Clown face charm. Enamel, gold tone. Signed HMS Vintage Costume Jewelry
Signed HMS Vintage Costume Jewelry (1983-2000)
The history of jewelry marked with the initials HMS inside a crown began in 1983 and lasted no more than two decades. Although some owners of HMS jewelry pieces date them back to the 1970s and even 1960s, there are no archival records or documents to confirm this.
HMS jewelry production began in the early 1980s, and HMS is the initials of the brand’s founder Harry Maxson Schmidt (December 25, 1944 – April 30, 2012). Harry Maxson Schmidt was a successful entrepreneur who opened his own wholesale jewelry business in 1983 in Plano, Texas. According to one of his friends, everything Harry touched was a success.
The most interesting collection of Madeira Creations included an animalistic series of brooches and pendants with white and pastel enamel – owl, lion, elephant, fish, oyster shell and others. The design and style of jewelry was diverse – from Egyptian Revival and cameos to classic floral motifs. The company’s jewelers used 18-karat gold, metal alloys, silver, pewter, natural stones, cultured pearls and rhinestones.
The HMS Jewelry company ceased to exist after a merger with another company in the late 1990s. Sadly, Harry Maxson Schmidt died in 2012 at the age of 67 after a long battle with cancer.
Birds in cage gold tone rhinestone enamel pendant
Maker’s mark
Signed HMS Vintage Costume Jewelry
Cameo 18 K gold ring
Comedy and tragedy theatrical masks pewter pendant
Cuckoo Clock gold tone necklace
Egyptian Revival gold tone necklace. Art glass imitating malachite and lapis lazuli. 1980s
Flower gold tone pendant. 1960s
Lion with moving spectacles pewter pendant. 1970s
Owl gold tone green glass enameled pendant
Polka dot enameled elephant brooch pendant
Rhinestone flower pierced earrings
Seashell gold tone enameled brooch pin. 6 cm. 1990s
Shamrock gold tone enamel pendant
Tropical Fish enameled brooch pendant. 1980s
Umbrella lamp stand stained glass pendant
Maker’s mark
Trademark
