Kaleidoscope effect

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 (1940s)
The short history of Frank Gargano (Gargano Garman) jewelry began in Providence Rhode Island. According to the Brunialti catalog, freelance designer F.J. Gargano patented several brooches between 1946 and 1947. Made in series, collections of little brooches had a plot. For example, circus series which included a boy on an elephant, a bear cub on a bicycle, Carousel Merry Go Round, as well as Mexican motifs, comets and other figurals.

Handcrafting his wearable art pieces, the designer used 925 sterling silver, gold, metal alloys, art glass, rhinestones and crystals. Gargano marked his pieces “sterling” or “Garman 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.

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Crown brooch. Metal alloy, gold plated, large crystals, enamel. 5.5 cm. 1990s. Alana Stewart vintage costume jewelry

Alana Stewart vintage costume jewelry
The history of Alana Stewart jewelry trademark began in the 1990s in California. The trademark owner was the corporation “The George Hamilton & Alana Stewart” located at 5855 Topanga Canyon Blvd Woodland Hills. According to official data, the trademark ceased to exist in 2012.
Born May 18, 1945, American actress, model and author, Alana Stewart began designing jewelry in the late 1980s. Her mostly floral design pieces are spectacular, large, and handcrafted from high quality materials.
Traditionally, she made decorations with the use of metal alloys of gold tone, or gold plated, enamel, crystals, rhinestones, and art glass imitating natural gems. Also, the marking includes “Alana Stewart” on a heart-shaped cartouche.
Hollywood star and former model, Alana Stewart (real name Alana Kaye Collins) from 1979 to 1984 she was the wife of rock star Rod Stewart.
Noteworthy, Alana is the president of the Farah Fawcett Foundation.
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Peas in a pod vintage brooch pin. 7.2 cm. Gold tone jewelry alloy, faux pearls, colored enamel. Edgar Berebi vintage costume jewelry

Edgar Berebi vintage costume jewelry
The history of Edgar Berebi jewelry trademark began 1979 and ended in 2001. Produced in limited edition, these decorations are highly collectible.
Berebi graduated from the legendary private Pratt Institute of art, design and architecture.
After graduating, Berebi founded his jewelry company in 1979. Originally, he designed filigree design earrings and brooches, which he produced in limited series. Then, he designed home decor items and accessories of the highest quality. According to the designer, he found inspiration in the works of Faberge.
Noteworthy, all products by Berebi are handcrafted wearable pieces of art, performed by the master himself, from design to finishing.
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Hair accessories, known as kanzashi have become real works of art. Japanese women seasonal hair decorations

Japanese women seasonal hair decorations

Everything in Japan has a deep meaning, even women’s jewelry. As the seasons change, human life flows, so do amazing kanzashi decorations. And each of them is not only a work of art, but also a part of female beauty, and a moment of her life.
Traditionally, Japanese women were not allowed jewelry on their hands or necklaces around their necks. Accordingly, the main decoration for more than 400 years has become her hair ornaments. Also, hair decorations were the main way of self-expression and demonstration of wealth and status. Real works of art, hair ornaments “kanzashi” with their variety in purpose and performance have a separate dictionary with descriptions.
A very special kind of jewelry that changes throughout the year is seasonal hana-kanzashi jewelry with garlands of flowers.
Noteworthy, each of the 28 seasons of the Japanese calendar has its own flower! Of course, only the master of high-class can make such decorations using special varieties of silk.
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Bird of prey vintage brooch, 1980s. Metal alloy, enamel, rhinestones. 5.5 cm. Rafaelian vintage costume jewelry

Rafaelian vintage costume jewelry
The history of the brand began in the early twentieth century, when an Armenian immigrant Melkon Rafaelian came to Rhode Island. Working in his jewelry workshop, he taught the craft to his sons and instilled in them a love of jewelry. Noteworthy, Rafaelian gave birth to two renowned jewelry brands – Cinerama and Alex & Ani.
First, his grandson, Ralph (Raffi) after having worked in the jewelry firm of his sister’s husband for several years, founded his jewelry company “Cinerama” in 1966.
Second, Carolyn Rafaelian – great granddaughter of Rafaelian, founded her jewelry brand Alex & Ani. Later, she launched tens of jewelry trademarks and took over the family brand. A successful business lady, she entered the Forbes list as the richest woman jeweler.
Undoubtedly, fans of bijoux appreciate Rafaelian floral decorations, notable for their quality and interesting design.
Made in 1960-80s Rafaelian costume jewelry is highly collectible. During this period the company has released several series: patriotic jewelry, flower line, trees, birds of America, as well as fruits and berries.
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Sparrow vintage brooch. Gold tone jewelry alloy, lucite. 4 cm. Anne Klein vintage costume jewelry

Anne Klein vintage costume jewelry
Born Hannah Golofsky 3 August 1923 in Brooklyn, Anna Klein has become synonymous with American style, and a pioneer in the fashion world.
Early 1940s, Hannah marries Ben Klein and became Anne Klein. In 1948, she and her husband opened the company Junior Sophisticates. And in 1968, Anna, together with her second husband Matthew Rubinstein founded “Anne Klein and Co” and “Anne Klein Studio design”. Sadly, at the height of her success, Anna Klein died of breast cancer on March 19, 1974. She was 50.
For over 30 years, Anne Klein understood what women wanted very well. So, in the early 1970s, Klein began producing watches and fashion jewelry. For creating high-quality jewelry in the classical style, she used matte and glossy metals, glass, rhinestones, cabochons and artificial pearls of the highest quality.
Noteworthy, “Anne Klein” collaborated with such brands as “Erwin Pearl”, “Accessocraft”, and “Swank”.
The logo “Anne Klein” is a lion, and this particular symbol has become one of the most popular designs in her jewelry. Traditionally, Anne Klein jewelry has markings “Anne Klein ©”, or “AK ©”. Also, the tag included the company logo – the image of a lion.
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Ancient gold butterfly brooch. Jewelry alloy, glass. 1950s. 4 cm. Signed West Germany vintage costume jewelry

West Germany vintage costume jewelry
Made in the 1930s-60s, West German jewelry – exquisite works of art, created in the Victorian era stye. Traditionally, German jewelers used a variety of materials. In particular, silver and gold tone metal, rhodium, brass, chrome, multicolor rhinestones, and enamel of various colors. Also, art glass imitating turquoise, amethyst, opal, emerald, ruby, topaz, and pearls.
To date, the name of the designers and exact location of the manufacturers remains a mystery, while these pieces are becoming more difficult to find.
Initially, for all jewelry made in Germany before 1949, makers simply used “Germany” label. As we know, in 1949, Germany was divided into two parts, West and East Germany. Successful in the jewelry art, West German masters began marking their products “Western Germany” or “West Germany”, and sometimes “W. Germany”, or “Made in West Germany”.
Traditionally, European jewelry makers signed their decorations with the name of the country. Therefore, we can determine jewelry from Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, etc. Unlike American colleagues, European jewelers preferred not to advertise their products in fashion magazines. So, you will not see W.Germany jewelry advertising posters. Noteworthy, in 1990, after the reunification of East and West Germany, W.Germany jewelry ceased to appear on sale. Accordingly, it is instantly becoming a collectible rarity.
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