Kaleidoscope effect

Leopard pattern gold tone rhinestone brooch and clip-on earrings. 1980s. Signed Vanecci vintage costume jewelry

Signed Vanecci vintage costume jewelry
The history of the Italian costume jewelry brand Vanecci began in the early 1980s and lasted no more than a decade.

Although there is little information about the brand, it is certain that the company ceased to exist in the early 1990s. Italian craftsmen created catwalk statement jewelry with bold designs – mostly clip-on earrings, as well as brooches, necklaces and bracelets. Creating jewelry they used high quality materials, and in particular, metal alloy with matte gold finish, Swarovski crystals, rhinestones, faux pearls and enamel. The maker’s mark on the back of each piece includes the word “Vanecci” in script and without the copyright symbol.

Already in 1992, the new owner of the company used this brand name to produce accessories. However, that was already a completely different company, unrelated to the Italian costume jewelry brand, so popular in the 1980s.
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Wheat ears gold plated circle brooch. 1930s. Signed Murat vintage costume jewelry

Signed Murat vintage costume jewelry

One of the oldest Parisian jewelry firms, “Bijoux Murat” began its history at 62 rue des Archives in Paris in 1847. Its founder was jewelry designer Charles Bertrand Murat (1 April 1818, Toulouse – 9 August 1897, Paris). A self-taught jeweler, Murat began studying jewelry making and improving his skills by working in jewelry workshops at the age of 16.
His eldest son Jacques Louis Georges Murat (1851 – 1918) successfully continued the family business and received many awards at jewelry exhibitions. As Jacques Louis Georges was childless, he passed on his business to his nephews.
According to the 1925 catalog, the company produced not only jewelry, chains, buttons, crosses, but also cigarette cases, manicure sets, fountain pens, pocket knives and award badges and medals.
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Man and child sterling silver brooch. Finnish modernist jeweler Bjorn Weckstrom

Finnish modernist jeweler Bjorn Weckstrom
Born in 1935, Björn Weckström graduated from Helsinki Goldsmith’s school in 1956. He is a renowned Finnish sculptor and artist-jeweler known for his “organic” style in jewelry. According to Weckström, his jewelry is more like three-dimensional small sculptures inspired by the brutal Finnish nature. Indeed, in his designs you can see snow drifts, roots, bark of trees, ice-covered surfaces and the figures of people. The designer worked with a wide variety of materials: precious and semi-precious metals, glass, textiles, stone, and fiberglass.

Weckström created jewelry for the Finnish company Lapponia since 1963, and brought the company the international recognition and success. As an art director of Lapponia, he won the Grand Prix in 1965 in the International Jewelry Contest in Rio de Janeiro. Lapponia’s products were sold on Bond Street in London.

Launched in 1969, “Space Silver” became the designer’s most famous collection. When creating this collection, Weckström could not have imagined that it would become part of a cult phenomenon. Thus, “Planetoid Valleys” and “Darina’s Bracelet” became his most famous jewelry in 1977 after being featured in George Lucas’ film “Star Wars.”
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Art Deco wood and metal brooch pin. 1960’s. Signed Langani vintage costume jewelry

Signed Langani vintage costume jewelry
The history of the German brand of costume jewelry Langani began in 1952, founded by artist, designer and jeweler Anni Schaad.

Born in Stuttgart, Germany, Anni Lang (1911–1988) studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in 1929–30. She then continued her studies in Vienna and Munich at the State School of Applied Arts, where she studied textile design until 1934. In 1935 she married Rudolf Schaad and became Anni Schaad, but her maiden name turned into the jewelry brand “langani” in 1952, when she opened a costume jewelry workshop.

Initially, Anni Schaad produced handmade lampwork beads of her own design in her workshop. Her unique jewelry soon became very successful and recognizable, especially after participating in national and international arts and crafts exhibitions around the world. As a result of this success, Anni Schaad began a long collaboration with the Parisian couturier Louis Féraud. The first notable collections appeared in the early 1970s and included “Bandura”(1971), Hannibal (1972), and others.

During this period the designer began to use unusual materials for her jewelry. In particular, wood, seashells, ivory, ostrich egg shells, suede, leather and feathers, silk thread, acrylic, sequins and even embroidery.
Noteworthy, Anni and Rudolf Schaad had four children, who joined the family business and successfully continued it.
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Traveler’s suitcase gold tone brooch with charms. Signed RVP vintage costume jewelry

Signed RVP vintage costume jewelry

Fallbrook, California based RVP Inc manufactured costume jewelry for just over a decade. The company’s founder and president was Roger Victor Peterson, and his initials make up the manufacturer’s mark “RVP” next to the copyright symbol.

The collection of costume jewelry marked “RVP” mainly included various fancy brooches with charms, which could undoubtedly be a wonderful gift for anyone, and for any occasion. Thus, the design featured various sets on a variety of themes – travel, professions, Christmas, hobbies, gambling, food, music, fashion, etc. The company’s craftsmen used a textured gold-tone metal alloy and sometimes rhinestones.
RVP Inc, incorporated in 1974, ceased to exist in 1986.
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Pewter brooches. Christmas Classics collection (1987-2008). Signed Fort vintage costume jewelry

Signed Fort vintage costume jewelry (1945-2005)

Fort Jewelry Company, Inc., located in Providence, Rhode Island, began in 1945 as a family business founded by Samuel and Lena Forte. The company was a well-known distributor of costume and men’s jewelry, as well as a manufacturer of collectible souvenirs and gift products. The successful family business expanded production and had subsidiaries in Cranston, Rhode Island, Florida (1981-1999), and California (1982–1995).

Over more than 60 years of its activity, the company has undergone a change in ownership, management, and an expansion of collections of costume jewelry and souvenirs under various trademarks. Some of the most notable ones include Bravi (1978-1984), Pedigree Hall Of Fame (1987-2008), ‘When something’s Worth Remembering’ (1993-2003), Heaven’s Voice (1993-2004), The Golfer’s Reward (1988-2009), Christmas Classics (1987-2008), and ten more.

Fort’s jewelers used only the finest pewter metal, hand casting and hand polishing each piece individually to achieve the rich luster of the fine pewter. Skilled artisans also used sterling silver and gold plating. Markings on the back of the pieces include the word Fort, sometimes “USA” (on a round cartouche), and a graphic image of a fortress tower.
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Floral design gold tone faux amethyst brooch pin. Signed GLP George L Paine jewelry

Signed GLP George L Paine jewelry
The history of the American jewelry brand G.L.P. began in the late 19th century in North Attleboro, Massachusetts. The earliest mention of George L. Paine Co., Inc. dates back to 1892, according to The Jewelers’ Circular-keystone and Horological Review. The president of the company was the renowned jeweler and businessman Geo L. Paine, and his treasurer was Charles I. Riley.

Geo L. Paine traveled extensively to various states and participated in various events to promote and develop the business and his company had offices in several states, including Rhode Island and New York.
In 1925, sad events occurred that led to the closure of the company. Due to Geo L Paine’s stroke and poor health, Donald LeStage took over the company. Interim Manager Donald LeStage continued operations of George L. Paine Co., Inc. However, the company soon ceased to exist, and the last mention of the company dates back to 1926.

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