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Category Archive: Vintage

Signed Barcs vintage costume jewelry

Signed Barcs vintage costume jewelry

Modernist design silver tone clip on earrings. Signed Barcs vintage costume jewelry

Signed Barcs vintage costume jewelry
The history of costume jewelry trademark “Barcs” began in the middle of the 20th century in Alexandria, Australia. Founded in 1948, “Barcs & Co Unit Trust” was the wholesale distributor of costume jewelry, watches, clocks, and silverware. Since August 1957, the company’s name was changed to “A. Barcs & Co (Manufacturing) PTY Ltd”. Registered in Lewisham, New South Wales, A. Barcs & Co (Manufacturing) PTY Ltd ceased to exist in 2015. However, the renewed high end costume jewellery company “A Barcs & Co Nominees Pty Ltd”, incorporated in 1982, is still active.
The world’s famous brand, Barcs has a well-deserved reputation for quality, craftsmanship and commitment to classic yet modern fashion jewelry design. Elegant and confident, Barcs strikes the perfect balance of trendy and timeless jewelry, implemented in necklaces, bracelets, clip earrings, rings and brooches.
Traditionally, the marking includes “BARCS” and patent number.
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Signed MASJ vintage costume jewelry

Signed MASJ vintage costume jewelry

Made with amazing detail and craftsmanship Poppy brooch. Silver plated Pewter. 6.7 cm. 1998. Signed MASJ vintage costume jewelry

Signed MASJ vintage costume jewelry
Edward Anthony and Maureen Ann Story-Jones founded their family business on manufacture of silver jewellery and related articles thirty-eight years ago in the village of Berriew in Montgomeryshire, Wales. Since 1996 Philip Raymond Marsh Wilson became the new director, and two years later William James Whitty took over the company. The original founders continued working until their retirement. Maureen Ann retired in 2004, and Edward Anthony in 2006.
In addition to jewelry, Edward Anthony and Maureen Ann made various articles, including frames, clocks, pillboxes and vases. The main theme of the Silver Scenes collection was flowers, leaves, dragonflies and butterflies, with the finest details. Cast in pewter, then silver or gold plated, and made mostly until late 1990s, MASJ brooches are highly collectible today. Noteworthy, the marking includes MASJ signed and dated by hand, or MASJ stamp.
Incorporated on 21 May 1984, Silver Scenes Limited jewelry trademark ceased to exist on 12 May 2015.
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Adderley Floral vintage costume jewelry

Adderley Floral vintage costume jewelry

Chamomile flower bone china brooch. 1950s. Adderley Floral vintage costume jewelry

Adderley Floral vintage costume jewelry
The history of Adderley porcelain brand began in 1905 as a result of merger of two companies – William Alsager Adderley (1876-1905) and Hulse and Adderley (1865-1879). Accordingly, the original labeling included “W A A” or “W A A & Co”. The company went through several renewals and changes of owners. Thus, in 1947, the new owner – Ridgway Potteries continued manufacture of Adderley products without changing the brand’s namer. Later, Adderley received the status of “Royal”, and the labeling changed.
In the postwar period of the 1950-60s, many English firms with rich experience in bone china began to manufacture jewelry. The manufacture of such decorations was taken as seriously as the production of expensive porcelain dishes. Thanks to the thoroughness of the molding, high quality material, and special technology high-temperature firing, these pieces have survived to this day and have not lost their rich color.

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Signed GJD vintage costume jewelry

Signed GJD vintage costume jewelry

Filigree design oval shaped French coin gold tone brooch. 1970s. Signed GJD vintage costume jewelry

Signed GJD vintage costume jewelry
The history of GJD jewelry lasted for a short period of time, a little more than a decade. Incorporated in September 1979, “Ginnie Johansen Designs, Incorporated” ceased to exist in 1986. Located in Dallas, Texas, it was a family business owned by Gerald Charles Johansen (October 23, 1931 – June 20, 2017) and his daughter Ginnie Johansen Donson. The renewed company “Ginnie Johansen Designs Co”, incorporated in 1981, ceased to exist in 1995.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Gerald “Jerry” Charles Johansen grew up in the family of Norwegian immigrants. He graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts. Jerry married Joan Menefee Johansen, and they had three children. Having moved to Dallas, Texas, he became president of Thuron Industries Inc.
In 1978, Jerry founded a fashion accessories company “Ginnie Johansen Designs”. He successfully ran GJD company for 12 years, and sold his products in 3,000 stores. Jerry retired in 1996 and helped his eldest son Jeffrey Johansen and his second daughter, Jane Crowshaw with various businesses.
Gerald Charles Johansen passed away in 2017, at the age of 86.
Noteworthy, the marking GJD jewelry includes Ginnie Johansen in script, or abbreviation GJD.
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Phister Ent vintage costume jewelry

