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Frank Gargano vintage costume jewelry

Frank Gargano vintage costume jewelry

Caged Bird, book piece brooch (“American Costume Jewelry” by Carla Ginelly Brunialti & Roberto Brunialti). 1947. Marked “Sterling Pat.pend”. Gold-plated sterling silver with rhinestones. Frank Gargano vintage costume jewelry

Frank Gargano vintage costume jewelry
The history of Frank Gargano jewelry trademark began and ended in the 1940s in Providence Rhode Island. According to the Brunialti catalog, freelance designer F.J. Gargano patented several brooches between 1946 and 1947. Traditionally, collections of little brooches had a plot. For example, a boy on an elephant, a bear cub on a bicycle, also figurines and comets. Gargano marked his pieces “sterling” or “carman sterling” and added “pat”, that meant all brooches had patents. Unfortunately, we know almost nothing about Frank Gargano himself.
High quality craftsmanship jewelry of this designer is extremely rare and very valuable. For example, an approximate price for the caged bird brooch (the above picture) can reach $500. Accordingly, there is a risk of buying a fake.
Traditionally, the designer used 925 sterling silver, gold, metal alloys, art glass, rhinestones and crystals. Undoubtedly, jewelry work of the master, and the individual style will not leave anyone indifferent.

A couple at the Mill, a rare brooch. 1940's. Silver, gilding, crystals. Length - 6 cm, width - 5 cm

A couple at the Mill (date at the mill), a rare brooch. 1947. Silver, gilding, crystals. Length – 6 cm, width – 5 cm

A date at the mill brooch. Sterling silver, multicolor handpainted enamel brooch. 1940s

A date at the mill brooch (another version of this brooch). Sterling silver, multicolor handpainted enamel. 1940s

Bear on a bicycle. Sterling silver, rhinestones. 5.5 cm

Bear on a circus bicycle. Sterling silver, rhinestones. 5.5 cm

Frank Gargano vintage costume jewelry

Bird in a cage set of brooch and earrings. Book-piece, 1947. 925 Sterling silver, gilding, rhinestones, vermeil. Brooch 6.7 cm, earrings 3.6 cm

Book-piece, 1947. Bird in a cage set of brooch and earrings. 925 Sterling silver, gold plated, rhinestones, vermeil. Brooch 7 cm, earrings 4 cm

Elephant with cornack. 1947. Gold-plated sterling brooch with black and white enamel, red and green rhinestones

Elephant with cornack. 1947. Designer Frank J. Gargano. Providence. Inspired by Verdura design. 5 cm. Gold-plated sterling brooch with black and white enamel, red and green rhinestones

Sailboat. 1947. Gold-plated sterling brooch with blue, white and red rhinestones

Sailboat brooch. 1947. Gold-plated sterling silver, rhinestones. 6×4.5 cm. Marked Sterling

Signature

Maker’s mark