Loaded Vintage Antique charm filled bracelet antique tintype perfume button Bernadette reliquary tintype steampunk hotsell forget-me-not watch

This is a gorgeous coming together of some long saved, hand selected vintage and antique pieces looking for a home, and a beautiful bowdoin chain link bracelet. All of these collectibles are vintage to antique with no new store bought reproductions. The chain has a classic look and nice weight to it.

The mementos include: (not in order)

- a ladies vintage watch face

- a watchmakers key

- a segment from a vintage bracelet

- two typewriter keys...one unaltered and one filled with an antique postcard image of an angel

- a beautiful perfume button. This is a touching piece of Civil War history. The story behind these is my favorite antique button tale. The filigree backing is lovely, but the centerpiece of these earrings is, of course, a Perfume Button. These buttons were made in the mid 1800's in response to the problem that the women of the day were having with their oil-based perfumes. When applied to their skin, the oil-based perfumes would stain their clothing.
So these buttons were designed. The top layer is pierced brass. The layer right beneath it was usually velvet, but could be some other fabric as well. These happen to have woven threads with a sparkly filament running through the weave. So the fabric peeked out from under the pierced design on the top layer of brass. Women could the apply their perfumes to the fabric part of hotsell the button, and the scent would be absorbed and safely disseminated.
But the REALLY interesting story is the romantic one. It is said that during the Civil War, women would give a scented button to their sweetheart going off to war and he would sew it under his uniform collar, to be reminded of who he left behind.

- a tintype of a young girl with rose tinted cheeks set in a small vintage belt buckle

-a micro-mosaic bracelet link

- a keychain license plate tag sponsored by the Disabled American Veterans

- a very old and beautifully worn down sliding reliquary locket dedicated to Bernadette. The locket is currently empty, but from the wear of the surface, it was most likely a cherished possession of someone from the past.

- a semi precious stone fetish

- the enameled handle plaque of a Rhonegletcher (The Rhone Glacier in the Swiss Alps) souvenir spoon

- a carved black glass antique button

- a blue Delfts cabochon of a windmill

- a heart pendant carved from bone

- a rhinestone vintage button

- a sterling silver link from a "Forget-Me-Not bracelet. WWII sterling silver forget-me-not bracelets were made and given as remembrance tokens for those going off to war. The simple connecting links, bordered with engraved forget-me-not flowers, each contained the name of a person to be remembered. Some of these bracelets went off to war, while others were worn by those left at home. Most bore the names of women left behind when men went off to war...sweethearts, mothers, sisters, daughters, and also sons, brothers, and fathers. The bracelets contained 8-9 links.
This link is engraved with the name "Jim". See pic 7.

Picture 10 shows the back of this bracelet.

There are also a few blue beads interspersed in the line-up of mementos.

This bracelet is 7 3/4" long.

I work with antique and vintage parts. Some may show signs of wear or age. Please look at each picture closely. I have tried to show all aspects of my work. Please contact me before purchasing if you have any questions or would like more clarity in a picture. I like to think that older items have a character that newer parts have not yet earned.