Phister Ent vintage costume jewelry

Independence Day American flag patriotic brooch. 1996. Phister Ent vintage costume jewelry

Phister Ent vintage costume jewelry (1996-1998)

Made by American company Phister Enterprises, Inc. in 1996-1998, Phister Ent jewelry is extremely rare and can literally be counted on the fingers. However, this very fact made this brand known among collectors of vintage jewelry. In fact, the only design created by Phister Enterprises is the classic gold tone bow brooch pin. The bow was sold in a set of seven charms, made from gold tone alloy and enamel. The cute charms depict the main US holidays – Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Independence Day, Halloween and Thanksgiving. The only thing that the owner of such a set had to do was to change the charms, in accordance with the holiday. Also, the company’s craftsmen did not bypass St. Patrick’s Day, creating a set of clips and pendants in the form of clover, covered with green enamel.
Incorporated in 1996, Phister Enterprises, Inc. was a family business of Kimberley Phister (President) and Rita Sayre Phister. Riverside California based wholesale jewelry and service company Phister Enterprises, Inc. ceased to exist in the early 2000s.
The marking on the back of each item includes “Phister Ent”, year of manufacture, and a copyright sign.
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Signed Halbe vintage costume jewelry

Signed Halbe vintage costume jewelry

Fabulous flower brooch. Gold tone, rhodium plated, rhinestone pave. 5 cm. 1950s. Signed Halbe vintage costume jewelry

Halbe vintage costume jewelry (1930-50s)
Rare and highly collectible, each piece of jewelry marked “Halbe” is a wearable art, because its creator and designer was a professional artist.
Born in Poland on April 10, 1881, Rudolph Halbe studied art in Germany and became a renowned landscape painter. In Germany, he married Erna, the famous ethnic dancer. The couple enjoyed traveling and in 1919 they emigrated to California, USA.
Rudolph and Erna started their family business with opening jewelry stores in Oakland and Piedmont, California, in the early 1930s. The business was developing successfully, and jewelry lovers liked the exquisite and inexpensive Halbe jewelry made in the Art Deco style. Notably, Halbe-branded jewelry was sold in boutiques on 5th Avenue in New York and in Toronto, Canada. Meanwhile, the artist Halbe continued to paint and participate in art exhibitions, while Erna continued to perform ethnic dances.
Landscape painter, designer, jeweler and businessman, Rudolph Halbe died in Emeryville, California on September 4, 1967, at the age of 86. He left a great legacy in the form of paintings and jewelry, the price of which will rise every year.
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Tammey Jewels vintage costume jewelry

Tammey Jewels vintage costume jewelry

Blackberry brooch of silver tone. 4.5 cm. 1960s. Tammey Jewels vintage costume jewelry

Tammey Jewels vintage costume jewelry
The history of the American costume jewelry brand “Tammey Jewels” owned by Jean Barnes began in the state of Indiana. Incorporated in 1961, Tammey Jewels Inc. address was 9392 Lafayette Road, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Born in Beaver Falls, Pa, Jean Barnes (1924 – 2004) began her career as a dancer. During World War II, she married Bruce Barnes and the couple moved to Indianapolis. Jean worked at Empire Crafts selling porcelain and silverware to customers’ homes. Bruce, with whom she happily lived for 26 years, died tragically at the age of 48. A widow with four daughters, Jean Barnes not only survived, but became a successful business woman ahead of her time.

Her first home-party selling businesses, which motto was “Fashion Jewelry for the woman who cares”, became very successful, and the company expanded. Tammey Jewels kiosks, gift shops and jewelry boutiques appeared one by one in other states – Florida, Georgia, Ohio and Texas. Noteworthy, in addition to jewelry business, Jean Barnes owned a restaurant in Indianapolis, Indiana. Also, she was an expert in buying and selling real estate.
Talented business woman, Jean Barnes retired in 1986, sold her business, and moved to Florida.

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