#7036 Poissarde earrings - very rare.
As you know, my hunt for unusual, unique, stylish, quality antique and vintage jewelry takes me to many countries.
A while ago I got back from a trip to France. For the first time ever, I visited the French Province of
Normandy. Different to Paris.
#4545 Normandy Pendant. 
Lots of open farmland with chateaus (big old houses) nestling amidst small hills; little lanes that you want to explore on a bicycle; world-famous food and drink and more history than I ever imagined. Hotels don't even advertise that you are going to sleep in a room that is possibly 400 years old. It's par for the course. Age is measured in the thousands of years. Marvellous old Cathedrals, from the famous Rouen, painted by Monet at least 30 times to within walking
distance of at least 5 more marvels of architecture and stained glass, including the site where Joan of Arc was
burned at the stake. The Bayeux Tapestry, Mont St Michel and for us in America, the famous site of D-Day invasion,
with it's stark contrast of beautiful beaches, peaceful scenic nature and the violence of what took place there in 1945.
#5140 exceptional French Provincial necklace.
Normandy was the home of the Impressionist Art Movement before Paris and not only did we see a marvellous exhibition
of paintings, but we visited Monet's magnificent garden at Giverny, which continues to inspire art from painting to
perfume, to this day. French Provincial jewelry often involves wonderful colored enamels that reflect Monet's garden in
no small way.
#6214. A brooch that combines the sophisticated work of the Paris jeweler in the frame and the joy of Provincial enamel work in the center. 
Then Paris! As usual, I was on the hunt for those special antique jewels. So were many others. But the French,
especially when times are uncertain or hard, close up the vault. French woman are reluctant to part with their jewels
at the best of times, but now, it seems to be particularly difficult to find those good pieces and the competition is
stiff. Still, as the cliche teaches "search and ye shall find". I was more determined than ever, and focused on the
trail of the rare and unique with my schnozzle hard to the ground. I trotted out from before the stores opened to return
at night with a few pieces, prizes won under tough conditions. I met a couple of great new sources, befriended a previously
suspicious and reluctant dealer and renewed contact with some great French jewelry specialists.
#7559 This ring was made around 1770 - before the French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte's First Empire.
In later posts I will write in more detail about some of the exceptional items that I bought as well as the styles typical of French Provincial and Parisienne jewelry of the 19th century and before.
#7547 signed Christian Dior ear clips. 
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