Ruby Lane's Past Times Newsletter for March 2009

In This Issue

• Shop Spotlight: Welcome To Ogees Antiques!
  
• Happy St. Patrick's Day: A Look At Celtic Jewelry
  
• March Lane Sampler: Silver
  

SHOP SPOTLIGHT: WELCOME TO OGEES ANTIQUES!

Ogee's Antiques on Ruby Lane buys with you, the collector, in mind. You'll always find unique antiques and collectibles on their site with an emphasis on quality. They say they are not collectors, so the best items they find are always offered to you, the customer. That has been their practice for 30 years and they intend to continue that way. They take your business seriously and have since 1978.

Examples of some of the items you'll find at Ogee's Antiques include a Vintage Floral Micro Mosaic Pin Marked FAP ($75), a Vintage Card Receiver and Ashtray - Peasant Woman ($450), and a Vintage Book of Model Ships by Wallis Rigby ($55) to name just a few.

As you browse Ogee's Antiques you'll also find many types of toys; wind up, cast iron, celluloid, tin and battery operated. They also sell antique advertising, black memorabilia, cookie jars, talc tins, porcelains including S & V pieces, shaving items including old safety razors, tools, catalin items, thimbles and tape measures. They have sterling, pottery, Heisey, Frankoma, automotive items, deco items and sheet music. You'll also find some of your old friends like Reddy Kilowatt, Hopalong Cassidy, Popeye, Charlie McCarthy, Elsie the Borden Cow and others. So stop by and browse awhile.

We invite you to visit Ogee's Antiques

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY: A LOOK AT CELTIC JEWELRY

St. Patrick's Day and Spring always coincide closely, and have some common traits. Ireland, land of St. Patrick's missionary work, is also known as the Emerald Isle, famed for its verdant greenery. And Green is the color of Spring.

Irish and Celtic symbols have become firmly attached to the celebration of Saint Patrick. The shamrock and clover, the Celtic Cross and Saint Bridgid's Cross, and Connemara marble are some of the most widely recognized. Often, pieces are embellished with Celtic knotwork, which pre-dates Saint Patrick, but which developed as a style for manuscript illumination and decorative work after his time.

While Patrick, who spent years as a slave in Ireland before returning there later as a missionary, is a valid historical figure, he is hard to separate from the Saint Patrick of legend. The legends credit Saint Patrick with banishing the snakes from Ireland and using the shamrock, a three-leafed clover, to illustrate the nature of the Trinity.

Saint Brigid shares this intermingling of legend and fact. She is recognized as the founder of the Abbey at Kildaire. She was ordained as Abbess by Saint Mel, a nephew of Saint Patrick, who apparently accidentally ordained her as a Bishop. This gave her and the Abbey unheard of administrative powers, until they were rescinded in 1152. Plaiting and weaving of reeds and rushes was a common practice, and Brigid is credited with creating the form known as Saint Brigid's Cross with reeds from the river Shannon. These are still widely used in Ireland in that form, and have inspired many a cross of silver or gold as well.

Patrick and Brigid are both considered Patron or Patroness Saints of Ireland. Dates of their actual lives are open to debate, but both were clearly active in portions of the 5th century.

The Celtic Cross features a ring surrounding the intersection of the arms of the cross. While some credit Saint Patrick with this design, it has design roots in other styles, some of which are pre-Christian symbols. It may be plain, but many are covered with Celtic patterns. From the 7th century onward, free standing "high crosses" were erected across Ireland, Scotland, and Britain, and many used the form of the Celtic Cross. This style fell into disfavor around the 15th Century, but experienced a very successful revival in the 19th century and continues to be quite popular today. You will find the design in Antique and Vintage jewelry pieces on Ruby Lane, as well as contemporary interpretations by Artisan jewelers.

Saint Brigid's Cross is not used as commonly as the Celtic Cross. It normally has 4 equal arms and resembles as plaited cross made of reeds, no matter what material it is actually composed of.

The tradition of the Irish Harp traces back to the ancient tales of the Daurdabla, a sacred oaken harp which was used to regulate the seasons. The harp became so enmeshed with Irish culture that Elizabeth I banned the Irish harp, feeling it was an instrument of insurrection. The Harp formed part of the colors for a number of the regiments that were part of the Union's famed Irish Brigade in the Civil War. It has been produced as a jewelry design, often with additional Celtic embellishments.

The Claddagh is another symbol associated with the Irish. A ring consisting of 2 clasped hands, a fede ring, dates back to at least Roman times. The Claddagh design, allegedly first made in the fishing village of Claddagh, near Galway, adds several other motifs. The hands, representing friendship, clasp a heart, symbolic of love. A crown normally sits atop the heart, representing loyalty. Some Irish favored a Fenian Claddagh which eliminated the crown, which was also seen as a symbol of British monarchy.

