Kaleidoscope effect

Key with figural charms, Designer Victor Silson. Gold-plated metal brooch of a key with three humanoid figurines (idols or extraterrestrials’) hanging from it. 6.5×6.7cm. American jewelry company Silson Inc. of New York

American jewelry company Silson Inc. of New York produced costume jewellery for a short period – a little more than ten years. Founded in 1937 by two brothers Victor and Jack Silberfeld, British citizens, who later changed their name to Silson. The main designer was Victor Silson whose name we meet most frequently. However, among other designers who worked for Silson were Samuel Rubin and George Stangl. Three more jewelry designers – Howard Chandler Christy, Sue Harrison and Sally Stark also worked for the company.
Traditionally, Silson jewelery includes gold-plated metal, enameled brooches, lucite and rhinestones clips and earrings with various motifs and designs.
Noteworthy, Silson became famous for their line of patriotic and military jewelry produced during the WWII. In particular, brooches depicting American Eagle, Flag, Air Forces, British and American Ambulance Corps, or The Young Women’s Christian Association.
According to various sources, Silson Inc. of New York ceased to exist in the late 1940s.
Read more »

Garden rose brooch. jewelry alloy, 14 carat gold plating. Krementz vintage costume jewellery

Krementz vintage costume jewellery
First of all, jewelry lovers and collectors of vintage jewelry know the name “Krementz” fairly well. Interestingly, a rather large collection of Krementz jewelry was on board of the Titanic when it sank. Indeed, Krementz is a famous brand tested by time.
Traditionally high quality products, Krementz became popular thanks to the use of high-gold gilding. Because of this, their decorations look absolutely authentic. Noteworthy, the company has a long history (about 160 years!) and continues to produce jewelry today.
The Kremenz Jewelery history began in the 1860s, when George Kremenz founded his company in Newark, New Jersey. Meanwhile, the initial goal was to create men’s jewelry, such as buttons for collars and cufflinks.
In 1920, the company began the production of jewelry for women. Necklaces, brooches and other types of women’s jewelry quickly became popular. And by the 1930s, Krementz began selling its products internationally.
Read more »

African head with necklace and earrings copper brooch. The end of the 1940s. 8 cm. £ 200-240 CRIS. Francisco Rebajes copper jewellery art

Francisco Rebajes copper jewellery art
This is an inspired by African motifs original copper brooch with the image of an exotic Ubangi girl. The designer of his own jewellery line, Francisco Rebajes drew inspiration from the symbolism of ethnic masks and surrealism. In fact, creating his handmade copper decorations he followed the artistic principles of modernism: flexible fluid lines and stylized floral motifs.
Born in Spain in 1906, the future jewelry designer 16 year-old Francisco Rebajes moved to New York City in 1922. Like all emigrants, he took on any job. In 1932, he married Pauline Schwartz, against the wishes of her parents. Paulina and Frank began living in their friends’ apartment, where Frank set up a small workshop. The first collection of figures that Rebajes made from cans impressed the director of the Whitney Museum, Julian Fors, who bought it. This was the beginning of the great master’s journey.
In 1934 he opened a studio shop in New York City. Frank’s career reached its peak in the 1950s, when he had a store on Fifth Avenue. There he sold jewelry and art objects until 1967. However, by the 1960s he stopped making jewellery and focused on sculpture.
After returning to Spain, he made jewelry until his death in 1990.
Read more »

Blue rhinestones butterfly brooch. 1950s. American vintage – Regency costume jewelery

American vintage – Regency costume jewelery
The history of the Regency jewelery brand began in New York City by the Polowitz family who owned Regina Novelty Company. In the short twenty-year period of its existence (1950s – 1970s), the company managed to create not so many jewelery. However, all Regency creations, especially labeled, is a good find for collectors of vintage costume jewelery, and their value grows every year.
The favorite motif of Regency jewelery is a butterfly, made in bright unexpected shades and spectacular forms. Also, many decorations have leafy and floral motifs with the rich use of high-quality rock crystal in contrasting or complementary color combinations.
Read more »

Royal crown. Velvet, faux fur, gold-tone metal, artificial pearls, transparent crystals and transparent rhinestone. 1980s. 16 cm £ 500-550 REL. British jewelry designer Vivienne Westwood

British jewelry designer Vivienne Westwood
Renowned fashion designer Vivienne Westwood opened a shop at Kings Road, London, where she exhibited collections of clothing and jewelry. She was fond of creating original interpretations of traditional British characters. For most of her works she used silver or gilded tin, Swarovski crystals and large artificial pearls. Bows, hearts and royal regalia are the constant motives of the original design of Westwood ornaments.
Called one of the queens of Great Britain, along with Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher, Vivienne Westwood can not leave anyone indifferent, always remaining at the peak of popularity. According to Vivienne Westwood herself, she is a synonym for freedom, attention, violation of prohibitions and rules.
Read more »

Leaf brooch. Silver, red, black, purple and marsh agate. 1880s 6 cm. £ 400-700 LYNH. Antique Scottish pebble agate jewelery

Antique Scottish pebble agate jewelery
Now very rare, Scottish silver products with the inserts of agate, granite and other local stones. Such jewellery became especially popular when Queen Victoria, always feeling proud of her Scottish ancestors, bought Bolmoral Castle in 1848. In the design of the Celtic hand-made jewelry, they were often more refined and often made according to individual orders.
Craftsmen used agate, a variegated veined variety of chalcedony, in costume jewelry from the time of the Roman Empire, usually carved in the form of oval cabochon or figurines. The muted colors of agate — swampy green, rusty red and ocher — combined with the gray tones of granite matched the palette of the Scottish landscape. Agate biotechnology sometimes inherited the forms of Celtic embellishments. For example, a dagger brooch or a round brooch with a long hanging pin, a black topoloch motif, a harp, a Celtic cross and heraldic attributes for a weapon. All – made of polished agate, trimmed in silver with engraving.
Read more »

Mechanical brooch. The flower closes and opens the petals when you move by the leaf. Made of metal of gold tone, transparent rhinestones. Joseph Warner vintage costume jewellery

Joseph Warner vintage costume jewellery
Founded by Joseph Warner in 1953, the Warner company produced jewelry till 1971. Known for its high quality workmanship, Warner costume jewellery is made of metal of gold tone, lacquered metal, and enamel, often decorated with rock crystal, and superior rhinestones. Traditionally, Warner costume jewellery includes flower designs, insects, animal and figural motifs. Noteworthy, in addition to traditional costume jewellery design, Warner produced a series of floral brooches with innovative motifs. In particular, mechanical brooches from the “day-night” series equipped with a cunning “opening and closing” mechanism. Among them – umbrella and flower brooches.
The company ceased operations in 1971. Today, all costume jewellery signed Warner, or Joseph Warner is collectible and vintage by default, and accordingly, constantly increasing in price.
Read more »