Kaleidoscope effect

Japanese Rabbit 24K gold plated brooch pin. Adapted from a 19th century Japanese motif, Rabbit is one of the twelve Zodiac symbols. Also, the symbol of virtue and cunning, according to Oriental folklore. The Museum Company vintage costume jewelry

The Museum Company vintage costume jewelry

The history of jewelry trademark “The Museum Company” began in 1997 in Denver, Colorado. The president of this private company is Jon Fetzer. According to sources, the company has become the world’s largest retailer of fine art reproductions from the world’s greatest museums. Noteworthy, in addition to buying directly from famous museums, the company manufactures its own costume jewelry inspired by museum collections.
These brooches, pins and earrings are truly wearable art. Traditionally sold in a branded box with the name of the company, each museum reproduction jewelry is accompanied by a paper notice with a short history of the original. Also, some decorations have the TMC marking on the back. The company’s craftsmen work by hand using high quality materials, including gold plating, bronze, Austrian crystals and marcasites.
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the company has an extensive network of stores in many major US cities.
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Maltese cross brooch. Art glass, crystals, gold tone metal alloy. 1980s. Ann Taylor vintage costume jewelry

Ann Taylor vintage costume jewelry
A well-known manufacturer of fashionable women’s clothing and accessories, Ann Taylor is an example of a successful brand that has won the recognition of millions of people around the world. The first Ann Taylor store was opened in 1954 in New Haven, Connecticut, thanks to the efforts of Richard Libeskind, who was himself a clothing designer from a tailor family. The story goes that Richard received from his father a successful model of a dress called “Ann Taylor”, which became a real bestseller. So, Richard gave this name to the company. The name was not chosen by chance, because “Ann” was associated with a popular name in New England, and “Taylor” personified tailoring or tailoring services. According to belief, if there is an American style of dress, then Ann Taylor personifies it: feminine and at the same time very conservative.
Like many fashion houses, the brand has produced and still produces accessories and jewelry. Most popular was the flashy 1980s runway jewelry, which included Coco Chanel’s style Maltese crosses. Traditionally, the craftsmen used gold tone jewelry alloy, faux pearls, rhinestones, and bright multi-color art glass cabochons imitating natural stones.
All products have marking ‘Ann Taylor’.
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Panther in circle large dangle pierced earrings of matte gold tone. 1980s. Jackie Collins vintage costume jewelry

Jackie Collins vintage costume jewelry

According to belief, talented people are talented in everything. And that no doubt applies to Jackie. Everything she did was great, whether it was writing a book, cooking dinner, or designing jewelry.
In 1965 she married an artist and art connoisseur Oscar Lerman, and it was he who instilled in her the passion for collecting. In search of antiques, they visited flea markets in Paris and London together, and her passion for collecting began. She loved art and objects that sparked her imagination. A special hobby was big cats – panthers, leopards and tigers. Later, she embodied these images in her author’s designs. Passion jewelry lover, she had an extensive collection of jewelry made by world’s famous designers. In particular, Cartier, Carolee, Nolan Miller, Trifari, Christian Dior, Lori Rodkin, David Yurman, Stephen Webster and many more. As for Collins, she preferred oversized jewelry, and leopard, panther and cheetah jewelry was her signature style.
Jackie until the very last days showed incredible resilience and love of life. Unfortunately, in September 2015, Jacqueline Jill Collins died of breast cancer at the age of 77. After her death, auction houses sold off her vast jewelry collection.
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Pink and red cloisonne enamel flower design pin brooch. 4.5 cm. 1980s. Sea Gems vintage costume jewelry

Sea Gems vintage costume jewelry

Established in 1972, Sea Gems Ltd is a family business with 50 years of experience and three generations of jewelry designers. Based in Cornwall, UK, the designers get inspiration in Cornwall’s magnificent natural environment (home to the factory) of the ocean, gardens, flora and fauna, and a rich Celtic heritage. All products are of the highest quality, and the variety of collections provide everyone with individual self-expression.
Product markings include the abbreviation SG, or the full name Sea Gems UK with a copyright mark, or Celtic Sea Gems, depending on collection. Thus, Sea Gema features flowers, birds and wildlife, and Celtic collection includes ancient Celtic motifs with traditional Claddagh and knot designs.
Noteworthy, the products of this brand are similar to the jewelry of another English brand Fish & Crown, and if the product is not labeled, then it is almost impossible to distinguish these products. Indeed, both brands used hand-applied cloisonne enamel, rich and vibrant colors with a particular glossy sheen. Also, they use 14K, 16K, 22K gold or sterling silver plating. However, the labeling of these brands is different. In particular, Fish & Crown marking includes the image of a fish inside a crown, in accordance with the name of the company, Fish Enterprises UK and Crown Jewelry USA.
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Christmas tree pin brooch. Gold tone alloy, rhinestones, enamel. 7 cm. 1960s. Signed Hedy vintage costume jewelry

