Kaleidoscope effect

Filigree sterling silver porcelain brooch and earrings. 1950s. Delft vintage porcelain jewelry

Delft vintage porcelain jewelry
Dutch porcelain handpainted in blue and white is known all over the world, and its production originated in the 17th century in the city of Delft. Traditionally, craftsmen decorated items with floral ornaments, landscapes, biblical stories, and folklore scenes. A special feature of Delft porcelain is its repeated glazing with transparent lead glaze and final firing at low temperatures. Such production makes products similar to faience.

A symbol of the city and a popular souvenir, blue and white Delft porcelain is embodied in jewelry. Framed with filigree silver patterns, pendants, brooches, earrings and bracelets have similar themes, and mostly windmills. However, the workshops that create these jewelry pieces are located not only in Delft, but also in other towns. Among them in particular, Tholen (Plateelbakkerij Delft), Amsterdam (Plateelbakkerij Delft), Milsbeek (Wijnhoven’s En Franken Aardewerkfabriken), Gouderak (Montagne Aardewerkfabriek), and many others. The list of companies and workshops making Delft porcelain now or in the past is very long. Also, many companies are a family owned businesses, employing several generations of craftsmen.
Noteworthy, the production of jewelry began at the end of the 19th century, and the real boom in jewelry production began after the Second World War. Tourists visiting the Netherlands gladly bought blue and white jewelry as a memory of the trip. Yet, the most popular Delft porcelain items are decorative plates and wall panels. The design of these products is based on famous paintings by Dutch Golden Age painters.
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Stylized Bird brooch. Gold plated textured metal, glass cabochons, crystals. 7 cm. 1980s. Signed SAL vintage costume jewelry

Signed SAL vintage costume jewelry
The trademarks of the world famous Austrian brand Swarovski have been registered in several countries. First, in France (1900), then in England (1933), and in the USA (1955).
In fact, the oldest company Swarovski U.S. Holding Limited, located in Cranston, Rhode Island, and incorporated on 31 Jan 1955, is still active. As the company has gone through several changes of owners, mergers and formations of subsidiaries, there are several alternative names in its history. In particular, Swarovski North America Limited, Swarovski America Limited, Jewel Company of America, Inc. and Jewel MFG. Co.

In fact, the history of S.A.L. trademark lasted for two decades – launched in 1986, it ceased to exist in 2007. The trademark’s owner registered in Cranston, Rhode Island was Swarovski North America Limited. Previous company names included Swarovski Consumer Goods Limited, Swarovski Jewelry U.S. Limited, and Swarovski America Limited (president Michael Gentes). The corporation ceased to exist in August 2007. However, this was not the end of the history of the Swarovski trademark in the United States.
Noteworthy, the markings of costume jewelry produced at different times also differed. So, the earliest products (1970-90s), which are now collectible, were marked with the abbreviation S.A.L. and a copyright sign. Later decorations, which were part of the mass production of costume jewelry, had the symbolic swan stamp.
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Bouquet of red flowers brooch. Gold tone, rhinestones. 1980s. Ton Pascal vintage costume jewelry (1989-2007)

Ton Pascal vintage costume jewelry
The costume jewelry marked Ton Pascal is unique and bright, as is the biography of its creator. Born in Brazil, Canadian of German-Italian descent, he became known in the world of costume jewellery as a French designer. According to belief, talented people are talented in everything. A financier by training, photographer, artist, costume designer (for 11 films), writer and jeweler, Pascal confirms this theory.
As you know, Paris is the birthplace of jewelry. It was there that Pascal decided to start creating costume jewelry. In 1988 Anton Pascal arrived from Toronto to Paris, where he had lived for 18 years. Founded by him in January 1988 Ton Pascal Design Inc., ceased to exist in July 2013.
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Winnie the Pooh brooch. Gold tone metal, enamel, rhinestones. 4.6 cm. 1980s. Vasari vintage costume jewelry (1982-1994)

