Category Archive: Vintage

Christmas tree vintage brooch. Silver tone, enamel, rhinestones. 1970s. Signed Avante vintage costume jewelry

Signed Avante vintage costume jewelry (1957-1983
The history of the Avante jewelry brand spans less than three decades. It was originally a family business founded in North Bergen, New Jersey in 1957. Avante Products Corporation owned three jewelry trademarks, experienced ups and downs in the 1970s, and finally ceased to exist in 1983.
The company’s small design team handcrafted two lines of jewelry. Firstly, holiday pins and brooches with traditional Christmas motifs – Santa Claus, sleigh, deer, wreath, etc. Secondly, floral, leafy and classic design brooches, bracelets and earrings. A characteristic feature of the Avante design is the exquisite filigree technique. Most often, craftsmen used gilding and silvering, metal alloys, art glass imitating natural stones, multi-colored enamel, mother-of-pearl, faux pearls, crystals and Aurora Borealis rhinestones. The markings included the word “Avante” on an oval or rectangular cartouche, depending on the design. Noteworthy, the copyright sign in the marking appeared only after 1970.
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Heart and ribbon brooch. Light green guilloche enamel, silver. Norwegian jewelry designer Albert Scharning (1875 – 1950)

Norwegian jewelry designer Albert Scharning (1875 – 1950)
Born in Oslo, Albert Scharning was a brilliant Scandinavian silversmith whose fine jewelry is now highly collectible. Noteworthy, his handcrafted silver and guilloche enamel jewelry is reminiscent of the work of another famous Norwegian silversmith David Andersen. Perhaps it would be difficult to distinguish the products of these two jewelers, if not for the markings on the reverse side of the products.
25-year-old Albert opened his own jewelry store in Molde, where he sold, designed and commissioned traditional Norwegian jewelry known as Bunad. One of the companies he collaborated with was the Oslo-based Norsk Filigransfabrikk, which made silver filigree jewelry. Albert took over this company in 1910, and headed it until 1927. In addition, he continued his business in Molde.
Albert’s son Per Scharning assisted his father in the family business and took over the company after his father’s death in 1950. Per successfully managed the company and produced contemporary silver and enamel jewelry of his own design. The company, founded in 1900, ceased to exist in 1980.
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Ace of Spades clip earrings. Gold, amber, cornelian, onyx. 1980s. Gale Rothstein vintage costume jewelry

Gale Rothstein vintage costume jewelry
The history of the jewelry brand “Gale Rothstein” covers no more than two decades. Gale Rothstein Designs, Inc. headquartered at 430 West 14th Street New York, NY was incorporated in 1981. The founder of the eponymous jewelry brand was 27-year-old Gale Rothstein. She first learned jewelry making in Tucson, Arizona, then honed her skills in her native New York City while working in the jewelry business.
Gale Rothstein and her small team of artists handcrafted high quality pendants, brooches and earrings in modernist, abstract and geometric designs. Traditionally, they used gold, brass, pewter, resin, art glass and semi-precious stones. The markings on the rectangular cartouche included the full name of the company. Noteworthy, her wearable art objects appeared in fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Women’s Wear Daily and others.
Gale Rothstein Designs, Inc. ceased to exist in 1999. According to the artist, she lost interest in making jewelry and took up assemblage sculptures, participating in various art exhibitions. As they say, talented people are talented in everything.
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Fashionista jewelry lover brooch. Gold, seed pearls, rubies, turquoise. 1950s. French jewelry designer Andre Col

French jewelry designer Andre Col (1936-1970s)
The history of the André Col jewelry and watches brand began in 1936 in Paris. The founder of the eponymous brand, Andre Col was a hereditary jeweler who opened his own jewelry house at 10 Victor Hugo Avenue. Col collaborated with many jewelry companies located on Place Vendôme in Paris, carrying out special orders, including for VIPs. Notably, Andre Col jewelry ranged from expensive jewelry with the use of precious metals and diamonds to more affordable everyday wear jewelry. The marking traditionally included André Col Paris, and was often part of the design, such as on watch dials.
In fact, the jeweler became most famous in the 1960s, when cinema and opera stars became his clients. Also, in the 1960s, the legendary fashion house Christian Dior chose him to launch their first line of wristwatches. Noteworthy, the talented and creative designer collaborated with famous artists and photographers to create advertising posters. As a result, the advertisements they created in the 1960s promoting André Col jewelry and watches became collectibles in their own right.
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Plane brooch pin. Silver marcasite. 1970s. Signed FAS vintage costume jewelry

