Kaleidoscope effect

Elephant brooch with a trembler mechanism. Gold tone metal alloy, rhinestones, glass cabochons. 1960s. Carlyle vintage costume jewelry

Carlyle vintage costume jewelry
Founded in 1922, Carlyle & Co was the family owned business by brothers John and Russell Cohen. Originally a high-end jewelry retail chain, Carlyle & Co operated in several states in the Southeast and Florida. The company had nearly 30 stores, also known as Carlyle & Co., JE Caldwell & Co. and Park Promenade Jewelers.

According to press releases (Oct 17, 2009), the company ceased to exist after 87 years of work. However, one of the brothers, the founder of the company, elderly Russell Cohen, tried unsuccessfully to buy out at least part of the stores and reopen the chain.
Meanwhile, during the existence of the company, it has experienced ups and downs, a change of owners and re-registration.
Finally, in 2005, Finlay Enterprises, the largest operator of licensed jewelry departments in US department stores, acquired Carlyle & Co. Jewelry.
Noteworthy, the three generations of jewelers who have worked for the company have registered the Carlyle trademarks at different times, and in other states. For example, in Missouri on August 12, 1949, and in New York on February 24, 1970.
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Kidney shape brass earrings with crushed stones. 1960s. Celia Sebiri vintage costume jewelry

Celia Sebiri vintage costume jewelry
Born 17 March 1913 Celia Sebiri was a celebrated fashion jewelry designer of 20th century, active in the 1950-80s. Aged 40, she began to create exquisite jewelry by combining semi-precious stones, while showing herself as a genius colorist. Her work bears a distinctive, unique artistic style, where no two pieces are alike. Traditionally, the designer used silver, brass, inlaid with crushed semi-precious stones of different shades. Each piece has marking “C.S.” and sometimes designer’s signature. Also, when she was designing jewelry for Avon (in 1987), her pieces were appropriately labeled “C.S. for Avon”.
The designer achieved her greatest success in 1973, receiving recognition from The Coty American Fashion Critics’ Awards.
Her work, sold in Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Martha’s, Amen Wardy and several other stores of this level, was expensive even in the 1960s.
Residing at New York, New York County, NY 10012, Celia Sebiri died on April 1, 2006 at the age of 93.
Noteworthy, Celia put her love for art and jewelry design into her daughter Karen (b. 1945). Young Karen, who helped her mother in the creation of jewelry, became an equally successful designer. According to a 1983 New York Times article, Karen created products using colors and clothing styles as inspiration. Her pieces were also sold in high-end stores and boutiques such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Cul de Sac in Bloomingdale. Already in 1983, her necklaces cost between $ 300 and $ 500. Today, signed works by Karen Sebiri are hard to find.
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Snowwoman brooch. Gold tone metal alloy, enamel, rhinestones. 3.5 cm. 1980s. Signed CS vintage costume jewelry

Signed CS vintage costume jewelry
The history of CS branded jewelry began in Washington DC ninety years ago. Its founder was a native of Washington, Carl E. Scherrer (1906-1987). He, in partnership with his friend Douglas Collins, registered his company Collins & Scherrer in 1932. The Washington-based company produced all kinds of jewelry, from costume jewelry to precious jewelry.
Noteworthy, in 1963 the company moved to Silver Spring, where Scherrer lived until his death.
The company ceased to exist in 1982 when Karl E. Scherrer retired.
Collins & Scherrer handmade jewelry is extremely rare and highly collectible. Traditionally, the design of these decorations includes a holiday theme, and most often Christmas. Crafted by hand, with the use of gold-tone metal alloys and gold plating, as well as rhinestones and enamel. Also, each piece bears the ‘CS’ mark for Collins & Scherrer and a copyright sign.
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Oval shaped Black enamel gold plated knight brooch. 1980s. Burberrys London vintage costume jewelry (1982-1990)

