Kaleidoscope effect

Camera brooch from the collection ‘Hobbies’ . faceted Czech beads, Japanese beads, swarovski crystals. Handmade. 2018. La La Pam beaded costume jewelry

La La Pam beaded costume jewelry
Moscow based jewelry company La La Pam has been operating in the jewelry market for three years, but their products are becoming popular among jewelry lovers. Fine manual work, careful study of details, high quality and use of the best materials make their work exclusive. Indeed, each master’s work is unique, hand-made with high artistic performance. Despite the fact that the brand has a short history, embroiderers who work on brooches are very experienced and exist as separate masters for 7-15 years. Traditionally, talented beadworkers use a variety of materials. In particular, Czech and Japanese beads, Swarovski crystals, natural pearls, suede and leather. Each product is in its original packaging – a bright yellow box with a brand sign.
Noteworthy, the designers of this brand create all costume jewelry in collections. For example, Alphabet, Hobbies, Summer, Love is…, Fruit, and etc.
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1970 Vintage pendant. Work by American jeweler Fran Mar vintage brooches

American jeweler Fran Mar vintage brooches

The history of Fran Mar jewelry covers a short period from 1970 to 1973. Unusual vintage design of brooches, charms, lockets and pendants – work by US jeweler Fran Mar. Noteworthy, she created a series of costume decorations titled Moppets. The tags have the inscription “Moppets symbolic of love, friendship, sincerity, and happiness”. Traditionally, her brooches are mini-sculptures with the smallest detail, made of metal, plastic resin, jewelry alloy and colored enamels.
In addition to jewelry, she made dishes, figurines, and kitchen textiles – all with the image of children. The design is special and recognizable, no matter signed or not. Some items have stamps Fran Mar and the year of production, while others go with tags and in boxes.

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Sun ceramic brooch. The sun embossed on a ceramic basis and covered with enamels of cheerful and bright colors. 1950s. 8 cm. Gofer ceramic costume jewelry

Gofer ceramic costume jewelry
The workshop founded by artists of applied art Avraham and Pnina Gofer which operated in Israel from 1956 ceased to exist before 2000. Mid-century products marked Gofer have become very popular among collectors.
Located in Israel, the workshop of a married couple Avraham and Pnina Gofer created unique jewelry of abstract, Art Deco and avant garde design. The Gophers began to manufacture ceramic jewelry in the early 1950s, after they got married. Noteworthy, the duo created their own unique style and took part in art exhibitions in the museums of Tel Aviv and Haifa (1970s). Also, their last solo exhibition took place at the Ethnographic Museum in Holon in 1987.
They started with the development and creation of enamels for jewelry, and in 1956 they opened their own ceramic workshop. However, the design of Avraham & Pnina Gofer, included not only jewelry decorations – brooches and pendants. In addition, they made beautiful decorative panels, wall plaques and ceramic tiles, which jewelry lovers can wear as pendants.
Traditionally, for making brooches and pendants the craftsmen used a glazed ceramic basis, sometimes silver or copper. Also, the jewelers covered items with enamels of bright colors.

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Angel brooch of gold tone. Alva Studios Museum Replicas

Alva Studios Museum Replicas
New York based jewelry company Alva Studios manufactured unusual costume decorations, different from what we are used to. In particular, replicas of jewelry items of pre-Columbian cultures of the ancient Indians. Traditionally, the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas, were great specialists in the manufacture of gold products.
Founded in 1948 in Long Island, New York, Alva Studios existed until the 90s. Its founder, Alfred Wolkenberg (born in Vienna in 1911) immigrated to the United States in 1939. He had many artists and designers, whom he ordered to produce reproductions of ancient jewelry and sculptures stored in various museums around the world. For example, in the collection of the American Museum of Natural History, as well as other museum collections.
Noteworthy, the similar trademark owned by Alva Museum Replicas Inc. registered in 1960, ceased to exist in 1986.
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Bow brooch. 1960s gold tone alloy, enamel. 5.7 cm. Karu Arke Inc costume jewelry

Karu Arke Inc costume jewelry
New York City based costume jewelry manufacturer Karu was the successful collaboration of Paul Kaufman and Jack Ruderman, which began in the 1940’s. Karu jewelry was extremely popular. According to Jack Ruderman, the treasurer of Karu, their sales already in 1948 amounted to about $ 22 million. Traditionally, sales of costume jewelry on Christmas Eve were very high. The quality and designs of Karu costume jewelry are similar to Weiss or Weisner.
Noteworthy, the then-famous jewelry company Coro, owned by Cohen & (and) Rosenberger, filed a complaint against Karu in 1952. In particular, due to the similarity of the names of the two companies – Caro and Karu. However, the court considering this case did not find sufficient grounds to satisfy the claim. Indeed, Karu meant the fusion of the first two letters of Kaufman-Ruderman. However, Karu’s name soon changed to Karu Arke Inc. Also, among Karu trademarks was Karu Fifth Avenue.
By 1972, the company ceased to exist. Thus, all Karu brand products are vintage and collectible.
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Flower brooch. Gold tone metal, enamel. Laurentian Jewellery Manufacturing LJM

Laurentian Jewellery Manufacturing LJM
Based in Montreal, Laurentian Jewellery Manufacturing has delighted fans and collectors with luxurious vintage jewelry from 1952 to the present day.
LJM demonstrates the highest quality with the finest and most meticulous attention to detail. Their seventy years of impeccable path speaks for itself.
Traditionally, the company’s craftsmen use imitation of aged gold, mosaic compositions, onyx, marcasite and art glass.
In addition, behind each small or large decoration there is a sweet or sad story, a new or just an important story.
No less valuable is the fact that LJM provides a lifetime warranty for each product – brooch or earrings, bracelet or necklace.
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Frog brooch. Jewelry alloy, enamel, green rhinestones. Tara Fifth Avenue vintage costume jewelry

Tara vintage costume jewelry
Founded in the early 1960s in New York, Tara Fifth Avenue company moved to California in 1965. The exact closing date is unknown, however, we can assume the company ceased to exist in the 1970s. Thus, costume jewelry of this company produced for 10 years is vintage.

Noteworthy, some companies, such as DeLizza & Elster made jewelry decorations for Tara, that’s why Tara jewelry can be similar to Juliana jewelry. Also, in the list of jewelry companies which produced decorations signed Tara were Monet, Judi Lee and others. That is why the marking “Tara” on some decorations differs. Also, the prices are different, depending on subjective indicators of demand in the world market.

The style of jewelry marked Tara is diverse – from Art Deco and Modern to Rococo and classics of that time. Traditionally, the company’s masters used jewelry alloy of gold and silver tones, rhinestones, colored glass and enamel.
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