Signed FAS vintage costume jewelry
The history of the FAS jewelry trademark began in 1976 in New York. The trademark was owned by “Designs by FMC, Inc”, a jewelry company located at 1533 60th Street Brooklyn, New York, NY 11219 (USA).
FMC created bracelets, pendants, earrings and rings, as well as costume jewelry. In the early 1990s, jewelry production was moved to China and Thailand, and then sold to the United States. In addition to sterling silver, craftsmen created fashion jewelry using gold.
Noteworthy, there is some confusion with the FAS abbreviation, as Chinese silverware manufacturers used the abbreviation FAS as an alloy of silver.
Besides, some decipher the abbreviation as “Fused Alloy Silver” or “Fantastic Antique Silver Company”. In fact, there is a very similar FAS trademark in the China Trademark Registration Database. However, their labeling is different from that of the American company. In particular, the letter A in Chinese markings is without a horizontal line crossing the letter “A”. Thus, pay special attention to how the letter “A” looks on the stamp.
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Bird brooch. 18 K gold, platinum, emerald, turquoise, diamond. Made for Van Cleef & Arpels, 1960s. French jewelry designer Georges Lenfant

French jewelry designer Georges Lenfant
Born in the 1880s, French designer Georges L’Enfant grew up in the world of jewelry design. While still a teenager, he worked as an apprentice in jewelry workshops before studying goldsmithing in Paris and abroad. Having founded Duparc et L’Enfant in 1899, Georges opened his own workshops in 1909 at 47 rue des Petits-Champs and 31 rue Danielle-Casanova in Paris. Within three years, Georges attracted the attention of several jewelry magazines, including Revue de la Bijouterie and Joaillerie, which published articles about the young talented jeweler. In addition, the most prestigious jewelry houses of the time noticed his creative and exquisite design and workmanship. As a result, L’Enfant created jewelry for such famous brands as Cartier, Mellerio dits Meller, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co, Hermes, Sandoz, Jean Été, Boivin, Bulgari, Frères and others.
Noteworthy, the product labeling is different. Thus, L’Enfant’s earliest jewelry includes DL (Duparc et L’Enfant), and from 1909 he marked jewelry with his initials GL.
In 1915, his son Jacques, who was only 11 years old, joined the family business. He took over the business in the 1940s and created some of his father’s most memorable designs. Both designers Georges and Jacques collaborated with other jewelry houses. One of them was Sandoz. After many years with Sandoz, Georges Lenfant bought the Sandoz company (1927). In addition, at the end of World War II, L’Enfant acquired Frères.
In 2003, Georges Lenfant ceased to exist.
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Cuff bracelet. Sterling silver, turquoise. 1980s. Larry Sandoval vintage silver jewelry

Larry Sandoval vintage silver jewelry (1970s-1990)
Albuquerque-born American artist Larry Sandoval (1951–1990) handcrafted silver and gold jewelry in the 1970s–1990. A talented Navajo designer, he skillfully used sterling silver, gold and various natural stones – turquoise, coral, opal, amethyst, amber, malachite, abalone, and more. Also, the artist often used the technique of engraving on silver.
Traditionally, Navajo jewelry carries a lot of various symbolism. According to Navajo Indians’ belief, silver and turquoise have spiritual properties, symbolizing wealth and honor. Therefore, Sandoval pendants, bracelets, earrings, rings and brooches, made in accordance with cultural traditions, served as both decoration and amulets. The designer marked his products with the initials “LS”, “sterling” or “14 k gold”.
Noteworthy, among the most famous Navajo silversmiths, the surname Sandoval is quite widespread. In particular, Leroy Sandoval (LS), David Sandoval, Dean Sandoval, Sherry Sandoval, Frank Sandoval, Glen Sandoval and Harry Sandoval. Traditionally, jewelry art, craftsmanship and inspiration have been passed down from generation to generation.
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