Kaleidoscope effect

Jewellery kaleidoscope

Category Archive: Vintage

Claire Falkenstein artisan jewelry

Spiral design brooch. Copper wire. 1955. Claire Falkenstein artisan jewelry

Spiral design brooch. Copper wire. 1955. Claire Falkenstein artisan jewelry

Claire Falkenstein artisan jewelry
The German-American avant-garde artist, sculptor, engraver and teacher, Claire Falkenstein (1908 – 1997) was also a talented jewelry designer. Unique avant-garde jewelry is museum worth highly collectible wearable art. Traditionally, the designer hand-sculpted brooches, rings, bracelets, pendants and earrings using copper wire and fused glass that explored the concept of infinite space.
Falkenstein studied art at the University of California at Berkeley, and while still a student she had her first solo exhibition at a San Francisco gallery in 1930. Noteworthy, she began creating jewelry in the mid 1940s. From 1950 to 1963 Falkenstein lived in Paris, where she interacted with the most famous and progressive artists of the day. In addition, she had her own workshop, and the first solo exhibition of her jewelry was held at the Louvre Museum of Decorative Arts in 1961.
According to Falkenstein, designing, experimenting and making jewelry was the best schooling she had ever had. She loved jewelry and used to wear bracelets, rings and necklaces of her own design. There is no doubt that the radical and inventive design of her jewelry is based on three-dimensional sculpture.
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Donovan Cadman Navajo silver jewelry

Butterfly brooch, symbol for change and transformation. Sterling silver, green turquoise. Navajo Native American Southwest Indian. Donovan Cadman Navajo silver jewelry

Butterfly brooch, symbol for change and transformation. Sterling silver, green turquoise. Navajo Native American Southwest Indian. Donovan Cadman Navajo silver jewelry

Donovan Cadman Navajo silver jewelry
Born in 1968 in Gallup, New Mexico, Donovan Cadman grew up in a creative jewelry environment of talented silversmith artists. His uncles, brothers Andy and Darrell, half-brothers Gary and Sunshine Reeves (now deceased) and nephews still create some of the finest Native American jewelry in the Southwest. Noteworthy, each of the brothers has his own beautiful style.

Donovan began creating unique sterling silver jewelry under his own name in 1991. The design of bracelets, pendants and rings includes natural motifs, birds and insects, which carry symbolism and can be amulets. Traditionally, the craftsman creates jewelry using sterling silver and natural stones such as turquoise and coral. Each piece is meticulously handcrafted with beautiful Navajo ornamentation.
The markings on the back of the products include “Donovan Cadman”, “Sterling” and the symbolic sign of a fish, meaning longevity and wisdom.
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Dyrberg Kern costume jewelry

Dyrberg Kern costume jewelry

Scary lion face silver tone pendant. Dyrberg Kern costume jewelry

Dyrberg Kern costume jewelry
The history of DYRBERG KERN jewelry brand began in 1985 in Copenhagen, Denmark, founded by designers Gitte Dyrberg and Henning Kern. And today, several decades later, their creative union never ceases to intrigue and fascinate their fans. The mission of the brand is to create jewelry for modern and self-confident women, through which they can express their style and beauty.

A team of artisans sketch the collections in Copenhagen studio, then various workshops in Asia produce the jewelry according to the brand’s design and quality standards. Materials such as pearls, stones, crystals and leather come from all over the world. Each collection is an elegant classic, beauty and sensuality, created by hand, using a multi-layer coating of silver and gold. Also, semi-precious stones, enamel, Swarovski crystals, zircon cubes, pearls, mother-of-pearl, wood, genuine leather, stainless steel and brass.
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James Avery Artisan Jewelry

Vintage sterling silver brutalist ring. James Avery Artisan Jewelry

Vintage sterling silver brutalist ring. James Avery Artisan Jewelry

James Avery Artisan Jewelry
The history of the trade name “James Avery Artisan Jewelry” began in 1954 in Kerrville, Texas. Initially, it was a small workshop in the garage with a candelabra logo sign hung above it.
After three years of hard work, the company was located in a nearby building, where a small team of jewelers created collections of jewelry that adorned multi-page catalogs. The successful business expanded rapidly to several manufacturing plants and dozens of boutiques and stores both in Texas and in other states.
The company’s craftsmen traditionally created jewelry by hand, using 14 and 18 carat gold, silver and precious stones. The markings on the back of the items included a symbolic chandelier logo, along with the indication of metal purity.
James’ sons, Christopher and Paul, joined the family business and took over James Avery Craftsman, Inc. and its out-of-state affiliates.
James Avery died April 30, 2018, at the age of 96.
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Cynthia Chuang whimsical porcelain jewelry