Burberrys London vintage costume jewelry
An English manufacturer of luxury apparel, accessories and perfumery, the Burberry’s brand has a long and illustrious history. The founder of the brand was 21 year-old Thomas Burberry, the inventor of gabardine, who registered his company in 1856. Originally, the company produced clothing, footwear and headgear.
Burberry’s Limited Liability Company first registered their trademark “Burberrys’ B Prorsum” with the Equestrian Knight Logo in 1909. The Latin word “Prorsum” means “forwards”, the equestrian stands for purity, nobleness and honor, and the shield visualizes protection. The black color on the Burberry logo represents strength and durability.
Noteworthy, the company began manufacturing pocket watches, costume jewelry, bracelets, cufflinks and tie pins only in 1982. The craftsmen traditionally signed their pieces with “Burberrys” and sold them on original Burberrys cards with the same Equestrian Knight Logo. Produced until 1990, these jewelry pieces are no longer available in stores. The new brand name “Burberry” (without “s”) appeared in 1999, and Fabien Baron, the company’s art director, has designed a new logo.
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Cowgirl dancer vintage brooch. Sterling silver, faux pearl face, rhinestones. 1940s. DeWees vintage costume jewelry

DeWees vintage costume jewelry
Traditionally, DeWees craftsmen made unique jewelry by hand using sterling silver, gold plating, faux pearls, crystals, rhinestones and art glass. Jewelry markings included DeWees NY and Sterling, or simply DeWees. A former designer of the iconic jewelry company Trifari, DeWees lasted no more than a decade, between the 1930s and 40s. During the Second World War, when there were restrictions on the use of precious and semi-precious metals, many small jewelry companies were closed. DeWees also ceased to exist and its founder returned to Trifari, where he worked until his retirement in the 1960s. According to other sources, DeWees produced costume jewelry in the 1950s and 60s.
Undoubtedly, the exquisite jewelry of this mystic and rare brand is desirable for any collector or a connoisseur of vintage jewelry.
Many collectors believe that Trifari jewelry of the 1930s and 1960s, is one of the finest jewelry ever made. The company, where Alfred Philippe was the chief designer for many years, also employed other top-notch designers. In particular, Alfred Spaney, Norman BelGeddes, Bennetto Panetta, Joseph Wuyts, Marcella Saltz, Diane Love, Jean Paris, and later designers. One of these designers was the founder of Dewees, but to find it out is very difficult, since there is no evidence of company registration or DeWees patents.
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Rose bud leaf brooch. Natural flower, silver, 24 K gold plated. 5 cm. 1970. Brodrene Bjorklund BrdrB silver jewelry

Brodrene Bjorklund BrdrB silver jewelry
Undoubtedly, Danish silverware is famous for its beauty and grace. Many of the most remarkable silversmiths, whose names are widely known in the world, created jewelry worthy of museums. Among them are Bernhard Hertz (1834-1909), Hans Hansen (1884-1940), Volmer Bahner (1912-1995), Henning Kopel (1918-1981), Georg Jensen (1866-1935), and many others. The Brødrene Bjorklund (Brdr.B) workshop, founded by the trained silversmiths, also contributed to the development of Danish silverwork. By the way, brødrene from Danish is “brothers”.

Traditionally, jewelers hand-crafted jewelry in an innovative modernist style using sterling silver, enamel, mother of pearl, and semi-precious stones. The Brodrene Bjorklund workshop, opened in Copenhagen in 1961, ceased to exist in 1971. Naturally, the quality products of this company are highly collectible.

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Bird Peace dove brooch. Hand carved Mother-of-pearl. 3 cm. 1970s. Signed Bethlehem mother-of-pearl jewelry

Signed Bethlehem mother-of-pearl jewelry
This stunning brooch is an example of the traditional Palestinian art of mother-of-pearl carving dating back to the 14th century. Hand carved by highly skilled artisans of Bethlehem, this 1970s brooch is marked “Beth-lehem”.
Today, mother-of-pearl is used in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes to make iridescent handmade items, such as crosses, souvenirs and jewelry. One of the most famous mother-of-pearl carvers and jewelry designers of the mid-century was Gregory Zugby, whose workshop ceased to exist in 1973.
Undoubtedly, mined in coastal waters, mother-of-pearl was a cheap, affordable and beautiful material for creating cult objects, souvenirs and jewelry. A school of mother-of-pearl carving was opened in Jerusalem in the middle of the 19th century. Pilgrimage literature describes bazaars and workshops where the locals created and sold magnificent examples of church arts and crafts. Over the next 100 years, the industry has developed to provide pilgrimage and tourist markets with rosary beads, crosses, small icons, boxes, holy book covers, and jewelry.
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