One of the things we love at Vintage Unscripted is a messy vintage company history, and the Barclay necklace in this week’s fresh to market vintage opened to door on a nice one.

Once upon a time there was a jewelry company in Providence, RI, called Rice-Weiner and Co., who signed a licensing agreement with a famous illustrator, McClelland Barclay. Barclay’s well known work included advertisements, magazine covers and military posters during WWI. He signed a deal with the jewelry company–they could use his name with its aura of eliteness and he would receive 10% of the profits. Barclay had nothing to do with the making of the jewelry. The designs were the work of Rice-Werner’s lead designer, Louis Mark.

This arrangement lasted from the late 1930s until 1943, when Barclay was killed along with 82 other crew members while serving in the Pacific aboard a military supply boat that was torpedoed in the Solomon Islands. 

In 1947, Louis Mark and two of the partners from Rice-Weiner, the brothers Alvin and Robert Rice, formed their own company in the same building as their previous company. The building housed several smaller jewelry companies with shared manufacturing equipment and spaces, but you have to imagine it was awkward. Having the same designer who created pieces with the same look and having the same brand name is one of the reasons people confuse the McClelland Barclay line with pieces from the later Barclay Jewelry Co.

Neither company survived the 1950s, with Rice-Weiner and Co. closing in 1956 and the Barclay Jewelry Co. closing in 1957. But don’t you worry, the building they both worked in is still doing fine, transformed into artist studios/living spaces and commercial spaces. Those 11 foot ceilings with their genuine timber beams still tell a story about Providence’s history as a jewelry making hub.

Do any of the other picks this week have winding tales? We don’t know. But we hope they do.

Three Folk Art Painted Saucers, c 1970s, Signed 

Offering a set of three folk-painted plates, two with fish themes and the third with two sloops anchored near a dock beside two red buildings. Undated but purchased from an estate sale in the early ’70s. I have no clue who Nellie B. Fish is but I feel certain she would be honored to know her folk painting lives on.

Vintage Painted Folk Art Plates, $ 60

Linda, Selective Salvage

1940s Barclay Aquamarine Necklace

Not to be confused with McClelland Barclay who created art and whose name was on jewelry in the early twentieth century, the Barclay Jewelry company was only in business for about a decade from about 1947 to 1957. Well made high quality costume jewelry, it has become hard to find. This rare necklace features a round floral pendant centerpiece with matching rhinestones on either side. It hangs from a snake-style chain.  A rare and lovely piece of history.

Aquamarine Rhinestone Necklace, $65.95

Pam, Vintage Renude

Antique Chinese Export Porcelain Salt Box

This antique Chinese export Famille Rose porcelain covered box, was used as an individual salt cellar. Lid shows the traditional Chinese mythological motif of a boy riding a Qilin (dragon-horse), which symbolizes blessings and future success. This box likely goes back to the early to mid 20th century when Chinese exportwares were popular.

1990s PBJ Sport Apple Orchard Sweater

Sweater season is creeping up on us, sooner for some of us than others depending on where you are geographically. A new vintage sweater can take the sting out of having to add a layer. Perhaps something like this bright 1990s gem that is colorful from cuffs to collar.

Intarsia knit sweaters from the late 1980s through the 1990s have been having a moment for five plus years now with cottagecore and grandmacore devotees. They are peak slow fashion, a distinctive style that was considered dated for a couple decades but has re-emerged with such verve that makers of new clothing are copying the original vintage style. We all know that the new ones are pale imitations. The copycats will never be as cozy or cool as the vintage originals.

1990s PBJ Sport Intarsia Knit Sweater, Size L, $95.

Available from this week’s guest, Ivy Closet Co.

We’re not a culinary blog, but as stated at the top, we like a good beef. Can you imagine the icy stares when the two parts that were once the same jewelry company met in the building where they both did business. If you know of any vintage companies with a messy history, let us know. We’re astonished at how many there are. That’s business, we guess.

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