Adorable cat ceramic brooch. Cynthia Chuang whimsical porcelain jewelry

Adorable cat ceramic brooch. Cynthia Chuang whimsical porcelain jewelry

Cynthia Chuang whimsical porcelain jewelry
The history of Jewelry 10, Inc. began in 1986 in Locust Valley, New York. It was a family business founded by Hui Fang Chuang (aka Cynthia Chuang) and her husband Erh-Ping Tsai.
Born and raised in Taiwan, future jewelry designers Hui Fang Chuan (born 1951) and Erh-Ping Tsai (born 1950) graduated from the National Taiwan Academy of Arts. After graduation, the couple moved to New York. They went on to study art at the Parsons School of Design and the New York Studio of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture.
Cynthia Chuang and Erh-Ping Tsai create colorful wearable art objects with animalistic designs. Traditionally, the designers use porcelain, ceramics, metal alloys, semi-precious stones, clay, paints and more. The maker’s mark on the reverse side of brooches, pendants and bracelets includes the name of the company “Jewelery 10 company” and a copyright mark.
According to the designers, their work reflects the essence and humorous spirit of living creatures. Noteworthy, their daughter Sue Tsai (b. 1987, New York), who grew up in a creative atmosphere, is also a talented multimedia artist. She has been a regular participant of art exhibitions since 2013.
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Kanaris vintage fine jewelry

Kanaris vintage fine jewelry

Pansy flower earrings. White and pink quartz, 18 K gold, amethyst. 1990s. Kanaris vintage fine jewelry

Kanaris vintage fine jewelry (1980-2008)
Located at 150 Worth Ave, Palm Beach, Florida, Kanaris Fine Jewelry began in 1995. However, its founder, Greek American Evangelos G Kanaris (born 1951), had been running a successful jewelry business long before that. Evangelos, along with his wife Vera, started their jewelry business in the early 1980s under the brand name “Vera and Vagos”.
Subsequently, Evangelos Kanaris opened several shops and companies for the production, sale and repair of jewelry in other states of the United States, Europe and Thailand. Among them, in particular, Kanaris Fine Jewelry At Galleria Mall, Inc. (1999), Vangelis Manufacturing Inc. (2001), Kanaris Intl Imports, Inc. (2001), Island Treasures Limited Inc. (2003), Kanaris Jewelry Consultant and Broker Inc. (2008), and Vangelis Corp (2008). Due to some problems related to criminal prosecution and subsequent legal proceedings in 2011, all companies ceased to exist.
Creating exclusive jewelry since 1980, Evangelos has traditionally used precious metals and stones – high-quality gold, silver, platinum, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, amethysts, rubies, etc. Today, jewelry marked with capital letters KANARIS and gold or silver hallmarks are sold at the most prestigious auctions.
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Brazilian jeweler Haroldo Burle-Marx

Garnet and gold necklace, ring and earrings. Brazilian jeweler Haroldo Burle-Marx (1911-1991)

Garnet and gold necklace, ring and earrings. Brazilian jeweler Haroldo Burle-Marx (1911-1991)

Brazilian jeweler Haroldo Burle-Marx
Born into a noble Brazilian family, Haroldo Burle Marx (1911-1991) was the youngest of three brothers who created a world famous jewelry brand. His elder brothers, Walter and Roberto, each became equally successful in their respective fields. So, Walter was a famous composer, and Roberto became famous for his unique landscape designs, which still attract thousands of tourists to Brazil.
The history of the jewelry brand Burle Marx began in 1945 in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, when Haroldo opened his own jewelry workshop. Noteworthy, before starting his business, Haroldo studied gemology at Idar-Oberstein, the center of the gem-cutting industry in Germany. In addition, for four years he improved his skills by working as an apprentice in a jewelry workshop.
An innovator in diamond cutting and gemology, as well as a talented modernist jeweler, he made his business highly successful. His clients included royalty, celebrities and movie stars. He was often asked by the Brazilian government to design jewelry for visiting dignitaries, including Pope John Paul II.
Traditionally, Haroldo used gold, Brazilian gemstones including amethyst, opal, topaz, aquamarine, tourmaline and garnet.
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