Orchids. Paulding Farnham floral brooches exhibited at 1889 Paris Exposition

Paulding Farnham floral brooches
At the beginning of the 20th century, Tiffany and Co. produced a number of fabulous, realistic floral brooches. Among them were realistically beautiful exotic orchids – notable designs by a talented jeweler G. Paulding Farnham.
Born in 1859 in New York to a wealthy family, he first started working for Tiffany’s around 1885, until 1908. Farnham became the artistic director of Tiffany’s display of gems in Paris in 1889. These extravagant orchid brooches by G. Paulding Farnham were in the firm’s display at the Universal Exposition of 1900. The brooches were among the twenty-four orchids designed by Paulding Farnham for Tiffany & Co.
Noteworthy, Tiffany & Co. received the Gold Medal at the Paris Exposition in 1889, largely due to the success of the enameled orchids designed by Paulding Farnham.
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Female goose with umbrella, one of the matched Goose brooches. 1945. 6.5×3.5 cm. Reja costume jewellery

Reja costume jewellery
The company founded by the jewelry designer Solomon Finkelstein in 1932 began its work in New York City. Initially, a small but promising brand manufactured rhinestone jewelry for wholesale distribution, and therefore did not advertise it. However, seven years later, in 1939 Finkelstein decided to manufacture jewelry for the retail trade. Accordingly, they changed the name of the company to Deja Costume Jewelry, Inc. Also, they used such trademarks as Deja, Deja Reg., Deja Original, and Deja Fleurs.
Meanwhile, in January 1941, due to the decision of Supreme Court of New York the creators of the jewelry brand had to change the name to Reja. And on the 17th January 1941 Finkelstein announced that he was the only the owner of Reja, and its main designer.
Handcrafted in small quantities, jewelry of the brand is rare. Traditionally, company’s craftsmen used high quality rhinestones, moonstones and crystals to imitate precious stones. One of the most popular considered series of enamel berries and birds made both in silver, and on the basis of jewelry alloys.
The company began to advertise its production in February 1946 in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, with full page color advertisements. They featured in particular, the “Africana” series of brooches with earrings, made of sterling and black enamel.
Unfortunately, a short, but colorful history of Reja brand ended 4th December 1953 (bankruptcy).
Although Solomon Finkelstein made an an attempt to save the company in June 1953, having signed a commercial agreement with Heller-Deltah Co., Inc., this attempt failed.
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Pharaoh Egyptian motif brooch. Gold tone, enamel. English jewellery company Sphinx

English jewellery company Sphinx
Founded in 1948 in the UK, Sphinx became known as a manufacturer of high quality costume jewellery. According to sources, in 1950-60 s Sphinx produced jewelry for such brands as Ciner, Jomaz, and Boucher. Noteworthy, the company borrowed the most interesting designs of these brands and surpassed the artistic beauty of the original. For example, copies made on Boucher bird collection, such as peacock and birds of paradise.
Beautifully designed ornaments looked like real jewels, and the company began to produce jewellery exclusively for best brands and stores. Among them, in particular, Kenneth Jay Lane, Butler & Wilson, Saks 5th Ave., Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdale’s.
Marked and numbered, Sphinx products appeared only in the 1960s. The company ceased operations in the late 1990s. Today, Sphinx pieces are highly collectible.
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Abstract brooch, silver tone metal, rhinestones. Lisner vintage costume jewellery

Lisner vintage costume jewellery (1900-1985)
When David Lisner (born in Germany in 1846) was 18 years old, his family emigrated to New York. David, together with his brothers, cousins ​​and other family members founded the D.Lisner Co. in New York before 1900.
Initially, they imported all products, including jewelry, from Europe. Until about the mid-30s, the Lisner family was a major distributor of Elsa Schiaparelli’s jewelry. Also, the company was engaged in the sale of Lanvin Violet jewelry.
During World War II, many American companies faced the problem of being unable to import jewelry from Europe. Many companies have closed their offices in Europe, including Lisner. However, this prompted them to open their own production in the United States. So, Lisner opened production in the jewelry capital of America, Providence, Rhode Island. In addition to their own production, some of the jewelry for the company was made by other manufacturers.
Already in the 1950s, after the death of the founder of the company, mass production of costume jewelry began, the quality of which was at its best. Noteworthy, advertisements for Lisner jewelry often appeared in fashion magazines, mostly in the 1940s and 1960s. The company was highly successful and the family business expanded.
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Poster Eisenberg vintage jewellery

Eisenberg vintage jewellery
Founded in 1914, the company Eisenberg originally released women’s clothing and perfumes. Since 1930 the company began making accessories and costume jewelry which complemented dresses, and not more. However, soon Eisenberg jewelry began to overshadow the clothes. Finally, after 1958 the company Eisenberg Jewels Inc. began mass production of jewelry.
Traditionally, Eisenberg Ice craftsmen used only high-quality materials and bijoux with Swarovski crystals imported from Austria.
Noteworthy, the company used different markings. First, they used marking “Eisenberg” (1958 – 1970), but sometimes they didn’t mark ornaments at all. In 1977 the company changed owners and lasted only until the beginning of the 1990s. Today Eisenberg jewelry is incredibly popular and collectible.
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Hibiscus flower sterling silver brooch. 1940s. Danecraft vintage costume jewellery

Danecraft vintage costume jewellery
Officially founded in 1934 and located in Providence, Rhode Island, Danecraft company originates from the famous manufacturer of “Primavera” jewelry. A goldsmith from Pescara, Italy, Victor Primavera was a descendant of an old family, who made jewelry for noble families in Italy. By the way, Italian word “Primavera” means “spring”.
Primavera workshops existed until 1910, then Victor Primavera, Sr. emigrated to the United States. He settled in Providence, Rhode Island and continued jewelry business alongside with James Felch. Their company Felch & Co. founded in 1934 ceased to exist in 1945, when Primavera bought out Felch and changed the company’s name to Danecraft.
Meanwhile, James Felch started another jewelry company which worked for a short period, not more than a decade. Noteworthy, the company marked their products “Felch”.
After Victor’s death in 1977, his family continued the business. So, Victor II headed the board of directors, the youngest Victor Primavera became chief executive officer and his daughter Gale – vice-president.
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Swedish-Italian beauty, Jewellery lover Anita Ekberg

Jewellery lover Anita Ekberg

One of the most iconic faces of the 20th century Anita Ekberg passed away 11 January 2015. Undoubtedly, Anita Ekberg loved jewelry, wore tiaras, necklaces, earrings and bracelets until old age. However, her beauty outshone any jewelry… Meanwhile, better known as iconic Swedish-Italian and Hollywood actress, and a cult sex symbol of 1950-1960s, Anita Ekberg was Miss Sweden 1951.
Born Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg on 29 September 1931 in Malmo, Skane, Sweden, Anita Ekberg grew up in a large family, where she was the eldest of eight children. Anita started her career as a fashion model after she had won the beauty pageant in Sweden. Soon after, the crowned beauty left Sweden for the United States to compete for the Miss Universe crown. Although she didn’t speak English, Anita Ekberg entered six most beautiful finalists.
In the United States, Anita met Hollywood producer Howard Hughes, who advised her to change her nose, teeth and name (he said “Ekberg” was too difficult to pronounce). Future symbol of lush beauty Anita Ekberg wisely refused – “when I become famous people will learn to pronounce my name, and if I don’t, then name will not make any sense”.
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