pin circa 1900, professionally replaced
pin back, 2".
View #V33785 |
PASTE Deco brooch with
blue and clear stones set in sterling, marked "935" on the back along
with illegible hallmarks, 1-3/4" wide, boxed "F.W. Gibson Son Co. Ltd,
Newbury, goldsmiths, jewellers, opticians" but I do not know that this
was it's original box.
View View
View
View #V34325 |
PASTE dangle earrings with red,
blue and green glass cabochons, 2-3/4".
View #Q35252 |
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EDWARDIAN silver brooch
with pink and green pastes and marcasites, 1-1/4".
View #Q32999 |
VICTORIAN cabinet card of
a lady wearing a lovely paste parure, 4-1/4" by 6-1/2". Photographer
was W. Forshaw, 57 St. Giles, Oxford, England.
View #Vnph2 |
STERLING and paste lavaliere with
red cabochon and clear rhinestones, marked "sterling" on the back, 1-1/2"
pendant on an 18" sterling chain.
View #Q29659 |
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PASTE pendant with pastel blue
oval center stone and clear pastes surround, chain clasp mark illegible
(830?), chain 14" and pendant 2",. There are tiny chips on the blue stone,
visible only under 10k magnification .
View #Q35303 |
VICTORIAN sterling and paste starburst brooch in box, brooch 5" by
2-5/8". The pastes are set in silver tone and the entire back of the brooch is
gold washed. View
View
View #V35370 |
VICTORIAN paste pendant on sterling chain with clear pastes and
artificial pearls circa 1900, 18" chain and 1-3/4" pendant.
View #V35325
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STERLING
and clear rhinestone filigree bar pin marked "sterling" on the back, 2-1/2".
View #Q26215 |
STERLING
and clear rhinestone filigree bar pin marked "sterling" on the back, 2-1/2".
View #Q26216 |
STERLING and clear rhinestone
filigree bar pin marked "sterling" on the back, 2-1/2".
View #Q26217 |
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BASKET Germany
sterling and paste rhinestone basket brooch, marked on the back "Germany
Sterling", 1-1/2". Sometimes called "giardinetti", or little gardens.
View #V26747 |
BASKET pins showing
size comparison. View
View |
BASKET silver
and paste rhinestone basket brooch, marked on the back "900", 1-1/3". Sometimes called "giardinetti", or little gardens.
View #V26748 |
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BASKET
brooch with multi-colored paste stones set in sterling, marked on the back "900", 1-1/4". Sometimes
called "giardinetti", or little gardens.
View
#V20918 |
BASKET brooch with red, green
and blue paste rhinestones set in sterling, 1-5/8".
View
#V20917 |
BASKET
brooch with multi-colored paste stones set in sterling, mark on the back
is illegible, 2-1/3". Sometimes
called "giardinetti", or little gardens.
View
#V20919 |
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BASKET
brooch with multi-colored rhinestones set in sterling, 1-1/2". Sometimes
called "giardinetti", or little gardens.
View #V20920 |
EDWARDIAN clear, green and
purple paste rhinestones set in
silver basket pendant with artificial pearl drop, 2" pendant on 15" sterling chain.
View
View #V31324 |
PASTE basket brooch with pink, orange, purple, blue and
green stones set in silver tone, 1-5/8". These pins are sometimes
called "giardinetti", or little gardens.
View
#Q33519 |
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PASTE clear stones basket pendant necklace
with leaves atop, 1-3/4" pendant on a 17" chain,
hallmarked but illegible. View #Q33562 |
CLEAR rhinestones
set in silver tone basket brooch with European trombone catch, 2-5/8" by 1-1/4".
View
View #Y29741 |
STERLING necklace
with clear rhinestone florets and dangles, sterling mark and illegible
maker's mark on the back of one drop, 18" by 2" front drop .
View
View #Y29276 |
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EDWARDIAN yellow gold
filled and paste necklace, pink and green pastes (rhinestones) and seed pearls,
maker's mark "T+H", 16" wearable length with a 2" front drop, circa 1900.
View
View #Q33341 |
PASTE pendant in suffragette colors with white enamel,
purple and green stones and a pearl drop, 15-1/2" with 1-1/2" pendant.
The chain is marked "800" for European silver.
View #Q33716 |
VICTORIAN necklace with a
purple paste center, aqua glass and seed pearls, lovely fashioned chain
portion, 18" length with a 1-1/2" front drop.
View
View
View #V33256 |
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VICTORIAN paste brooch with
clear, rose and green pastes, hook on back, silver tone setting with
light gold wash, 1-1/2" by
1-1/4". Each stone has a flat bottom cutlet.
View
View
View
View
#V34587 |
STERLING and clear
rhinestones 17" necklace and 1" earrings circa 1920.
View
View #Y24881 |
VICTORIAN black dot clear paste
stones pendant, wear and chips on stones can be seen under 10x magnification, 2"
total length by 1" wide. Each stone is cut in a slightly different way because
they were all done by hand. View
View #V34579 |
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VICTORIAN (clear
rhinestones) bow brooch, 2" by 1-1/2", bowed in the middle for a
scarf to slip through.
View
View #V34764 |
PASTE earrings with clear
pastes and green Peking glass Asian figures set in silver tone, total length 2-3/4".
View #V34730 |
VICTORIAN paste pendant on sterling chain with clear pastes and
artificial pearls circa 1900, 18" chain and 1-3/4" pendant.
View #V35325
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FRENCH paste 14-1/2" necklace in
silver washed brass, 14-1/2" with slight finish wear
View
View #Y24880 |
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