Original Miami Beach Antique Show 2018

Original Miami Beach Antique Show

When I was in college I majored in Art History and my favorite courses I took were the history of the decorative arts courses. The Decorative Arts, as compared to the fine arts, are described as “arts or crafts concerned with the design and manufacture of beautiful objects that are also functional”. That includes, but is not limited to: furniture, lighting fixtures, rugs, tea pots, snuff boxes, tapestries, vases, etc. As a lover of adornment, decorative arts are essentially the jewelry and accessories of home décor.

The Original Miami Beach Antique Show, hosted by the US Antique Shows, was the week after Tucson gem fairs this year and being instantly immersed in a world of antique jewelry was a beautiful reprieve from days of loose gemstones and mineral specimens.

Here are some of my favorite things I saw at the Miami Antique Show:

Ouija Board Exhibition

Famous occultist Aleister Crowley's astoundingly kitschy 19th c. talking board table part of a display of talking boards and Ouija boards and occult items exhibited in the show’s front hall. Walking an antique show is an educational experience on its own, but this exhibit of Ouija boards was particularly thrilling since astrology and mysticism have been particularly trendy this year.

Maison Coco LA

Colette Neyrey of Maison Coco was shopping the show, not exhibiting, but I loved seeing her curated collection of green charms and I was lucky enough to get to see her haul at the end of each day.

Enamel and Gemstone Bracelet at Simon Teakle

This antique gold, enamel and colored gemstone bracelet stood out from Simon Teakle’s case and that’s saying a lot because it was sitting next to a JAR multigem fibula brooch. The bracelet is from Vienna and dates to c. 1870.

Oscar Heyman diamond and emerald bracelet.

Glajz Argyle pink diamond and blue sapphire ring.

Top: Summoning Spirits with @DiamondsInTheLibrary using Aleister Crowley's talking board. Bottom: A collection of new and antique charms assembled by the stylish Colette Neyrey of Maison Coco.

Oscar Heyman Bracelet at DK Bressler

The hexagon cut diamonds, the endless milligrain, the impeccable craftsmanship, this art deco bracelet is so killer and it just happens to have been made by one of my faves – Oscar Heyman! Seen at DK Bressler

Glajz Sapphire and Pink Diamond Ring

A gorgeous contemporarily designed ring featuring velvety blue sapphires and pink diamonds from Glajz.

Multi-Gem Hair Locket at Lenore Dailey

I find hair lockets fascinating and this Georgian multi-gem locket from Lenore Dailey caught my eye right away. It seemed like the perfect spot for an intricate braid of my green hair.

Tiffany Opal and Diamond Ring

It’s not often that I find something so simple to be so captivating. The elegant simplicity of this 1920s opal and diamond ring from Tiffany&Co was stunning from the 5 claw prongs on the opal to the tapering diamonds down the shank. I particularly love how the two diamonds that flank the center stone are set higher up than the rest of the diamonds on the ring shank. Seen at Roy Rover.

Multi-gem hair locket from Lenore Dailey flashing with a braid of my green hair (left), Tiffany&Co opal and diamond ring (right).

Miami Views

Not only was this my first time attending the Miami show, but it was also my first time visiting Miami! There were a few non-jewelry places on my to-do list, but unfortunately work took precedence, so I’ll have to save my Wynwood walls visit until my next Miami trip. I did however have a little down time and got one good beach day in before I headed back to the cold of Philadelphia in February.

Miami beach, street, and hotel views (above). A few snapshots with my friends Ismael Khan @IshyAntiques, Amanda Bilberry, & Becky Stone @DiamondsintheLibrary.

Written by Hannah Becker, Diamondoodles, 2018. Photography by Hannah Becker unless otherwise stated.