I have been looking on eBay for two years for an Eisenberg Original Sterling fur clip like the one I have so I can get an idea of what it is worth. I have had eBay email me daily during that time with all new listings. I have searched the 'net repeatedly. I have not found one just like mine yet.
It is stamped "Eisenberg Original" with a "2" stamped as well. Does the "2" mean that it was numbered, part of a limited edition?
I will get some photos up later. I know I have seen the Eisenberg pins sell for anywhere from $90-$300 or so. What brings the question to a head is that I just saw an Eisenberg Sterling Fur Clip close for $393.98, eBay item #4912313000.
Did that one sell for so much more because of the original box? Or because the pin is rare? It was not in perfect condition, some small stones missing.
Can you believe I paid $5.00 for mine? Right place, right time. This was way before eBay but I recognized sterling when I saw it. Too bad I didn't buy everything else on the table! I had no idea.
[ edited by meadowlark on Jul 21, 2004 04:43 AM ]
[ edited by meadowlark on Jul 21, 2004 01:18 PM ]
posted on July 21, 2004 04:35:48 AM new
I don't know much about Eisenberg jewelry. It is beautiful, though. The original box probably played a big part in the pin selling so high. It can double or even triple the price people will pay. I've also found out that sometimes you get just plain lucky! LOL! I can relate though to the looking for a piece just like yours thing. It can be very difficult. Have you tried any online vintage jewelry sellers? Maybe emailing them a pic of your piece may produce a "hit". If it's rare, I would think it would be in a book somewhere.
Right now I'm looking for a lamp like the one I have from 1900-1910. I'm searching the Internet and found that there are so many hits for antique Chinese lamps that it will take weeks to go through all of them. I've neither the time or the patience. I'm keeping it anyway. It would just be nice to know what kind of value it has (BTW - thanks, estatesalestuff. You know what I mean!).
Doing a google search on Eisenberg Original Fur Clip brings tons of hits. I don't envy your search!
Cheryl
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Benjamin Franklin
It's probably been at least 6 months now since I searched the 'net thoroughly for it. Back then, there were not so many sites as you report getting. Yes, I looked at every site that sold them or had any info on them. I'll have another look.
I kept hoping one would pop up on eBay!
I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask for expertise here, though. I aprreciate the help.
posted on July 21, 2004 09:17:26 AM new
You guys do know about Eisenberg Original reproductions, right, as well as new Eisenberg Ice or pieces just marked with the scrolled E.
posted on July 21, 2004 09:20:14 AM new
yes, teacher, thanks. This is much older and heavier, with a light patina of wear, definitely Sterling and marked as such.
posted on July 22, 2004 08:26:04 AM new
Meadowlark
I have some experience here. I had and listed a piece with the same mark about 2 years ago. Mine was a beautiful ice blue color in the shape of a bow and I think it was about 3 or 3 1/2 inches. The best offer I got was $200.00 so I put it in my mall space and sold it for $335 (less commissions) but it took 2 years.
IMO they got the money they did because of the box, the size and some luck. Mostly the box.
Pins get higher prices than fur clips as pins can still be worn and colored stones usually get more too.
At the time I listed it I was contacted by a lady that has written about and collected Eisenberg for years - I'll try to see if I can locate her website again and post it if I can. She was doing a book on Eisenberg and would match pieces with magazine ads from the 1930's to 1950's. She had a ad that showed my piece in a 1945 ad.
If you can post a photo, I'll check some of my jewelry books and see if I find anything like it.
$5.00 - what a deal. I had to pay $10 for mine!!! lol
posted on July 22, 2004 09:01:51 AM new
I can't believe I found it but I did. You could probably email her and she would be happy to look at your piece. She was very nice. I think her pricing is on the low side but then again she probably knows how to get a bargain.
Sorry I don't know how to make a link
www.morninggloryantiques.com/JewelChatEis6.htm
posted on July 22, 2004 12:06:12 PM new
LadyJewels,
Thanks a bunch! I will check it out and get the pictures up later today. Went to the doctor this AM, and need a nap!
In my previous internet searching, I did find info in a glossy high quality newsletter called "Vintage Fashion and Costume Jewelry". The Winter 2000 issue, volume 10, no.1, was devoted entirely to Eisenberg and Ruth Kamke. She designed all the the Eisenberg originals after 1939, and all the Eisenberg Ice until 1972. Back issues are only $5.00. This issue is 24 pages.
I want to get the winter 1999 issue, as I just noticed it contains the only interview Ruth ever gave on the subject of Eisenberg and her career.
Lucille Tempeston publishes the newsletter. The last email address I have for her is [email protected]. One can join the VFCJ Club for $20.00 per year and receive 4 newsletters like the above yearly, according to the promo I dug up.
Anyway, thought some here might want the info. I PROMISE I'll get the pics up later today!
posted on July 22, 2004 03:43:24 PM new
Well, finally here are the pics. Yawn!
