Regency Christmas

The beauty of some holiday gifts extends beyond the beauty of the object received. This is the case with the Regency brooch shown below. It is a Christmas gift from my daughter so I will love it forever. It is also an especially lovely Regency design.

Blue and green are analogous colors, neighbors on the color wheel. They work well together to provide a calm, attractive background for the vibrant art-glass beads.

The blue art glass beads are teardrop in shape (sometimes called drop shape). Although the beads were made in many colors, Regency usually used one color in each design. The way Regency uses these beads in their designs is a distinctive and recognizable Regency trait. Rather than have them “drop” from a bale, Regency incorporates them in the main fabric of the design.

This close view of the back shows how the beads are attached. Each glass bead is half-drilled. This means a hole is drilled from the top of the bead, part way into the bead. Next, a thick wire is inserted into the space and secured with epoxy. In this case a decorative bead-cap is added. Then the wire is cut, bent, and secured to tubes on the base.

The beads in this design have subtle, monochromatic striping. My guess is that the beads are Czechoslovakian in origin.

The back view illustrates the overall construction of the pin. It is symmetrical. The four sides of the cross-shape are soldered to a round stabilization element.

Not all Regency designs have this construction, but when they do the stabilization element is often round. The Regency pin shown below features the same round stabilization element.

This size and style of the riveted center, with or without the stabilization element, is often found on Regency designs.

Unfortunately, not all Regency is signed. Since there are many variations in construction techniques, even within the same brand, the construction traits shown here are not unique to Regency. However, they are interesting “clues” to identifying an unsigned Regency.

If you find an unsigned piece with these beads, used this way, and this style of construction, the piece is very likely Regency. My daughter found this piece in a locked case and instantly knew from the beads alone, it was Regency.

It is my new favorite piece that holds a permanent, warm, and adoring place in my collection!

Happy Collecting!

Love,

Julie

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