Vintage Floral Finds

I grew up in a home filled with inspiring vintage treasures.

My parents and grandparents owned the Caravan import shops in and near Indianapolis in the 60s and 70s. These were filled with handcrafted jewelry, accessories, and home decor items from all over the world. My adventurous grandfather sourced these by writing letters to people he met through his years of travel as a government employee. When my family closed the shops, they put many of the amazing pieces on display in our home. 

As a child, one of my favorite activities was unlocking the curio cabinet, my mom carefully handing me the items I pointed to for closer inspection, then telling me stories about where each piece came from and how it was made. I also loved digging through what seemed like endless trays of sparkling jewels and trying them on. I was always thrilled to see these objects up close because they felt incredibly special, and that’s because they were. There is no doubt in my mind that being exposed to these items grew my love for vintage design significantly, and likely steered me towards my initial career in jewelry design. It’s also why I collect vintage jewelry, clothing, and housewares now. I can’t help but gravitate towards the powerful combination of nostalgia and great design.

Vintage is a big part of my story, and it’s been a part of life as long as I can remember. Now I’m sharing my curated collection with you, inspired by many of the pieces I grew up with, and those I personally wear and display in my home.

Featured
Black Cluster Flower Disk Pendant Necklace
Black Cluster Flower Disk Pendant Necklace
$85.00

Why I Selected This Piece

This is a wonderful necklace that stands out because of the combination of hand painted leaves, dimensional flowers, and clear crystals dotting the matte black disc.

Details

1950 is my best guess on this one. Tiny pastel flowers and sparkling clear rhinestones contrast against a black background in this lovely circular plastic pendant that looks like celluloid based on the construction of the piece and weight of the material. This features a small brass bail that looks original. Pendant is 1.5” in diameter. Hangs from a vintage 16” gold-tone chain. Some scratches on the back, but this is not visible when worn.

Care

Use a gentle polishing cloth to clean as needed. Avoid jewelry cleaner and perfume as these may damage the necklace.

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Multicolor Enamel Sculptural Linked Flower Necklace
$135.00

Why I Selected This Piece

This multicolor necklace is full of beautiful details. I’ve never seen an enameled piece with so much dimension, from the softly curving petals to the textured plastic centers that almost make these flowers feel real! My theory is that multicolor goes with everything, from a dressy black dress to a casual tank or tee.

Details

Likely made in the 1950s or 60s. This features an array of enameled flowers in blush, lilac, magenta, orange, yellow, and blue attached on the back to a chain, which give this piece really nice movement when you wear it. It features a yellow beaded plastic extender chain and metal hook. The enamel is in great condition for a vintage piece like this, but there is some wear on the backside of the enameled chain. It doesn’t distract from the beauty of this piece or show when worn. Each flower is about 1” in diameter. Length is adjustable to about 18“. Hook and beaded chain closure.

Care

Use a gentle polishing cloth to clean as needed. Avoid jewelry cleaner as this may damage the necklace. Do not bend the flowers, as this will damage the enamel. Store separately from other jewelry and do not hit against hard surfaces.

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Handmade Copper Enamel Butterfly Pendant Necklace
$110.00

Why I Selected This Piece

This gigantic one-of-a-kind butterfly pendant instantly caught my eye because I knew it was handmade by a studio jeweler. It reminded me of my days in the jewelry studio when I learned to enamel.

Details

Likely made in the 1970s. This was cut from a piece of copper sheet, then curved to add dimension before glass enamel was applied and then swirled to create the gorgeous pattern on the wings! Metallic rust, white, yellow, and light blue enamel. The pendant hangs from a gold-tone chain. Pendant measures about 3 1/2”× 3”. Attached chain is about 23“ long and has a spring ring closure.

Care

Use a gentle polishing cloth to clean as needed. Avoid jewelry cleaner as this may damage the necklace. Enamel is durable, but it is glass. Store separately from other jewelry and do not hit against hard surfaces.