Kaleidoscope effect

Abstract design modernist mid-century sterling silver brooch pin. 1950s. Henry Steig modernist silver jewelry

Henry Steig modernist silver jewelry
Born in 1906 in Bronx, New York, Henry Steig was a renowned jeweler of the 1940-60s and one of the founders of the wearable art movement.
He grew up in a creative atmosphere, where his relatives were artists and musicians. After graduating from the National Academy of Design, Steig dabbled in a variety of arts, including music, graphics, and photography. However, in the late 1940s, he decided to take up jewelry making and attended several training sessions.
A self-taught jeweler, he started making abstract modernist jewelry at home and selling it to his friends. In 1950, he opened a New York store in Greenwich Village, which was essentially the center of US modernist jewelry in the middle of the last century. Next to the Steig shop were the workshops of already well-known modernist silversmiths. Among them, in particular, Sam Kramer, Frank Miraglia, Frank Rebajez, Paul Voltaire, Ed Weiner, Arthur Smith and Paul Lobel.
Steig worked primarily in silver in his early years, but later focused on gold. He labeled his modernist jewelry “Steig”, or “Henry Steig”, and “sterling”.
In 1953, Steig moved his New York store to 52nd Street and Lexington. Noteworthy, it was there that the iconic episode with Marilyn Monroe in a white dress was filmed (“The Seven Year Itch”, 1954). Celebrities who bought Steig jewelry included Ella Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Taylor.
Steig closed the New York store in 1963 and moved to Provincetown with his wife, Mimi. In 1972, he sold his business to Chicago jeweler Jan Dee.
Steig died in 1973.
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Snowflake design sterling silver modernist mid-century pin brooch. Martin Lasak mid-century modernist jewelry

Martin Lasak mid-century modernist jewelry

American silver and goldsmith Martin Andrew Lasak made modernist jewelry in his workshops in Vermont and Florida in the 1960-70s.
The designer’s ad was published in the 1977 newspaper “Island Reporter”. According to the ad, Martin Andrew Lasak was the silver and goldsmith who created each piece by hand and torch, with good design and sound workmanship. He exhibited his art works in his workshop located at 2, Periwinkle Place, Sanibel Island, Florida. Noteworthy, Martin A. Lasak designed and built an exquisite show area interior himself. He made and sold his jewelry only there and in his other shop in the village of Stowe, Vermont, where he became known for the famous ‘Slalom Sing.’
Traditionally, he used solid sterling silver, gold, and natural stones, such as turquoise, amethyst and jade. The maker’s mark included the word “Lasak” in capital letters.
Noteworthy, Carol, the daughter of a renowned silversmith Joe Skinger (March 16, 1911 – January 1967), Lasak of Bar Harbor, Maine, was trained by and worked for her father during the 1960s in his Vermont studio.
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Maltese cross gold and silver plated brooch. 4.5 cm. 1990s. Signed PC vintage costume jewelry

Signed PC vintage costume jewelry (1978-1993)
The history of costume jewelry marked with two interlocked capital letters PC with a copyright sign on the left lasted from 1978 to 1993. Founded over 70 years ago in Rhode Island, Providence Chain Company has gone through several re-registrations, ownership and logo changes. Incorporated in 1950, Providence Chain Company was founded by Czechoslovakians Jan M. Ouhrabka Sr and his son, who immigrated to the United States in 1946.
According to some sources, before founding his company, Jan M. Ouhrabka had worked for the renowned Coro company. After the death of Jan M. Ouhrabka in 1979, the company went through a renewal and change of ownership. The PC jewelry trademark, registered in 1979, ceased to exist in 1993.
A distinctive feature of PC jewelry is the use of two tones of polished metal, most often gold and silver. The design of bracelets, clips and brooches traditionally includes clean lines, hearts, leaves, butterflies and a Maltese crosses.
Noteworthy, some mistakenly attribute their PC-marked jewelry to Pierre Cardin, or Paula & Chlo. Indeed, the style of the PC marking is very similar to the logo of two fashion brands – the American Paula & Chlo and the Italian fashion brand Pauri & Casati. However, Paula & Chlo (founded in 2012) and Pauri & Casati (2017) were not engaged in the production of costume jewelry.
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Viola flower bouquet brooch. Gold plated, enamel, crystals. Elizabeth Koller Art Deco jewelry

