#Pride #Patriotism #Jewelry #Ann #Hand #WorthPoint
When I received a Texas flag brooch designed by Ann Hand as a gift many moons ago, I was introduced to a brand that embodies pride and patriotism. The enameled flag was beautifully made and came in a gift box worthy of any fine jewelry I’ve ever owned. Wondering why Texas seems to be the only individual state represented on Hand’s website among a sea of American-themed jewelry, I had to dig deeper. As it turns out, her Texas designs represent her home state. Ann Hand grew up in Houston and attended the University of Texas—a fellow Houstonian and Longhorn just like me!
With that tidbit of information tucked away, I knew I had to learn more about this woman and all the jewelry she’s marketed over the past several decades. Her pieces include many unique styles and all the traditional representations of the American spirit you’d expect from “the nation’s jeweler.”
Regardless of a person’s party affiliation, it’s hard not to appreciate the sentiment behind this jewelry and the heritage that influenced the creation of each piece. Some impressive individuals have worn them, too. And, yes, the well-made costume jewelry branded Ann Hand is certainly worth watching for when you’re shopping estate sales and thrift stores.
Ann Hand: The Woman Behind the Jewelry
Anytime I hear about a woman founding her own company (especially one related to jewelry!) and making a real go of it, that success always makes me do a little happy dance for her. When it comes to those who started working out of their homes until they got their footing, that makes me doubly proud of their efforts. Hand is one of those ladies.
Even more impressive, at least to me, is that she started at 53 as an empty nester. After taking a traveling jewelry design class offered by the Gemological Institute of America, she set up a little workshop in a small, prefabricated garden cottage on her property in Washington, D.C., in the late 1980s. Her first creations were beads made from newspapers taken from The Washington Post and hand-decorated with imitation stones. She sold a pair of earrings for $10, and that’s all it took to get her business off the ground.
Since her husband had been working in the Washington, D.C., political arena for decades, she’d gotten to know many individuals interested in jewelry with a patriotic spin. When Senator Sam Nunn’s wife asked her to design a pin honoring the refurbishment of the Statue of Freedom that sits atop the U.S. Capitol building, all the guests at the unveiling party received one. Even the First Lady donned the pin, which was Hand’s big break.
Jewelry Sends a Message
“I think I look at myself as a storyteller because most of my jewelry has a message. That’s what I want to do for America instead of painting pictures that you’ll see on the wall, I want you to wear it and be able to talk about what it represents,” Hand remarked in a podcast episode of Our Town with Andy Ockershausen.
Many individuals have told stories with Hand’s jewelry, including the late Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who famously wore brooches to send messages to dignitaries she met. The Madeleine Albright Collection has several Ann Hand pins, including Hand’s favorite design, the Liberty Eagle.
More About Ann Hand Jewelry
In addition to the best-selling Liberty Eagle, which is a stately gold-plated bird perched atop a faux pearl, Hand has designed many other avian styles. Doves, as symbols of hope and peace, have made their way into Ann Hand designs as well.
Some of the eagles are reminiscent of rhinestone-encrusted pieces produced during the World War II era, while others are surrounded by enameled flags. Larger versions of these brooches can sell secondhand in the $100-200 range when found in the original box. That’s not too surprising since I’ve found vintage eagle pins always to be good sellers.
Patriotic pins sell well overall, as many people collect them. Hand has marketed a wide array, including red, white, and blue enameled flags and bows. Her business has also sold many pins related to military service. The patriotic pieces typically sell in the $50-100 range, while the military pins can go for much less. Looking at the Worthpoint Price Guide on your smartphone as you’re thrifting can help you decide which ones are good bets for flipping for a profit.
You might even find pieces related to American presidents occasionally since Hand produced commemorative items related to each campaign since she’s been in business, regardless of the party affiliation. These have proven to be good sellers around inauguration time, no matter who America’s chosen candidate is.
Many Democrats and Republicans have also purchased Ann Hand pins to show their party allegiance. Smaller gold-plated versions usually sell for less secondhand than those more elaborately decorated with rhinestones.
After many prosperous years offering jewelry that tells stories of pride and patriotism in her Washington-based shop on Prospect Street, Ann Hand’s business is now run solely online. Hand celebrated her 90th birthday in 2023, and her family is keeping her namesake business going so fans of her designs worldwide can still purchase a number of them on the Ann Hand website.
Pamela Siegel is a freelance writer and author who has been educating collectors for more than two decades. In addition to three books on topics relating to antiques and collectibles, she frequently shares her expertise through online writing and articles for print-based publications. Pamela is also the co-founder of Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l (CJCI) and the proprietor of Chic Antiques by Pamela.
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