Fortunate Finds: a Music Box, some Costume Jewelry, and More

I had some fun while I was out thrifting last week.  Guess what?  I went with my dad!  My dad lives a plane ride away from me so I don't get to see him very often. When we get together we thrift as it's one of our favorite pastimes. 

Dear readers, you may remember me writing about the huge influence my dad has had upon my creative life and how I probably owe any innate creative talent that I have to him.  Well, he's done it again -- he is simply Mr. Incredible when it comes to thrifting, especially for costume jewelry at local thrift shops like Goodwill.

Let me show you a few of the things he has found over the past couple of months.  First, this fabulous vintage Sankyo music box keychain:

Vintage Sankyo music box keychain.  It plays Fur Elise.

This keychain was made by Sankyo, a Japanese company that is known for its music boxes and music box components.

The illustration on the cover is an example of damascene, or a decorative process where non-precious metal is decorated with 18-24K gold in geometric or scenic patterns.  You can see the design process in action here.

I believe that the metal on the keychain is bronze, probably because it's a keychain.  It's also seen a little wear and tear, as it appears a tiny bit of the bronze has worn away, but I haven't tried to clean it yet to find out for certain.

The design itself is an Arabesque desert oasis scene with palm trees and pyramids in the background.   I will have to do some research to find out when this was made.

Just to show you what is made in Spain, here is a pair of non-vintage damascene (in Spanish, damasqinado de oro) cuff links made in Toledo that a friend gave my husband:

Back to vintage finds, my dad also found this signed Roman Company tennis bracelet and a very vintage Kramer rhinestone brooch.  No dates. It's hard to say when the Roman was made, but my best un-researched guess about the Kramer is that it dates from around the 1960s:

A couple of the rhinestones are missing on the brooch, but it's still very pretty

Next is one of my favorite pieces.  It is a perfect vintage signed Hollycraft multicolored rhinestone brooch, and my best un-researched guess is that it dates from the 1950s or 1960s:

I can't believe what some people unknowingly donate to thrift stores!

My dad seems still loves costume jewelry but has suddenly become very interested in vintage dinnerware now, especially Mikasa and Noritake.  I'm trying to get him to look out for mid-century Metlox and Vernonware -- I love the stuff.

As of late I've been very good at restraining myself because I simply do not visit thrift stores and estate sales very often (you know I'm all about destashing some of my current collections).  But I picked up a couple of vintage magazines that will be fun for Madison Avenue Monday:

And I couldn't leave this embroidery pattern behind (yes, I know I don't need any more patterns, but it is a "C" for Collette!):

What do you think of our finds?