Sue Rathbun
Co-owner, Buyer and Display Designer
Rathbun Jewelers
- - -
August 7, 2002
Ticondaroga, NY

I have three granddaughters and some day I'll be able to explain to them the significance and beauty of these pieces. My feelings are that they may have belonged to wealthy people who enjoyed summer vacations on Lake George. They stayed at the big hotels and enjoyed parties every evening. The things that I collect are things that I want and enjoy wearing. I think about the people who owned these, the hand bags, the jewelry. Perhaps they were given for an occasion. Like the little sweetheart ring. Someone must have really loved her. It's sweet. And Howard gave it to me.

Because we don't dress up these days, I love taking them on our trips and dressing up. There is a real elegance to this collection.

In case:

• Mother of pearl, 1870's pencil pendant, 1.75'
• Enameled mesh handbag with nickel-plated geometric frame, marked Davis & Whiting Company 6.5' x 5'
• Antique beaded purse, hand made in Belgium, 6.5' x 5.5' gray, rose and white beads, metal frame with red enamel inlay
• Contemporary silk embroidered handbag, made in India, pale gray with velvet embroidered flowers, deep gray and light gray flowers 6.75"x 8"
• Vintage 1940's iridescent beaded evening bag with brown crocheted drawstring
• 8" x3" atop, 6.25" long with knotted drawstring and beaded ends.
• Round ecru leather lined, black beaded evening bag with silver zipper closure
• Wrought iron floral stand holding evening bags, 17"
• White ceramic hand with pointing finger, red nail and red ribbon detail, cursive, "Don't Forget" in black, Louisville, KY metal sticker, 2.5" x 4.5"
• Brass oval box, 1.5" x 3" with handle
• Small white ceramic hand, 1950's, 3" x 1.25"
• Antique handmade three piece 14k gold sweet heart ring with princess cut sapphires and center round diamond, engraved band with two hearts with initials F & L in script, size 6, 1920
• Antique, fleur de lis gold dangle ear rings, converted to pierced, 1.5" x .75"
• Ornate ring box w/ blue velvet and ecru silk and two estate diamond rings. Bone colored box with etching 3.25" x 2"
• Shell cameo, brown and ivory estate ring, 14k with handmade shank, and gold scallop trim, size 5
• Gold filled locket with engraving and two tin type photographs, 1860's, husband and wife, 1.5" dia.
• Gold wrist watch with grosgrain band, manufactured by Riedo, 1" dia. 1918
• Gold filled Elgin with original clasp and hand monogramed back, octagon shape, 1.25", 1918
• Gold woman"s pendant watch, hunting case style 1.33" 1881 with 14" solid and chain link gold filled watch fob, in script, Am Watch Company, bold all caps Waltham, white dial with Roman numerals
• Tri color bar pin, gold filled, 2.5" x .75" rose, green and yellow gold.
• Pearl and sapphire elegant bar pin, 14k gold, genuine cultured pearls and pale blue sapphires set in 14k gold, 1920's, 2.5"
• Bar pin with tiny diamond center and seed pearls at each end, 14k yellow and green gold, vintage early 1900's, 2 .18"
• Floral design pin with genuine amethyst and seed pearls, 14k gold, combination pin/pendant
• Sue Rathbun's ear rings, antique carved white oval cameo set in 14k bezel
• Sue Rathbun's hand beaded silky shawl handmade in India, purple with black bead trim

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