Estabell Sterling vintage costume jewelry
Estabell Sterling vintage costume jewelry
The history of San Francisco, California based jewelry company which signed its products “Sterling Estabell” in the 1940s, remains unknown. At least, there is no officially registered brand or company with this name in the 1930s-50s. Anyway, the mysterious company produced high quality costume jewelry, sold in boutiques and large stores, such as Neiman Marcus. According to some sources, Estabell comes from the name of its designer Esther Campbell or Bell.
Exquisitely handcrafted figurative brooches and earrings made by Estabell confirm the fact that jewelry is a wearable art. The museum worth designs included medieval women playing the lute, or Japanese figures of men and women with lanterns, warriors with shields, or mythological heroes.
Traditionally, the designer used silver and gold plating, as well as rich inserts of stones, mother-of-pearl, colorful rhinestones and baroque pearls. The marking on the back side of each piece includes “Estabell Sterling” without copyright sign.
Hard to find Estabell costume jewelry, the price of which will increase every year, is highly collectible now.