Kaleidoscope effect

Winter Fruit brooch pendant. Enamel, gold, silver. American jewelry designer Heinz Brummel (b. 1955)

American jewelry designer Heinz Brummel
Born in 1955 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, into a family of German immigrants, Heinz Brummel is a talented jewelry designer. Noteworthy, a self-taught artist, Brummel has participated in numerous group and solo jewelry exhibitions in the United States, as well as abroad since 1981. Brummel works are in collections of famous institutions. In particular, the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC and the Minnesota Museum of American Art. Also, at the Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine Wisconsin.
According to Brummel, jewelry designers of the 19th and early 20th centuries such as Klee, Calder, Miro and the Bauhaus inspire him.
Combining old traditions and quality with a modern design, Heinz Brummel creates unique jewelry. Observing the formal requirements of “fine art,” he goes beyond the traditional approaches to creating jewelry. In particular, in a combination of precious and non-precious materials, which the master “alchemizes” into exquisite objects of jewelry art. As a result, we see a personal decoration in the field of fine art, a miniature sculpture in the macro world.

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Heart abstract design brooch pendant. Silver tone, crystal. Xavier Loubens haute couture jewelry

Xavier Loubens haute couture jewelry

Loubens, together with d’Eduardo Braza created the Lumen Fashion House in Paris in 1990. At the very beginning of his career, Loubens had an internship at Givenchy Fashion House. Now he collaborates with several leading young French stylists and the largest European fashion houses. In particular, Guy Laroche, Patou, Balenciaga, Rochas, Givenchy, Vionnet, Christian Lacroix, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Dior. All of them consider the style of Xavier Loubens jewelry, accessories and fittings, its designs, the processing methods of metals, crystals and decorative modules – unique. As a result, all these famous fashion houses order from Xavier Loubens prêt-à-porter and haute couture jewelry, buttons, and decorative modules for embroidering fabrics and shoes for their collections.
According to Xavier Loubens, he doesn’t like clear things. He likes to mix precious metals and stones and so called “bad taste” materials: plates of thin brass, rhinestones, plastic and resin. “It is fair, fresh and always unique”.
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Christmas Bell Brooch. Gold tone metal, jewelry enamel, faux pearl. 1995. Olit Jewelry Inc vintage costume jewelry

Olit Jewelry Inc vintage costume jewelry (1987-2000)
The history of privately held company Olit Jewelry Inc began in 1987. Its address was 38 Lockhart Ave, Warwick, Rhode Island, the US. Initially, it was a family business of Richard Joseph Litterio (president) and Okchin B. Litterio (vice-president). Categorized under Novelty and Costume Jewelry Manufacturers, the company employed a approximately 15 craftsmen.

Traditionally, the designers used pewter-silver or gold tone metal, lucite, enamel, Swarovski crystals and rhinestones. Also, they marked their jewelry pieces “Olit Inc., ©”, US and the year of production. Noteworthy, most pieces have the markings with the year of production – 1995.

Incorporated in 1987, the company ceased to exist in 2014. However, the last mention of the company dates back to 2002. In fact, Olit Jewelry Inc stopped manufacturing jewelry before 2000. Today, the retired couple Richard Joseph Litterio (b. 1955) and his wife Okchin B. Litterio live in Freeport, Florida.
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Beige enamel faux pearl earrings. Carolina Herrera vintage costume jewelry

Carolina Herrera vintage costume jewelry
Recognized in the 1970s one of the most stylish women in the world, Carolina Herrera is a renowned Venezuelan-American fashion designer. Thanks to her own luxurious style, as well as friendship with the English Princess Margaret and Vogue Editor-in-Chief Diana Vreeland, Herrera launched her own fashion clothing line. The history of fashion brand Carolina Herrera New York began in 1981, when she was forty-two. In addition to clothes, she made eye-catching, alluring and exquisite jewelry.
Having founded her label, she dressed Jacqueline Kennedy for the last 12 years of her life. Noteworthy, Carolina Herrera Ltd owns dozens trademarks on production of clothes, perfumes, accessories, including four jewelry trademarks. According to the designer, her eyes see only beautiful things and she successfully implements the beauty in her products.
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Brooch with charms – lipstick, nail polish and perfume. Gold tone, blue and red cabochon. 6 cm. 1990s. Estee Lauder vintage costume jewelry

Estee Lauder vintage costume jewelry
Founded in 1946, Estee Lauder Inc became famous for its cutting-edge technology and innovative discoveries. The company produced luxurious skin care products, makeup and perfumes. In addition to cosmetics, they began creating jewelry promoting its main products. The history of Estee Lauder brand on production of jewelry containing fragrances began in 1962.
Traditionally, the design included perfume and cosmetics as the dominant theme. For example, a brooch with charms in the form of lipstick, nail polish and a bottle of perfume. Made with the use of 14 carat gold, glass cabochons, faux pearls, crystals and enamel, all decorations have marking EL, or Estee Lauder.
Undoubtedly, EL founders knew how to make a woman beautiful and happy.
Noteworthy, the design of many jewelry pieces combined cosmetics and jewelry. Among them, in particular, was a series of multifunctional locket pendants. Any woman could use it as a jewelry and as a cosmetic product – perfume or compact powder.
Produced mostly in the 1960-90s, EL ornaments have become desirable for lovers and collectors of vintage costume jewelry.
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Gold branch statement brooch. Lucite, goldtone metal. 10 cm. 1980s. Antigona Paris vintage costume jewelry

Antigona Paris vintage costume jewelry
Incorporated in 1978, French jewelry brand Antigona Paris produced stylish statement jewelry for about two decades, till 1990s. Their runway couture pieces were highly popular in the 1980-90s. Prestigious department stores and boutiques in France and Europe sold AP jewelry. Among them, in particular, were Selfridges in London and jewelry boutiques in Trump Tower NYC. According to the New York Magazine (2 Dec 1991), “one of the boutiques in Trump Tower NYC sold Antigona Paris decorations and “unusual jeweled buttons”.
Traditionally, the designers created abstract or modernist design jewelry. They used textured matte gold or silver tone metal, lucite and enamel. Noteworthy, each decoration has marking “Antigona Made in France”, or “Antigona Paris”. Currently rare, the products of this French brand are desired for collectors and connoisseurs of vintage costume jewelry.
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Night cityscape pendant, 2018. Silver, gold, Emerald, smoked quartz, Amethyst, iolite, moon stone. Linda Ladurner jewelry

Linda Ladurner jewelry
The history of Linda Ladurner jewelry brand began in Paris in 1982. Noteworthy, she works in her studio creating exceptionally unique jewelry from oxidized silver and forged gold. According to Linda, she prefers precious materials because they are durable, unchanged and live for centuries. In addition, she uses precious stones.
The talent and imagination of the designer allows her a free and spontaneous game with forms and directly with the material.
Creating her jewelry collages, she draws her inspiration from different cultures and eras, showing a very personal original expression. Traditionally, the plots of her design include abstract objects, the reliefs of which, graphic or geometric, enliven the imagination. For about forty years the designer draws her inspiration from nature, the city, the art of different cultures and eras, as well as films or cultural news.
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