Kaleidoscope effect

Jewellery kaleidoscope

Category Archive: Vintage

Signed Bobley vintage costume jewelry

Signed Bobley vintage costume jewelry

Flower design Gold tone rhinestone brooch and clip-on earrings. Signed Bobley vintage costume jewelry

Signed Bobley vintage costume jewelry (1956-1975)

The history of the Bobley jewelry brand began in New York, NY in 1956 and lasted for two decades. However, long before the founding of the eponymous jewelry company, Joseph A. Bobley had extensive experience in jewelry business. So, back in 1918, 23-year-old Clifford A. Furst and his 18-year-old partner Joseph A. Bobley founded Castlecliff. A talented designer, inventor and businessman, Joseph worked for the company for over thirty years, building Castlecliff into a renowned and successful brand.

Although Bobley jewelry brand did not become as famous as Castlecliff, the design and quality of Bobley jewelry was of the same high standard. This makes Bobley pieces just as collectible and desirable for vintage jewelry lovers. Joseph led the company until his retirement in 1970.
Incorporated in 1956, Joseph Bobley Jewelry Inc ceased to exist in 1975.
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Signed Labella vintage costume jewelry

Signed Labella vintage costume jewelry

Flower mug rhinestone gold tone brooch. Signed Labella vintage costume jewelry

Signed Labella vintage costume jewelry (1990s)
Located at 70-72-74 Bowery street of New York City Chinatown, Labella Jewelers Inc manufactured high quality costume jewelry for about a decade. The company’s craftsmen created jewelry by hand using metal alloys of gold and silver tones. Also, the design of jewelry from this brand is characterized by the abundant use of multi-color rhinestones, crystals and art glass imitating natural stones.

Each piece is marked with the stylized word Labella with an elongated L as an underline and on an oval cartouche. The design and style of the brooches is reminiscent of vintage jewelry from the 1930s and 40s.
Incorporated in 1991, the company ceased to exist before 2000.
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Signed Katrina vintage costume jewelry

Signed Katrina vintage costume jewelry

Musician brooch pin of gold tone, enamel, rhinestones. 1980s. Signed Katrina vintage costume jewelry

Signed Katrina vintage costume jewelry (1985-1995)

Incorporated in 1985, Katrina Inc., was a family business founded by artist Kathleen Mooney, and Floyd and Virginia Y Mooney. Headquartered at 1227 Lieghton, Anniston, Alabama, the company made jewelry and related items for just over a decade. However, the company ceased to exist only in 2010.

A characteristic feature of the Katrina design is its multicolor, artistic performance and many details. Also, the use of a variety of materials including metal alloys, ceramics, resin, textile, lucite, art glass, acrylic and rhinestones. The styles of these brooches, earrings and pendants also range from classics to the funky, vibrant colors of the the 1980s disco era.

The company logo and maker’s mark include an image of a cat with a stylized word Katrina in script. Undoubtedly, unique wearable art pieces from this brand can be a great addition to any vintage costume jewelry collection.
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Signed Amsel vintage costume jewelry

Signed Amsel vintage costume jewelry

Peacock gold filled filigree brooch. Signed Amsel vintage costume jewelry

Signed Amsel vintage costume jewelry (1960s)
The history of the Canadian jewelry brand Amsel began in 1962 and lasted just over a decade. The company was mentioned in business directories of Québec silver jewelry manufacturers in 1963, 1967 and 1973.

The Amsel Bros Company, located at 4372 blvd. St-Laurent, Montreal, handcrafted silver, gold and metal items. A characteristic feature of this brand’s jewelry is its fine filigree work and high quality workmanship. Moreover, the most common design in a variety of textures and shapes is the national Canadian symbol – the maple leaf.
Today, Amsel jewelry is extremely rare and collectible.
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Ella L Cone modernist silver jewelry

Ella L Cone modernist silver jewelry

Detailed shaped sterling silver earrings with the image of a Helmsman at a ship’s wheel. 1950-60s. Ella L Cone modernist silver jewelry

Ella L Cone modernist silver jewelry

Renowned modernist silversmith, jewelry designer and artist Ella L. Cone (1898-1974) was a representative of The Wearable Art Movement. She began making jewelry in the 1930s in New York. In the 1940s, she moved to Massachusetts and launched her own business which she ran until her retirement in the 1960s. The Silversmith’s Shop which she owned during the 1940s – 60s had two locations – 342 Bolyston Street, Boston 16, and 584 Main Street, Hyannis, Massachusetts.

Although her artisan jewelry items were featured in the books on modernist and mid-century jewelry, yet little is known about her biography. Handcrafting necklaces, earrings, cufflinks, pendants, brooches and bracelets, the designer used sterling silver and gold. Today, jewelry marked “Ella L. Cone” and “Sterling” have a high collector’s value.

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Signed LFC vintage costume jewelry

Signed LFC vintage costume jewelry

Flower Basket brooch. Gold plated, crystals, pearls. Signed LFC vintage costume jewelry

Signed LFC vintage costume jewelry
Based in Southend-on-sea of Essex, southeast England, and incorporated on 30 December 1952, L F Coverdale & Co Ltd began its activity in 1947.
Originally headed by Phyllis Matilda Ellen Wickenden, a small team of craftsmen made high quality brooches, pins, pendants, and clip-on earrings using 24 K gold. Also, silver, enamel, Swarovski crystals, rhinestones, and cultured pearls. The maker’s mark includes initials L.F.C.
Noteworthy, they made jewelry both for sale and for other British jewelry companies. Among them, in particular, were Rosita, Butler & Wilsons and others.
In 1964 Nadine Ellen Joan Wickenden joined the family business and soon became its director. The company ceased to exist in 1995.
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Bill Tendler mid-century modernist jewelry

Bill Tendler mid-century modernist jewelry

Geometric design sterling silver pin. Bill Tendler mid-century modernist jewelry

Bill Tendler mid-century modernist jewelry (1948-1973)
Iconic American silversmith Bill Tendler (1906-1973) was one of the founders of the wearable art movement, along with such renowned metalsmiths as Sam Kramer, Arthur King, Francisco Rebajes, Ed Wiener and Art Smith. Greenwich Village in New York was an urban artists’ colony and home to their shops, including Tendler’s studio, which he operated on West 4th Street from 1948 to 1963. Tendler later moved to another part of Greenwich Village, where he worked until his death in 1973.

Handcrafted mostly from sterling silver and signed “Tendler,” his jewelry looks like miniature abstract or geometric sculpture. In addition to sterling silver, the artist used natural stones, including citrine, agate, and more.
Noteworthy, according to some sources, in the 1970s, Bill Tendler began working with gold and was active until 1981, the year of his death.

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