Vasari vintage costume jewelry
Founded by Jon M. Bratton in 1982 at 61 EAST 8th St. Suite 181 New York, NY 10003, Vasari trademark ceased to exist in 1994. Thus, the costume jewelry company was in operation for just over a decade. Handcrafted in limited quantities, this brand’s jewelry is rare.
Obviously, the brand name is inspired by the great 16th century Italian painter Giorgio Vasari (1511 – 1574). Like the paintings of the great Vasari, embodied in paints on canvas, the masters of this brand embodied their skill in brooches, rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Noteworthy, very often, along with the traditional materials – metal alloys of gold and silver tones, they used 18 carat gold. Also, along with rhinestones, crystals and art glass, there are semi-precious stones such as tourmaline, peridot and others. Markings on rounded rectangular base include “Vasari” in capital block letters with copyright sign.
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Tree branch brooch pin. Gold tone textured metal alloy. 8 cm. 1980s. Taratata vintage costume jewelry

Taratata vintage costume jewelry
The history of the costume jewelry brand “Taratata” (aka Jenny, since 23 Jul 1986) began 35 years ago in the town of Caen in the north-west of France. Its founders were Helen, Philippe and Bernard, a creative trio who started their jewelry and accessories making business in a garage.
Painstaking manual work from morning to night, use of high quality materials, and skillful management led to a logical success. Within three years it was J.L.N. joint stock company (incorporated in 1989) with the trademarks “Taratata” and “Rouge Petit Pois”. Accordingly, the expansion of the company led to the opening of new boutiques, including in Paris.
Noteworthy, since 1989, the company began to export its products, so they added the word “France” to the labeling “Taratata”. By the way Taratata means nonsense, rubbish, etc.
Today, Taratata is a world renowned brand of costume jewelry, and the vintage pieces handcrafted in the 1980s and 90s are collectible. Founded in 1986, the Taratata brand is still active. Part of pop culture, Taratata creates unique, unconventional designs that you can see on their vibrant and beautiful website.
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Portugese lady in folk dress sterling silver enameled brooch. 6.5 cm. 1940s. Signed Topazio vintage costume jewelry

Topazio vintage costume jewelry
Founded by the second generation silversmiths, Gabriel and Silvestre Ferreira Marques, the history of Topazio trademark began in 1934. Originally, Topazio was a family business founded in 1874 by their father Manuel José Ferreira Marques. His company Ferreira Marques & Irmão, located in Oporto, Portugal, became famous all over the world for its silverware. After the death of Manuel José in 1930, his sons Gabriel and Silvestre Ferreira Marques headed the company. The brothers renamed the company to Topazio after their mother’s favorite stone, topaz.
Along with table silver, the company’s craftsmen hand crafted exquisite filigree jewelry using silver, gold and enamel. The design, in addition to filigree floral decorations, included ethnic figures of people in national costumes. Embodied in pendants and charms attached to filigree bracelets and plates, these enameled pieces look fabulous.
Noteworthy, the two jewelry brands “Topazio” and “FMT Topazio” by Ferreira Marques & Irmão, Lda., registered by the US Patent Office in 1965-1967, ceased to exist in 1987 and 2002.
An exclusive creation of a bygone era, Topazio is reminiscent of the 18th-19th centuries jewelry. Called “Indo-Portuguese filigree”, such adornments first appeared in Portugal in the 16th and 17th centuries, when mariners brought Chinese filigree to Portugal. Having mastered the new technique, European craftsmen began to add colored enamel, precious stones and pearls.
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Grape vine gold tone faux pearl brooch. 1960s. Signed Roma vintage costume jewelry

Roma vintage costume jewelry
The history of Roma costume jewelry trademark began in 1963 in Providence, Rhode Island. Owned by Fairdeal Manufacturing Co., Roma was run by Charles Butterfield Jr. (1930 – 2003). Registered in October 1965, the trademark became inactive in 1983.
Originally jewellery manufacturer, Fairdeal Manufacturing Co. located at 55 Cromwell Street, Providence, began its activity in 1936 and is still active as a Fabrics – Wholesale company.
The designs of this brand’s costume decorations are varied, from classic Christmas decorations and figurative animal decorations to religious filigree and later modernist ones. Traditionally, craftsmen used gold-tone metal alloys, as well as sterling silver, or silver-tone alloys. Other materials include faux pearls, enamel, rhinestones, art glass and even leather. The markings on the back include the word “Roma” in capital letters and the copyright mark.
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