Bow ribbon brooch. Gold tone, rhinestone, faux pearl. 5.2 cm. 1970s. Signed Movitex vintage costume jewelry

Movitex vintage costume jewelry (1970s)

The history of the French costume jewelry brand Movitex began in 1974. It was a trademark of the eponymous company founded in 1947. The original name Mo-Vi-Tex included the first two letters of the brand founders – Morand and Viciot, plus three letters of the word “textile”. Initially, the company specialized in the production of textiles. The turning point in the successful business came in 1974, when Robert Seynave bought the company. First, he published Daxon ready-to-wear catalog offering clothes, shoes, and accessories. The company began selling products of their own trade marks, advertised in the catalog. Initially, the products included lingerie items and home comfort items, sold not through stores, but by mail and door-to-door sales. The company went through ups and downs and changes of owners.
Noteworthy, Movitex costume jewelry was produced in the 1970s and 1980s. Currently, the French company Movitex, headquartered at 5 Rue Des Precurseurs Villeneuve D’ascq 59650 (Nord), is mostly known for its footwear and clothing products. Today, handcrafted in 1970-80s classic design bijoux marked Movitex is very rare.
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Royal Imperial design gold tone dangle brooch with charms – key, crown, star, coat of arms. 1980s. Marla Buck vintage costume jewelry

Marla Buck vintage costume jewelry (1980s)

Manhattan was once the heart of the New York fashion jewelry business, where young fashion jewelry designers were active in the 1980s. Among them was the talented artist and designer Marla Buck, who came from Toronto to New York in the 1970. In the early 1980s she decided to revive the jewelry fashion that had been so popular in the 1960s. Like many designers of that time, Marla was self-taught, but she had her own view and some experience in creating costume jewelry.
Before starting her jewelry business, Marla attended art college and was fond of dance and pantomime. While in Paris, fashionable and flamboyant Marla met Bern Conrad, who asked her to make accessories for his clothes. After that, she worked for a short time on bag design at Morris Moskowitz. Finally, she found work in a workshop making bijoux imitating precious jewelry. Noteworthy, couturier Calvin Klein used them in his fashion show.

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Avant-garde design Bible theme Adam and Eve, the serpent and the apple tree pendant. 1960s. Roland Landerholm vintage pewter jewelry

Roland Landerholm vintage pewter jewelry (1950-1970s)
The history of R Landerholm hand-signed modernist jewelry began in the 1950s in Sweden. Originally a ceramic workshop, “Handelsbolaget Ahlby Keramik Landerholm & Söner” was a family owned business. Its founders were the three brothers Henry, Leif and Roland. Thanks to Roland Landerholm (1928-1993), who was a gifted artist and goldsmith, their workshop began to produce jewelry in addition to pottery. Roland’s modernist and avant-garde designer jewelry quickly brought success to the company. Widely exported abroad, today these jewelry pieces, mainly made in 1950-1970s, are highly collectible, the price of which increases every year.

Noteworthy, Roland’s jewelry designs very rarely combined pewter and ceramic, and for good reason. Very critical of his art, Roland used to break his creations when he was dissatisfied with his creation. Therefore, there is so little jewelry with ceramics, and little is known about his ceramic artworks.
The markings traditionally include “R Landerholm” (often inscribed by the designer himself) and “Tenn”, the Swedish word for tin. Also, Swedish jewelry normally has a triple crown of three crown insignia, signifying Sweden.
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Teardrop fan shaped pendant. 925 sterling silver, rock crystal. 1970s. Sten Laine vintage silver jewelry

Sten Laine vintage silver jewelry (1969-1978)
Finnish Turku based goldsmiths Hans Sten and Karl Laine founded Sten & Laine company in 1969 and began manufacturing jewelry. The start of their business was very successful, and the company sold jewelry in Finland, Germany and Sweden. Karl Laine’s iconic oxidized modernist design jewelry pieces set with rock crystal became very popular.
However, the success of the company led to some disagreements between its founders. Karl Laine quit working for the company in 1976 and sold part of his shareholding in 1978 to the limited partnership Sten & Laine (later Sten Co). Between 1989 and 1990, Sten Co transferred his business, jewelry manufacturing, and part of his staff to Swiss Investment Consulting Ltd. Finally, Sten Co went bankrupt in 1991.
From 1976 until 1978, Karl Laine made jewelry designs for another Finnish silversmith company – Pertti Peuri. These pieces are marked with engraved letters “KL”. Noteworthy, Karl Laine gave the right to use his signature in new jewelry designed by other people until 1994.
Traditionally, the marking included various signs. In particular, waves logo in box, 925 for sterling silver, city mark of Turku, Fin (Finland), KL or sten & laine mark, letter and number for the year of manufacture. For example, Y7 (1976), or E8 for 1982, etc.
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Bird wreath circle pin. Made for JC Penney. Antique gold tone, rhinestones. 1980s. Signed Aressa vintage costume jewelry (1979-2008)

