Antique gold tone black plastic hand painted brooch. Florenza vintage costume jewellery

Florenza vintage costume jewellery
The history of iconic jewelry brand Florenza began in 1945, when Dan Kasoff founded his company Dan Kasoff Inc. in New York. He named his jewelry brand after his mother – Florenza.
Mostly made in Victorian style, magnificent Florenza jewels dazzle, have a truly mystical beauty. Each piece of Florenza is always absolutely rare and collectible. Florenza always used only the finest stones from Germany, Austria and the East, with many stones made specially for the brand. Traditionally, the craftsmen used 24kt gold or gold alloys patented by them, bearing the sonorous name – “Florenza Gold”, “French Gold” and “French Rose”.
Noteworthy, Florenza had exclusive contracts with such brands as Revlon and Estee Lauder to produce containers for solid lipsticks and perfume. Among its clients and partner companies were Coro, Weiss, Hattie Carnegie, Capri and Kramer.
After the death of Dan Kasoff, his son Larry Kasoff continued the family business. Alas, after a car accident that occurred in 1981, the famous jewellery brand ceased to exist, remaining Fabulous Florenza forever.
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1960s iconic face Twiggy advertising jewelry and accessories

September 19, 1949 in a suburb of Neasden was born Leslie Hornby, whom the whole world now knows as Twiggy. The first real top model in the history, the popularity of whom was greater than the popularity of the movie stars. It’s her fault that thinness became fashionable. Unearthly creature, girl with eyes half her face turned into a charming woman, implemented in all areas of life. As it turns out, quite fragile fairy can become not just a model, actress, singer and businesswoman. Today, 1960s iconic face Twiggy has turned 66. Twiggy was the first real, live prototype of Barbie. Twiggy Barbie was produced by Mattel in 1967-68. London’s top teen model (advertised as a doll), was similar to the original – same light, close-cropped hair, “real” eyelashes, framing the big eyes … In 1967, the doll was dressed in a striped dress and yellow mini-shoes, in 1968 her “dowry” was supplemented not only by new little things, but also cosmetics – powder puffs, eyeliner, and more. Only after Twiggy appeared doll twins of Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Cher and other stars.
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Berry and fruit vintage jewellery

The world of vintage jewelry is large and diverse. It’s like the whole planet with lots of people from different age groups (mostly elderly and very elderly), and nationality. Among them a special place is occupied by jewelry from Austria – brooches and clips from the series of fruits and berries, which were produced in the 1940s – 50s. In almost every publication on vintage costume jewelry to that kind of jewelry is given a few pages. They really deserve to learn a little more about them. Multicolored brooches and clips – strawberries, pears, raspberries, grapes, cherries, lemons, oranges – have been favorites of many women. And now there are women who collect this particular series of jewelry.
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Brooch, 1903, Gilded silver, gold, enamel and turquoises. Charles Ashbee modern era jewellery

Charles Ashbee modern era jewellery

In the modern era to the forefront in jewelry came not a master craftsman, making similar to each other “commercial jewels”, but a jeweler creating a customized and truly artistic embellishments, which featured a new imagery that reflected the spirit of time. Thanks to the talent of authors, such jewelry art, along with the architecture and art glass, came to the forefront of the development of art in many ways defining features of the new decorative style. The principles of modernity determined work of Charles Robert Ashbee (1863-1942).
Born in Isleworth, on 17 May 1863, Ashbee was a man of immense talents and energy and a defining figure in the Arts and Crafts Movement. In 1888 he founded the Guild and School of Crafts in London’s East End. Seven years later, the school was closed, but the Guild, continued to exist for many years as an important center for the ideals of the Arts and Crafts period, producing furniture, metalwork, jewelry, enamels and printing on fabrics.
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Mikimoto pearl jewellery

Japan means pearl. Pearl means Mikimoto. Yes, this is the first phrase that comes to mind at the mention of Mikimoto. The slogan belongs to the Tokyo store: a poster once adorned its storefront. Mikimoto is the pearl legend, Pearly King of Japan. Mikimoto pearl jewellery history began in 1893 when Mikimoto Kokichi became the first to artificially cultivate the most mysterious treasure of the sea – pearls. However, at the time Pearl had so far only a hemispherical shape. Six years later Mikimoto opened his first pearl boutique in the prestigious district of Tokyo – Ginza. In 1905, Kokichi managed to create a perfect round pearl, and inspired by the success, the future Pearly King said: “I would like to decorate with pearls necks of all the women of the world” – well, looking ahead, we can safely say that he did it.
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Chrysanthemums Brooch. Exquisite Vintage costume jewelry

Exquisite Vintage costume jewelry (1914 – 1970)
The history of British jewellery company “Exquisite” began in 1914 in the city of Solihull. Founded by engraver Augustus Harry Power (1878 -1952) and Clarence Oswald Flint (1880 – 1946), the two men bought the business from a jeweler Walter Archibald Parker Watson (1880 – 1952).
Exquisite jewelry became especially popular after the Second World War. High quality floral design hand-painted pieces show original high-style standard level. The craftsmen used of gold or silver plate and bright enamel.

Noteworthy, the company owned several trademarks, including Mirella, and Myths and Magic. In addition to jewelry, they produced sterling silver souvenirs and charms for tourist visiting the UK. Wearable art, Exquisite jewellery is rare and highly collectible today.
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Nicknamed “the American court jeweler”, inspired by sea Seaman Schepps (1881 – 1972)

Inspired by sea Seaman Schepps (1881 – 1972)
Today, 50 years after his death, he continues to inspire modern jewelers. Even the name of the designer – “man of the sea” predestinated his fate. The son of immigrants from the East Side and a lover of the gifts of the ocean, he did not immediately find his niche. At the end of the XIX century the young Seaman Schepps tirelessly traveled from California to New York, searching for goods for antique shop in Los Angeles.
In 1931, 47 year-old Schepps changed direction and began creating and selling his own jewelry. Newborn designer opened the first retail outlet on 516 Madison Avenue, NY. Things were going uphill. A few years later the company moved to a bigger store at Madison Avenue, 399.
Manager of antique jewelry shop Mr. Schepps once had a chance to see what Fulco di Verdura, Duke and Marquis, was doing out of the ordinary shells, and it impressed him. Admiration turned into jewelry quite reminiscent of jewels by his idol – aristocrat from the coast of Sicily.
Fortunately, Schepps brought his own vision in jewelry design. The freshness and variety of style, use of natural materials (sea shells, pearls, coral, sandalwood, walnut, carved rock crystal) are associated with his name’s relentless refinement.
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