Over the years many different brands of jewelry have passed in and out of my collection. It is a joy to sort through the collection today to rediscover some pieces I stored simply because I love them. The following BB Sterling fish pin and Norma Sterling talking birds pin are two examples of sweet pieces I love. They have been in my collection for so long I no longer remember where I found them.
I kept the BB Sterling floral pin because it is lovely, but mostly because it has an interesting history.
BB Sterling was founded in 1892 by E.A. Bennett. The BB Sterling fish pin shown below dates to the 1930s – 1940s.
The clasp reveals some information about the age of the pin.
- Modern safety catches, like the one on this piece, were readily available to manufacturers beginning in the 1920s – 1930s.
- The pin stem extends well beyond the catch. This is a feature found on older pins.
- Also, older pin stems, like the one here, are generally thicker than modern pin stems.
Based on these three observations, the style, and condition of this pin it likely dates to the late 1930s through the mid-1940s.
The BB Sterling floral is a much newer design with a fascinating history. The pin is signed BB Sterling. The floral bloom is marked Pat. 130141 issued in 1941 to Carl Schraysshuen of Carl-Art. BB Sterling likely purchased this component from Carl-Art.
The Norma Sterling bird pin below need some stones, including stones for the eyes, but otherwise it is in good vintage condition.
The construction of this pin is simple. Two birds are stamped out of a thin sheet of sterling and attached to a sterling branch. One high-quality stone is added for color and movement. Marcasite stones decorate the wings. The stones for the eyes are missing. Note the way line is used to add definition and texture to the wings.
Some information on Norma Sterling can be found in American Costume Jewelry Art & Industry, 1935 – 1950 by Carla Ginelli Brunialti & Roberto Brunialti Volume N – Z page 226.
Norma Sterling Corp. was most probably set up in 1944, by Alfred Benjamin Shawl who was the holder of three patents…These items were made of gold-plated sterling while the faces were made of colored Lucite…it is likely that the company folded by the end of the 1950s.
Brunialti, p. 226
The Lucite Norma Sterling jelly belly designs are popular with collectors. This sweet bird pin, although not a famous jelly belly design, is a great example of the whimsical design aesthetic of Norma Sterling designs.
The pin is marked Norma Sterling and Pat. Pend. There is no known patent for this design; however, the Pat. Pend. helps to establish the piece dates to the 1940s – early 1950s.
I’ve considered repairing the Norma Sterling pin, and I may one day. For now, it is going to remain in storage.
I hope to share more “treasures” in additional blogs.
Happy Collecting!
Love,
Julie