Kelly Bracelet
Regular price $87.00Buy the matching earrings and get 15% off the set with code KELLY.
The Mississippi River plays a lead role in many American legends, including the mother-of-pearl button craze in the early 20th century. Our studio is a hop, skip, and jump from this mighty river, so we feel an affinity for the buttons carved from her mussels and clams.
The vintage pearl buttons featured in this bracelet were hand-carved from Mississippi River mussel shells by the American Pearl Button Company, which operated between 1908 and 1964.
Hundreds of pounds of buttons were warehoused and forgotten when they closed their doors. A decade ago, the original owner's great-grandson reached out to us and asked if we wanted to buy the remaining stock. Of course, our answer was a resounding yes.
Most of the precious buttons in this unexpected bounty were white mother-of-pearl, but a few were dyed a deep kelly green. The lovely buttons we used in this lucky bracelet were from that limited group.
READ MORE> Mighty Mississippi River Pearls, Buttonology Blog.
We named this bracelet after Grace Kelly in honor of its gorgeous mid-century style.
In this piece:
- Three vintage pearl buttons with their original vivid green dye, circa 1950
- Three brass-plated pewter settings made today in the USA
- Six crescent-shaped brass stampings, made today in the USA in vintage dies
- Small Czech glass bead made to imitate malachite
- Antiqued brass chain
- Length adjusts from 7” to 8 ½”
Shop the collection: Bracelets
Shop the collection: Lady Washington Pearls