Signed Aressa vintage costume jewelry (1979-2008)
The history of the American fashion jewelry brand Aressa began over forty years ago in St. Louis, Missouri. Registered in 1979, the trademark for the production of earrings, pendants, necklaces, bracelets and charms existed until 2008. However, the production of jewelry of this brand ceased until 2000.
The brand was owned by the Roman Company (formerly T-4, Inc.), based in St. Louis, Missouri.
Aressa jewelry was mainly sold on branded cards or in labeled boxes in JCPenney department stores. Traditionally classical in design, the jewelry was reminiscent of fine jewelry made of gold and natural stones. Creating jewelry, craftsmen used high quality materials. In particular, gold-like alloy, art glass imitating precious stones, faux pearls and genuine crystals.
Noteworthy, Aressa was one of nine jewelry trademarks registered by the Roman corporation. Among them, in particular, Regency (1987), Elements (1988), Alexia (1990), Roman Craftsman (1995), Bridal Gallery (1996), In Focus (1997), Social Gala (1997), and In View (1999). All these trademarks are no longer active.
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Strawberry filigree gold plated brooch. 6.5 cm. 1960s. Signed Tradition vintage costume jewelry (1948-1992)

Signed Tradition vintage costume jewelry
The history of costume jewelry trademark “Tradition” began more than 70 years ago in Chicago, Illinois. Registered in 1948, the Tradition trademark ceased to exist in 1992. The trademark owner was one of the oldest and largest American corporations “Sears Roebuck and Co”, known as Sears. Founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in 1892, the company began as a mail ordering catalog company. Since 1906 the new owners, Richard Sears and Julius Rosenwald expanded the business to chain of department stores.
Large corporation, Sears Roebuck and Co owned hundreds of trademarks on manufacture of various products, from pajamas and neckties to refrigerators and automobile tires. Among these trademarks were eight jewelry ones. In particular, three “Tradition” jewelry trademarks registered in 1954 (inactive in 1992), and one registered in 1996 (inactive in 2005). Other jewelry trademarks included T” (jeweled rings, 1964-2005), “Apostrophe” (1988-2010), Crossroads (1999-2009), Mainframe (2000-2009), and Covington (2001-2003).
Due to the bankruptcy on October 15, 2018, the company ceased to exist.
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Insect figural charms bracelet. Gold tone, enamel, rhinestones 1995. Signed Tofa vintage costume jewelry (1994-2000)

Signed Tofa vintage costume jewelry

The history of the Tofa jewelry brand covers a rather short period, no more than six years. The owner and founder of the brand was B.G. Fashion Inc., headquartered at 39 West 32nd Street, New York NY 10001. Incorporated on March 16, 1994, the corporation and its trademark Tofa ceased to exist in July 2000.
Judging by the markings, which include the initials BG, Tofa and the year of production, the company produced jewelry mainly in 1995.
Traditionally, the company’s craftsmen created slider bracelets with a variety of themed charms sliding back and forth along a double metal cord. The materials used by the craftsmen – metal alloys, pewter, silver and 18 carat gold.
Noteworthy, the most characteristic design element of the bracelets was the clasp in the form of two crescents. The design of 6-7 figure charms for each bracelet included themes for all tastes, making them a wonderful gift for anyone. For example, for sports fans – baseball, tennis, golf, rugby, cheerleaders, etc. Or the topic of school, university, particular professions and hobbies. Also, a series of charms for the most significant holidays and events – Christmas, Halloween, Easter, and more. The religious theme with Noah’s Ark, with detailed study of animal figurines, became an interesting design of the charms. Known for their slider bracelets, Tofa craftsmen also made brooches and pins, but in a more limited edition.
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