Many of these designs may be decorated with green color. This may be done with enamel, but is some cases a distinctly Irish stone is used, Connemara Marble. This marble, found in county Galway in western Ireland, is most often green with white flecking or veining. This part of Ireland contains ancient megaliths, so stone working has been part of the culture since before the recorded history of the area. It is favored for Rosary and prayer beads, and the Rosaries may also have a Celtic Cross incorporated into the design, or a center which carries the image of St. Patrick or St. Brigid.

In addition to jewelry items, these symbols and the green color are incorporated into many other items of Irish design. Belleek China is known for its green hand-painted shamrocks, and pieces have been produced which feature harps, Celtic knotwork and crosses, and claddaghs. Parian pieces incorporating the Irish Wolfhound and the traditional round tower of Ireland have also been made, and these symbols are incorporated into many of the Belleek marks. Irish motifs will be seen on glassware and other decorative items. A number of fine Georgian furniture pieces were also produced, often by master craftsmen in Dublin, where a distinct Anglo-Irish designs developed in that period.

Whether you wish to celebrate your own Irish heritage or to find a special St. Patrick's Day gift, the shops of Ruby Lane offer you a great selection. And the beauty of a vintage piece of Belleek China or Irish Crystal is a great way to celebrate the departure of the snows of winter and the arrival of a new green season. Remember that many of the items your see, such as rosaries and crosses, are also great gifts for Easter.

Whatever the occasion, you will find a great gift to commemorate it with, in the shops on Ruby Lane.

MARCH LANE SAMPLER: SILVER

Victoria Sterling: Fine European Antique Jewelry

Rare Shiebler #524 Sterling Silver Leaf Dish sold by Theo B Starr, Circa 1900

Done in the aesthetic style, this wonderfully expressive and natural sterling silver leaf shaped dish was made by George Shiebler in New York in about...

Lakeshore Antiques: Offering Fine, Affordable, Antiques and Unique Collectibles, shipped Worldwide with 5 Star Service

Large Vintage Silverplate Rogers and Hamilton Soup Ladle

A nice old sliver plated soup serving ladle. There are several small scratches on the handle and on the inside and outside of the bowl, but that is ...

Charon's Spoils Antiques: Our commitment: Quality! Whether it is customer service, merchandise or pricing: Quality!

Savory Sons Antique English Sterling Silver melon Tea Coffee Set: Armorial

Excellent British 4 piece tea and coffee set in the ever popular melon shape. Dating from 1860, this set is in like-new condition. Absolutely ...

Vintage Vault: Eclectic Vintage Treasures - Purses, Jewelry, Kitchenware, Ephemera Holiday Collectibles!

Sterling Silver Napkin Rings by Florence Warden c 1897

These wonderful sterling silver napkin rings were made by Florence Warden in 1897. As she only manufactured items for a two year period her items ...

Pia's Antique Gallery: Antiques, Decorative Items, and Fine Art for those with discriminating tastes

International Vintage Silver Plate Punch Set, 14 pcs

Beautiful workmanship is evident in the raised grape border of this mid 20th century Punch set by International Silver Co., in their popular pattern ...

Whitmer-Hammond Antiques: Specializing in Antique Jewelry Fine Silver

Peter Ann Bateman Sterling Silver Tongs c1793-94

18th century sterling silver bearing the trademarks of renowned silversmiths Peter Ann Bateman. Peter was one of two sons of Hester Bateman; one of ...

Tobyfarm Collectibles, Postcards Paper: Collectibles, Postcards, Victorian Paper, Books, Sterling Silver, Prints, Photographs, Ephemera etc

Stunning set of 12 Sterling Silver Ice Cream spoons, DOMINICK HAFF, 1896

Stunning set of 12 ice cream spoons by DOMINICK AND HAFF, 1896. Intricate floral pattern, gold washed bowls. 5 1 2 inches long, 0.71 OZT each. ...

Bonnie Boswell Antiques: Quality Vintage items for you and your home

Simple Elegant Wm Rogers Tomato Server

How lovely and elegant for your next dinner or luncheon party. This pretty tomato server will also work well for jellies and aspics and small servings...

Tannery Creek Antiques: Offering antiques and collectibles ranging from traditional to extraordinary!

Antique Nathaniel Mills 1843 Gilt Sterling Silver Communion Cup Chalice

This superb early Victorian communion cup is 2 3 4 high with a 1 3 4 diameter at the top and would have been used when bringing the Holy Eucharist ...

Greek Antique Gallery: Quality Silver Antiques, Textiles and Jewelry from Europe

Fabulous Silver Sterling Heart Shaped Scent Bottle With Funnel

This is a wonderful tiny sterling silver scent bottle and perfume funnel! Wonderfully designed, elegant, stylish and well made. The bottle bearing ...