A gold sylph spreads her plique-ajour enamel and diamond wings to fill the dog collar plaque. The gold veins of the wings and the crustaceous tail are lightly colored with a thin layer of transparent green enamel. The ethereal being seems made out of air and light, characteristic of her sphere. Rene Lalique Art Nouveau jewellery

Rene Lalique Art Nouveau jewellery
French jeweler and glass-maker, Rene Jules Lalique (1860 – 1945) is one of the outstanding representatives of Art Nouveau. Rene Lalique was a revolutionary in jeweler’s art in every sense of the word. Pushing aside gold and diamonds, he experimented with amber, enamel, metal alloys, glass, favorite semi-precious stones, horn and tortoiseshell. And – the most interesting – the public madly in love with his ornaments. The images and figures appeared out of the very thick fog of Nouveau: dragonflies and scarabs, peacocks and ears of wheat, thin silhouettes of women: in some of them is possible to recognize the features of Rene Lalique muse Augustine-Alice Ledru, whose father and brother used to assist Roden. Rene Lalique always followed the rule of three French “F” – Femme, Fauna, Flora, which still remains the motto of the house.
More »

Camel vintage brooch. Trifari costume jewellery

Jewellery lovers know Trifari costume jewellery under different names, and in particular, TKF, Trifari&Trifari, Krussman and Fishel. Noteworthy, the company, founded in 1910 by Gustav Trifari, exists for more than 100 years.
Luigi Trifari, a jeweler from Italy taught jewellery craft his grandson Gustav, who emigrated to the United States and worked for several years in New York as a designer. In 1917, Leo Krussman joined him. Then, in the 1920s with them began to work Carl Fishel, and the company changed its name to TKF (Trifari, Krussman and Fishel). From 1930 until 1968 for Trifari jewellery design engaged Alfred Philippe. Prior to that, he worked as a designer for Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. Under his influence was created a line of jewelry that brought the company to a new level. Meanwhile, famous are brooches of excellent quality, which Philip created in the form of crowns and Jelly Belly. About the success and quality of Trifari jewelry can be judged from the fact that the company still exists today, having gone through several economic crises. Until now changed owners, changed leading designers, but eventually Trifari became part of Monet Group, bought by Liz Claiborne in 2000.
More »

Art Deco Rabbit brooch. Gold, diamonds. Raymond Yard jewellery

From Raymond Yard decorations can be learned not only the history of jewelry art of the twentieth century, but also the evolution of American tastes. From Art Deco to the “space” design of the 60s, from strict classical forms and large rings with moonstones to funny rabbits waiters … To survive during the “dry law” in America, sense of humor, perhaps, was very helpful. Thanks to these relevant and certainly very expensive brooches, talented jeweler Raymond Yard has won eternal fame. In 1929, at the peak of the ban on the sale of alcohol, the jeweler has released a brooch in the form of rabbits waiters, these ornaments have become a kind of artist’s protest against the law. Rabbits waiters have become the hallmark of the brand, they are hunt for by the collectors all over the world.
More »

Easter egg jewellery art. Imperial Porcelain Manufactory, st. Petersburg, second half of the 19th century

One of the first jewelers to combine an Easter egg with jewellery was Carl Faberge. His name is now associated with the brilliant art of decorative Easter eggs, the so-called “Easter surprise” – giftware with a hidden secret. It is assumed that the idea of creating them belonged to his younger brother Agafon Faberge, extraordinarily gifted artist who also had exceptional design capabilities. Carl Faberge was able to win the hearts of customers, pushing all competitors. His success is in the complexity of the design, originality and impeccable execution of these precious toys. Total from 1885 to 1917 were produced 56 “Easter surprises” on the orders of the imperial family. These were the gifts of Alexander III and Nicholas II to Empresses Maria Feodorovna and Alexandra Feodorovna.
More »

Green Apple brooch, glowing from within like in the style of Austrian fruit. Napier vintage jewellery

Napier vintage jewellery
The company “Napier” began its history in 1875 in Attleboro – a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. Initially, they released men’s pocket watch made of silver under the name “Whitney and Rice”. Already in 1882 the owners renamed the company to “Carpenter and Bliss”, shifting production to the state of Connecticut and in the following decade their business was growing very fast. In 1922 the president of the company became James Napier, who launched jewellery under the brand of his own name – Napier. Unlike many jewelry companies of the time, Napier did not stop any work during the First and the Second World War. Instead, the company wisely reconstructed the manufacture, having started making orders and medals.
More »

Elegant vintage brooch in the form of the orchid, Mamselle Costume jewelry

Orchid is the symbol of sophistication, wisdom and gentility. Orchid often symbolizes love, beauty and harmony, as well as family comfort. White orchid symbolizes pure love, variegated – longing. Pink refined orchid petals mean pure affection. Orchid in a bouquet – a symbol of love, refinement and large families … Mamselle Costume jewelry was produced from a special jewelry alloy with a small portion of gold. It was often used enamel, but also almost all well-known in the manufacture of jewelry decorative techniques. On the reverse side of genuine jewelry is always a stigma “Mamselle”.
More »

Antique brooch. Fabulous Florenza vintage costume jewellery

Fabulous Florenza vintage costume jewellery – decorations of stunning beauty by the genius of Dan Kasoff. He founded company Dan Kasoff Inc. in the early 40s in New York. In 1945, he launched branded jewelry, to which he gave the name of his mother – Florenza. Mostly made in Victorian style, magnificent Florenza jewels dazzle, have a truly mystical beauty. Each piece of Florenza is always absolutely rare collectible. Florenza always used only the finest stones from Germany, Austria and the East, with many stones which have been made specially for the brand. In all jewelry was used only a 24kt gold or gold alloys patented by them, bearing the sonorous name – “Florenza Gold”, “French Gold” and “French Rose”.
More »