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Category Archive: Vintage

Viggo Wollny vintage silver jewelry

Viggo Wollny vintage silver jewelry

Modernist design sterling silver coral brooch. Marked VW FAMMIK. 1950s. Viggo Wollny vintage silver jewelry

Viggo Wollny vintage silver jewelry
Copenhagen based Danish silversmith Viggo Wollny created modernist, abstract and classic design pieces from 1921 to 1973. Handcrafted in his “Fammik” workshop, these bracelets, brooches, cufflinks and earrings are in high demand today, sold at auctions. Traditionally made from silver and gold with the use of semi-precious gems, the decorations have marking VW Fammik, and Denmark Sterling.
In October 1962, Viggo Wollny took part in the largest of its kind in Scandinavia exhibition “Jewellery for millions” at the Hotel d’Angleterre. Noteworthy, he was the oldest among other 12 Copenhagen goldsmiths who exhibited their jewellery from 2 to 4 October 19662.

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Signed LDADPR vintage costume jewelry

Signed LDADPR vintage costume jewelry

Geometric design round shaped brooch. Silver tone metal, mother-of-pearl. 3 cm. 1980s. Rodier-LDADPR. Signed LDADPR vintage costume jewelry

Signed LDADPR vintage costume jewelry
Incorporated 21 March 1984, the company “Labora Dermoco Active Dr Pierre Ricaud”, alternatively known as LDADPR, is famous for luxury products and creams to reduce wrinkles. The company began its activity as a retail seller via mail order houses or via the Internet. Its founder, Pierre Ricaud, was a family doctor and godfather of Yves Rocher. Initially, the company specialized in skincare market stagnated in France, but later extended its network of beauty salons in European countries.
In fact, the production of costume jewelry, as part of an advertising campaign took place in the 1980-2000s. The variety of materials and designs amaze. Multi strand bead necklaces, chains, bracelets, charms and pendants, often with semi-precious stones. The materials included silver, gold, metal alloys, leather, resin, plastic, enamel, quartz, mother of pearl, rhinestones, art glass, Swarovski crystals, and natural gemstones. In addition to costume jewelry, the company produced wristwatches.
Noteworthy, LDADPR produced costume jewelry and wristwatches in collaboration with another well-known French brand, Rodier. Accordingly, the markings on most jewelry pieces include the two words “Rodier” and “LDADPR”.
About Rodier, French fashion, perfume and accessories brand for women. Founded in 1848 by Eugène Rodier, the company originally created cashmere, knitwear and woolen clothing. And from the middle of the 20th century, the company began producing pret-a-porter clothing and jewelry. Later, the company began to produce perfumes. To date, Rodier has branded boutiques in more than 20 countries around the world. Jacques Rodier, who began his jewelry designer in 1956, also worked with Chanel.
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Signed Musi vintage shoe clips

Folded napkin design shoe clip. Filigree gold plated, Aurora Borealis rhinestones

Folded napkin design shoe clip. Filigree gold plated, Aurora Borealis rhinestones. 1960s. Signed Musi vintage shoe clips

Signed Musi vintage shoe clips (1959-1971)
The history of the world’s best shoe jewelry marked “MUSI”, began in 1959 in Brooklyn, New York. Its founder was Murray Simon, who named his company using the first two letters of his first and last name.
Noteworthy, the talented and successful jeweler and businessman, Simon created costume jewelry back in the 1930s. Billboard magazine ran advertisements for Murray Simon Co. jewelry regularly, especially during the period 1942-1945.
Murray Simon subtly felt the market conditions, and in different periods of time he did exactly what was in demand. Thus, during the Second World War, he created military Insignia Jewelry line, the army and navy service caps. After the WWII he continued manufacturing costume jewelry – brooches, necklaces, charms, and bracelets. However, by 1950s the company was facing problems. Due to lack of orders and shortages of materials, the company had to lay off 85 workers, reducing from about 100 to 15 workers. According to the decision of the Committee on Finance of US Congress in 1952, Murray Simon had to pay a large amount of money as Unemployment Compensation.
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Karen Brent vintage costume jewelry

Karen Brent vintage costume jewelry

Floral design brooch pendant. Brass tone metal alloy, faux pearls, amber glass. 5.5 cm. 1970s. Karen Brent vintage costume jewelry

