Miracle began making jewellery in Birmingham in 1946 and is still producing. They make Celtic, Irish and Scottish style jewellery. Their main range is reproductions of antiqued pewter or gold plated jewellery set with Czech. glass reproductions of semi precious stones. There is a smaller range of silver set jewellery (Information taken from their website). I only put items that are not in their current catalogue on the web site – and tend to like the larger items (although we sometime do have smaller examples in the shop). Miracle is one of the few British companies that marked their products (along with Atwood & Sawyer). A great shame! I do prefer the vintage pieces.
Category: My Notes On Manufacturers
BOUCHER, MARCEL
Marcel Boucher – one of my favourite designers – was born in Paris but moved to New York in the early 1920s. He studied with Cartier. By the 1930s he was working for the Mazer Bros. In 1937 he set up his own company – Marcel Boucher and Cie. During WW11 – because of the shortage of metals – he switched production to Mexico and made jewellery in silver under the name Parisina. He died in 1965. His wife Sandra took over the company. The company became part of Davorn Industries in the early 1970s. In 1979 Davorn was sold to D’Orlan. D’Orlan continued to made the jewellery from the original moulds. In 1984 D’Orlan joined Nina Rici and continued to 2006. The jewellery is very good quality. He used diamante, enamels, animals, fruits, coloured stones, moving parts etc. I particularly like the diamante jewellery – which is quite exceptional. Pieces between 1942-49 may be marked with a Phrygian Cap. After 1955 there is a copyright symbol before ‘Boucher’. Thanks to ‘How to Buy Vintage Jewelry.com – Buying Guide to Vintage Marcel Boucher Jewelery’. To CW Collectors Weekly and to Wikipedia for this information.
ATTWOOD & SAWYER
Attwood & Sawyer was established in Wales in 1956. Over the years they made good quality pieces – usually in white metal with paste stones – often using a historial theme – such as the Duchess of Winsor’s jewellery. They went out of business and the company (and all their back catalogue of designs) were bought by Buckley Jewellery Ltd in – I think – 2001. The company was relaunched in 2010 (see the Attwood & Sawyer web site – where I found this information) and some pieces are being remade. Update – June 20 – the Attwood & Sawyer web site seems to have disappeared and none of the current Buckley pieces look like the older Atwood and Sawyer designs.