Chicago based ORA vintage costume jewellery
Rare 1940s Flower Basket brooch. Rhinestone, Rhodium. Chicago based ORA vintage costume jewellery
ORA vintage costume jewellery
First, it was a creative duo of designers Oreste Agnini and Ralph Singer (Italian Raffaele Cantaluppi) who used the name ORA for their jewellery. Originally, they made the jeweled buttons and brooches for the Eisenberg line of clothing. But later, when they ended with Eisenberg, in 1920-1930s, they began producing jewellery known as ORA. The name of their Chicago based company which employed 200 people, was “Agnini & Singer”. Noteworthy, their earlier products didn’t have any mark on them. However, already in late 1930s they began marking their jewellery pieces with the brand name “ORA”.
According to some jewellery guides, the name ORA is a combination of the names Oreste and Ralph. But according to other sources, Ora in Italian means “hour”, and they advertised their jewellery as “Jewels of the Hour.”
Most often ORA vintage costume jewellery features various motifs, from music to Masonic, Art Deco design, with an abundance of crystals. And always ORA jewelers demonstrate high quality and creative design in their jewellery lines.
Heart Shaped silver tone metal brooch, rhinestones. 1940s
Noteworthy, the company is still in business, but has changed its name to “Ralph Singer Jewelry Company”.
Maker’s mark
ORA vintage costume jewellery
1960s vintage leaf brooch
A cane and a cross, a vintage brooch, Masonic motifs. 1960s
A musical symbol set of brooch and earrings. 1970s. Rhinestones, jewellery alloy of silver tone
Art Deco Style fan brooch. 1950s
Bird brooch. 1940s. Rhinestones, silver toned metal
Bowling set of brooch and earrings. Blue cabochons, rhinestones. 1960s
Camel brooch. Silver tone metal and rhinestones. 1960s
Christmas Tree Brooch, enameled, rhinestone and zirconia. 1940s
Clown pin. Color crystals, silvered metal
Crown with sword brooch. Rhodium plated, rhinestones. 1940s
Deer brooch. Gold tone metal, rhinestones
Dove in a circle colored rhinestones pin
Goldtone Guitar Brooch
Gorgeous maple leaf brooch, jewellery alloy, rhinestones. 1940s
Lyre brooch
Masonic rhinestone brooch-pin. Silver sterling tone. 1970s. Eastern Star with the Crescent and Scimitar symbols of the Masons
Order of the Eastern Star pin
Question mark style brooch
Rose rhinestone pin
Signed ORA
Floral motif Silver tone metal and rhinestone earrings
Symbolic shape, clear, red and green rhinestones brooch
Turtle Brooch. 1960s
Violin brooch designed by Oreste Agnini and Mary C Granville. 1938
Harp vintage brooch. Gold tone, clear crystals
Maker’s mark
