Images of Hearts for a Day of Schmaltz

By DEBORAH HOFMANNFEB. 3, 1991 This is a digitized version of an article from The Times's print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems. Please send reports of such problems to . Gifts from the heart, and especially gifts shaped like hearts, are plentiful for Valentine's Day.For those whose pulse races at the rate of ticker tape, Terry Mayer makes a flat heart pendant engraved with stock market figures on an 18-inch chain, for $100. She also makes a voluptuous sterling-silver heart pendant -- actually a bell -- dangling from a 20-inch chain, $113. Both are sold at William Barthman Jewelers at 174 Broadway (at Maiden Lane).Foree Hunsicker of Dallas designs sterling-silver replicas of antique jewelry. A two-inch heart adorned with a small bow and a laurel wreath wraps around a monogram. An original 19th-century heart, from which this was faithfully replicated, was used as the drawer pull for a woman's lap desk, "where ladies took to their privacy to compose love letters," Ms. Hunsicker said. A pendant version on a twisted sterling antique Navajo-style chain, is $150; as earrings, they are $96. Cupid's KissAnother piece is a one-inch heart-shaped vignette, depicting cupid kissing a dreaming woman. The original model was made by Philadelphia silversmiths, the Unger Brothers, in the late 1800's as a lingerie clip to fasten a delicate bed jacket or chemise.Ms. Hunsicker uses the image in dangle earrings, $50 a pair, and every other configuration one might want. A charm bracelet with all three of the heart styles is $150, or as a barrette, $84. They are sold at G. Willikers in Locust Valley, L.I., at Fortunoff in Westbury, L.I., and Manhattan, at Wolfman-Gold and Good Company in Manhattan and by special order, (214) 521-1987.Advertisement"It sounds schmaltzy," Ms. Hunsicker said of her work, "but they convey something long and lasting."For those who lean more to sculptured metaphor, Robert Lee Morris makes a carved hollow heart pendant that dangles from a leather thong, to be worn by men and women. The heart is smooth and polished on one side, rough on the other, chunky and substantial.AdvertisementIn a large version, two inches wide and high, it's $130 in brass, $440 in sterling silver. A small version is $65 in brass, $75 in gold plate, $150 in sterling silver, at the Robert Lee Morris store, 409 West Broadway and at Artwear, 456 West Broadway (both near Spring Street).The Ralph Lauren/Polo flagship store on 867 Madison Avenue (72d Street), has a wide assortment of antique silver pendant lockets, $195, an agate heart pendant, $475, a silver heart pin framed in pearls, $150, and a heart-shaped sapphire ring, $425.Antiques by Dorene sells heart jewelry from the Victorian era through the 1950's. The average piece here is about $300 -- like the heart-shaped marcasite and sterling silver lapel watch, from the 1930's, made in Switzerland and cased in England.Dorene Burger, president of Antiques by Dorene, sells through Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Barneys New York, I. Magnin, Nordstrom and her showroom, 201 East 37th Street by appointment; (212) 818-9078.More widely available and affordable are the Napier Company's gold bow-shaped earrings with a fake pearl center, with a dangling rose quartz heart, $25. The matching fake pearl necklace with bow-and-heart dangling ornament is $50. The three-tiered gold-plated dangling earrings are $14. The line is sold at Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor and Macy's.Jonal, the boutique at 1281 Madison Avenue (91st Street) sells private-label Valentine's Day costume jewelry. Heart-shaped button-style earrings in gold plate are $25 and $35, crystal heart drop earrings are $55, fake multi-strand chokers with a dangling Lucite heart, $180.A version of this article appears in print on February 3, 1991, on Page 1001048 of the National edition with the headline: . Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe