Kaleidoscope effect

1992 Artisan Native Indian Tribal Dancer Bead Pin Brooch. Liztech vintage costume jewelry

Liztech vintage costume jewelry
The history of Liztech trademark founded by Liz and her husband Scott McLaren lasted for twenty years. Incorporated in 1998, the family business ceased to exist in 2018.
Jill Elizabeth, designer and creator of Liztech, has been in the jewelry business since childhood. As an adult, she traveled around the country, working with various artists and studying jewelry manufacturing technology. In search of new materials, she came across a chrome-plated architectural laminate used to make mirror panels. Combining interest in world mythology and new material, she first carved Egyptian hieroglyphs from it. Then, wrapped them in colored magnetic wire and the beads. As a result, she received unusual jewelry that enthralled jewelry lovers.
Jill showed her jewelry at numerous craft exhibitions and fairs in New York, and received public acclaim. Due to increased demand for her jewelry, Liz and Scott McLaren founded Liztech brand in 1998. In addition, they opened their own art gallery, where they exhibited not only their works, but also the works of other artists. To date, the works of Jill Elizabeth adorn museum shops and galleries throughout the country.
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Etruscan Couture Design dangling earrings. Jacky de G vintage costume jewelry

Jacky de G vintage costume jewelry

Distinguished by its “excessiveness”, French jewelry of the 1980s was influenced by the high fashion of famous couturiers. Bright and bold, traditionally large, these decorations were created for the same brave and bright women who wanted to be noticed. Jean-Paul Gaultier, Laroche, Givenchy, Dior, Lagerfeld, Lacroix – fashion shows of these brands are impossible without the main emphasis – accessories and jewelry. The most talented jewelry designers worked for these fashion houses. Among such designers was the jeweler who marked her products Jacky de G. made in France. According to sources, de G may mean belonging to Guy Laroche, Gaultier, or Givenchy. However, the style of these decorations reminiscent of Lacroix or Chanel. Noteworthy, the jewelry marked Jacky de G was produced for a rather short period – mainly in the 1980s. Thus, all products of this brand with its forty-year history, are vintage and highly collectible.
Traditionally, the Jacky de G jewelers used metal of gold, or, less commonly, silver tones coated with yellow matte gold, or enamel. Also, lucite, bakelite, rhinestones, glass beads, sequins and crystals.
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Tree of life pin brooch. Yellow and Brown Enamel, silver tone metal. Doris and Donald Fisher GAP vintage costume jewelry

Doris and Donald Fisher GAP vintage costume jewelry
The history of Gap Inc. started in 1969 when Americans Doris Fisher (b. 1931) and Donald Fisher (1928-2009) opened their own store on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco, California. Initially, they sold music discs and Levi’s products in stores. And they had a simple idea: to facilitate the search for a pair of jeans. However, in 1969, they revolutionized retail with no retail experience. Over time, the company expanded to a large network. In particular, they turned their company into a major global brand with over 3,200 stores.
Noteworthy, in 1974 they launched clothing and accessories line under their own brand – Gap. In 1976, Gap became public and, accordingly, added “Inc.” (incorporated) to its name. In 1977, they created the Gap Foundation.
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Antique brooch in the form of an oak leaf from silver, inserts from natural turquoise and jewelry glasses, patina. 4.2 cm. Before 1950s. Turquoise stone magic properties

Turquoise stone magic properties
Called “Heavenly stone” in ancient times, turquoise certainly has magical properties. The Roman historian Pliny the Elder in the 1st century AD enthusiastically wrote about the Persian turquoise. According to him, it is “bluer than the azure of heaven” and for getting it “the caravans of merchants equip themselves to distant Khorasan”. Even then, turquoise entered the markets of the East from Persian mines. Further, through Turkey, it crossed to Europe, where it always found numerous fans.

Stone of victory and wealth

Turquoise, set in gold, adorned the robes of royalty and representatives of the nobility. Persian turquoise means “winner”. Considered a stone of victory in Muslim countries, “the mere sight of which is equivalent to reading the Koran”. In the East, from ancient times they attribute to it miraculous, magical power and wear it as a talisman.
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Opera Lady Fedora with a Butterfly brooch pin. Gold tone metal, enamel, crystals. Signed FM (Franklin Mint). Erte Art Deco jewelry

Erte Art Deco jewelry
The works of Russian-born French artist and designer Romain de Tirtoff (November 23, 1892 – April 21, 1990) were admired by George Balanchine and Andy Warhol. Erte achieved worldwide fame in the 1970s and was awarded the French Order of Arts and Literature (1976). Around this period, he fulfilled his long-held dream of creating jewelry.
“The father of art deco” launched a series of jewelry made from his drawings of 1920-30s. Traditionally, the jewelers used 14 carat gold, sterling silver, rubies, diamonds, topazes, amethysts, mother of pearl, lapis lazuli and black onyx. Jewelry of this brand is rarity sold at special auctions.
Not satisfied with modern jewelry, Erte found it tasteless and pompous. In 1974 Jack Solomon specially came to Paris to meet him and help in his new business. Soon, Jack Solomon began to search for jewelers who could implement the designer’s plan. This jeweler was Natalie Kane O’Keiff, who lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Their fruitful cooperation lasted 10 years.
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‘Remembrance’ brooch. Gold tone metal, gold plated, Swarovski crystals, enamel. 6.5 cm. 1960s. Gontie Paris vintage costume jewelry

Gontie Paris vintage costume jewelry
Belonged to the group, founded in 1890, GONTIÉ maintains a handicraft spirit using the most advanced technology. Gontié has both a creative workshop and a production workshop for various jewelry. Traditionally, brand jewelers use gold, silver, metal alloys, recycled glass, enamel, high-quality crystals and rhinestones. All Gontié jewelry is exclusive, including the entire process of creating jewelry – from design, selection of materials and decoration. In addition, all products have official markings, which indicates the level of quality of their creations. As a result, the jewelry of this brand is represented at 200 points of sale in France. Noteworthy, Gontie switched to direct online sales in 2009 by launching its online store (gontie-bijoux.fr) selling collections on the site at producer prices. However, in 2015 the online store ceased to exist.
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Set of earrings and a brooch. Sterling silver, 14k gold, tourmaline, amethyst and turquoise cabochons. 1997 work by Japanese jewelry designer Yumi Ueno

Japanese jewelry designer Yumi Ueno
Signed Yumi jewelry – three-dimensional geometric abstractions and bizarre, humorous fantasies. Traditionally, to create her works, she uses precious and semiprecious stones, as well as gold and sterling silver. According to Ueno, she prefers to use semiprecious stones because the variety of their colors, structures and shapes attract her.
Born in Japan, she studied Graphic Design at Musashino Art University, Tokyo (1970-74). Nearly twenty years later, she mastered Silversmithing at the Barnsdall Art Center, Los Angeles (1989-90). A talented artist and jewelry designer, Ueno has participated in numerous art exhibitions in galleries and museums, where she has received well-deserved awards. In particular, the first place at exhibitions in 1995, 1996, 1998, 1989, 2001, 2002, 2013, and 2014 in California, Illinois and Arizona. Also, the work of the designer periodically appears on the pages of prestigious magazines, newspapers and directories of art galleries and art festivals. For example, the San Francisco Chronicle, Best of America Jewelry Artists, American Craft Magazine, Lapidary Journal, New York Magazine, New York Times, etc.
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