Gump's Treasure Box Tortoise & Jade

A vintage (circa 1980s) Gump's San Francisco letter opener and magnifying glass pair created in gold-tone non-tarnish metal with hand-engraved floral details and with sleek, beautiful black nephrite jade handles. The pair come in their original pale gold brocade fabric pouch but I do not have the original box. This iconic pair of essential desk adornments are a must for the Gump's or jade collector. My grandmother had this same set plus another with green jade handles. I have always preferred the black handles, though. Classic Gump's, timelessly elegant. Maybe you think you're not a magnifying-kind of person but I would beg to differ. You would be surprised by how useful an optically excellent (which this is) magnifying glass actually is. And you can create completely unique photos...

The luminous untreated jadeite jade beads that compose this 20" necklace are so faintly light green, that they appear white. Well, but not white; not really, because they are far too fascinating to be merely white like a piece of paper or a sheet. It is as if an apparition has assumed bead form and settled around the neck. These gorgeous, succulent beads seem filled with a reserve of light they have gathered during the day in order to release back into the night like a whisper. If you like pearls but wish for something denser, more grounded in the material world, these may be for you. They do look like pearls from a distance, a pristine strand of vintage cultured Akoya pearls. But then, up close, what are they? White sapphires? What could they be? Most people, of course, have no idea jade is anything other than green. The individual beads measure approximately 8.5mm for a clean, unified presentation around the neck. I am a second-generation collector of jade and have loved Gump's jade jewelry all my life. Gump's was an iconic San Francisco department store that was founded in the 19th century and awed the world with their remarkable and unique pieces until 2005 when they were sold. Gump's never used any dyed or treated jade in any of their jewelry, so they remain one of very few brands that you never need to have tested; vintage Gump...

What a treasure for the Gump's collector and jade lover! This 1970's jewel from the iconic San Francisco retailer, Gump's, features a hand-carved deep forest green nephrite jade egg...

This is an iconic black jade ring from Gump's San Francisco featuring an oval cabochon of natural and untreated black jade. This style of jade ring has prov...

Perfectly unisex and exceedingly rare, this is an original Gump's San Francisco jade ring featuring an oval cabochon of natural and untreated white jadeite jade set into a hand-crafted 18k yellow gold mounting. The original Gump's of San Francisco was an iconic retailer known worldwide for their spectacular and always, always untreated natural jade jewelry...

This is rare Gump's nephrite jade necklace from the Midcentury (circa 1960s) in an exceptionally translucent light chartreuse green. Indeed, the hand-carved and polished beads are so highly translucent they look to be made of glass. In fact, "Glassy" jade is a term usually reserved to describe only the finest jadeite jade -nephrite jade's rarer and more expensive cousin- and the word is only rarely applicable to the nephrite variety of jade, due to its different mineral structure. The 16 ¾" necklace is composed of 40 9.30mm untreated nephrite beads that are most likely from Siberia. These beads are a fine, evenly-toned chartreuse green, and they display the high translucency of the only finest jadeite. Most Gump's jade necklaces were available in 18" and 24" lengths. This 16" necklace is far less common, and the large size of the beads in combination with the brief length speaks to the scarcity of the beads themselves, their genuine preciousness. The 14K yellow gold clasp is marked "Hong Kong" and "Gump's." All original Gump's jade jewelry...

A rectangular natural Nephrite jade box carved in shallow relief, the lid is decorated in floral patterns with a central flower of 8 buds which is en...

This stunning Art Nouveau gift box is executed in bronze and gold embossed blue leather. The round bronze lid is designed as a chrysanthemum and has a beautiful patina. The inside i...

An Italian green granite box, with a micromosaic mounted in a two-color gold chased border. Depicted is a goldfinch (carduelis carduelis) on a branch with berries and overlooking the Mediterranean. The scene is surrounded by a millefiori border. By Giacomo Raffaelli...

A large metal box decorated with two triangle decorations in red and eggshell enamel on a brown back ground, signed: Jean Dunand, circa 1925.

A handmade Natural Blue Green Chrysokoll & Malachite decorative Jewelery Box. The pattern looks like an artful painting of nature. It should be emphasized that the top plate is made ...

A Natural Handmade octagon turquoise coloured Shattuckite Decorative Jewelry Box. The turquoise colour and the black pattern looks like an artful painting of nature...