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 broochA cane and a cross, a vintage brooch, Masonic motifs. 1960sA musical symbol set of brooch and earrings. 1970s. Rhinestones, jewellery alloy of silver toneArt Deco Style fan brooch. 1950sBird brooch. 1940s. Rhinestones, silver toned metalBowling set of brooch and earrings. Blue cabochons, rhinestones. 1960sCamel brooch. Silver tone metal and rhinestones. 1960sChristmas Tree Brooch, enameled, rhinestone and zirconia. 1940sClown pin. Color crystals, silvered metalCrown with sword brooch. Rhodium plated, rhinestones. 1940sDeer brooch. Gold tone metal, rhinestonesDove in a circle colored rhinestones pinGoldtone Guitar BroochGorgeous maple leaf brooch, jewellery alloy, rhinestones. 1940sLyre broochMasonic rhinestone brooch-pin. Silver sterling tone. 1970s. Eastern Star with the Crescent and Scimitar symbols of the MasonsOrder of the Eastern Star pinQuestion mark style broochRose rhinestone pinSigned ORAFloral motif Silver tone metal and rhinestone earringsSymbolic shape, clear, red and green rhinestones broochTurtle Brooch. 1960sViolin brooch designed by Oreste Agnini and Mary C Granville. 1938Harp vintage brooch. Gold tone, clear crystalsMaker’s mark