The piece is 3" long, 1 1/2" wide, and stands 5/8" away from any surface (in it's midsection) when laid down. It's very heavy cast sterling and curves in an undulating fashion when viewed from the side. The bottom portion dangles when worn.
The piece is so heavy, it would tear fine fabrics unless pinned through one's bra strap! (I have done so, but perilous with silk!) It works well on heavier fabrics as one might wear in a coat or denim jacket.
It is missing a dozen or so of the teeniest stones, and is tarnished quite dark. I used toothpaste on the back so I could get pictures of the marks.
It is stamped in 4 places scattered around since there's not much in the way of flat places to stamp it, but they managed. Eisenberg, original, sterling, 2.
the large stones are held in with prongs. My eyes and magnifying glass aren't the best, but I think the small stones are just glued in but made to look pave'.
Any suggestions on cleaning? I want to make sure I don't wash any stones loose. I may have in an earlier cleaning, but don't think so.
posted on July 23, 2004 07:24:15 AM new
Oh, Ladyjewels, I forgot to tell you. The site you sent me to was great, but she no longers answers questions from individuals. I looked over her site and found she had the info as well on the newsletter I have with Ruth Kamke in it.
I still have a number of links from her site to check. I posted some pics and didn't know if you'd seen that. I am not in a big hurry.
posted on July 23, 2004 02:02:53 PM new
Sorry to hear she would not take your questions - I guess she contacted me so she felt obligated to answer mine?
I have look in 4 of my books and I find clips that are close but not exact. I still have about 6 more books to check but that will have to be over the weekend.
I did find the pin that was almost the same as my fur clip - book value $1000.00 to $1200.00. Right - let's live in the real world. Maybe to a rich private collector.
As for cleaning it??? Can't really polish it too well. Don't anyone yell at me, but I cleaned mine with the very finest steel wool I could find. You would not want to do that too often but once is OK!
For the stones a soft tooth brush and windex will do. Spray - lightly brush and blot with paper towel and then lay stone side down on another towel. Keep it over a towel the whole time in case you pop a stone out
posted on July 23, 2004 02:24:13 PM new
Lovely pin! It was probably meant to wear on sturdier fabrics such as a wool suit or a coat.
Cheryl
God grant that not only the love of liberty but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man may pervade all the nations of the earth, so that a philosopher may set his foot anywhere on its surface and say: This is my country. - Benjamin Franklin
posted on July 23, 2004 02:40:31 PM new
The one's with the sharp prongs are fur clips and are definitely heavy.
Dress clips can be very large too but are usually in pairs.
I think the trend now is to wear these on chains??
posted on July 23, 2004 03:47:06 PM new
Ladyjewels,
I did not even ask her. Her website now states that she will not take questions, so it felt it a bit uncouth to try.
However, I have a hand-written note with the newsletter I had ordered from the publisher wherein she states she is friends with Ruth Kamke. I may write to her snail-mail fashion and ask for a mailing address to send a written inquiry to Ruth with pictures if I don't turn up anthing else.
[ edited by meadowlark on Jul 23, 2004 03:52 PM ]
posted on July 27, 2004 02:56:01 AM new
I'm back - stormy weekend. Lost my cable connection, my DirectTV and cable local stations. Lighting also took out my last cordless phone and my TV in the kitchen. So I had plenty of time to look at my jewelry books!!! LOL
I have one more book which is loaned out to a freind but no luck here. Sorry.
If you want to sell it - today would be a good day with 50 cent day. If your bottom price is $200 or $300, it will only cost you 50 cents to see if you can get that.
Good luck - let us know what happens
posted on July 28, 2004 07:59:21 AM new
Dear Ladyjewels, Thanks!
I was busy on something else and did not see your message until now. I really appreciate your help. If you happen to run across a fur clip like mine, let me know. I won't be active on the boards or Ebay selling for a while.
I'm writing a book. I gotten over 22,000 words down in 3 days. It's very hard to drag myself away from it. I eat, sleep, drink this book. Yawn! For two days I forgot to eat one meal per day. I have been up till 3:00 AM two nights in a row, fingers pounding as fast as they will go. And I only type with three fingers. No, really, it's true.
Most books are 80,000 words or so. It looks like this story may end up being a trilogy instead, to tell the whole story, LOL!
My husband have read thousands of books, mostly fiction, between us. He and I are both novices at writing. He has gotten favorable results with submissions of short stories to contests so far. He hasn't won anything yet, but has gotten very high marks. I edit his writing for him.
This is my first book, a Sci-Fi fantasy. My imagination runs wild and I have always made up stories (in my head) one after another. I finally decided to put one to paper, or at least to the screen. It has a life of it's own and I'm just hanging on, trying to write it all down!
Wish me luck.
Thanks again,
Patty
[ edited by meadowlark on Jul 28, 2004 08:00 AM ]
[ edited by meadowlark on Jul 22, 2004 12:07 PM ]