Elizabeth Koller Art Deco jewelry
Austrian jewelry designer and owner of Ciro GmbH retail and wholesale company, Elisabeth Koller-Galler founded her first company E. Koller in 1986. In addition, she launched two trademarks “Vienna Bijoux” and “Art Deco Vienna” on manufacture of her own jewelry creations. Inspired by Art Deco cultural movement that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, she handcrafted stylish and unusual jewelry that immediately attracted the attention of aesthetes and collectors.
Traditionally, the designer used finely selected materials, including 14 or 18 K gold and 925 sterling silver. Also, carnelian, onyx, moonstone, lapis lazuli, amethyst, malachite, genuine mother of pearl, high quality Austrian crystals and enamel.
In 2006, Koller bought the subsidiary of the renowned Ciro jewelry brand in Vienna, and opened her jewelry boutique, through which she develops and sells designer collections.
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Gold floral design pendant. 1970s. Lisa Sotilis unique jewelry art

Lisa Sotilis unique jewelry art
The world famous designer of unique authentic jewelry Lisa Sotilis turns 90 this year. Greek artist, sculptor, collector, philanthropist and jeweler, Lisa Sotilis was born on May 18, 1933 in Athens. She studied at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, and Italy became her second home. The many-awarded artist began to participate in exhibitions in the late 1950s, showing her many-sided and unique works of art – sculptures, paintings, home décor accessories, and jewelry.

Noteworthy, the first famous client of the artist was Salvador Dali, who ordered two gold jewelry for his wife Gala. She then signed a contract with Cartier to develop exclusive watch designs. Lisa has worked with many other fashion houses, but her genius is in herself, in the light energy of love that she embodies through her work.

Notable, all Lisa Sotilis jewelry is exclusively handmade. Among her admirers were such celebrities as Andy Warhol and Rudolf Nureyev, with whom the artist was very friendly. Also, Claudia Cardinale, Brigitte Bardot, Annie Girardot, as well as the Iranian Empress Farah Pahlavi, the Belgian Queen Marie-Jose, Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy and other celebrities.
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Geometric design sterling silver brooch pin and earrings. Lore Garrick modernist silver jewelry (1950-70s)

Lore Garrick modernist silver jewelry
Renowned New York artist, art collector and jeweler Mrs. Harvey E. Garrick (1920-2013), also known as Lieselotte Lore Garrick, created modernist jewelry in the 1950-70s. She had a shop in midtown Manhattan where she sold her brooches, earrings, bracelets and pendants made from sterling silver, copper and brass. She signed her hand wrought pieces with capital letters LORE.

One of the sons of Lieselotte Lore Garrick and her husband Harvey E. Garrick (1925–1995) joined the Hare Krishna movement in 1968. This inspired Lore Garrick to create jewelry for the Hare Krishna movement in Los Angeles. Noteworthy, the designer has since become known as Mother Lore.

Drawing inspiration from the art of the indigenous peoples of Mexico, Costa Rica and Guatemala, Mother Lore had an extensive collection of artifacts and figurines from the pre-Colombian period, which she and her husband donated to the National Museum of the American Indian in the 1970s. Among the donated objects were figurines of animals and humans made of carved jade, which could be used as pendants or earrings.
Mother Lore died in 2013 at the age of 93.
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Two cats pewter brooch pin. Signed Chelsea vintage pewter jewelry

Chelsea vintage pewter jewelry
Founded in 1990, Chelsea International Inc is a Canadian-American company with branches in Ontario and Rhode Island. Jewelry production is located in Waterloo (Canada), and Providence (USA).
From angel pet tokens to classic maple leaf brooches, Chelsea jewelers create high quality pewter jewelry in a variety of designs. Traditionally, Chelsea’s jewelry material is hypoallergenic pewter, and sometimes enamel, crystals, or rhinestones. Chelsea jewelry can be the perfect gift for loved ones, friends and colleagues thanks to the variety of designs, humor and good motivation.
The company logo is a dachshund dog. Notably, Canadian-made jewelry very often bears the Chelsea mark in small letters and with a copyright sign, and some American pieces have stamps “Made in the USA”. In addition, the style of trademark word on branded cards for products made in the USA and Canada also differs.
Perhaps the most significant event was in 2007, when Chelsea corporation purchased renowned Jonette Jewelry company. JJ manufactured jewelry in Providence, Rhode Island from 1943 to 2006. Thus, Chelsea added thousands of patented designs to its own lines. In addition, Chelsea has also obtained the rights to produce some Disney characters jewelry.
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