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Vintage Jewelry-Making Inventory – Over 200,000 Vintage Cabochons, 50,000+ Rings & Components
Historic Vintage Jewelry-Making Inventory – Over 200,000 Vintage Cabochons, 50,000+ Rings & Components
Harmony Ball Company, a Columbus, Ohio jewelry manufacturer established in the late 1980s, is offering its complete inventory of vintage jewelry-making components after officially closing its doors following more than 35 years in business.
This extraordinary lot represents decades of careful sourcing and includes one of the largest remaining collections of vintage cabochons acquired directly from some of America's legendary bead and jewelry component distributors.
A Rare Opportunity
Many vintage cabochons possess colors, finishes, manufacturing techniques, and designs that are no longer produced today. Their distinctive appearance and exceptional craftsmanship make them highly desirable for jewelry designers, mixed-media artists, fashion embellishment, and creative home décor projects.
A cabochon is a polished decorative component with a smooth domed face and flat or slightly rounded or pointed back. Traditionally bezel-set or glued into jewelry, cabochons are used in rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets, brooches, cufflinks, tie tacks, hair accessories, mosaics, decorative objects, and countless other artistic applications.
Historic Provenance
Beginning in the early 1990s, Harmony Ball Company owners personally traveled to New York City's famous bead district and Providence, Rhode Island's historic jewelry district to hand-select inventory from some of the industry's most respected wholesalers.
The collection was purchased from companies including:
HS Import Co., Inc. – 48 West 37th Street, New York City (now closed)
John H. Paechter, Inc. – 366 Fifth Avenue, New York City (now closed)
Kittay & Blitz, Inc. (now M.L. Roberts) – 228 Webosset Street, Providence, Rhode Island (relocated)
During the twentieth century, the blocks surrounding West 37th Street in Manhattan were considered one of the premier wholesale bead and jewelry component districts in the United States. Likewise, Providence's jewelry district was among the largest costume jewelry manufacturing centers in the world, supplying manufacturers across the country.
Much of that industry has disappeared as manufacturing moved overseas, making inventories like this increasingly difficult to assemble today. Many of the cabochons were also purchased directly from glass factories in Murano, Italy.
Property Address: 232 Neilston St., Columbus OH 43215
Inspection: Call or email for appointment
Pickup: By appointment within (14) days of sale
Auction Manager: William Hesch
- Mobile: (513) 444-6329
- Email: william@worleyauctions.com
Shipping Available at Buyer's Expense and Responsibility:
Through the local UPS Store
- Phone: (614) 481-7877
- Email: store1511@theupsstore.com
Worley Auctioneers is brokering this "Buy It Now" or negotiated sale.
Sold AS IS, WHERE IS with no warranties, express or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
This inventory must be removed from seller's facility by the buyer within (14) days of the sale.