This set is in a highly collectible color called Siam red which brings some of the highest prices in Sherman jewelry. It's actually a darker and deeper red than the image shows.
This piece is a prime example showing the thin navette stones which Sherman so often used and cluster element at the top, also seen repeatedly in Sherman designs.
Here, you can see the back of the cluster which shows that the stones are open-set. This type of backing is also seen on pieces by Schreiner.
This next piece is a flower design which is common to Sherman jewelry. This piece, however, has some unusual grey striped stones which I haven't ever seen in any jewelry before ever!
The next two photos show a light pink Sherman brooch and earring set along with the signature on the brooch. This would be considered a less desirable piece because of the less interesting design, however the crystals are still of the utmost quality.
Next is a Sherman necklace in yellow. Even simple designs like this can cost upwards of $100 due to quality of materials and collectability of the brand name.
You can see by the image of the back, the heavy gold plating and the components used, including extender chain which makes the necklace adjustable.
This piece, which has unusually brilliant crystals compared to other jewelry of this style, would be another lower valued item, however, still coveted due to its brilliance and quality. The center stone only looks dark due to my lack of photography skills.
The same comments about the last item can be made about these super sparkly clear crystal Sherman earrings.
Sherman yellow screwback earrings with "keystone" crystals.
An example of higher end Sherman earrings. Brilliant, big, and gorgeous!
Here you can see the heavy rhodium plating on the earrings.
Sherman brilliant topaz brooch with aurora borealis stones and little floret earrings. Little florets are common to Sherman jewelry designs.
Sherman clear crystal necklace in super brilliant aurora borealis crystals.
Back of the necklace. Notice the elements on the end. These "rhinestones interspersed with loop elements" in addition to the "J" hook clasp are common to Sherman designs and serves to make the piece adjustable.
Here, you can see the same elements in another Sherman necklace.
The SHERMAN in all caps signature, on the earrings shown above, can be seen here.
And this is the script signature on the necklace with a close-up of the adjustable chain element.
Sherman brilliant clear bracelet with fold-over clasp and safety chain.
The crystals are amazing!
An example of a wider Sherman clear crystal bracelet utilizing many thin navette stones.
Beaded Sherman Jewelry
Beaded jewelry is something Sherman commonly made. Here is an exquisite example of a multi-strand bracelet with faux pearls and red crystals.
Signature on the bracelet.
This is what I believe was the matching necklace, although unsigned.
I had these earrings along with the bracelet. I'm not completely certain they were a match but they looked incredible together.
Signature on the back of the earrings.
Unsigned Sherman Jewelry
Which brings us to the discussion of the unsigned. There is plenty of reliable evidence that points to the existence of unsigned Sherman jewelry. If the piece didn't have a place for the signature to be added, one might be added by paper tag, making the worn vintage piece appear unsigned. Here are some examples to illustrate that point.
The academic consensus (as well as my own) holds that many Sherman pieces were unsigned, including smaller crystal necklaces like the one shown below. Elements that lead me to make the attribution to this as a Sherman piece are: 1. Brilliance of stones that are unmistakable to a trained eye in person, 2. Use of the same adjustable rhinestone and loop element seen in many pieces above, 3. Heavy rhodium plating and exquisite quality as shown in all three photos.
Another example is this brilliant green crystal set which bore a signature on the earrings only. Beaded necklaces are commonly unsigned because they only had a paper hang tag which was later removed.
I find this piece unusual because of the diamond-shaped element at the closure.
Here is another example of the same type of thing. The silver coated crystal earrings are signed but the necklace is not.
This next image shows the "J" hook clasp with a single crystal navette element decorating it which is common to Sherman jewelry. Also notice the three navette crystal element which connects the three strands.
Here is another unsigned piece that I believe is Sherman. First, the crystals are unlike any I have seen on other unsigned beaded necklaces (see other photos). Second. The piece is adjustable and has the crystal navette decorative element on the clasp. What do you think?
Also, these earrings appear to be unsigned Sherman. The crystals are incredibly brilliant, there is the use of thin navette stones, and the tall slender sprigs are signature of Sherman jewelry. Opinions?
Here is an old blog post with some other pieces I've had a long with a bit of additional information and some explanation regarding color.
This ends today's lesson.
I hope it was helpful and inspires some conversation on the topic!
.png "Sherman Beaded Crystal Earrings")
.png "Sherman Blue Flower Necklace")
.png "Sherman Jewelry Gallery")