Signed Hedy vintage costume jewelry

The skill of Armenian jewelers has always been famous all over the world and allowed them to survive in a foreign land. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Kheditisian family emigrated from Armenia to the United States. Their elder son Harry Hadison changed his surname to Hadison and founded Hedison Manufacturing Co. in Providence, Rhode Island in 1909. Thus, the history of the American jewelry brand Hedy began. When his sons Harry, Jr. and H. David grew up, the company became their family business. After the death of the founder and chief designer of the company Harry D. Hedison in 1954, his eldest son David became the president of the company. In addition to costume jewelry and gold-plated items, the company produced a number of items made of precious metals. Like many jewelry companies, Hedison Manufacturing produced jewelry for other brands. The company ceased to exist in late 1970s (according to sources, in 1977).

Initially, the marking on the back included letter “H” in the heart, and after 1954 it was “Hedy” with the copyright sign. Traditionally exquisite filigree design, especially earlier pieces, the brand’s products also feature simple designs. In particular, bright enamel flower or animal pins and themed collections produced for the holidays. Handcrafted vintage costume jewelry of this brand is highly collectible now.
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Pagoda brooch pendant. Gold tone metal alloy, rhinestones, faux pearls. 13 cm. 1950s. Pauline Trigere vintage costume jewelry

Pauline Trigere vintage costume jewelry

French – American fashion designer Pauline Trigere (4 November 1912 – 13 February 2002) became famous for her original ideas, both in the design of models and in the creation of accessories. The New York Fashion Walk of Fame bears the name of this venerable woman. And even after her death, Pauline’s Fashion Houses are working in Europe and America with the same success.
Born in France to a family of immigrants from Russia, her father Alexander was a taylor and her mother Cecile – a dressmaker. Before the outbreak of World War II, the designer moved to New York with her husband and briefly worked at the Hattie Carnegie fashion house before opening her atelier. Noteworthy, she was the first female designer in the United States to actively use African American fashion models in her advertising campaigns. Hollywood stars, such as Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor, and elegant beauties of the 1950s and 60s, like Jacqueline Kennedy, shone in her jewelry, including the cast of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. She has combined a successful design career with an active teaching career at the Parsons New York School of Design. In 1992, she celebrated the 50th anniversary of her creative career, having won numerous top COTY (American Fashion Critics Award) awards and the CFDA Lifetime Achievement award during her lifetime. Pauline Trigere jewelry is a collector’s item. The designer worked in small editions, as she focused on creating clothing collections. The best examples of her jewelry are in private collections and the price for them will grow every year.
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Filigree Art Deco butterfly brooch. Brass, enamel, faux turquoise. 8 cm. 1920s. Max Neiger vintage costume jewelry

Max Neiger vintage costume jewelry
The Czech Republic is the birthplace of many talented world’s famous jewelry designers. Among them, the Neiger brothers, Max and Norbert, who created their collections for 35 years. The brothers were born and lived most of their lives in the Czech town of Jablonec, the center of technical glass and costume jewellery production in Bohemia.
Norbert, after graduating from the Jablonec technical school in 1905, was the first to start a business, and later his younger brother joined him. Norbert handled the economics and Max was the designer. After the First World War, they produced jewelry only according to Max’s sketches. The demand for their high quality and highly artisan jewelry was great in Europe and America.
The fame of the high quality and modern design of the Neiger brothers’ jewelry spread quickly. Sales of products and the number of new customers grew. In 1926, the brothers expanded their jewelry production and moved to new, more suitable premises. By this time, they already had two dozen employees.
Noteworthy, the Neiger brothers did not label the jewelry they produced. They saw no need for this. Besides, the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic, by a decree of October 14, 1920 required marking only for items made of gold and silver.
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