Kaleidoscope effect

Poppy brooch. Textured gold tone metal, glass beads. 1980s. Pakula vintage costume jewelry

Pakula vintage costume jewelry
The American jewelry brand Pakula (Jewelry Co) originated in Chicago in 1932 and ceased to exist in 1997.
Pakula jewelry is extremely rare and in high demand among collectors of vintage costume jewelry.
The range of jewelry was very diverse. The company offered to the public both – home-made jewelry and did wholesale sales of costume jewelry and accessories made by other companies. Among them, in particular, were DeLizza, Elster and Hollycraft.
Without exception, all Pakula decorations demonstrated their impeccable quality and expressive design. Traditionally, the Pakula craftsmen used metal alloys of gold and silver tones, faux pearls and high quality rhinestones. Also, they used fashionable material at the time – colored enamel, which, in combination with the gold surface formed an unusually beautiful duet.
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‘Remember Pearl Harbor’ brooch. Staret, 1942. Gold plated, red, enamel, rhinestones. 6.7 cm. Star Staret vintage costume jewelry

Star Staret vintage costume jewelry
Chicago based company Star Novelty Jewelry Co., Inc with a head office at 322 South Franklin Street, began making costume jewelry in 1922. Originally, they marked jewelry pieces (1922-1940) as “Star”. However, after a trial with Gabrielle Chanel in the 1940s, the company changed its name to Staret.
Noteworthy, the company existed until 1995, but the jewelry products after 1947 were significantly different from the early ones as for the craftsmanship.
According to advertisements in Vogue (September 1940 and December 1941), Star jewelers created “Costume Brilliants”. Indeed, the use of high quality crystals, imitation of topaz, ruby, emerald, sapphire and amethyst created such impression. Their collections included beautiful floral designs and no less attractive patriotic theme designs.
Also, many talented jewelers of the time worked for Star, and one of them was Rice-Weiner.
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Flag bow patriotic pin brooch. Enamel, rhinestones, jewelry alloy. Sweet Romance vintage costume jewelry

Sweet Romance vintage costume jewelry
Inspired by the memories of the past, Sweet Romance jewelry is an old style at its best! Undoubtedly, these are collectibles, magnificent creations of the chief designer and art historian Shelley Cooper.
According to Cooper, women yearn for the unique, sentimental, bizarre and charming jewels of the past. And she tries to fill this longing in each of her projects, including the stylistic accent of particular historical periods. Thus, she seeks to create things that are becoming family heirlooms passed down from generation to generation.
For nearly 40 years, Cooper has been creating unique jewellery, similar to antique pieces, at her factory in Los Angeles. Traditionally, her jewelry consists of a series of jewelry united by one theme. For example, insects – one of her favorite themes, stunning in their diversity and beauty. Traditionally, the marking includes “Sweet Romance USA”, and sometimes “Ollipop”, its branch, which belongs to Sweet Romance.
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Fish brooch. Gold tone, black enamel, crystals. Park Lane vintage costume jewelry

Park Lane vintage costume jewelry

Founded by a family couple Arthur and Shirley Levine in Chicago in 1955, Park Lane Corporation is the world’s leading direct selling (in-home) trading company. In fact, the most famous designers created decorations for this brand at different times. This perhaps, explains quite different lines of their costume decorations – from Art Deco and abstract to Egyptian motifs and nature inspired designs. However, they still have something in common – rich decor, large forms and the desire to transmit the main idea of ​​every US citizen – the “American dream”. It is from here – the abundance of gilded elements, pearls and colored crystals.
Noteworthy, all decorations from Park Lane have a lifetime warranty and according to the designers, made for tomorrow.
Traditionally, Park Lane jewelers used silver and gold tone jewelry alloy, multicolor cabochons, rhinestones and Austrian crystals. Also, enamel of various colors, lucite and faux pearls. Created in 60-80s of the last century high quality brooches, earrings, and pendants are collectible and their price will grow every year.
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Bulk brooch Lizard on the leaves. Bronze tone, mother of pearl. A small figure of a lizard, studded with small faceted rhinestones. Ermani Bulatti vintage costume jewelry

Ermani Bulatti vintage costume jewelry
The history of Bulatti jewelry trademark began in 1984 as a family business of Dutch jeweler Herman Tiggeler. His workshop was in Obdam, the Netherlands. In 1995, Maurice Tiggeler, a trained designer, joined his father’s business. Noteworthy, the name Ermani comes from Herman, and Bulatti comes from van Berk, Bouleau (in French).
According to official data, the company ceased to exist in 2012.
Inspired by the mystery of the universe, Bulatti designed truly unique pieces made in Art Deco style, or with elements of Italian and Egyptian culture. Also, most notable designs include unusual dragonflies and butterflies, mysterious lizards and huge crystals with slender geometry of lines.
Traditionally handcrafted, the jewelers used mother of pearl, shells, pearls, ivory, silk and semi-precious stones. The base metal – washed or oxidized in old silver, gold, tin or bronze.
Branded jewelry pieces by Ermani Bulatti were sold only in elite boutiques of London, Milan, Paris and Amsterdam.
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Beautiful pink heart with initials CL brooch. Gold plated, art glass. Christian Lacroix vintage costume jewelry

Christian Lacroix vintage costume jewelry
The history of Christian Lacroix jewelry brand began in 1990, although the fashion brand was founded in 1988. According to his designs, his two favorite themes in costume jewelry are hearts and crosses. Noteworthy, the variety of these designs cause surprise and admiration. Again and again he invents something distinctive, completely different, yet original and unique.
Named after its founder the French brand Christian Lacroix has a deliberately luxurious style. Based in Paris, fashion brand became a part of the High Fashion Syndicate. However, in 2009, Lacroix declared bankruptcy for his company and Sasha Walckhoff became the head designer of the fashion house. Since then, the brand has switched to the release of only men’s clothing and accessories in order to pay off all debts.
The creator of the fashion brand, Christian Lacroix received his first education as an art critic at the University of Montpellier. Then, at the Sorbonne in Paris, as an art history connoisseur. Young Lacroix began his career in the Hermes Fashion House, where he got a job as a fashion journalist. Then in 1981, Lacroix moved to work to the Jean Patou Fashion House.
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Gold heart vintage brooch with logo. Faux pearls, gold tone, rhinestones. Karl Lagerfeld vintage costume jewelry

Karl Lagerfeld vintage costume jewelry
The history of Karl Lagerfeld (1933-2019) jewelry began in early 1980s. He has created a completely unique collection of elegant jewelry in the periods of 1983–1984, when he became the artistic director of the Chanel house. Signed KL lines were made of a matte gold alloy with large baroque pearls, marked with initials KL.
Meanwhile, the Lagerfeld collection of the late 1980s and early 1990s, demonstrates another technique. In particular, the use of Murano glass cabochons, and talented handicraft processing when creating each piece of jewelry.
It is impossible to overestimate the talent of the world famous couture is also the author of collections of fine jewelry. Only Lagerfeld is capable of such creative, daring and characteristic decorations, perhaps you will not meet anywhere! His handwriting is recognizable and unique. Always in demand, expensive and rare, large ornaments, generously covered with a dense layer of gilding. Time has no power over them, quality is on top.

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