Karen Brent vintage costume jewelry (1970s)
The history of Karen Brent costume jewelry brand is shrouded in mystery. No catalogs, patents, or trademark data banks mention this brand or company. According to scarce sources, jewelry was produced for a short time, around the 1970s, in Ontario, Canada. Rare to find jewelry of this brand demonstrates classic style, exquisite handicraft and filigree design. The materials used to create these jewelry are gold and copper tone alloys, superb crystals, imitation pearls and rhinestones. The marking on the back side of each item includes “Karen Brent” in stylized script, on a rectangular base with a copyright mark.
Thanks to excellent quality and the use of best materials, these 50-year-old pieces have been well preserved to this day.
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Signed Brookraft vintage costume jewelry

Signed Brookraft vintage costume jewelry

Oriental dancer with fan sterling silver brooch pin. 1940s. Signed Brookraft vintage costume jewelry

Signed Brookraft vintage costume jewelry
The history of New York based jewelry company Brookraft Inc. covers no more than two decades. Founded in the late 1930s, the company ceased to exist in 1952. The company was well known in the post-war years of the United States. Thus, advertisements for brooches, bracelets and necklaces made by Brookraft appeared on the pages of the most popular magazines of the time. Among them, in particular, the September issue of Vogue magazine (1945) and the July issue of the monthly magazine “Woman’s Home Companion” (1948).
Most of the company’s products are real masterpieces of jewelry art, which are a vivid example of elegance and style.
Creating jewelry by hand, the company’s craftsmen produced high quality jewelry, with careful attention to detail, which allowed these products to be well preserved to this day. Traditionally, the company’s craftsmen used 925 sterling silver, 12 – 14 K pink and yellow gold, indicating the purity of the metal on the labeling of products. Other materials included art glass imitating natural stones, faux or cultured pearls, Austrian crystals and the highest quality rhinestones. The style of jewelry was very diverse – from the classics of that time to Art Deco and modernist designs. Extremely rare, Brookraft pieces are antiques, highly prized by collectors.
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Signed BAS antique silver jewelry

Signed BAS antique silver jewelry

Saint George killing the snake pendant. 925 silver. 1950s. Signed BAS antique silver jewelry

Signed BAS antique silver jewelry
The history of the Blachian Antik Schmuck (BAS) silver jewelry trademark began in the Bavarian town of Neuötting, Germany. The full company name is Blachian-Antik-Schmuck u. Bronze-Kunst Franz Eligius Blachian (Neuötting am Inn). Incorporated in the 1930s, the company ceased to exist in the late 1950s.
The company, owned by Franz Eligius Blachian, produced giftware and jewelry in gold and silver. Notably, most of the jewelry designs are based on jewelry from the Biedermeier period (first half of the 18th century). Traditionally, the craftsmen used 585 gold and 925 silver, as well as garnets, pearls, amethyst, and other natural stones. Masterfully and very accurately executed, these mid-century pieces feature great care after historical and antique examples.
Today, high-quality BAS signed antique jewelry is rare and very desirable for collectors of vintage and antique jewelry.
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Bluette vintage costume jewelry

Bluette vintage costume jewelry

Bow design shoe clips. Gold tone metal alloy, Swarovski crystals. 1970s. Bluette vintage costume jewelry

Bluette vintage costume jewelry
Most often, jewelry companies make traditional jewelry – brooches, dress clips, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, pendants, and less often shoe clips. One of most notable costume jewelry companies on production of shoe clips was Bluette, which manufactured shoe clips in the 1970-80s. The history of Bluette costume jewelry trademark began fifty years ago in France. Incorporated in January 1972, Monsieur Robert Bluette company ceased to exist in 2002.
Traditionally, the craftsmen used gold and silver tone metal alloys, leather, enamel, faux pearls, Swarovski crystals and rhinestones. The marking included “Bluette Made in France”. Noteworthy, the marking sometimes include “Nancy Katz”, who designed jewelry for Bluette in the 1970s.
The history of shoe jewelry is part of the history of dresses, shoes and fashion in general. Even minor improvements in the design of shoes will make them one and only of their kind. There is no doubt that shoes decorated with textile or jewelry elements have always been and will be in trend. Just look at the elegant women’s outfits of the Renaissance, or the fashion shows of modern designers.
Traditionally, true shoe decorations are removable. Shoe jewellery with glamorous rhinestones and charms can turn a casual pair into a sophisticated evening option. And to look fashionable, it is not at all necessary to buy several pairs of shoes for different occasions. It is enough to change the decorations, which may include shoe brooches – clips, bracelets for shin boots, heel rings of various designs, materials, colors and shapes.
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