Kaleidoscope effect

Sun brooch. Gold tone metal, vintage. Sonia Rykiel costume jewellery

Sonia Rykiel costume jewellery
Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine into the family of Jewish immigrants from Russia and Romania, Alfred Flis and Fanny Tesler, Sonia Rykiel – a famous French fashion designer. Sonia Rykiel (25 May 1930 – 25 August 2016) opened her first store, making clothing and accessories in 1968. However, the history of the Sonia Rykiel brand begins in 1962, when Madame Rykiel, the future mother, could not choose any outfit from what the Parisian shops offered for pregnant women. So, the talented and creative Rykie decided to take it in her hands.
Then followed first knitted sweaters, clothes for women… and gradually developed a design of jewelry to her clothing line.
According to Sonia Rykiel, for many years she did not care much to create something that will go down in history, the main goal was – to dress every woman beautifully. Costume jewellery created by her is still in demand thanks to the wonderful taste and sense of harmony of the designer.
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Stunning Leaf necklace. Opalite and blue rhinestone sterling silver. Van Dell costume jewelry

Van Dell costume jewelry
The story of Van Dell costume jewellery which began in 1935, continues to this day. This is a well-made mid-century jewelry, with a beautiful design, and traditionally high quality. The Providence-based Rhode Island jewelry company produces exquisite costume jewellery from silver, 12-carat gold and rhinestones, cultured pearls and semi-precious stones, ivory, and Austrian crystals. However, like many of the designers of the mid-20th century, the Van Dell first signed their decorations in 1939. In particular, used several different marks on their products – Van Dell 1/20 12K GF and Van Dell Sterling. Noteworthy, Van Dell decorations are not expensive, although they are considered collectible.
Van Dell jewelry
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Three brooches made of gold with enamel and gems. 1950’s. Work by Italian jeweler Enrico Serafini (1913-1968)

Italian jeweler Enrico Serafini
Born in 1913, Enrico Serafini opened his own workshop in Florence, at 4 Piazza Santa Felicita, on 15 September 1947.
Traditionally, Florence based jeweler Enrico Serafini draws inspiration from floral and natural motifs. His enamelled brooches with semiprecious and precious stones are characterized by refinement and careful processing of details. As a result, the talented designer received the Diamond International Award in 1957. Thus, he became the first Italian to get such a prestigious prize.
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Tree of life. 1940s. Rhodium plated sterling brooch. Rhine-stone pave trunk, branch and flowers. 5cm. Pennino vintage costume jewellery

Pennino vintage costume jewellery

The creators of Pennino are three brothers, the sons of Italian jeweler Pasquale Pennino. Nicknamed “Neapolitan princes” in their homeland, they had special taste, aristocratic manners and a fraction of the royal blood that flowed in their veins. The head of the family – Pasquale Pennino had his oldest son Oreste Pennino (born in Naples, 1888) in his first marriage. Having married for the second time to Giuseppina Vergati, Pasquale had four more children: Maria, Anselmo (called Frank), Gennaro (or Jack), and Carmela.
And while his children were growing up, Pasquale made his dream come true – he brought his sixteen year old son Oreste to America (1904). Following family traditions, Pasquale Pennino taught his son jewelry art, knowledge and skills which he once got from his own father, a goldsmith.
Having settled in Brooklyn, already in 1908 they sold their first Pennino jewelry decorations. The same year, his wife Giuseppina, their two younger sons and daughters have arrived.
Unfortunately, On 17,h May 1908, a few weeks after the arrival of the family, Pasquale died, not having had time to catch the fame and success of the case, which his children continued.
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Masterpiece of 19th century jewellery art – gold brooch with micromosaic. Castellani antique style jewellery

Castellani antique style jewellery
Fortunato Pio Castellani (1794-1865) became known as the pioneer of the revival of Greek and Etruscan styles. He produced his masterpieces in antique style in cooperation with his sons: Alessandro (1823-1883) and Augusto (1829-1914). By the end of the 1850s, Castellani’s workshop in Rome became a pilgrimage site for the British, who sought to obtain delightful gold ornaments with decorative motifs from the arsenal of classicism: shells, rosettes, urns, amphorae, rams, etc.
Noteworthy, Castellani reinterpreted the Greek and Etruscan styles in a new way. And before him the jewelers believed that nothing new could be learned from this period. Castellani also turned to the recent past, studied the methods of gold processing, but then set himself a difficult task: to discover the secret of Etruscan granulation. He managed to achieve impressive results and create a method, similar o that used by the Etruscans.
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A gold enameled necklace with moonstone. Work by Fred Partridge. 1900. British vintage jewelry Liberty and Co

British vintage jewelry Liberty and Co
English merchant Sir Arthur Lasenby Liberty (13 August 1843 – 11 May 1917) opened his first shop in London in 1875. And since 1894 he began to receive orders for jewelry of famous jewelers and companies. In particular, Archibald Knox, the leading designer of the movement “Arts and Crafts” and Jesse Marion King (1875-1949).
Liberty jewelry is often made of forged silver, which creates a handmade effect, decorated with blue and green enamel and semiprecious stones. A great interest for collectors – his necklaces in floral motifs. Traditionally, the decorations of Liberty show the influence of Celtic motifs.
The jewelry company “Liberty and Co.” became famous for making author’s jewelry available to the general public. Its design skilfully combined the principles of the “Arts and Crafts” movement with quality mass production. Besides, the products of this company were simultaneously fashionable, beautiful and affordable.
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Lucite heart flower brooch. 1960s. Judy Lee vintage costume jewellery

Judy Lee vintage costume jewellery
Blanche Viano, a fashionista and a beauty, in 1949, opened a small company Judy Lee for the sale of jewelry in Chicago (USA). However, the origin of the company name remains unknown. According to Blanche, the company was only a means of additional income for a young family. Soon her husband Aldo Viano became an assistant and general manager of the company.
Originally, the company Judy Lee was not a jewelry manufacturer working as a well-known company Emmons, or Sarah Coventry, i.e. invested in projects. In particular, found the best designers, the best manufacturers and sold products at parties or wholesale in the country’s largest stores.
Judy Lee jewelery had excellent designs, reasonable price for the average buyers. According to Aldo Viano, the rapid success and prosperity of the company was due to the “fair play”, i.e. high quality products and customer service. With special gratitude he remembered a lot of talented designers with whom he was lucky to work, but in order not to miss someone, to offend his inattention, he deliberately did not mention the names.
The company worked until 1968. All of the company’s magnificent jewelry is now highly valued by collectors of the vintage jewelry.
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