Kaleidoscope effect

Black beads gold and silver tone clip on earrings. 2.6 cm. 1970s. De Thorda vintage costume jewelry

De Thorda vintage costume jewelry
The history of the Austrian jewelry brand De Thorda began in 1960 in Vienna. In a 1961 directory of European firms, Atelier De Thorda was listed as an Austrian bijouterie company. Located at Haselbrunner Straße 8, 1237 Wien, Atelier De Thorda produced high quality jewelry. Handcrafted in limited quantities, these vintage rarities are highly collectible today.
Traditionally, the company’s craftsmen used gold-tone metal alloys, art glass, enamel and bakelite. The jewelry design was very progressive for its time – bold catwalk bracelets, earrings, necklaces and brooches with a geometric accent. The markings consisted of a De Thorda stamp in fancy script on an oval cartouche + a copyright symbol. Also, some products have handwritten signature in black enamel, and sometimes even on the front side.
The company went out of business until the 1980s.
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Bear pendant. Sterling silver, turquoise, onyx, malachite. lapis, mother of pearl inlay. 1990s. Larry Moses Begay silver jewelry

Larry Moses Begay silver jewelry
Known for his intricate silver creations, Larry Moses Begay (b. 1969) began creating jewelry in the late 1980s. He is a member of the famous Begay family that has been silversmithing for decades. Silversmithing and jewelry making is a traditional part of the Navajo Nation, Lukachukai, to which Larry Moses Begay belongs. Traditionally, Begay works with sterling silver, gold, turquoise, onyx, malachite, lapis, and mother of pearl. Also, he signs his jewelry with initials LMB, or LB and horse hallmark.
Diné (Navajo) hereditary silversmith Larry Moses Begay used to exhibit his art works in several Indian Markets in Santa FE and at the Northern Indian Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show.

Historically, notable Southwestern Indian silversmithing tribes include Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and Rio Grande Pueblos. Originally, Navajo silversmiths used to make ornaments for themselves or relatives. However, after 1900, they expanded silver manufacturing, due to traders and tourists. The inherent love of ornamentation and jewelry, the availability of turquoise and silver, together with craftsmanship talents, allowed tribal jewelers to develop silver jewelry art. Noteworthy, most jewelers did not learn to silversmith until the 20th century. Besides, only men practiced silversmithing, and Navajo women began making jewelry only in the 20th century.
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Flower brooch with mother-of-pearl petals. Gold, coral, emerald, diamonds. 1960s. Jean Thierry Bondt fine jewelry

Jean Thierry Bondt fine jewelry (1955-2006)
The history of the French jewelry brand JTB, founded by Jean Thierry Bondt, spans fifty years. Incorporated in January 1955, the jewelry company “Soc Jean Thierry Bondt Joail”, located at 19 Rue De Choiseul, ceased to exist in December 2006.
Jean Thierry Bondt was a famous Parisian jeweler and jewelry designer who collaborated with such jewelry brands as Jacques Lacloche, Alain Boucheron and Van Cleef and Arpels.
Most active in the 1960s and 70s, Bondt created nature inspired and haute couture brooches, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Traditionally, the designer used high quality materials, mainly precious metals and stones – gold, platinum, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and others.
JBT branded jewelry sold at prestigious auctions fetches high prices.
Today, on the site of his jewelry atelier at 19 rue de Choiseul there is a bar restaurant, and there are no traces of a jewelry workshop left. Unfortunately, there is also no information about the biography of the jeweler, place and date of his birth, education, etc.
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‘Honeycomb’ brooch. 14 k gold with diamonds. 1983. American jewelry designer Whitney Boin

American jewelry designer Whitney Boin
Born in 1955 in New Jersey, Whitney Boin grew up in an artisan family and began winning awards for his sculptures and jewelry in high school. Undoubtedly, such success motivated the talented young master to choose his future profession. He graduated from the School of American Masters at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and spent the remaining funds from his studies on platinum and diamonds. So, he created his first jewelry to participate in prestigious jewelry competitions, which brought fame to the 23-year-old designer.
Traditionally, the designer used various materials, integrating them into one product – gold, aluminum, steel, rubber, hematite, granite, onyx, and others. According to Boin, he prefers simple elegance.
The New York-based designer has won multiple Diamonds Today Awards in 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1991. Also, among his awards – the main prize of the Platinum Design Competition in 1983 and 1985, the New Designer of the Year in 1983 and the first prize in Gold Fashions Trends in 1987.
Innovative designer’s pieces can be found in prestigious galleries and stores in the US and England. In addition, Boin has exhibited his collections in major US cities, as well as in London, Tokyo and Venice.
Boin founded the International Jewelry Designers Guild in 1999 and is a founding member of the American Jewelry Design Council.
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Swan brooch. Gold plated, pearl, aquamarine, citrine, rhinestones. Hassan Bounkit fine jewelry

