Antique, vintage jewelry program set

— Many people have a piece of jewelry tucked away and wish they knew more about it. Perhaps it once belonged to a grandmother, or it may be an old piece that was purchased, but there are questions about it.

They may be able to find answers to those questions during an antique and vintage jewelry program at Old Independence Regional Museum. The program will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 6.

Sisters Kitty Skinner Wilson and Cindy Skinner-Stewart will talk about jewelry in general, show pieces they own and examine some that belong to the audience.

“If a piece of jewelry is more than 100 years old, we say it is antique. Vintage jewelry is usually categorized as from about 1940 to 1980,” Wilson said.

The public is invited to bring jewelry about which they want more information, such as its metal type, stone type and the era of the piece. However, Wilson emphasized that the sisters will not be doing monetary value appraisals.

“I began working in my father’s jewelry store here in Batesville when I was very young,” Wilson said. “I was not tall enough to see over the counters, so I would stand on the bottom shelf to help customers.”

Wilson worked all through junior and senior high school and on weekends during college. After she married, she moved away, but continued to work when they came to Batesville for family holidays. Eventually, they moved back, and she helped her father and uncle run the business and to continue it after her father’s death.

The family business closed in February after 64 years in business.

“My experience is hands-on learning, with instruction through the Gemological Institute of America” Wilson said. “I love all jewelry, especially antique and vintage.”

Skinner-Stewart majored in art at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with an emphasis in jewelry arts. She continued her education in jewelry arts and hand engraving at Gem City College in Quincy, Ill., before attending the Gemological Institute of America in Santa Monica, Calif., to become a graduate gemologist. She has owned her own wholesale business in Tulsa, Okla., for 19 years. Her company specializes in diamonds, colored stones, jewelry tools and supplies.

The museum is located at 380 S. Ninth St., between Boswell and Vine streets.

Three Rivers, Pages 133 on 10/30/2011

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