Inside the Jewelry Box, Vol. 2: A Collector's Guide to Costume Jewelry: Identification and Values

by Ann Mitchell Pitman

Ann Mitchell Pitman brings a touch of Southern humor to the vintage costume jewelry collecting field with her Inside the Jewelry Box, Volume 2. Her second volume features nearly 1,000 full-color photographs and websites devoted to selling vintage costume jewelry, and details companies previously given little or no coverage in other reference books. More vintage magazine ads are featured, along with the California ceramic jewelry companies like Ruby Z, Parrot Pearls, and Flying Colors. Specific information is given on selling jewelry on eBay. Designers such as Miriam Haskell, Chanel, Stanley Hagler, Schiaparelli, Joseff, Hattie Carnegie, Hobe, Mazer Bros., Trifari, Ian St. Gielar, Eisenberg, and Coro are represented. Forbidden Fruit, Deco, Fruit Salad, Bakelite, and Lucite jewelry are also presented, making this a wonderful all-around reference for vintage costume jewelry collectors and dealers. 2007 values.

208 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2007

Reviews

[Skye K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same issues as with the first book. I think more photos of the backs of the pieces and signatures would have been helpful. I find this especially so when the author was discussing fur, dress and shoe clips. Many of the photos that were provided of the signatures were very poor. Overall, still a nice guide.

[Terri]

To date, this series are my favorite books about collecting costume jewelry - chock full of beutiful color photos and a good overview of the various designers, these books are great for getting a feel for the various costume jewelry lines out there and a ballpark idea of price. These books are not so useful for trying to identify particular unmarked pieces you may have acquired, but by studying the pictures in this book you can begin to develop a good eye and be able to identify a Lisner or Julianna, for example, on sight.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying this guide very much.