1995 GENUINE PORCELAIN INITIAL NECKLACE

J

by Avon

NOS ~ New Old Stock & these have both the inside & outer slip cover box

This amazing Monogrammed Vintage Necklace has numerous interesting features. It looks like it might have been offered for gifting.

First I want to give a basic description of this. With its porcelain light pink Rose & 5 small faux pearls & an Caligraphic Letter - this piece reminds me of being inspired by the Victorian period. Around the rose is several Goldtone leaves on 3 sides. Further detail in the Goldtone metal is a rope or string like edging around the letter - inside the thicker outer edge. The chain looks to be sturdy although delicate in appearance ~ enough to support the heavy pendant. This chain closure should allow it to be removed which isn’t standard with most Avon necklaces as most pendants have small holes to prevent loosing or changing chains. This might allow for the Pendant to have additional uses.

These are from 1995 so they are 30 years old. With Avon’s special trademark patented plating process ~ even though they are 30 years old but New never used ~ what you receive will be free from age related defects such as tarnish or rust. If you notice any issues contact me right away! I am so sure about the quality of Avons jewelry that if any of these have damage or defects due to age that I will accept a return & pay return shipping! Avon has offered jewelry over 50 yrs & I have yet to find any defects in this massive estate. I expect these to likely last another 50+ if cared for.

It was originally sold in a special box that had an outer cover in cream & pink stripe like design but inside is a yellow box with pink Roses & polka dots. The inner box has a peek-a-boo frame style window to show off the necklace inside.

The inner box can be used as a display. It has a rear Easel that can be set up using the instructions on the outer box. I will be listing several of these in various initials ~ so for those listings that do not have the outer slipcover box ~ these are the Easel set up instructions: Push in Center piece. Pull out easel back. Pullout center piece until it locks into easel back. There are also slits in the front of the box where a photo can be placed. If the necklace is left in as it comes ~ the photo would be inserted under the necklace. The box also has cleaning instructions.

🌹🌹🌹This item I feel is extra special when the Story behind it is known! If u have time read the story of where this item came from!

This is from the estate of Rose Christmann ~ AKA “North Idaho’s Outlaw Avon Lady” owner of Rose’s Avon Store in Coeur D Alene, ID.

Rose retired & finally closed her local Avon shop when she was almost 102 yo. She passed away 4/2025 at 104 yo!!!

I believe Rose was likely both the oldest Avon Lady actively selling Avon at almost 102 yrs old. She also possibly was the longest ever selling Avon Lady. She had sold Avon for over 70 yrs from what I was told by her granddaughter Lisa which also was proven by numerous news articles about Rose still easily found online today.

Rose made International News in the Mid 1990’s after being arrested for selling lipstick from her Avon store that she had built onto her new home in CDA, ID. An article from 1996 stated she was 74 yrs old & could no longer easily do door to door sales.

Soon after becoming a widow she had a new home built at a corner where the rear of the house was on a busy road that already had businesses. She had worked hard selling Avon her whole life to pay for her home & she loved doing it so building a shop so she could continue was important to her. The City didn’t agree nor did the City consider her needs which is & was inexcusable.

The City of Coeur D Alene decided they didn’t want to have her little Avon shop so they did everything they could to stop this woman but she has always been strong & she was determined to continue working & selling Avon for the rest of her life so she fought back. I feel it’s women like Rose who paved a way for the rest of us to have our rights & needs met as they should by Cities that won’t follow the laws.

Rose filed for permits to sell Avon from the rear of her new home. It didn’t affect the neighborhood in the front of her home. Across from her shop is a church so it was obviously ridiculous that the city gave her so much trouble. The 1990’s was early into laws like the ADA to protect our seniors & those with mobility issues so Rose was at the mercy of the city at that time for them to follow the law.

So when the city went after Rose & tried to stop her ~ they did so with what today would be a huge misuse of power & they likely spent more than they did on criminals. In fact they treated her like a major criminal which is why the news stories referred to her as our Outlaw Avon Lady. The city arrested her several times ~ they even set up stings where uncover female officers shopped & bought lipstick from her & then they arrested her.

After her arrest I believe this is when the news started reporting her story. It got bad for the city when Rose’s story was also reported by A Current Affair which went international. CDA was a small city then & after A Current Affair started reporting the city was inundated with calls that they couldn’t handle. Calls were coming from other Countries even by people who were rightly upset with how she was treated. They did throw a Senior in jail for selling Avon!

These articles are still available online. One article from 1996 gave her age as 74 then another article said she started selling Avon in Feb 1942 so she sold avon for 80 yrs & 4 months b4 retiring.

Rose has outlived her husband & all her children. If not for Covid she would likely still be selling today even though her grandchildren feared leaving her alone to sell at her store so 1 of them or her numerous great grandchildren had to work with her. Rose got covid but luckily didn’t get ill but to be safe she was sent to an assisted living. The grandchildren talked her into finally living somewhere she could have extra care & be around other seniors.

When Rose’s home & shop were listed for sale ~ the city of Coeur D Alene Again caused issues with her property. The church across the street had wanted to buy her place as well as others but the city was determined to only allowing the home to be a residence. By that time - 2022 the back of the home was on a very busy street & across from a now large busy church. Rose & her family lost a huge amount of $ in what they could have sold her place for.

It ended up taking 6 months to find a buyer. The family worked hard on weekends & any free time they had to sell her estate & at least make enough to pay her care during this time. Her estate was so large though that it wasn’t an easy task. My family was fortunate enough that we could buy chunks of it every week & help sell on eBay & use that $ to buy more. My mom - another Senior - eventually bought out everything that was left & the jewelry & home decor items are numerous & I’m hoping to start listing now but it will take years!

We are pleased to have her collection. When we give PCs as gifts to friends & family we share with them how they have an item that is collectible on its own but that it’s even more special because it has an even more special story behind it.

I hope you love the item you are buying. We love our Avon here in our home. They do make a high quality product still to this day. The jewelry is amazing! The patented plating Avon has always used has protected these so they have no damage from tarnishing & issues that happen to many fashion jewelry PCs over time.

I will do my best to box up your order so they arrive to you in great shape. These items are NOT returnable (except in a situation as noted above) so please ask any questions you have b4 u buy! If u r looking for any vintage Avon - 1970+ on feel free to let me know.