Hassan Bounkit fine jewelry
New York NY based jewelry designer Hassan Bounkit founded Bounkit Jewelry Design, Inc in 2006.
Originally from Casablanca, Morocco, Hassan Bounkit was educated at the University of Montreal Canada. After moving to Italy, he continued his studies at the Dilazzaro Fashion Institute in Florence. Bounkit began his design career with the Italian fashion houses Salvatore Ferragamo and Marella Ferrera.
In 1989, he moved to New York City, where he continued to hone his craft as an assistant to fashion designers Nicole Miller and Arnold Scaasi.
An important milestone in Hassan’s biography was his work at the Iradj Moini jewelry company, where he worked for 5 years, from 2001 to 2006. An experienced jeweler, he founded the family business with the jewelry brand Bounkit in 2006 in New York.
Handcrafted, vibrant 3D jewelry by Hassan has won numerous awards. Traditionally, the designer uses a variety of materials, from brass and gold, to bone and wood. Also, along with crystals and glass, the designer uses natural gems – quartz, lapis, amethyst, garnet, and other semi-precious stones.
The company’s jewelry often appears on TV and on the pages of fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Glamour, InStyle, and others. Among the fans of the company’s jewelry are celebrities such as Liv Tyler, Salma Hayek, Brooke Shields, Megan Markle, Taylor Swift, Oprah Winfrey, and many others.
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Pansy flower pin. Sterling silver, enamel. Paye Baker antique silver jewelry

Paye Baker antique silver jewelry (1900-1950s)
The history of one of the oldest American silverware companies Paye & Baker Mfg. Co. began in 1900 in North Attleboro, Massachusetts. However, the company’s predecessor was Simmons & Paye Co., founded by Charles Paye and Jessie O. Simmons in 1896 in Providence, Rhode Island. The name change of the company occurred in 1900 when Frank L. Baker became the second owner of the company, succeeding Jessie O. Simmons. In addition, the owners of the revitalized company, along with their families and workshops, moved to North Attleboro, Massachusetts.
The company continued the production of silver items – napkin holders, elegant serving and souvenir spoons, figured forks, matchboxes, ashtrays, handbags, cigarette cases, belt buckles, buttons, etc. Meanwhile, jewelry included Art Nouveau brooches, pendants, rings, and hatpins. Also, silver jewelry included teddy bear jewelry, hair combs, celluloid products, and more.
The company’s marking is unique in its design – these are three separate P & B signs inside three hearts and the word sterling.
Notably, in the 1950s, Paye & Baker Mfg. Co. ceased to exist, absorbed by the Bishop Company.
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Wicker chair pewter pin with pot flower, hat, birds, and pillows. 2008. Birds Blooms vintage pewter jewelry

Birds Blooms vintage pewter jewelry (1995-2008)
Many clothing, cosmetics and perfume companies used to produce costume jewelry as an accessory to their brand advertising the company’s products. Roughly the same can be said about Birds & Blooms, a popular birding and gardening magazine in the United States.
The first line of limited edition pewter costume jewelry marked Birds & Blooms appeared in 1995. The markings, respectively, included Birds & Blooms Premier Design, number, and year of production. Noteworthy, brooches and lapel pins, made in pewter included not more than fifteen designs on gardening and bird themes. In particular, bird nest, birdhouse, garden cart, watering can, butterfly, garden hat, seed stamp and wicker chair. The last production date for Birds & Blooms jewelry is 2008.
Incorporated in 1995, Birds & Blooms trademark was first used in 1994. The original trademark owner was Rda Enthusiast Brands, Llc located in Delaware. In fact, Rda Enthusiast Brands, Llc owns dozens of brands, and Birds & Blooms was one of them. Other owners of Birds & Blooms included Trusted Media Brands, Inc. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and Reiman Media Group, LLC (Greendale, Delaware).
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